Send Location: The Holywell’s, the bright yellow door on Hollywood Road

For our next instalment of Send Location, we make a visit to The Holywell’s, which you might also know as Mrs. H’s Coffee House, depending on what sort of drinks you’re looking for.

 

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If you’ve walked down Hollywood Road recently, you must have spotted a certain bright yellow door. You might have even ordered coffee or pastries through the window next to the door. This is Mrs. H’s Coffee House, one of the latest additions to Hong Kong’s coffee scene. However, behind the door lies a secret: The Holywell’s, a speakeasy hiding behind the coffee house façade.

To enter, knock three times on the door with the knocker and wait to be welcomed. Stepping inside, wooden and cloth-clad furniture fills the cosy, dimly-lit space. The shelves are filled with books, records, and other knick-knacks, most of which actually belong to the staff’s family. It feels like entering a friend’s home — with the addition of a fully stocked bar, of course.

The place is a labour of love by founders Andrea Mak and Richard Tam, inspired by memories of hosting friends at their shared home in the UK. “I’ve always liked going to bars, but I’ve always felt more comfortable at my friend’s place,” Richard explains. “So that’s what we’re trying to do — give people that sense of comfort and hospitality you get when you go to a friend’s place.” In this sentiment, they designed the space after their London house, then named The Holywell’s after the street they lived on.

Every little detail, from the colour palette to the drinks, was carefully designed to make customers feel at home. Quaint mugs hang proudly behind the bar, curated from Andrea’s personal collection (“I can talk about the stories behind each and every one of them,” she says). In the bathroom, you’ll see a familiar IKEA cabinet — Richard’s favourite detail — found in many homes (“We used to have a cabinet that looks like that in the UK,” he explains). Try asking Richard about the cabinet, and he’ll tell you about the efforts they took to make sure they could include it.

Another highlight is the painting hanging in the “living room.” It was done by Andrea and Richard’s friend, Letizia Wan, who wanted to support the couple’s F&B endeavour. If you look closer, you’ll find easter eggs hidden all over the painting, hinting at the menu. It’s a fun game to play while sipping on your drinks or a great way to strike up a conversation with Andrea or Richard.

The drinks themselves are also a homage to their memories in the UK. “Since it’s a family home-themed bar, we thought about 15 ingredients, flavours, and palates that we really enjoyed back in the UK,” Andrea explains for our Send Location. It’s easy to recognise some of them: Full English takes the Bloody Mary and gives it an English breakfast twist; Club Orange draws from the biscuits of the same name; and Sugar & Spice is a whiskey-based drink inspired by the apple cinnamon bun.

Some of Andrea and Richard’s favourite drinks, though, are a bit more personal, like the Picnic Fizz. “We like the taste of strawberries and balsamic vinegar in salads so much and miss that in the summer,” Andrea says. The drink comes in a jam jar and blends gin with strawberry, basil, and balsamic vinegar. “That’s a crowd favourite as well.”

(Psst, by the way, try looking for some items strewn around the area — helpfully listed at the front of the menu — and you can get a customised off-menu drink. You heard it from us first! Here’s a little hint to help you on your hunt.)

Whether you’re visiting the yellow door for a cup of coffee or something stronger, the people behind Mrs. H’s Coffee House and The Holywell’s welcome everyone with the same friendly cheer. Remember to say hi to Andrea, Richard, or any of the staff too, who are always happy to get to know you.

The Holywell’s / Mrs. H’s Coffee House
G/F, 140 Hollywood Rd, Central
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Mrs. H’s Coffee House) and 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. (The Holywell’s)

Video/Images: Ryan Putranto
Editor: Samson De Guzman
Writer: Johanna Muliani

All images taken with Leica Camera. For more Send Location, click here.