News / Cafes
Bristol’s most stylish new cafe
Since arriving in Bristol two-and-a-half years ago from Hong Kong, it has been the dream of Charlotte Fong and Ernest Ho to open their own cafe.
That dream has now become a reality for the husband and wife team with the opening of Greytone in St Paul’s.
The stylish cafe on Dean Street close to Portland Square is the culmination of a long hunt for the right location and the right space.
is needed now More than ever
Everything inside has been designed by former fashion designer Charlotte, who says that her ideal coffee shop also combines an art gallery.
“I want people to enjoy the coffee and also let themselves feel they are in a very zen and relaxing place, just empty your mind when you sit down with your coffee,” Charlotte told Bristol24/7.
Ernest Ho and Charlotte Fong have opened Greytone on Dean Street in St Paul’s – photo: Martin Booth
Charlotte previously worked as a barista in Full Court Press cafe in the Old City after moving to Bristol with Ernest, with the pair living in Bradley Stoke.
Ernest will be familiar to anyone who has visited Sweven on North Street in Bedminster, where he worked as a barista; with Charlotte and Ernest meeting when they were both baristas at Knockbox, one of the most respected speciality coffee shops in Hong Kong.
Coffee is taken very seriously at Greytone – photo: Martin Booth
Coffee at Greytone is roasted by Curve in Margate and made on a Slayer machine from Seattle which sits gleaming behind the white counter, and is the first Slayer in any cafe in Bristol.
There is also a selection of mini loaf cakes made by Charlotte including matcha and lemon, with vegan options coming soon.
But the cakes are an added extra in Greytone, where good coffee with a particular emphasis on filter coffee is taken very seriously indeed.
Ernest said that the beans they source “are roasted fairly light in order to showcase the beans more and the terroir of the coffee-growing region they come from”, with beans from Parisian roasters Kawa due to be dialled in next.
Charlotte designed the layout of the cafe she co-owns with Ernest – photo: Martin Booth
“This was our purpose of moving to Bristol,” said Charlotte on Tuesday, the one day of the week when Greytone is closed to customers.
“We both wanted to get more experience of being a barista in the UK, to learn more about the coffee culture in this country. It’s much more relaxed than in Hong Kong!”
Ernest and Charlotte chose to move from Hong Kong to Bristol after Ernest visited while he was a student in Brighton, with both making it clear to their employees at Full Court Press and Sweven that they had ambitions to open their own place.
“We want people to enjoy coffee but in not too crowded a space,” said Ernest. “People coming in so far have been so supportive and we have been so grateful.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Bristol’s best coffee roasters showcased at Full Court Press
- St Paul’s Carnival to now take place every two years
- Landlord locks door of much-loved cafe and bookshop
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