Art lovers, unite! If you love Duddell’s and Bibo, you’re in luck when it comes to this art-filled café. Lex Coffee houses prints and exclusive pieces by international artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Damien Hirst, KAWS, Banksy and Takashi Murakami.
Australian-inspired Lex is managed by Vincent Wu, who has taken a lifestyle approach towards presenting the café as a creative hub to appreciate art. His goal is to create an intimate space where good food and high-end coffee are paired with thought-provoking artwork. Previously an art broker specialising in paintings at Bonhams, he’s hand-picked many of the pieces himself. Even better? The art is affordable and can be taken home at great prices.
I’ve walked by Lex in Kennedy Town many times, but surprisingly, I’d never taken a step inside until now. The café is both elegant and relaxing, with high ceilings and beautiful statement lights. It’s also quite spacious, which is hard to find in Hong Kong.
Coffee
All the coffee is freshly imported each fortnight from Melbourne-based Seven Seeds Specialty Coffee Roaster, one of the most well-known coffee roasters in the world. The coffee, from countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia and Kenya, is reasonably priced and includes an espresso blend, single-origin espresso and filtered coffee. You can even buy small bags to brew your own cup of joe at home.
If you’re looking for something unique, ordering the Sparkle Coffee Ball ($88) is a good bet. The coffee is made with fruity Kenyan beans, and there’s tonic water and pear and guava juice on the side. This drink is filled with complexity – you begin by pouring the coffee over the ice ball and then add a little bit of the juice to amplify the coffee taste, creating both slightly sweet and acidic flavours to counteract the bitterness. The tonic water added at the end was a game changer, creating a smooth, balanced flavour with a bit of fizz. It was lush, a bit tart and full-bodied, bringing out the fruitiness of the coffee beans.
Lex serves non-caffeinated drinks too. We tried the Lex Drink by Venchi ($68), which is a lighter version of a milky hot chocolate. The ice ball itself is made of pure Venchi chocolate and is served with berry compote and steamed milk. While I’m not a huge fan of milk-based drinks, the coffee infused with the hot milk was a delicious treat.
Food
Many of the dishes at Lex are made to share. The Breakfast Fantasy ($148) is ultra indulgent, a colourful plate filled with fresh salad, grilled pineapple, Parma ham, toast and truffle scrambled egg.
While the breakfast options are great, I’d say opt for the main dishes instead, which are generous in portion, use premium ingredients and are beautifully presented. We tried the grilled sea bass and sweet potato with pumpkin purée and salmon roe ($168) – it was a little too early to be ordering prime rib with truffle or Spanish pork belly, though both options were tempting. This was a light but luxurious lunchtime dish.
Dessert is a must-order, and all of the sweets are made in-house. We tried the deconstructed tiramisu ($68), which was light, perfectly sweet and well portioned for sharing.
Verdict
From a concept perspective, I am mind-blown by how Lex infuses art into café life. This beautiful boutique café goes beyond latte and avocado toast, differentiating itself from other shops in town with little luxuries incorporated into the food and coffee beans sourced from one of the most famous roasters in the world.
100 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town, 2149 9633
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