[category]
[title]
What do you get when you cross a five-star hotel with a vintage cha chaan teng and a food illustrator? Pastries, art, and more pastries.
To mark its 11th anniversary, Cordis, Hong Kong has joined forces with Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop and food illustrator Kai to launch ‘Art In Residence: Tea Time Stories’, a unique crossover that celebrates Hong Kong’s beloved 3.15pm (aka ‘saam dim saam’) afternoon tea tradition.
From August 17 to October 31, an exhibition will run across both the lobby of Cordis and the nostalgic space of Tai On, showcasing Kai’s signature illustrations of dining experiences and culinary cultures from around the world. Recognised on the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 2025 list, the artist is known for her Instagram series where she sketches restaurant scenes on the fly, looking beyond simple food experiences to appreciate the stories behind them.
Naturally, you cannot celebrate cha chaan teng culture without actually eating. Over at Cordis, executive pastry chef Roy Ma has whipped up a collection of limited-edition treats inspired by Hong Kong afternoon tea classics. At the hotel’s Goodies Shop, you can pick up a peanut butter and condensed milk mille-feuille ($428), a flaky recreation of the familiar Hong Kong-style toast filled with rich custard and hints of peanut aroma. There’s also a coconut red bean mousse cake ($58) inspired by the classic cha chaan teng drink, and a gorgeous caramelised peanut toast cake ($78) that disguises layers of caramel and crushed peanuts inside a chocolate shell, crafted to look just like a real slice of thick, fluffy toast. If you prefer to sit down with a drink, Alibi – Wine Dine Be Social is also doing a ‘3:15pm tea time combo’ ($98) pairing a slice of peanut butter mille-feuille with a refreshing salted lime gin and tonic.
Down in Yau Ma Tei, Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop is offering a few exclusive items of their own. Owner Tiffany and her team have baked up a peanut butter egg tart ($28) filled with silky peanut butter and condensed milk, plus a golden, thick-cut French toast ($82) loaded with coconut milk and sweet red bean. To drink, their salted kumquat espresso tonic ($50) pairs bitter coffee with tangy citrus as a nod to traditional preserved fruits.
Both venues will be hosting various interactive activities to further immerse guests. The Place at Cordis will offer a free instant photo experience with custom frames designed by Kai for the first 10 guests at 3.15pm every day, while hotel guests will receive a complimentary themed postcard. At Tai On, dine-in visitors stopping by at 3.15pm will get free themed paper tape featuring Kai’s sketches, along with drip coffee bags in custom illustrated pouches. Those who spend $250 or more on pastries at the Goodies Shop will be able to take home a Tea Time Stories themed tote bag featuring Kai’s artwork, which can also be bought separately at Tai On.
Art In Residence: Tea Time Stories runs from August 17 to October 31 at Cordis, Hong Kong in Mong Kok and Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop in Yau Ma Tei. Head over to the Cordis website to find out more and plan your afternoon tea crawl.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended stories:
The latest news about Hong Kong Disneyland’s new Marvel and Pixar attractions
Japanese supermarket chain Yata opens first 24-hour convenience store in Kai Tak
Chesa is taking diners on a culinary tour with a new menu dedicated to Geneva