The 6 Best Coffee Shops for Meetings and Interviews on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong is great for networking. People are always willing to meet for coffee or a quick drink. But in a town where millions of people live right on top of each other, privacy is a scarce commodity. Where do we go when we need to talk?
1. Starbucks Duddel Street.
Yes, yes, it’s a Starbucks. Not exactly groundbreaking here, but the special thing about the Duddel Street location is its old school layout, with a back room that tapers off behind the elevators, and large booths that jut back into the walls to hide your screens. That means you can generally put a lot of distance between you and other sippers. Be warned though: The doctors’ offices upstairs are popular (especially with patients who are expecting), so you may bump into folks you know going in and out (but… that could happen anywhere in HK).
Pros: Central location. Big booths. Nooks and crannies. Standard Starbucks offerings (no surprises).
Cons: 30-minutes of WiFi per receipt (you have to order something new each time you run out). Popular spot with well-trafficked doctors offices upstairs. Standard Starbucks offerings (no surprises).
2. La Station — Metta, LKF
Lan Kwai Fung does not exactly scream “productive meeting”, but if you’ve got a membership to entrepreneur club Metta, you’ve got access to a private La Station “Brew Bar” and a perfect place to show off your entrepreneurial bona fides. Coffee is reasonable, the views from the 21st floor of the California building aren’t bad, and if you want to keep the conversation going, you can always schedule a late meeting and continue on into the night on the streets below…
Pros: Free WiFi. Great views. Startup atmosphere. Great energy. Added networking potential. Good coffee, and solid (if basic) food options.
Cons: Metta membership required.
3. Elephant Grounds — Admiralty
Smack between Wan Chai and Central, Admiralty’s Pacific Place 3 exit is about as good a location as it gets for folks meeting between east and west. Yes, the walk from the MTR to the exit is long, but there’s AC and a moving sidewalk (at least one way). Plus, you’re right on Star Street for a spontaneous lunch, drinks, or dinner move, and the coffee is some of our favorite in Hong Kong. For meetings, tables can be a bit close, but it’s usually bustling enough that conversations stay relatively private in the cacophony.
Pros: Friendly staff. Free Wifi. Great coffee. Unique drinks. Summer refreshers. Good food options (breakfast and lunch).
Cons: Can be hard to get a table at mealtimes. Fancy coffee means fancy prices. Definitely not the place for a secret rendezvous.
4. Coffee Academics — Wan Chai
Like Elephant Grounds, Coffee Academics does double duty as a specialty coffee shop and lunch spot, meaning the mid-day crowd can be heavier here than at pastry-only places. But, this particular Coffee Academics has a series of two-top tables in the back that can be great for quick meetings or lunch chats. NB: The tables can get pretty tight, and the area can be a little too quiet sometimes, so if you’re in need of serious secrecy, you may be better off elsewhere.
Pros: Two-top tables in the back. Decent food for breakfast, lunch, and…cake. Good location. Free WiFi.
Cons: Privacy is hit or miss. Can get packed.
5. Mercedes Me — Somewhere
WiFi: Check. Coffee: Check. Mercedes: Check.
This fully branded experience is not for everyone, but if you can get past the Mercedes logo dusted on top of your latte, you’ll find a perfect place for a quieter meeting. Plus, if you want to impress someone who likes cars, luxury-adjacent experiences, or food that’s a cut above the average coffee shop fare, this is your place. Located smack in the middle of Queens Road Central, and very hard to miss!
Pros: A certain kind of stylish and trendy. Central location. Free WiFi. Quiet. Great staff. Top tier food. Perfect for… Mercedes fans. Also a good spot to continue on and switch to something stronger in the evening.
Cons: Food is pricey. Branding and style will put some people off. BMW fans unimpressed.
6. Omotesando Koffee — Wan Chai
Probably the sleekest, most serious coffee shop on this list is Omotesando. Designed like a high-end sushi or Omakase place (albeit with work stations and communal tables), Omotesando and its baristas are not joking around. The location on Lee Tung makes it easy for Wan Chai chats, and also means you have plenty of options nearby if it’s too packed — or too intimidating.
Pro: A true speciality shop for serious coffee lovers. Free wifi.
Cons: Noisy, pricey, and a bit cold (both in style and because the AC is always blasting!).
