hara kako (Sheung Wan) — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

I recently visited this coffee shop, which is known for its delightful coffee featuring nutty and fruity bean options. The venue itself is quite spacious, boasting both upper and lower floors, which makes for a pleasant environment to enjoy a cup of joe. However, my experience took a rather unfortunate turn, courtesy of the staff.

Now, let’s talk about the service. We decided to enjoy our coffees outside, standing a good distance from the shop front to smoke—because, you know, it’s a public area. To our astonishment, a female staff member approached us with the urgency of a security guard at a high-stakes event, insisting we move even further away. I had no idea there were invisible boundaries drawn on the sidewalk! I must have missed the memo about the coffee shop’s territorial claims.

As if that wasn’t enough, we sat down at around 6 PM, and it was like we were the last guests at a party that had turned into a pumpkin. The staff's palpable annoyance was almost comical as they practically kicked us out. I half-expected her to pull out a stopwatch and declare, “Time’s up! You’ve overstayed your welcome!”

It’s quite ironic, really. You come for the good coffee, but leave feeling like an unwelcome intruder in a public space. I genuinely hope this place considers hiring staff who understand that a smile and a bit of courtesy can go a long way in the service industry.

In conclusion, while the coffee may be decent, the experience was marred by a level of rudeness that simply isn’t acceptable. I won’t be returning, and honestly, I wish this establishment could be replaced by some of the lovely cafes nearby that actually know how to treat their customers with respect. Until then, I’ll find my coffee fix elsewhere—preferably somewhere that appreciates...

Vibes could not have been worse. Arrived around 5:20pm (cafe closes at 6) and was first treated with the nastiest look from one staff. Counter staff informed us that the upstairs lounge was closed. No problem with that, we can do takeaway. Then she repeated that it closes at 6 and downstairs is full, implying we should leave.

While waiting, we were treated to the first staff member angrily slamming her mop and being in a generally bad mood. As a result, everyone else who was sitting there were all silent and looked awkward af. (Not sure if this was the same staff member being mentioned in all of these reviews complaining about their service lol)

$64 for an iced matcha latte isn't cheap, and while it tasted alright, it was not worth being scowled at like we sliced up her entire family. Maybe save the attitude for your friend who didn't even order anything and was taking up...

Haro Kako is a neat little coffee shop along Queen's Road West in Sheung Wan. Situated amongst local shops, this is a place that really blends. You'll find an industrial-chic place fitted into a gutted out old shop with a handful of seats and pretty good coffee. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm (weekdays) and 10am to 6pm (weekends).

I visited recently for the first time and had a strong, vibrant double espresso. Enjoyed the chilled vibes of Haro Kako while watching life go by on the streets just outside. Espresso was good, worth coming back for. Looking forward to a future visit to this simple, unassuming coffee shop setup...