Cafe Loisl

Cafe Loisl, a new Viennese café, just opened in Sheung Wan on Tai On Terrace, about midway up the Pound Lane staircase between Hollywood Road and Hospital Road.  It is a surprisingly authentic rendition, and you will actually feel as if you are in Austria the moment you step onto the small front terrace.  Everything from the lights, counter, pastry selection, and the coffee will make you think that you are in Europe.  So much so that I was mildly disappointed to see a copy of the SCPM on the table – I expected Die Presse.

The barista, Franck Chan, is passionate about his coffee.  Seriously passionate.  He clearly knows his craft, having worked in several countries with top-notch purveyors, and he can expound at length on the various coffees available in the city (abbreviated summary: there is no other good coffee available in the city).  He knows who roasts the best blend, who pulls the best shot, and who is helping cultivate a coffee culture  in this tea-based town.  The memory of our conversation will, I am sure, haunt me every time I am forced to get a coffee at the multinational coffee empire’s kiosk in my building.  Franck would never be caught in one of those joints – it would be like finding Jacques Pépin at a McDonald’s.

The coffee itself was delightful.  Pisco ordered a macchiato, and Franck prepared it with the care and attention of a brain surgeon at work.  The current blend (Franck calls it the “E” blend) is somewhat light, a medium roast that is mellow on the palate and relatively low in caffeine.  The blends will rotate so be sure to ask which blend is available to match your desired flavor profile.

No decaffeinated coffee is served.

The café is not fully ready yet – they are waiting for Euro-spec furniture to arrive – but the coffee and atmosphere are unique to Hong Kong and well worth a visit in this gem of a neighborhood.  In time, there will be an art gallery in the adjoining space; a common setup in Vienna that would make it an even more attractive destination.

Cafe Loisl is a wonderful, unique find, and you should make a point to visit and savor an excellent coffee in a first-class setting.

Cafe Loisl
G/F, Shop A, 8 Tai On Terrace
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
+852 9179 0209
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