Fineprint: Neighbourhood Brunch and Coffee

Fineprint is a brunch and coffee spot I go back to quite often. It can be found in the heart of my favourite neighbourhoods in Hong Kong: Tai Hang, Happy Valley, Sai Ying Pun and SoHo. Each Fineprint in these spots are crammed with residents of the neighbourhood on weekend mornings and early afternoons.

Of course, as a coffee shop, they are in a few strategic commercial locations as well, such as China Merchant Building in Sheung Wan, Pedder Street and Exchange Square in Central. These spots may be teaming with office workers on a weekday, but they are emptied out on the weekends. Set against skyscraper backgrounds, these Fineprints are catered to caffeine-dependent working population on the weekdays.

The Fineprint in discussion today are the ones set in the more residential neighbourhoods: Tai Hang, Happy Valley, and Sai Ying Pun, the SoHo branch just about makes it into the category despite the occasional influx of tourists. The SoHo Fineprint - in which the winning trinity of avo toast, freshly squeezed orange juice, and flat white have been pictured - is located on Peel Street.

Those who know Hong Kong Island well, and occasionally dip their toes into the nightlife here, would know Peel Street to be the place for happy hour and all forms of pre-drinking. It's almost full circle that one starts their lazy weekend here with a clean breakfast and a good caffeine kick after a rowdy night-out.

Sometimes, the most basic things, done well, are the hardest to find.

About the toast, the juice, and the coffee

Sometimes, the most basic things done well are indeed the hardest to find. An avocado toast is on almost every coffee shop menu, served on Saturday and Sunday brunches. However, no place does it like Fineprint. Thinly sliced rounds of properly ripe avocado, fresh slithers of fragrant basil, salt and pepper, and a good glug of EV olive oil, all topped onto a well toasted slice of sourdough with a wedge of lemon on the side. Absolute divinity.

Not only that, Fineprint serves freshly squeezed orange juice. Cold and refreshing, it comes straight out from the fridge, into the juicer and then into your glass. As a self-proclaimed juice monster, I can be picky with my juices - always straight-from-the-juicer fresh and never watered down by the likes of ice. So, being able to order a fresh pithy orange juice next to my avo toast at a coffee shop is almost too good to be true.

Needless to say, the flat white is proper. The most disappointing thing after all this hype would be to have a disappointing coffee when everything else is scoring top marks.

It's like finding a gelateria that makes the best pistacchio, nocciola, and straciatella. Or a noodle shop that makes the best noodle in soup and milk tea and toasts.

Other food offerings

Just a quick mention of some notable offerings at Fineprint. Whilst my favourite has always been their avo toast, I do have to give a nod to their mushrooms on toast, and their ricotta toast with blueberries, honey and thyme. Speaking of comfort, their cheesy toasties are sublime. Whilst they only offer these in select locations, such as Happy Valley and Tai Hang, they are guilty pleasures that one dreams about.

If you are lucky enough to be living in these niche little neighbourhoods, or early enough to beat the late-morning weekend crowds, I do recommend popping into one of these Fineprints. Choose a window seat so you can look out and people-watch. It's the best lazy Sunday morning routine.