The growing list of Hong Kong venues (perfect) for one-on-one meetings
We at Smartcasual are all about putting a little bit of fun into your networking activities. Why not choose your favourite cafe for that first time meet up with another professional that wants to build contacts? Or even your favourite bar for a post-work drink to share ideas with other entrepreneurs in the start-up environment?
From our base in Hong Kong, we are lucky to have a very vibrant F&B scene around and we are spoilt for choices. For those who are moving to or are new in HK, here are our top picks of places for meet-ups that you can start off with:
The Cupping Room ☕️
Cozy Cuppa: You can’t go wrong with the coffee here when it’s opened by a 2 times barista world champion. Located in the quieter Sheung Wan district, the cafe consists of comfortably spaced wooden tables, so you won’t have to worry about eavesdropping from other customers. If you are looking for a new caffeinated drink outside of the normal cuppa, try their rich Italian Affogato or ice-cold Mocha. They also serve a good freshly home-squeezed apple juice for those who prefer a refreshing summer drink.
www.facebook.com/CuppingRoomHK
Fuel Espresso ☕️
Posh & Professional: This is the cafe to go to if you are looking to impress. Located in both the IFC and the Landmark, it is popular among the banking crowd and most customers are smartly dressed. The New Zealand-based cafe does serve up a good cup, but you do pay a premium for it.
WoolooMooloo Bar 🍸
Chillout Drinks: Boasting some of the best views in HK, the WoolooMooloo chain of bars is a great choice for post-work drinks. Our personal favourite, located in Wan Chai, features a spacious terrace and energetic vibe. Great for breaking the ice and taking away some of those nerves for your networking session!
Classified ☕️🍸
Casual al fresco: A no-frills place on Hollywood Road. Perfect for spontaneous meet-ups in an al fresco setting without having to worry about reservations. You are also likely to find another Classified closer to your hood, they have 9 other locations spread out around HK. The European styled cafe serves up a range of reasonably priced choices here from coffee to alcoholic drinks.
Oolaa ☕️🍸
Loungey Chic: An all-day drinks destination located on Soho’s Bridges Street that makes it easy to pop in for a coffee chat or a post-work drink. The layout provides flexible options for different types of meet-ups. Choose to be seated at the comfy sofas on the cafe side, tall chairs at the lounge bar for casual chats, or saunter over to their formal dining area for a business lunch/dinner.
www.casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/oolaa/our-venues/oolaa/
208 Duecento Otto ☕️🍸
Eclectic Ambience: Nestled among the quaint Sheung Wan district, along with hip galleries and cafés, this Italian restaurant is not only known for its food. In fact, the eclectically designed interior (which boasts a well-balanced fusion of Oriental and European designs) provides the perfect ambience for either a daytime coffee or nighttime drink.
Mr and Mrs Fox ☕️🍸
Rustic Joint: Our last choice is biased to our location in Quarry Bay, where we work. It is opened by Swire Restaurants, which is under the same group that developed the co-working space Blueprint where we call our office. It is already creating quite a lot of buzz with lunch hours fully booked out. It is easier to pop in for a drink and it will certainly be the choice of meet-up location for us and other start-ups here at Blueprint.
Starbucks branch at Queens Road Central ☕
Outdoor space: located at 1/F, Prosperity Tower, 39 Queen’s Rd Central, this Starbucks branch stands out from others because of its spacious seating area and an amazing terrace at the back. When you go to Starbucks you already know what to expect in terms of coffee, so that is one less thing to worry about, just focus on networking!
Rosie Jean’s Cafe ☕
Family place: If you need to bring your kids along with you, Rose Jean’s Cafe is your best bet. Along with fresh coffee and soft beverages, you will find an array of healthy food. The cafe is a child-friendly environment that will allow you to enjoy your meeting while the younger members of the family play and explore.
http://www.rosiejeanscafe.com/
Missing a place that deserves his space on this list? Please let us know and we will add it!
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