Serious Coffee in Kennedy Town

Spanish latte (top) and matcha latte at Arabica

The Year of the Pig started with a video call with family back home before heading out for dim sum with relatives here.

Afterwards we wandered around IFC mall checking out a few boutiques -- even Hong Kong architect Andre Fu's new furniture line in Lane Crawford before heading back to Kennedy Town.

I remembered a coffee shop was going to open by the water and we took a look -- there was a crowd of people on the corner and it was.

The sleek Japanese interior is clean and soothing

The shop is called Arabica, but is known by its logo, a % symbol.

I didn't know this but it was started in Discovery Bay in 2013 by Kenneth Shoji, who has a coffee farm in Hawaii. The company also has locations in IFC mall, the Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui, Taikoo and now in Kennedy Town.

The newly-opened shop has two floors, the second floor just for seating -- it's quite neat as it overlooks Victoria Harbour so you practically feel next to the water even though it's across the street.

Somehow everyone found out the shop was open today and we had to wait 15 minutes for coffee here, and it's not cheap either -- a short matcha latte cost HK$50, a Spanish latte HK$45.

There was a small dedicated army of people making the drinks non stop -- was this a menial task for them or a labour of love?

Outside the shop admiring our drinks

Finally we got our drinks and they were very nicely presented. Outside the shop the window ledge was low and wide enough for us to sit down with our cups. The matcha latte was nice, not too bitter and creamy, while the Spanish latte was very smooth and well blended. Now I can see why coffee nerds rave about this place.

Lots of people with dogs passed by us, while others walked by to check out why so many people were hanging out here.

Looks like the coffee wars will be breaking out soon -- with Arabica now open, the convenient Cofftea will have even stiffer competition along with Winston's that not only offers cups of java, but also alcoholic drinks too.

Never knew Kennedy Town to be such a coffee neighbourhood, but there you have it -- probably more people will be drawn to the area particularly on the weekends to check out Arabica's latest location.

% Arabica
Shop 4, 1 Davis Street
Kennedy Town
2326 4578