Step into Ztoryhome, a new café in Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island, and you’ll be greeted with more than just a food menu—you’ll receive a “soul food card.” This innovative café, which opened in late March, offers a unique experience by pairing drinks with carefully crafted stories. For instance, a honey cold brew tea named “A Light Boat Leaves” comes with a tale beginning, “This is a cup of story, left to me by my grandmother,” blending the flavors of tea, childhood memories, and cultural nostalgia.
Ztoryhome, inspired by the concept of home and storytelling, is designed to feed both body and soul. The café is an offline extension of Ztoryteller, an online storytelling platform created by Alice Lee Hoi-yee in 2017. Initially launched to showcase illustrators’ work, Ztoryteller matched illustrations with stories, giving artists wider exposure.
Lee, a former art director, transitioned from virtual to physical storytelling with the opening of a bookstore called Cabinet of Stories in 2018. This space allowed busy city dwellers to relax and immerse themselves in books. Realizing the irreplaceable value of physical interaction, Lee renamed her platform Ztoryteller and eventually expanded her vision into Ztoryhome.
Ztoryhome features a café section called “the kitchen,” serving comforting noodle dishes like cold soba and tangerine peel duck leg udon, alongside seasonal cakes and thematic drinks. Collaborations with local artists and musicians, such as the citrusy drink “Lost in the Mountains, Unaware of the Heart,” add a creative flair to the menu. A notable collaboration with Hong Kong singer Moon Tang resulted in “Getaway,” a hot French rose tea supporting stray cat organizations.
Guests are invited to remove their shoes to enter a Japanese-style sitting area, creating a homey atmosphere. The book corner boasts a ceiling-high bookshelf with a cozy nook, emphasizing the café’s literary roots. Picture books, including Ztoryteller’s own bilingual bedtime storybook, are featured prominently, offering inspiration and a quick escape for busy visitors.
Ztoryhome also includes “the garden,” an outdoor area leading to an upstairs gallery known as “the living room.” Despite Lee’s lack of restaurant experience, the inclusion of food and drink has proven successful in attracting a broader audience beyond the art world.
Since its soft opening, Ztoryhome has hosted various events, including tea workshops, collaborative dinners, and exhibitions, drawing crowds daily without formal advertising. Lee’s vision is to connect with a wider audience through the universal appeal of food and dining, encouraging visitors to explore the art and stories upstairs.
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