Cult artisan coffee chain % Arabica has attracted international attention for its tiny outlet in Hong Kong’s Kowloon ferry terminal, paying tribute to the heritage of the Star Ferry service.
Designed by Japanese studio Puddle, the cafe has a minimalist interior is laid out in light wood to fit in with the site’s existing materials, according to London-based online design magazine Dezeen which has just featured it online, praising its design.
The 17sqm site at the top level of the Kowloon Star Ferry Terminal Building features predominantly bare flooring with a small counter. According to a project description: “As space inside the cafe is limited, customers can order their favourite coffee drinks and relax outside the café where white bar tables are arranged neatly along the expansive east-facing windows”.

The cafe’s roller shutter entrance is adorned by a glowing “%” logo that represents “a pared-down symbol of perfectly formed coffee cherries on a branch”. The symbol serves as a conspicuous brand throughout the coffee shop’s furnishings and merchandise.


The cafe is positioned in front of the departures and arrivals ramp leading down to the docks.
The four-year-old coffee chain % Arabica, headquartered in Kyoto, is building a pan-Asian footprint, opening stores in Singapore, the Philippines and Mainland China in recent months.