An oft-heard lament of recent expatriates to Hong Kong is the dearth of quality Western-style bread. Wholemeal options in supermarket bakery sections are still light years away from their equivalents back home, with no comparison on depth of flavour or fullness of texture. Take a step away from the flabby, anaemic supermarket loafs and take a step towards some of Quintessentially’s top bakery picks instead!
Levain
G/F, 39 Arberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2559 0889
This Aberdeen street opening brings artisan bread to Hong Kongers craving that distinctive sourdough character. Adding to the basic theme of big pillowy loaf, Levain also offers a range of more creative breads to whet your appetite, from an apricot and fig bread, to lychee and tea. Located just next to the SoHo dining district, Levain is in a perfect spot to bring some of that Sunday brunch vibe home. Their sourdough loaves start at around HKD$40.
Le Salon de Thé de Robuchon
Shop 315, 3/F, The Landmark, 16 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong, 2166 9088
Hong Kong’s only boulangerie serving 3 Michelin-star worthy bread, Robuchon’s La Salon de Thé is known for the high quality and consistency of its product. Chef Boulanger Norihiko Takei has worked in conjunction with other Robuchon bakers in Paris, Tokyo and Vegas to develop the best recipes, with 70% of his ingredients sourced from France and Japan. Try the hearty pain de champagne (from just HKD$8 for a roll) that comes out fresh at 8am every morning, or their supremely popular baguette (HKD$25), which is baked no fewer than 11 times daily and still can’t keep up with customers clamouring for more!
Classified
108 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2525 3454
While Classified might be more famous for their gloriously smelly Gallic cheeses, they have also created an addictive range of accompanying breads to help you scoop in the goodness and really get the serotonin running. The handmade breads are fabulous on their own, or served with some of their delectable quince paste (about HKD$39 per 100g). Start with the basic baguette at HKD$18, or dive into a sourdough round loaf at HKD$20, a white farmhouse tin loaf at HK$22, a bloomer at HKD$25, or a healthy wholemeal bread sliced loaf for HKD$35.
Ali Oli
G/F, 11 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, 2792 2655
It’s not just Central dwellers who can enjoy the pleasures of a fresh baked quality loaf – Sai Kung boasts its very own home-grown bakery, bringing country-baked goodness to country living. Established in 1986, Ali Oli bakes wholesome bread, starting from basic French at HKD$20, HKD$28 for crusty white, whole wheat and sultana loaves, to organic wholegrains at HKD$35, and the rustic country grain brick at HKD$42. Adding an urbane note to the menu are the range of bagels at HKD$10, including cinnamon & raisin, poppy seed and sesame seed. City slickers looking for a taste of the good life can order Ali Oli breads via their hotline, with a delivery charge of HKD$60 to HK Island, and free delivery for orders over HKD$400 (fee waivers for The Peak or Shek O are charged at a minimum order of HKD$500) – place orders one day ahead before 4pm.
Mandarin Cake Shop
M/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2825 4008
No mention of Hong Kong bakeries is complete without a mention of the Mandarin Cake Shop, producing superb loaves for in-house guests and hungry bread aficionados since the 1970s. Though the location within the hotel has changed, it continues a strong tradition of baking, with a comprehensive range of products, from delicious dinner rolls at just HKD$15 (including butter, granary, mixed sesame bread and raisin rolls, plus plain brioches), to the swathes of French baguettes, cheese twists, raisin-walnut loaves, rye and whole-wheat offerings from HKD$45. If that isn’t enough to establish the Mandarin Cake Shop as a must-do for carbaholics, the last time we visited, we shared the queue with Anthony Bourdain.
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If you really want Good Breads… you shouldn’t miss Tufei Painpain at Lok Ku Road Sheung Wan.
I moved to this district recently and discover this little bakery, mon dieu!
they bake real breads everyday!! I tried those shops you mentioned here… none of them can be compared to Tufei’s. Don’t take my words from here, try the goodies yourself!!
Hi Francoise, thanks for the tip! We can’t wait to go try and check it out for ourselves. Let us know if you have any more good tips!
You may want to try Pain d’Pro, 47 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong. Absolutely the best breads. 3106 4255. Pain d’Pro delivers to Central every afternoon. Likewise, you should try it.
“All my colleagues who tried the bread LOVED the bread. The texture is amazingly moist
and chewy. This is seriously the best bread many of us have had in HK.” Renowned U.S.
Bank in Central
Warrior’s Son is right. Pain d’Pro indeed is by far the BEST bread I’ve had all my years in Hong Kong. I might even add that it is the best I’ve had all my life. What I love best is that Pain d’Pro’s bread can maintain its scrumptious texture for far longer than any bread I’ve had. They make excellent soup as well! I highly recommend the mushroom soup. I make an effort to stop by every time I pass by Kowloon. You will not regret it!
will def try all the bakery you guys have mention, i love bread and always looking for good ones.
you guys should try Boulangerie in kennedy town, its def worth it
If you like home made bread and home made muffins just let me know I can deliver to your place!