Hong Kong’s Baking Mavericks: A Fresh Take On Classic Sweet Treats

Traditions from across the globe have long been standard in Hong Kong’s bakery scene – from classic French croissants to Macanese egg tarts – but the city’s current crop of patissiers is taking baked goods and desserts to the next level.

The last few years have seen Hong Kong’s bakery landscape blossom, with an emerging generation, plus a few veterans, of independent bakers and pastry-makers getting creative in the kitchen and remembering that cakes and cookies are meant to be a sweet delight. These mavericks are breathing new, unconventional and artistic life into breads, biscuits, tarts and every baked treat imaginable. Drop into one of the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme-approved outlets, indulge your sweet tooth and marvel at Hong Kong’s baking wizardry.

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Arte by Padaria

A truly great meal or piece of art engages all the senses and takes us on a journey, and the patissiers at Arte by Padaria believe that rule should apply to desserts as well. Arte’s beautiful and delicious cakes marry traditional baking techniques and modern design in themed desserts to take us on personalised journeys. Arte’s most popular sweet destinations are its signature Croissant Balls, a classic Madeleine cake wrapped in a crispy croissant pastry and complemented by a flavourful filling uniquely Hong Kong, like XO Sauce or Salty Egg Yolk, plus Earl Grey, mango and much more. Those looking for old favourites will also find volcano, lava, chiffon and cheese cakes – all constructed with impeccable artistry. It may take a while to work up the courage to take a bite.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm (Tsim Sha Tsui); 11am to 9pm (Kowloon Tong)

Arte by Padaria, Kiosk 9, L/3, Ocean Centre Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Arte by Padaria, Area M3, Level UG, Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 9785 5528, Instagram: @artebypadaria, www.artebypadaria.com

Cookies Quartet

Kowloon City is one of Hong Kong’s great dining hidden gems and Causeway Bay is a shopping mecca, so anyone in those areas won’t want to skip Cookies Quartet for dessert or an energy boost. Dishing out additive-free, handmade cookies and award-winning palmiers since 2008 from those shops and nine others across the city, and sourcing ingredients from 27 countries, Cookies Quartet balances tradition and innovation by offering a diverse array of flavours that, taken together, embody Hong Kong’s culinary profile. There’s plenty to choose from, but safe, tasty bets can be found in the 12 Flavour Gift Box, loaded up with a dozen of Cookies Quartet’s most popular, the Assorted Palmier box, ideal for connoisseurs and featuring a bold collection of matcha, hazelnut and chocolate, and the Chocolate Palmier Set, which takes the classic treat to new heights.

Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 8pm (Kowloon City); 11am to 9pm (Causeway Bay)

Cookies Quartet, G/F, 9A Lion Rock Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2382 2817
Cookies Quartet, Shop 1, G/F, Yan Wo Yuet Building, 432-436 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2382 2827,  Instagram: @cookiesquartetltd, www.cookies-quartet.com

Conte de cookie

When three Hong Kong head chefs from five-star hotels — Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula and Sheraton — get together to start up a cookie emporium, the result is what is expected: magic. Starting with the finest natural ingredients from Australia, France and Canada among other locations, every single day, the trio caps off its signature palmier and cookie creations with French Fleur de sel de Guerande sea salt. For anyone looking for the perfect gift, the Symphony of Bliss set, with almond and pecan, chocolate and almond, mixed grain and coffee and macadamia, and the Butterfly Dance palmier collection are not to be missed. Five stars indeed.

Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am to 8pm (Wanchai); 11am to 9pm (Causeway Bay & Tsim Sha Tsui)

Conte de cookie, Shop B4, Australia House, 7-9 Luard Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2489 1499
Conte de cookie, Shop 3, G/F, Yan Wo Yuet Building, 432-436 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2889 9266
Conte de cookie, Shop H, Carnarvon Mansion, 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2889 2799, Instagram: @contedecookieoffical, www.contedecookie.com

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Eggroll Queen

Nothing says “Hong Kong snack” quite like an egg roll – and not the kind you get from restaurants overseas. In the 1970s, a local couple, the Chans, started making egg rolls in their home and were such a hit they eventually established Eggroll Queen. The crispy treat has been a local favourite for decades for its mouth-watering fragrance and, for kids, the simple joy of putting a roll on each finger. Eggroll Queen still makes the snack by hand, the way it did 50 years ago, and still uses only the freshest eggs, butter and flour for maximum richness. Eggroll Queen recently added delectable options such as the Seaweed Pork Floss Phoenix Egg Rolls, with a more complex texture and unrivalled flavour, to its menu alongside the original. No word on whether they go on the fingertips.

Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 8pm

Eggroll Queen, various locations across Hong Kong, Instagram: @eggrollqueen1982, www.eggrollqueen.com 

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Ryoyu Bakery Studio

Bread and baking culture in Japan dates to the 16th century, particularly in the Kyushu region, which became home to scores of innovations that now infuse Japanese baked goods with a signature flavour profile. Hong Kong’s love of Japanese bakery goods goes well beyond mochi and soft cheesecake, and some of that is the result of the popular Ryoyu Bakery Studio, founded in 1950, finally opening a shop in the city. Since 2013, Ryoyu has been shipping ingredients from Japan to its local studio in order to serve up fresh bakery items every day. Using Japanese fermentation, house-cultivated natural yeast and stone oven techniques, Ryoyu Baking Studio is the go-to for residents and visitors alike with a craving for that one-of-a-kind taste of Japanese baking.

Opening Hours: Varying dependent on branch – check here

Ryoyu Bakery Studio, various locations across Hong Kong, Instagram: @ryoyubakerystudio, www.ryoyubakery.com

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Tart Addict

Hong Kong’s premier tart-maker could be decade-old Tart Addict, dedicated to preserving traditional methods while creating memorable, edible souvenirs. Steering clear of standard combinations and ingredients Tart Addict crafts pastries designed to tell a Hong Kong story, and provide a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Its bakers and food designers incorporate cream, nuts and techniques from across the globe to create its exquisite tarts. Among the must-tries are its signature Macadamia Tart, fusing traditional Chinese and French sweets in an airy, crispy crust, the Classic Palmier or Almond Puff reimagined for a contemporary, less sweet finish, and British-inspired toffee candy with cashews, encapsulating Hong Kong’s East-meets-West vibe in a caramel-coloured treat.

Opening Hours: Daily, 9:30am to 7:30pm

Tart Addict, Shop 40-41, 1/F, Mirador Mansion, 54-64B Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 6998 8311, Instagram: @tartaddicthk, www.tartaddict.com

Twinkle Baker Décor

A cake for capping off celebrations or visits is one thing, but a cake from Twinkle Baker Décor is something else. Combining flavour, texture and visuals, Twinkle’s desserts, made fresh daily, have become legendary for their blend of local cultural legacy and artistry. Its signature cakes include the peach-shaped Chinese longevity bun cake, made with peach cheesecake mousse and fruit filling, and the chocolate steamer made with sponge cake, fresh strawberries and vanilla custard. Cakes are ideal for sharing, but solo diners can indulge in creative tarts like the Pistachio Mochi Tart, with its crisp cookie crush and velvety mousse filling or the singular Tiramisu with Black Sugar Mochi Tart, which injects classics with new life. Of course, there’s no rule saying you can’t share tarts too.

Opening hours: Daily, 11:30am to 9pm

Twinkle Baker Décor, Shop 101B, B1/F, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 5236 3630, Instagram: @twinklebaker, www.twinkle-bd.com

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