I’ve recently come across a new term: YUCCIE (Young Urban Creatives). Perhaps I fit the description of a blogger they’re referring to, and I do feel it rather reflects my own lifestyle and attitude. Although I’m active in the big city, I still find myself longing for a life away from the hustle and bustle. This time, I’d like to introduce you to Yuen Long – a neighbourhood that’s easily accessible yet not too noisy – where you can find coffee and light bites. Yuen Long boasts a natural environment with small-scale farming, as well as plenty of tasteful and distinctive little coffee shops. Some have a fresh, modern look; others are run by designers; some have an eco-friendly theme; and others are operated as social enterprises. They’re not just selling stylish interiors; they’re embodying the Yuccie lifestyle. Here’s a rundown of three must-visit coffee shops in Yuen Long for every Yuccie.
A masterpiece by the designer of ‘Aldou Cafe’
Alex, the owner of Aldou Café, works as a designer by day, but driven by his ideals and dreams—and with a deep passion for coffee and cooking—he decided to set up his own café in Yuen Long. The exterior of Aldou exudes the charm of a French café; bicycles are often parked outside, small potted plants are casually placed nearby, and sunlight streams in through the windows on either side of the premises. Near the entrance, there are high stools where you can enjoy a coffee whilst taking in the street scene, creating an atmosphere of laid-back, leisurely charm.
As for the coffee, Aldou has created its own blend that’s well worth a try. It’s a blend of beans from Colombia, Guatemala and Ethiopia, with notes of cocoa and rich fruitiness – a truly delightful flavour. As for the food, Aldou mainly uses locally sourced ingredients from Hong Kong, and they make every effort to prepare their own sauces and dishes – ‘Homemade’ is their guiding principle! For example, the ‘Mixed Berry Waffle with Strawberry Ice Cream’, a bestseller during afternoon tea, features a rich, berry-flavoured blueberry sauce and waffles that are all homemade. The prices of other afternoon tea sets are also very reasonable, with dishes such as Fish & Chips and the Cheese Beef Burger available from as little as $48. In the evening, Aldou Café specialises in Western-style dining, with steaks as a staple, alongside risotto and fusion dishes.
Aldou Café
Address: Shop 3, Ground Floor, Yee Fung Garden, 38 Ma Tin Road, Yuen Long
Tel: +852 2619 9933
Opening hours: 12:00 – 22:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
*Accro Coffee*: Addictive Coffee
It’s no easy task to find a good cup of coffee in Yuen Long. The young owner has been passionate about coffee since childhood; after returning from Taiwan a few years ago, where he honed his craft, and following a series of preparations, he finally opened the doors to what is now Accro Coffee a month or so ago. “Accro” is French and means ‘addictive’. The shop isn’t particularly spacious, but it seats over ten people. The owner, Ah Jian, is both a fitness enthusiast and a barista, and spends most of his time running the shop single-handedly.
The shop offers a selection of over ten varieties of coffee beans from around the world; the ‘Ethiopian Harar Mocha’, with its rich fruity and honeyed notes, and the ‘Mandheling’, a dark roast with a robust flavour and a rich, smoky bitterness, are particularly popular. Both are roasted in Taiwan before being imported to Hong Kong, and the beans are only ground upon arrival to preserve their freshness. The shop takes great care in its brewing methods, offering pour-over, siphon and standard press-brewed options to suit customers’ preferences.
As well as coffee, Accro Coffee also serves a selection of homemade cakes, such as caramel mousse cake, New York cheesecake, hazelnut mousse cake and Black Forest cake. It’s worth mentioning that, as well as books and magazines for customers to browse, the café attracts a number of musicians in the evenings, who may even strike up a tune on the spur of the moment. The owner hopes to attract more people who genuinely love coffee, so the café hasn’t been heavily advertised; if you’re interested, you’ll have to seek it out yourself.
Accro Coffee
Address: Shop 10, Ground Floor, Fu Lai Garden, 7 Ma Hang Road, Yuen Long (next to Exit B1 of Long Ping West Rail Station)
Tel: +852 3484 9448
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00–00:00; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 12:00–00:00
《O2 Café》Eco-friendly Café
People in Hong Kong now place great emphasis on achieving a balance between physical and mental well-being, and are very particular about their food. Whilst they may not necessarily be vegetarians, they favour organic produce and embrace a ‘go green’ lifestyle. That is why even this O2 Café in Yuen Long has opened its doors in line with this eco-friendly philosophy. The café sources healthy, organic produce from local suppliers or its own gardens, and even grows its own hydroponic vegetables on the rooftop. Even the bread, pizzas and pasta are all homemade, keeping true to the eco-friendly ethos.
O2 Cafe doesn’t like buying off-the-shelf furniture, so most of the interior décor is made from wooden planks, charming wall decorations made from raw timber—such as large trees and flowers—and wooden butterflies hang high above; even the dining tables are made from reclaimed timber from the hulls of traditional Taiwanese junks. Looking out through the café’s glass windows, the lush green trees blend seamlessly with nature, creating a feeling of comfort, ease and well-being.
O2 Café
Address: 1st Floor, Chin Pak, 68 Kung On Road, Yuen Long
Tel: +852 2488 5099
Opening hours: 11:00–18:00
Recommended dishes: local honey waffles, lemon cheesecake, pan-seared duck breast with citrus honey sauce
《Youxian Ge Fantastic Ladies Café》Social Enterprise Restaurant
‘Fantastic Ladies Café – Leisure Pavilion’ is designed in the style of a small Nordic shop, with foreign-language songs playing in the background. The décor, evoking the charm of a European town, is predominantly white; upon entering, one might mistake it for a restaurant in Central’s Soho district, and it is hard to believe that this is a social enterprise whose primary aim is not to make a profit.
Leisure Pavilion offers over twenty varieties of signature Italian pasta dishes, with affordable prices for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Signature dishes include herb-crusted pork spare ribs, Baoyun-style lamb rack, Angus ribeye steak, smoked salmon and spinach pasta, garlic prawns with angel hair pasta, and fresh fruit waffles, amongst others.
The dedicated and enthusiastic staff at Leisure Pavilion are all women from the Yuen Long district, whilst the culinary skills were taught to these female employees by chefs currently working in hotels, on a semi-voluntary basis. The aim is to help the participating unemployed women build their self-confidence and cope with financial difficulties through practical work. It is a wonderful concept that is both meaningful and socially beneficial.
Fantastic Ladies Café – Leisure Pavilion
Address: Shop 7, Ground Floor, Yashan Garden Shopping Centre, 8 Hong Tai Road, Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long
Tel: +852 2715 8855
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 11.30–21.30; Saturday to Sunday: 09.00–21.30
Recommended dishes: Herb-baked pork ribs, thick-cut Canadian black pork chop served with potatoes and vegetables
‘Savour Cafe’: A Secret Oasis in the Heart of the City
Located on Tat Fai Path in Yuen Long, Savour Café may be small in size, but it is a refined Italian restaurant. With its outdoor seating, it offers the feel of a secret garden in the heart of the city, whilst the quality of the food is full of delightful surprises – even the bread served with the meal includes grissini and whole roasted garlic cloves! Savour Café sources its ingredients with the utmost care; premium Australian steaks and French foie gras are among the house specialities, alongside Australian Black Angus beef, French six-month-old veal, and whole New Zealand sole – all of which are on a par with those served at upmarket restaurants in the city centre.
Address: Shops 3–4, Ground Floor, Wah Kin Building, 3 Tat Fai Path, Yuen Long
Transport: Exit G1, West Rail Yuen Long Station
Tel: 852 2442 2111
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 12:00–23:00; Sunday: Closed
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