Keeping up with new restaurants in Hong Kong, let alone new chefs and new menus, can be tricky. Our restaurant news round-up will keep you in the loop about the city’s ever-evolving dining scene. From the latest eatery to open its doors to celebrity chefs to Hong Kong brunches and cool new bars, it’s all here!
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this December
A Sip of France
Chef Olivier Elzer’s newest venture is hidden behind opulent curtains in his contemporary French restaurant Clarence. La Suite is a speakeasy with a cocktail bar, outdoor lounge and stunning HK skyline backdrop. Elzer has helmed some celebrated restaurants here, accruing an impressive 25 Michelin stars over his career. This latest spot creates cocktails with time- honoured French traditions – for example, an aromatic combination of gin, lemon juice and egg white with turmeric syrup, fresh thyme and a sprinkle of saffron sparkle! If you feel peckish, the menu’s “Yakifrenchy” concept is a tongue-in-cheek reinvention of French classics as skewered delights.
25/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
lasuitehk.com
Take the Party to New Heights
Located on the 26th floor of H Code, The Trilogy is slowly opening floor by floor to become a multi-experience music hub. There are three different spaces, a nightclub and a rooftop space (both now open) and a live jazz bar. The Wav rooftop offers a beautiful city skyline vista, perfect to watch sunset while you sit back with a drink in hand.
26/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
book.bistrochat.com/thetrilogy
Beef Worth Every Bite
A renowned Japanese restaurant that has just opened its first location outside of Japan on Hong Kong’s trendy Gough Street. Specialising in Wagyu Kappo cuisine (where the beef is cooked in front of diners in an intimate counter setting), Nikutoieba Matsuda has gained widespread recognition since its founding in 2020, with a Michelin Guide listing over the past two years. Plus, all 14 courses of the menu star wagyu beef! The tasting menu is $1,280 until the end of December.
39 Gough Street, Central
bit.ly/Nikutoieba
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this November
Did you miss Nobu?
Known for its unique style of Japanese cuisine with Peruvian influences, Nobu is reopening in the new dining area of the Regent Hong Kong. On the menu are a variety of creative dishes including black cod with miso, yellowtail jalapeño and toro tartare with caviar alongside melt-in-your-mouth sashimi and rock shrimp tempura. Chef Nobu has also incorporated inspiration from his time in Peru to add tiradito and ceviche dishes to the menu. You can pair these dishes with the extensive sake, cocktail and wine options.
2/F, Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon
2313 2313 | hongkong.regenthotels.com
Where whimsy and spice combine
Derived from the Hindu concept of “lila“, which represents the divine play or sport of the gods, at Leela you can expect a playful approach to Indian cuisine. At the helm is Chef Manav Tuli, who previously served as Chef de Cuisine at CHAAT at Rosewood Hong Kong, contributing to the restaurant earning a Michelin Star, a Diamond and plenty of media recognition. The menu options also give a unique nod to the Maurya Empire, which ruled over much of the region of India in the fourth to second century BC. The Leela team area also focused on supporting local and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture.
Shop 301-310, Lee Garden Three, 1 Sunning Road, Causeway Bay
2882 5316 | leela.hk
Flavours that bring people together
At this Instagram-worthy eatery, you can dine below an upside-down-hanging garden! Opening in Tsim Sha Tsui, Rue du Liban offers a vibrant taste of traditional Lebanese fare. The essence of Levantine cuisine is all about bringing family and friends together, so the menu reflects plenty of dishes and platters to share. These include mouth-watering starters like moutabal, a delicious dip made with smoked eggplant, tahini, lemon and olive oil. For mains, it’s hard to go past the mixed grill with lamb, chicken and beef. And you can finish with a sweet and nutty rice pudding with ice cream.
Shop A, G/F, Hillwood Court, 22-26 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
2310 2922
Is food your love-language?
Take a break in the bustling locale of Sheung Wan and celebrate the Roman goddess of love through Italian-Mediterranean dishes at Juno. The menu will transport you through the sunny southern coast of Europe with exciting wines to match! Dishes are grounded in homely and heartfelt Italian signatures; we like the look of the buttery lobster risotto, the tagliolini with truffle and the slow-cooked or charcoal grilled lamb. But first, diners should try the specialty home-baked bread, matched with one of the superior extra-virgin olive oils and acorn-scented Ibérico ham. For dessert, there’s a traditional tiramisu, soaked in Illy coffee and served in a statement champagne coupe. Looking for lunch or brunch? Juno has a great lunch set and also free-flow brunch deals.
G/F, 88 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
2703 5188 | juno.hk
Wake up your taste buds!
Flaky viennoiserie, cinnamon rolls, pistachio pastries, artisan coffee… Sound like the perfect way to start your day? Lucky for you, Soft Thunder roared onto the scene back in 2020 bringing great coffee and a range of pastries, savoury bagels and custard tarts to Hong Kong. The hip café has quickly become a go-to place for breakfast or afternoon tea with friends – and the menu is about to get even better. We will certainly be putting up our hands to try the brand new pistachio items including croissants, unicorn puffs and a pistachio creme latte.
Shop B, 31 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
@soft.thunder.bakery
Even more flavours under one roof
Taking up the entire second floor of the newly furnished Berkshire House in Quarry Bay, the Liberty Group have have expanded their dining scene. The space is welcoming an array of gastronomic delights this month. These include Forbidden Duck, Cloud Nine Hotpot and Qi – House of Sichuan. In celebration of the launch, from now on until the end of November, you can receive a 20% discount when you order a dining experience at Forbidden Duck and Cloud Nine Hotpot. Plus, for every HK$500 spent at the new branches, guests will receive a HK$100 dining voucher.
2/F, Berkshire House, 25 Westlands Road, Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay
forbiddenduck.hk | qi-sichuan.hk | @cloudninehotpot
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this October
Venture in for food, linger for adventure!
Does the idea of gathering around a campfire with friends or loved ones evoke some happy memories? Then you should book a dinner at Campsite, Hong Kong’s glamping-inspired restaurant! For a limited time, the popular Langham Place branch is serving up a new menu called the Scouts’ Camping Feast. Aiming to stir the adventurous spirit within every diner, the dishes replicate foods you may have had on an outdoor adventure. Think flaming roasted beer can chicken, campfire grilled raclette cheese and ham toasties, and bonfire s’mores!
Shop 15-17, L/4, Langham Place
2111 0480 | campsite.com.hk
One for the chocoholics
The Astor at Eaton HK is launching an addictive new afternoon tea buffet called “Astor Chocoland.” If you have a sweet tooth, this spread of desserts is sure to provide a haven of sweet and chocolatey goodness (from $298 per person). Available every weekend and public holiday, sample the passionfruit chocolate cake and rocky road before taking a detour to the chocolate fountain station. To balance out the sweet there are plenty of savoury dishes too, including a Japanese counter with seafood and sushi, Western dishes like duck confit and lamb leg, and an Asian counter with dim sum and curries.
B/1, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan
2710 1901 | theastorhk.com
Airside Cafe and Pâtisserie
Two new foodies establishments are opening their doors in vibrant Airside in Kai Tak, East Kowloon. Dining destination Airside Café has a Japanese interior with an open kitchen for the culinary team to show off their delicious dishes. Expect an array of options from seafood temptations like the cold and raw seafood platter ($988) to wagyu tartare appetisers, slow-cooked pork loin and succulent roasted lamb. Right next door, boutique cake shop Airside Pâtisserie has an artisanal confectionery counter that showcases rich, creamy handcrafted delights. We like the look of their take on the German chocolate-and-cherry classic Black Forest Cake (Gâteau Forêt Noire, $358), as well as the chestnut cake ($358) and the irresistible mini cakes ($48).
Airside Cafe, Shop 322-323
2117 1912 | ascafe@cafedecogroup.com
Airside Pâtisserie, Shop 320
2117 1913 | aspatisserie@cafedecogroup.com
Airside, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon
Matcha magic
Also at Airside, the first Nana’s Green Tea has arrived in Hong Kong, bringing Insta-worthy matcha and green tea specialities that have been a huge hit in Japan. The tea leaves and matcha in these chain cafes are sourced from Kyoto, the latter by a famed tea manufacturer with more than 200 years of history. The picture-perfect matcha azuki shiratama latte ($48) is one of the cafe’s signature drinks. From a matcha latte base, the delicious beverage is topped with shiratama mochi, azuki (red bean paste) and whipped cream. There’s also a matcha soft serve latte with chocolate crunch, eight different parfaits and savoury salads, rice dishes, donburi and udon sets on the menu.
Shop B128, Airside, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon
2117 1309 | cafedecogroup.com
Dinner and drinks with a side of rock ‘n’ roll
At Melody in Sai Ying Pun, experience the combination of dining, drinking and entertainment. There are five rooms at the venue with unique designs and curated sounds from world-class DJs, Balearic beats and Cantopop to 1970’s Cambodian jazz. Wander through the kitchen, dining space, music room, bar lounge and garden to find your ideal space. Let your mood and appetite guide your experience! Chef Jamie Draper has curated a menu of dishes that get a lick of flame for a mouth-watering wood-fired flavour. There are Ibérico pluma skewers, tempura courgettes, lamb ribs with herb yogurt and Alsace bacon croquettes. Plus, grilled whole squid, prime cuts of beef, barbecued T-bone steak with lobster tail and oolong chocolate tarts. Not to mention classic and signature cocktails and a wine list with over 150 labels!
info@melodyhongkong.com | melodyhongkong.com
Bringing late-night Vietnam to life
This SoHo neighbourhood mainstay channels all the lively, frenetic energy of Vietnam’s bia hoi tradition – sipping fresh beers on busy street corners. Now, after a decade, the spirited, late-night corner stoop has been reinvigorated with the return of the Chôm Chôm team after they took a month-long trip across Vietnam. The result is a slew of vibrant, flavour-forward cocktails, fresh bia hoi-style beer on tap and a newly tailored menu with easy-to-enjoy Vietnamese street food-inspired dishes. They’ll also be serving up a whole new line-up of Vietnamese bites using ingredients, flavours and preparation techniques they discovered during their trip in Vietnam.
58 Peel Street, Central
2810-0850 | chomchom.com.hk
Cooking it up, Korean-style
New on the scene in Civic Square within Elements Mall at Kowloon Station is ANJU restaurant and bar. This edgy Korean dining destination celebrates hearty lunches, comfort food and a lively atmosphere for post-work drinks. Expect a blend of Korean ingredients with Western cooking techniques. For example, there’s raw crab marinated in a soy-sauce brine, sweet-sour-spicy Chamchi Hoe (tuna carpaccio), and tomato, kimchi and burrata cheese with fried seaweed. You’ll also find an affogato made with hazelnut ice cream and espresso drizzled with makgeolli, Korea’s milky rice wine, along with Korean liqueurs, soju, makgeolli, beer and somaek. The imaginative cocktails include a Kimchi Mary, which blends gin, soju, sweet vermouth and lime juice.
Shop R004, Civic Square, Elements, Kowloon Station, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui
2196 8733 | cafedecogroup.com
Crab a bite to eat!
Named after the trading houses of old Canton that once bridged China with the rest of the world, The Merchants brings a contemporary taste of Shanghai to Hong Kong. Don’t miss the limited-time hairy crab menu between 23 October and 27 December. This includes a tasting menu ($2,280 per person) that showcases 350g of whole steamed Taihu freshwater hairy crab, plus rich roe with braised fish maw soup, and steamed xiaolongbao infused with the sinfully delicious hairy crab favours. There are also plenty of à la carte specials featuring stir fries, clay-pot rice and noodles. And, if this limited menu isn’t enough to entice you, the restaurant has stunning views of Victoria Harbour too!
43/F, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central
2155 4141 | themerchantshk.com
Diamonds for foodies
Despite a challenging year for the coveted Alba funghi, LucAle’s much-awaited White Truffle Menu is making a comeback! The Michelin-acclaimed Italian restaurant presents four opulent dishes, each containing at least five grams of Italy’s culinary diamonds. The prized white-gold morsels make a star appearance in a velvety and creamy burrata cheese beef tartare, a vegetarian slow-cooked pumpkin cream showered with truffle shavings and two pasts, raviolo stuffed with fresh ricotta and mascarpone in creamy green pea sauce, and a white truffle tagliolini.
Shop A, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun
3611 1842 | lucalehk.com
A dynamic dose of modern Mexican
On the corner of Ship Street and Queen’s Road East in Wan Chai, El Taquero is a vibrant eatery that takes its name from the Spanish description for a taco vendor. The façade is coral-pink plaster, matched with a neon sign and eye-catching interiors that pay homage to modern Taqueros eateries across Mexico City. An open kitchen offers a dynamic and theatrical dining experience, delivering all the classics you would expect but with an innovative twist, from tacos and tamales to enchiladas and churros. The showstopper is the Al Pator: thinly sliced marinated pork, slow-cooked on the “trompo”, a vertically rotating spit rotisserie. Looking for a quick drink? The venue also boasts a colourful standalone cocktail bar with a margarita to suit everyone’s tastes. There’s a lunch menu too, so you can grab a bite during the day.
B-F G/F Yan King Court, 119 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
2811 1998 | @eltaquerohk
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this September
The Chippy in DB
There’s something comforting about a plate of good ol’ fish and chips. So it’s safe to say we’re envious of those in Discovery Bay who now have The Chippy on their doorstep! Bringing wholesome and iconic seafood to Hong Kong, this is a much awaited re-opening of an old favourite. Go and grab some scampi, scallops or a serve of authentic cod and chips!
Shop G101, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay.
@thechippyhk
Elevated Italian
Fratelli at Repulse Bay has been joined by Group Executive Chef Stefano Rossi who has unveiled an exciting new menu at the renowned pasta bar – and we went along to try it out! This is sophisticated “Nonna-style” cooking, with highlights including starters of a wafer-thin octopus carpaccio and delicious mussels with a basil and cherry tomato sauce, plus a knockout main of pistachio gnocchetti with Sicilian red prawns and a fresh and nutty mint pesto. The Lobster Linguine is bound to become a favourite among HK diners, too. We finished with a smooth, silky panna cotta. Chef Stefano is super friendly and passionate about the food being created at Fratelli, making it a dining experience not to miss.
Shop 112B, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay.
fratelli.hk
Spice up your life!
The Bengal Brothers Wan Chai are serving up beloved street foods from India once again. Moving away from their takeaway-only menu, they have reopened in Wan Chai with a boozy canteen and expanded offerings. Expect everything from chaats and small plates to curries, roasts and sweets. Menu highlights include the Prince’s Papri Chaat – crispy crackers and spiced potatoes drizzled with yoghurt and house-made chutney. There’s also a fragrant Chettinad-style lamb curry, the ever-popular butter chicken, the Bengal Brothers’ famous kathi rolls, and marinated jackfruit dum biryani among the vegetarian offerings.
Shop D G/F, Man Hee Mansion, 6 Johnston Road, Wan Chai.
bengal-brothers.com
Vibrant Vietnamese
Keen for a creative cocktail with your authentic Vietnamese feast? It’s a yes from us! Following the success of Chilli Fagara and Hot ‘N’ Meen, MâmAmis is a vibrant and soulful eatery in Sheung Wan. Signature dishes include a unique Vietnamese-style beef carpaccio, a wok-fried spicy curry crab, and succulent beef short ribs slow-cooked for 48-hours on an openflame barbecue grill. Complement your meal with a cocktail paying tribute to legendary Vietnamese jazz singer Hong Thanh.
Shop A & B, 27 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan.
mamamishk.com
Eating on the fly!
Got no time to sit down for a tipple and a treat at the airport? Intervals Bar solves that problem with its special takeaway sets. They may fit perfectly on an in-flight tray table, but this is a cut above plane food. The new takeaway set ($168) includes four signature pinchos with a choice of coffee, tea or a canned version of Intervals’ cocktails, created in collaboration with Young Master Brewery. There are main meals too, from smoked salmon eggs benedict to lobster and prawn spaghetti.
Unit 9 SB206, Level 9, Sky Bridge, HKIA.
intervalsbar.com
Thai Tastes
Longtail Thai Restaurant and Cocktail Bar is now open in Fashion Walk – and its leafy alfresco area is ideal for an evening cocktail after shopping. There’s a weekday buy-one-get-one deal (3pm to 7pm) on drinks, too – try the Coco Colada, made with rum, pineapple and coconut ice cream. If you’re with some beer-loving friends, the signature Singha Tower ($468) consists of three litres of brew to share. Meanwhile, the retro dining space inside offers a weekday lunch set ($148/$178, 2/3 courses), including the likes of spicy minced pork salad with lime and chilli, and an iconic green chicken curry. Weekend brunch is $388 (add $288 for two hours of free-flow), and you can bring your furry friend and dine on the pet-friendly patio!
Shop C, G/F, Towning Mansion, 50 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay.
longtail.com.hk
A slice of Italy
Named among the Top Pizzerias in Italy 2023, Alice Pizza is bringing its rectangular, pan-baked Roman recipe to Hong Kong! Staying true to the heritage of deliciously thin, light and crispy pizza, the store lets you purchase pizza “al taglio” (by the cut) according to your preferred size and quantity. The Wan Chai branch is ideal for a light lunch, casual dinner or snacking throughout the day, with seating for up to 28 pizza lovers. A wide range of different toppings are available daily, and it takes just 10 minutes in the Italian-made multi-chambered oven for your slice to be ready!
G/F, 92 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai.
@alicepizzahk
New casual dining destination
The Square is a two-storey restaurant that embodies the laidback spirit of Sai Kung. Whether you’re looking for a quick caffeine boost, leisurely afternoon hangout or lively dinner party, this is a haven for everyone – pets included! The continental café-slash-restaurant is perfectly located in Wan King Path opposite the kids’ playground, with a hidden garden courtyard and self-service space to work in. The all-day menu also provides another level of comfort with favourites including chicken and waffles, lobster burgers and slow-cooked crispy pork.
G/F, 22 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, NT
@thesquaresk | 9193 6036
Travel back in time for afternoon tea
Set in the heart of Tseung Kwan O, La Rosabelle Bar & Grill is a modern European restaurant renowned for its elegant interior and menu. Now, you can enjoy a historic experience here in the form of its “medieval-inspired” afternoon tea! Sample 13 light bites from Spanish croquettes and smoked salmon snacks to panna cotta and chocolate fudge cake. The afternoon tea is $488 for two and comes with two glasses of prosecco and coffee or tea. For an added $228 you can enjoy a bottle of prosecco, or make it bottomless for $388.
Shop 4, G/F, Alto Residence, 29 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O
larosabelle.hk
Try this new gastropub
Is visiting Brick Lane in London on your bucket list? Or perhaps it’s time to take a walk down memory lane. Now you can, without leaving Hong Kong! Gastropub Brick Lane has opened in Tai Wai and echoes the distinctive spirit of East London’s Stratford district. This region is famous for its layers of vibrant, so the restaurant has a newly painted mural showcasing a silhouette of the iconic London skyline, complete with representations of the Tower Bridge and the London Eye. And, the menu is just as inspired boasting hip pub foods from Scottish, Welsh and Wagyu breakfasts to croffles and Roman-style pizza.
The Wai, Shop 332, Tai Wai, New Territories
2366 1338 | bricklane.com.hk
Celebrating 20 years of culinary creativity
After recently relocating to H-Code, two-Michelin-starred Bo Innovation has created a whimsical ten-course “Arts of Asia” menu to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This imaginative take on modern Chinese cuisine draws inspiration from the renowned Five Oxen painting, mahjong, lotus flowers and bamboo. The result is visually innovative designs on your plate and extravagant flavour combinations that foodies must try this summer! The tasting experience is priced at $1,680 per person, and $1,280 per person for groups of four or more.
1/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
2850 8371 | @bo_innovation_central
Great “surf and turf” for the whole family!
Mouth-watering steak, seafood favourites and decadent desserts are what this newly opened contemporary steakhouse is all about. The star of Carver’s multi-course family menu is a premium Australian Tomahawk cooked on a charcoal grill. The other five courses ($748 per person for four) span hearty savouries to fruity or chocolatey desserts. We like the sound of chicken with lemon, thyme and garlic and the scrumptious side dishes including pancetta mac and cheese and hand-cut chips.
1/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay
carver@cphongkong.com | 5978 5971
Delicacies of an ancient dynasty
Take your taste buds on a journey through China’s ancient Song Dynasty at Jing. It begins with the Capital Kaifeng Wrap as an appetiser: a bean curd skin enclosing bamboo, mushrooms, lobster, scallops and shrimp! Next comes a fragrant fish broth, and then the main course of Emperor Gaozong’s Orange-flavoured Crab Meat. After slow-cooked pork belly with Shaoxing wine and spices, and abalone with fish noodles, the meal finishes with fried almond taro slices with sweet tea. We recommend reserving the private room for 8 to 10 people. The minimum spending requirement is $6,000 per reservation and includes the chance to indulge in a bespoke culinary journey tailored to your unique tastes.
Shop 002, LG1, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty (inside wellwellwell)
9801 3006 | @wearewellwellwell
A summer in Italy
The heart of rustic Italian cooking lies at Michelin-recommended restaurant and bar Ramato. Named after Italy’s prized ramato tomatoes, the menu highlights delicious flavours of southern Italian fare. The all new à la carte menu is filled with nostalgic recipes from Chef Antimo’s nonna, including homemade pappardelle with pork and eggplant ragu ($178), homemade carbonara ($178) and grilled M5 Australian wagyu ribeye to share ($498). Feel like Italian for lunch? Romato also has a new lunch offering, $198 for two courses and $228 for three, where you can choose from a selection of antipasti dishes. Plus, enjoy happy hour tipples priced at $50 each or a sharing pitcher for $298.
G/F, 208 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
2549 0208 | reservations@ramato.hk | ramato.hk
Tiramisu for two, anyone?
Inspired by the grandeur of 1960s Italian opera houses, La Favorita is a flamboyant trattoria at The Sixteenth, offering a summery Italian culinary experience. Till the end of August, indulge in a four-course Summer feast ($398). Sample creamy burrata with Sicilian tomatoes, beef tartare, seafood puttanesca and rich risotto dishes. For the decadent finale, choose from a grand tiramisu for two, a liquorice and white chocolate panna cotta, or a zesty lemon sorbet. In addition to the dinner menu, there are also new Happy Hour sessions from Monday to Friday at the Torino Bar Area, with drinks starting from just $58.
The Sixteenth, 2/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
favorita.hk
Visit the hottest new rooftop venue!
A seat at Cardinal Point’s new bar and sky terrace is the definition of ‘magic hour’ in Hong Kong. The rooftop venue commands panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, and the cocktail menu is inspired by the spirit of travel and exploration. The restaurant, meanwhile, features an international selection of dishes from lamb koftas to pizza and wonderfully flaky French desserts. If you’re feeling the summer buzz, try one of the ‘sexy tropical’ cocktails. Or, for something new, we like the sound of the Pandan Highball ($160) and the Love and Thunder ($160) with vodka and makrut lime.
Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central
3501 8560 | bookings@cardinalpoint.com | cardinalpoint.com.hk
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this July
Comedy, jazz, swing dancing and more!
Basehall’s eclectic second venue is bringing together culinary talents, homegrown brands and live entertainment – all under one roof! Every Thursday night, enjoy a stomach-achingly good laugh with the stand-up series by Comedy HK. There’s also a red hot line-up of music events, beginner-friendly swing sessions and blues dance parties starting this month. On other nights, wine and dine while enjoying the funky and smooth tunes of Hong Kong-born Carpio Brothers Jazz. For beer fans, four taps have been installed for a craft pop-up by Young Master Ales Brewery. And another new addition is joining the party: sustainability focused La Cabane brings its personally selected wines from around the world. For all event ticket purchases, find more details here.
LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
basehall.hk | info@basehall.hk
Capturing Nordic flavours
Heard of New Nordic cuisine? The philosophy is about showcasing what you can do with a sustainable and ethical food production approach. New restaurant Aera, for example, captures the flavour of local ingredients through pickling, smoking, air-drying and fermenting. For dinner, there’s a ten-course tasting menu ($1188 per person) with the option to add on a five-glass wine pairing ($798). Highlights include herbal yellow chicken feet seasoned in tangy lemon juice, and wagyu with truffles. The lunch sets start at $178 per person; we like the sound of the Maltagliati, which includes Italian sausage and cacio e pepe sauce. If you were wondering about the restaurant’s name, “æra” means honour and era in Danish, a dedication to bringing young talent into the kitchen.
Address: G/F, 6 Stewart Road, Wan Chai
2389 9901 | Bookings
Taking flight
Intervals is a sophisticated cocktail bar in the newly opened Skybridge at HKIA. It showcases miniature sips – known appropriately as ‘flights of cocktails’ – which are tailored to how much time you have to spare, depending on how long you’re in transit, for example, or when you might be boarding. The shortest 15-minute experience offers two beverages: To Dream, made with tequila, chamomile-vanilla tea, bianco vermouth, and sparkling wine; and To Wake, a blend of nitro-brewed coffee, Cognac, and topped with a tofu-hazelnut cream. Not in a hurry? Opt for the 30-minute or 45-minute experience with four and six cocktails respectively – and there’s a non-alcoholic flight too. Food offerings include a global take on “pinchos” (tapas-style bar snacks) from an ever-changing rotation of eight types on a roving trolley.
Unit 9SB206, Level 9, Sky Bridge,
Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau
intervalsbar.com | IG @intervalsbar
A bounty of sea treasures
The Amalfi Coast is renowned for its fresh, high-quality seafood. And it’s all thanks to its unique location where the Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Seas meet. This is where Perla has sourced its inspiration to celebrate the cuisine of southern Italy. Situated at 1CC Sky Dining 101, if the views of Victoria Harbour don’t impress, perhaps the 2.5m-wide aquarium with the catch of the day will. That’s before you experience Perla’s six-course tasting menu ($1680), which includes raw squid cut into spaghetti, steamed Brittany blue lobster and, for mains, a selection of Mediterranean fish or Carabineros red prawn. For a sweet finish, the Sorrentina cream puff with homemade Amalfi limoncello is a must-try!
Shop B1, 101/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui
3618 7880 | perlarestauranthk.com
Funky fusion experiences
As the neighbourhood of Shek Tong Tsui gains popularity, exciting new haunts are popping up. Just like Vie Won Won! Originally in Causeway Bay, the restaurant’s new chapter is a funky fusion dining experience set in an eclectic two-storey space. The restaurant aims to appeal to everyone with an open-minded approach and by celebrating inclusivity. So you can try dining in the dark to raise awareness for those vision impaired, see fabulous Drag Queen Shows and bring your furry family for terrace dining! The menu is just as loveable, with signature matcha lamb chops, a hearty steak with sausage, eggs, hash browns and mushrooms, plus whimsical desserts. The set menu for two is $768, or it’s $1428 for four.
8 South Lane, Shek Tong Tsui
5920 2838 | sevengoodlook.com/pages/viewonwon
Did someone say chilli crab?
Transport your taste buds to Southeast Asia with a Malaysian and Singaporean lunch and dinner buffet at The Lounge. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows at this JW Marriott venue are sure to impress along with the vast selection of iconic dishes. Just for July and August, try out the rojak salad with fruit, vegetables, dough sticks and a spicy peanut flavour, or the Bak Kut Teh or five-spice pork rolls from Malaysia. Adding more spice to the lunch menu are classic Singaporean favourites including char kway teow, nasi lemak, laksa and Hainanese chicken rice – not to mention pandan-flavoured desserts! The dinner menu takes things up a notch with made-to-order prawn noodle soup (Penang Har Mee), fried chilli crab and a durian station preparing heavenly crepes filled with the tropical fruit. Find out more and make a reservation on JW eShop.
88 Queensway, Admiralty
2810 8366 | jwmarriott.hk@marriotthotels.com
Feminism-focused speakeasy
Step through The Green Door and into a New York-style speakeasy! Set in the middle of a bustling wet market in Hong Kong and inspired by Alice in Wonderland, this bar aims to transport guests into a mysterious magical world. Every aspect of the design represents an ode to feminism, from the bar’s ecclesiastical interior to the art inside and cocktail names. The Marie ($170) is a twist on a Bloody Mary, Julia ($140) combines tequila with tropical flavours, and Dominicana ($140) a sweet concoction of rum and mint chocolate ice cream. If you get hungry, there’s also a selection of old-style American bar food, including prawn cutlets ($120), clams ($120), sirloin steak ($550) and classic American pie ($90).
LG/F, Welley Building, 97 Wellington Street, Central
Book via Instagram: @thegreendoor.bar
LA nostalgia
Chef Esdras started his culinary journey over 16 years ago in the melting pot of Los Angeles. To commemorate his start in the culinary world he’s giving diners a taste of what it’s like on 1st/Beaudry Avenue in Downtown LA. His new restaurant, called 1st and Beaudry, has a hipster vibe and a relaxing atmosphere with art pieces dotted throughout the space. The brunch-style fare is not to be missed and includes colourful dishes like Sunset Boulevard ($118), a vibrant vegetable-forward salad. For those looking for something more hearty, you can’t go past the M.B Chowdah ($128). This classic clam chowder is served in a sourdough bread bowl. There’s also loaded sandwiches, innovative tacos and nostalgic smashed burgers served on “In-N-Out” trays (just ask the kitchen for it!).
7/F, 43 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang
Book via Instagram: @1st_and_beaudry
Paradiso pop-up
For two nights only, DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong is set to host an exclusive pop-up by Paradiso – number one in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. From 9pm until midnight on 16 and 17 July, try five of Paradiso’s most popular cocktails. These include: Evolution Negroni, a quirky take infused with mango and vanilla; Tesla, a mix of gin, lemon verbena, edible flowers and raspberry; and Copper, featuring Scotch whiskey infused with pink pepper. Arguably the most Insta-worthy cocktail is The Cloud, with hibiscus-infused mezcal, vermouth and xylitol cordial, finished with a floating edible cappuccino cloud! All cocktails are priced from $180. Book via SevenRooms here.
Level Two, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
darkside.hk
Inspired by the chaos and beauty of Napoli
While Rome may be the heart of Italy, Napoli is the soul. The Italian city is defined by friendly people, beauty … and a bit of chaos! More importantly, it has really good pizza! After travelling through the region, Pizzeria Napoletana Falcone has opened at IFC with a new menu that explores neo-Neapolitan style pizza and pasta. There’s a 1500kg custom-made Pavesi brick oven fired up, with a trained pizzaiola (pizza maker!) ready to make some dough. While pizza is the spotlight, the menu also highlights seafood – for instance, in the linguine alle vongole (clams sauteed with white wine, $258) and the gamberi al forno (oven-baked soft shell prawns with a Calabrian chilli butter, $238) and more.
Main Atrium, IFC Mall, Central
pizzeriafalcone.com
Cocktail bar, cabaret and late-night soiree
Brought to you by the award-winning architect and visionary behind Iron Fairies, The Mixing Room and Dragonfly is a new bar called Maggie Choo’s. The inspiration behind this venue is a story of an orphaned girl who discovers a hidden door leading to an abandoned bank built by the East India Company in 1847 in her family’s antique shop. The space has since been transformed into an extravagant secret cabaret destination.
Maggie Choo’s is a glamorous nightlife destination featuring a unique vintage bank-teller counter turned cocktail bar space, a team of choreographed dancers, an ever-changing roster of jazz and blues acts, and a resident DJ spinning beats past midnight. The opulent space oozes escapism and the old-world glamour of the Far East. Plus, the cocktail program offers classic elixirs given a modern twist, concoctions inspired by the Prohibition era along with a great selection of snacks, charcuterie and cheese boards.
Shop 1, G/F, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central
WhatsApp 6250 6000 | maggiechoos.com.hk
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this June
A Mediterranean Medley
New Central restaurant Basin combines French, Spanish and Italian cuisines to create fresh and flavourful dishes inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a cosy and modern space where groups are encouraged to share the à la carte offerings or seasonal tasting menu ($590) space; another must-try is the new La Mediterranee Brunch (from $398). The menu includes oysters and meatballs for starters, with mains such as a seabass for two, and fresh tagliatelle with clams. Also, stick around for an after-dinner sorbet or crumble for dessert. Add on free-flow rosé for $240 and champagne for $380.
3/F, FOCO Building 46-48 Cochrane Street, Central
Dishes from Down Under
If the name doesn’t give it away, G’Day is bringing laid-back Aussie dining to Hong Kong. The menu includes classic dishes from Oz with a creative twist to suit a HK palate. For brekkie, there’s a new take on the classic bacon and egg sandwich called the G’sanga ($162); later in the day, you can enjoy chilled octopus with pickled jalapenos ($138) or a lamb rack inspired by Australia’s love of all things grilled. On Tuesdays, a limitless Aussie BBQ ($268) features the G’Day Platter – melt-in-your-mouth ribs, charred wings, sausages, roasted corn on the cob, creamy potato salad, and crispy duck fat fries. Then on Fridays, tuck into unlimited Australian mussels and striploin steak (HK$468). Expert baristas whip up specialty drinks, and there are desserts from Chef Yen’s pastry chef partner and even a doggy bowl for your four-legged friend.
Shop A G/F, Nam Cheong Building, 48-52 Hill Road
5436 5358
New Neapolitan Nibbles
After receiving a Michelin star, Estro is launching a new lunch, dinner and chef’s table experience. Celebrating Chef Antimo Maria Merone’s Neapolitan roots, there are three-, four- and five-course options for lunch starting from $680. Highlights include red prawn with pannacotta, and fettuccia with blue lobster and chilli. Dinner is either six or eight courses, and includes new offerings such as Hokkaido scallops topped with Amalfi lemon and Sicilian pistachio sauce, along with squid ink scialatelli pasta and Spanish baby lamb rack and loin. There are new additions to the Hong Kong restaurant’s dessert menu too. Oh, and the chef’s table menu experience that launched in February is back, with a special curated menu and a chance to witness the magic inside the kitchen.
Level 2, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
reservations@estro.hk | estro.hk
Looking for lunch sets?
In the heart of central, Singular Concepts brings together three hidden lunch spots with fantastic set meal offerings. At Yurakucho, step into a vibrant underground world with an Izakaya watering-hole culture and order the $148 set lunch. This includes two starters, a main, dessert and coffee or tea. For Filipino flavours, Barkada has build-your-own-lunch plates from $118, which include a mix-and-match selection with garlic rice and fried egg, cauliflower rice or lettuce wraps, plus a drink. Meanwhile, for something a bit more upmarket, Bianco is providing a European executive dinner with a Spanish twist and perfect wine pairings from $688 per person.
singularconcepts.com | yurakucho.hk | barkada.hk
Must-try local brews!
Are you caught up in the craft brewing craze? If so, this local beer brand should be on your radar. Named BOB – Bottle of Bread, these craft beers are made using surplus bread, bread crusts and coffee grounds. The result is a fantastic brew that gives food waste a second life and supports local start-ups, all while achieving carbon reductions. The original BOB ($48) is a citrusy Pale Ale with medium body and a refreshing honey taste. This bear actually won a Certificate of Bronze (Pale Ale) at the Hong Kong International Beer Awards. Meanwhile, the newly introduced Coffee BOB ($55) combines bitter and sweet to create a darker flavour profile. Find more information on BOB sales outlets online.
A whimsical afternoon tea
We’re always eager to find out what’s new in Hong Kong’s afternoon tea scene. So when the Island Shangri La unveiled a new experience, we had to investigate! In collaboration with Japanese artist Mika Ninagawa, the ‘Find Your Shangri-La’ themed afternoon tea is available until 31 July. It’s all about creating a charming new world using tea stands with golden birds and butterflies, hummingbird chocolate mousse, caramel jelly and hazelnut sponge; sakura butterfly mousse with souffle sponge cake, and a foie gras éclair. The tea set ($880 per person) is served with a fine selection of Shangri-La teas or coffee and available for seatings from 2pm and 4pm.
Supreme Court Road, Admiralty
2877 3838 | lobbylounge.isl@shangri-la.com | shangri-la.com
A new app for foodies
What if there was a way to keep all your reservations, rewards and exclusive dining offers in one place? Pirata Group has launched an app so you can access information about the group’s 27 restaurants at the touch of a button. You can access menus, addresses, maps, opening hours, dining news, promotions and special events. Plus, every user who downloads the app receives a $100 voucher after their first dining experience. Find it on the App Store and Google Play Store.
New Teppanyaki in Central
With the intricate knife skills of Head Chef Yoshiyuki Sato an amazing highlight, Kaen Teppanyaki has opened at Forty-Five in Landmark, offering a unique dining experience with both teppan and binchotan grill cooking. There’s a wide selection of traceable wagyu cuts, plus daily flown-in seafood and vegetables. The restaurant also has executive lunch courses in signature sets including the likes of Wagyu Donburi, Unaju and Wagyu Steak Ju, as well as teppanyaki options. For dinner, two tasting menus are available, with a seafood or wagyu focus.
Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central
2155 9191 | sevenrooms.com/reservations/kaenteppanyaki
A slice of Rome in Soho
Popular hospitality figure Lorenzo Antinori has opened Bar Leone, his first independent venture, on Bridges Street. Inspired by Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood where he grew up, the bar aims to create a neighbourhood spot that celebrates classic cocktails with a “low intervention” approach emphasising craftsmanship, ingredients and seasonality. Signature cocktails include the Leone Martini and a revived Bellini, along with a “Friends and Fam” menu featuring collaborative creations and partnerships with like-minded brands and individuals.
G/F, 11-15 Bridges Street, Central
barleonehk.com
An afternoon tipple with tea
Esteemed mixologist Antonio Lai (frequently name-dropped in Asia’s 50 Best Bars) is collaborating with Plantation Tea Bar to bring six new tea-infused cocktails to Sai Wan’s bar scene. Available from 6pm till late, you can enjoy the likes of Jasmine Sake and Da Hong Pao Whiskey with bitters, ginger syrup and liquorice. For something a little more tangy, there’s a Tangerine Puerh Rum with tangerine peel syrup and hawthorn cordial. These can all be made non-alcoholic too. The tea bar also offers seasonal four-course Tea Tasting Menus, the latest of which focuses on China’s famous Longjing tea and Taiwanese Oolong.
18 Po Tuck Street, Sai Wan
WhatsApp 5596 6254 | plantation.hk
Make your life Pici!
Pici’s Pasta Rodeo menu is promising to knock your cowboy boots off! Grab two starters, two mains and a Pici peach crumble ($140) to share for dessert. So saddle up, because this limited Rodeo offer of five beefy dishes only runs until 25 June. While you eat, watch Christian Zameranos and the other passionate chefs plating up dishes from baked bone marrow with sourdough ($170) to slow-cooked Westholme wagyu beef tongue ($120) from Northern Australia. The tagliatelle short ribs ($230), meanwhile, features Angus on the bone in a Chianti red wine and saffron sauce. Alternatively, the Cavaletti alla Genovese Napoletana ($170) showcases M6 wagyu brisket in white wine with aged cheese. With carafes of chianti and zesty limoncello rounding out the meal, Pici’s hoedown deal is one of the best in town!
Locations across Hong Kong
pici.hk
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this May
Mellow Meals with Kids
Looking for a new spot to take the kids out for a meal? Overlooking Quarry Bay Park, Jello & Mellow is a pastel coloured paradise for families. The idea is to bring together all-day dining and interactive indoor play so your little ones stay engaged while you can relax and enjoy your meal. The kids’ menu has a range of colourful and healthy dishes and comfort foods to suit even the fussiest youngsters. For the whole family, there’s a range of snacks and staples like pasta, noodles and pizza. Drink choices include shakes and smoothies to soft drinks, juice, tea and coffee. Adults can also order an afternoon beverage from the menu of wine, champagne, spirits, cocktails and beers.
9/F, 1001 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
hello@jelloandmellow.hk.
Farmhouse Flavours
The popular lunch and dinner buffets at The Farmhouse at Hyatt Centric are serving up flavours of the Mediterranean until 18 June. The signature live stations will be making orders for creamy risotto with pearl barley and lobster, freshly sliced Iberico ham and crema Catalina. Other highlights include Turkish oxtail stew and Italian sausages. And dessert lovers won’t want to miss the Mediterranean classic of churros with chocolate sauce, or the coffee panna cotta. Diners will also get to enjoy freshly-made red and white sangria from a dedicated Sangria Bar during dinnertime, at no extra charge.
2/F (West Tower), 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point
hyattcentrichongkong.com
Lebanese Lunch
A finalist in the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2021, Maison du Mezze has rolled out a great-value Lebanese set-lunch menu on weekdays. Dine in from Monday to Friday, between 12pm and 3pm, and enjoy a three-course menu from $208, with a cold starter or mezze, a main dish and a dessert. The restaurant is like entering a Middle Eastern mansion, with marble embellishments and odes to traditional patterns. The food is equally as impressive, with à la carte highlights like the classic mixed hummus platter ($180) or baba ghanoush ($98) served with fresh house-baked pita. Crowd favourites include moussaka ($128) and a show-stopping spiced-marinated lamb, slow cooked for 12 hours ($512). To finish, try creamy rice pudding with ice cream or traditional deep-fried sweet dumplings. The drinks menu features wines from Lebanon and spice-inspired drinks. T
G/F, Shop G10, Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel 9 Yi Tung Road, Lantau
2330 0131 | chesshouserestaurants.com
Two-Night Culinary Adventure
Chef Shane Osborn from Arcane and Chef Stanley Wong from CulinArt 1862 are putting their creative forces together for a seven-course culinary experience! On 16 and 17 May, the special menu starts with an amuse bouche and lightly cured Hokkaido scallops, followed by a unique blend of quark cheese and Kristal caviar, and then gnocchi with morels, broad beans and wild garlic. The main event is a smoky binchotan-grilled Australian wagyu striploin, and, to finish, strawberry mille feuille with rhubarb sorbet and petit fours. Both nights will be held at CulinArt 1862 and are $1.388 per person with a wine-pairing option available for $688.
1/F, Chinachem Leighton Plaza, 29 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay
2884 2603 | culinart1862.com
New in Wan Chai
Michelin-awarded chefs and long-time friends Agustin Ferrando Balbi (Andō) and Ricardo Chaneton (MONO) are coming together for their first co-venture. Presenting a fresh take on Latin American cuisine, Rosita combines culinary influences from Japan and France. The TacOmakase Mondays special encapsulates this idea by experimenting with the beloved taco – in an omakase style. The Monday menu is $888 per guest and features fantastic new flavour combinations like king oyster mushroom and cacahuate salsa, and duck carnitas with a tamarind mole.
1-7 Ship Street, Wan Chai
9726 4188 (WhatsApp) | rosita.hk
Cakes & Bakes
Beautiful bespoke cakery VIVE has a new home in Gough Street and is now proving a popular spot for brunch, thanks to an Insta-worthy menu including classic Aussie avocado toast served with poached eggs, bacon and sourdough and doused in rich hollandaise sauce. Depending on your appetite, you can opt for a lighter granola bowl, or go all out with a full breakfast including crispy waffle-cut hash browns! There’s also a wafu pasta with umami sauce; roasted eggplant with coconut couscous and pumpkin puree; tender beef tongue sandwiches; and classic fish and chips. And yes, VIVE’s cakes are on offer too. Try the Thai milk-tea-inspired chiffon cake, or the pistachio tiramisu. Drinks include fresh juices, nine tea choices, and signature hand-drip coffees from a professional barista using locally roasted beans.
G/F, 12 Gough Street, Central
instagram.com/vive.cafe
Fruit Forward
Today’s drinking culture is full of curiosity and a desire to try new flavours and combinations. One thing gaining more attention from mixologists – including the team at new bar Orchard – is the use of fruit spirits. Step into this nature-inspired bar, and you’ll put all five senses to the test with the likes of the Tropical Punch, which includes a base of Framboise eau de vie and a balance of sweet tropical fruits and sour strawberry. Or try the Bliss, featuring a four-year-aged plum brandy called La Vieille Prune and Orchard’s house-made purple sweet potato liqueur to bring out an earthy flavour. There are also exciting spin-offs such as a fizzy colada and a twist on the classic cocktail Vieux Carre.
G/F, 28 Gage Street, Central
9881 1984 | orchardhk.com
Hong Kong Highlights
It’s a big call to create a menu called Flavours of Hong Kong, so Chinesology has teamed up with four local brands that have been around for over 70 years to make sure they’ve nailed it. The dishes show appreciation for the craftsmanship of Tiu Yuen Soy Company, Ser Wong Fun, Lee Hoong Kee and Kam Hing Noodles. Highlights include crispy fried chicken, lotus leaf-steamed ma yau fish, jinhua ham soup, abalone with pan-fried crispy noodles, and fermented soybean paste ice cream. And you can enjoy them all with a 180-degree panorama of Victoria Harbour. The 10-course menu ($2,288) includes two signature cocktails and a one-glass wine pairing. The cocktails are also inspired; “Claypot Rice” features snake wine with a piece of homemade rice crust as a garnish.
Shop 3101, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, Central
chinesology.com
Elevated Veggies
With a name derived from the French word for foliage, Feuille is the new vision of talented chef David Toutain, whose eponymous Paris restaurant earned two Michelin stars. Working in collaboration with executive chef Joris Rousseau, the dishes bring healthy eating to the fore, with a multi-course tasting menu that showcases the versatility of local vegetables and sustainably sourced meat and seafood. In addition, a vegetarian menu will creatively use every aspect of vegetables, from the seeds, stems and roots to the flowers and leaves. And the bonus? The dishes also highlight the very best of French cooking technique to create intricate layers of flavour.
5/F, 198 Wellington Street, Central
zshospitality.com
A Reduced Footprint
It’s not always easy to find a sustainable and eco-friendly eatery in HK, which is why Hyatt Regency is partnering with local fish farm Aqua Millennium to reduce its environmental impact. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Café, for instance, will feature new fresh local seafood in dishes such as steamed batfish with garlic, spring onion and soya sauce, white croaker with a Thai green mango salad and Cajun spice, and crispy-fried pompano fish cake. And the à la carte menu at Sha Tin 18 includes local soft-shell lobster wok-fried with garlic, chilli and spices. The Aqua Millennium fish farm dishes are available at various times over May and June.
18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, New Territories
hyattregencyhongkongshatin.com
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this April
5 fab food spots at Forty-Five
Brilliant news for foodies, in the form of five new experiential dining concepts set to open in a single location, atop Gloucester Tower in Landmark. The brainchild of hospitality group Leading Nation (The Diplomat, Wagyumafia) and property group Hongkong Land, Forty-Five will be home to a range of exciting dining concepts.
First cab off the rank, with a soft-opening from late March, is The Merchants, serving classic Shanghainese food. Following over the course of the second and third quarter of 2023 will be Kaen Teppanyaki, a Japanese steakhouse; Cardinal Point, a restaurant and lounge featuring sweeping views of Hong Kong from the Sky Terrace; The Cristal Room, the first French fine-dining restaurant in HK by the multi-Michelin-starred Anne-Sophie Pic; and a private members’ club, the Gloucester Arts Club.
The interior design of Forty-Five aims to showcase the distinctive culinary and creative DNA of the five different concepts, along with the unique character of Hong Kong. One highlight will be a rotating collection of artworks by cutting-edge Asian and Western artists.
45/F, Gloucester Tower, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central
leadingnation.com
Jazz and brunch at Hue
Turns out you can upgrade your brunch with more than champagne and harbour views! Modern Australian restaurant Hue is bringing live jazz music to brunch every Sunday. While enjoying the view of Victoria Harbour, sip on Gosset champagne from the world’s oldest champagne house and tuck into a brunch menu that includes a selection of starters to share, one main and one dessert for $480 per person. Free-flow options are available too from $380, including champagne, ten premium red and white wine choices and bloody marys.
The menu starts with a spread of house-made dishes for sharing, including bread with silky smoked butter and black sea salt, seaweed crackers with smoked paprika and whipped cod’s roe and a variety of salads. For mains, we like the look of the limestone coast wagyu flank steak served with confit garlic and maitake mushroom in Madeira sauce. Or if you’re a pasta lover or vegetarian, try the angel hair pasta with chives, parmesan emulsion and black truffle. Dessert includes a quintessential Australian pavlova with lemon curd and white chocolate, and a rich lava Basque cheese tart with hazelnut praline candy.
The restaurant’s dining room is also showing a revolving collection of art installations from the Tanya Baxter Contemporary Art gallery.
1/F Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
3500 5888 | huedining.com.hk
Spring cocktails & Japanese tea time at Room 3
Sakura season is here and if you’re not planning a visit to Japan, why not take your tastebuds on a journey of cherry blossom-inspired flavours instead? Urban gastrobar Room 3 (“Room San”) is serving up tapas-style teatime treats from 4pm to 7pm daily.
The Tanoshi Afternoon Tea Voyage presents eight izakaya savoury snacks and a raindrop cake for dessert. First, try the yakitori favourites including chicken soft bone, minced chicken with Japanese egg and garlic chicken wings. Then, cleanse your palate with crunchy pickled burdock root before trying the rich flavours of snow crab meat tobiko and tossed mentaiko udon. The sweet finale is Mizu Shingen Mochi, a glistening black sugar, roasted soybean and seaweed treat.
The set is priced at $388 for two people, including a drink each. You can choose from house wine, beer, juice, soft drink or Sakura tea, or enjoy a specially crafted cherry blossom-inspired cocktail for $88 instead of the normal price of $150. The Sakura Blossom, for example, is made from vodka laced with sakura leaves, gently balanced by fresh lemongrass, maraschino cherry liqueur and egg white for a creamy finish. There’s also a Sakura Negroni, and the peach-infused, gin-based Sakura Cha.
The drinks can be enjoyed at Room 3’s neighbouring sister restaurant Kappou Mu, too.
UG01-03, UG/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
6361 8505 | Bookings here
Victoria 22 guest chef
Celebrity Chef Charmaine Cheung has spent her career exploring Western and Southeast Asian cuisine, embarking on culinary travels through North America, Europe and Asia. She has helmed kitchens and restaurants all over the world, hosts the show My Private Kitchen and has authored multiple books and articles.
This April, join the culinary maestro at Victoria 22 to enjoy a fusion of flavours. Every Monday to Wednesday in the month, excluding public holidays, there’s a six-course lunch from 11.30am to 2.30pm ($550) with a late afternoon “Amuse-Bouche” session from 3 to 5pm ($698). There are three alternative preference options for the six courses, including Seafood Symphony, Meat Quartet and Vegetarian Harmony menus.
Highlights include the chef’s poached hand-dive scallops drizzled with spinach sauce and topped with yuzu, microgreens, and horseradish, and her duck confit rice paired with an unexpected choice of shrimp pasta, ginger and sake. The lunch and afternoon menus are also accompanied by free-flow for $320 or à la carte drinks.
22/F, Sugar+, 25-31 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay
crystal@victoria-22.com | victoria-22.com
Shangri-La buffets
Why are buffets so loved? The variety, for starters! Take the current offerings from the Shangri-La chain, for example. Cafe TOO on Hong Kong Island is putting seafood centre stage at its brunch buffet (from $498), with Boston lobster, brown crab, mussels and crab legs. There’s also Japanese sashimi, handrolls and a sushi counter. Plus, a pop-up counter features Michelin-starred Yat Lok’s Roast Goose, and On Lee’s Fish Ball Noodles.
Or head over to Kowloon, where Café Kool features 12 live kitchens cooking up a storm of Asian, Western and Indian gourmet dishes plus lobster and freshly shucked oysters. You can also enjoy red curry crab in Thai style, lobster bisque, pasta and tempting desserts. The buffet is priced from $428 per person for lunch and $728 for dinner.
At Big Bay Cafe at the Kerry Hotel, seed-to-table and farm-to-fork dining are being celebrated. The ethically sourced ingredients include produce grown in a secret garden at the hotel itself. Try the fragrant roasted chicken with black truffles, or barbecued pork and Caesar salad. Kids can even pick their own hydroponic tomatoes from a claw machine! And each table receives a DIY kit to grow a plant at home (until 30 April; $398 for lunch, $708 for dinner).
Sign up for free as a Shangri-La Circle Member and enjoy an exclusive buy-2-get-1-free offer on lunch and dinner buffets, available until 30 April using promo code HKSLC032023.
Café TOO at Island Shangri-La | 2820 8571
Café Kool at Kowloon Shangri-La | 2733 8753
Big Bay Café at Kerry Hotel | 2252 5246
181 Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea
When it comes to classic afternoon tea, Fortnum & Mason is a British institution, serving fresh baked cakes, warm scones and fresh finger sandwiches for centuries. The menu in the HK branch has all the delicious classics you expect across three menus to help you while away an afternoon. The Afternoon Tea menu features finger sandwiches with smoked salmon, suffolk ham and coronation chicken, plus sultana and cranberry scones with clotted cream, strawberry preserve and lemon curd, and a selection of individual pastries. With the vegetarian option, the sandwiches include cucumber and mint cream cheese, cheddar with fig and fennel chutney and more.
Also on offer is the famous Scotch Egg, invented by Fortnum’s in 1738 as a portable snack for travellers. Other standouts include a choice of Welsh rarebit, lobster omelette and twice-baked goat’s cheese souffle. All this is $588 per person ($288 for children) and served with a pot of Fortnum’s tea. Add a glass of Blanc de Blanc champagne for a total of $688 or non-alcoholic sparkling tea for $648.
Special offer: Until 21 April, enjoy two-for-one on Classic Afternoon Tea set menus at 181 Fortnum & Mason when booking on a weekday (not available on public holidays).
Shop 022, G/F, K11 Atelier Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
3916 8181 | Fortnum & Mason
Sunday dim sum at Ho Le Fook
Step into Ho Le Fook on Sunday afternoon and you’ll find a playful wall of waving golden lucky cats, the sound of flame-fired woks, and an afternoon banquet of unlimited dim sum! (Plus a bottle of champagne per guest!) Named the Good Fortune Club, these Sunday sessions (from 12pm on the first Sunday of the month) are full of the flavour and energy of Hong Kong’s dim sum culture.
For $988 per guest, you can fill up on new menu items including har gow, pork siu mai, crab, prawn and beetroot dumplings and fried taro puffs with wagyu beef and black truffle. Plus Ho Lee Fook’s iconic hand-chopped pork jowl and cabbage dumplings. There are also classic Cantonese dishes, including the chef’s seasonal greens and prawn roe stirred noodles with crispy scallop.
For dessert, try Chef ArChan’s “love letter to Hong Kong” in the form of the Ho Lee Fook Mahjong Tiles. The dessert is a tofu sorbet served with longan granita, dates, goji berries and white fungus. The signature pandan milk bread French toast with peanut butter, smoked maple syrup and toasted coconut is also available.
G/F, 1-5 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central
2810 0860 | holeefook.com.hk/good-fortune-club
Crown Super Delux set lunch
Stepping into the Crown Super Delux, jazz and chilled funk music set the tone for an experience inspired by Rocky Aoki’s “American dream” and by Kobe teppanyaki. As Hong Kong’s hustle and bustle returns, so do midday escapes in the city; and this venue boasts a set lunch served in under an hour. Still, they won’t tell if you linger a little longer – and you may just want to with the spread of premium meats and refreshing flavours.
Take a seat in the mid-century armchairs and order the chuushoku lunch set. The menu kicks off with a refreshing mizuna salad, followed by an optional add on teppan-cooked Hokkaido scallop or tiger prawn and grilled vegetables. The star is the choice of US prime tenderloin (160g, $428), Australian wagyu ribeye (160g; $688) or marbled A5 Kagoshima wagyu tenderloin (120g; $828) and sirloin (140g; $828). The meal is rounded out with garlic fried rice and miso soup. Plus, for a sweet hit before returning to the office, there’s a yuzu sorbet.
Crown Super Deluxe is open daily from noon to 3pm for lunch and 6pm to 10pm for dinner.
Mezzanine, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
reservations@crownsuperdeluxe.com | 2111 8434 | crownsuperdeluxe.com
Bino N Booze – hotpot & dumplings
New on the block in Sham Shui Po is Bino N Booze. The spirited venue features a vibrant palette of orange and green inspired by a blend of East and West. The restaurant pays homage to traditional Hong Kong hotpot flavours with a creative twist such as alcohol-infused signature soup bases.
Among the hotpot soup flavours is a red wine, oxtail and tomato blend, and a seafood soup using Japanese kelp, bonito flakes, flower crabs and mussels, with Nanshan sake. Alternatively, try the peppery pig tripe and chicken in beer soup! There’s a vegetarian mushroom base available too.
Meanwhile, the restaurant’s hand-wrapped dumplings are experimental and boast ultra-thin skin. The signature dumplings include abalone and black truffle, and drunken chicken dumplings filled with hua diao wine to enhance the tenderness of the chicken.
All the desserts are vegetarian friendly, including brown sugar glutinous rice cake, brown sugar ice jelly, house-made ice cream, and yuzu sorbet. Plus check out the Grand Opening deal, with a lobster on offer for every $1,500 spent on menu items!
Shop A, GF & 1/F, 205 Hai Tan Street, Sham Shui Po
2682 4300 | binonbooze.com
Hyatt Sha Tin 18 X Plant Sifu
Sha Tin 18 at the Hyatt is well known for promoting local food and authentic Chinese cuisine. Another focus of the restaurant is green dining and plant-based meats. The new Spring menu is a reflection of these interests. It mixes and matches Plant Sifu brand plant-based meat with classic ingredients to preserve authentic dim sum flavours.
On offer are five choices of dim sum, which you can watch the chefs create in the open kitchen using steamed plant-based pork. Options include a take on a traditional bun with fluffy dough filled with Chinese preserved vegetables and plant-based meat, and a dumpling made with crispy fried plant-based pork in a spicy marinated cabbage spring roll. Or, for a splash of colour, go for the hand-diced beetroot and pink dumpling skin infused with beetroot juice!
Plant Sifu use konjac and 100% plant ingredients, combined with AROMAX technology. The result is no added MSG, preservatives, antibiotics or cholesterol. While its fat content is nearly 90% less than real pork, the texture and taste are remarkably similar to real meat.
4/F, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin
3723 1234 | hyatt.com
A new incarnation of Francis
After bringing the flavours of the Middle East and contemporary dining to Wan Chai for five years, Francis has opened a new branch in Soho. At Francis West, you can expect fragrant spices and the smoky flavours of the Maghreb, an Arabic term meaning “place where the sun sets”. Consisting of Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco, the region’s cuisine marries Mediterranean and African flavours, intermingled with ancient Arab cooking traditions.
Menu highlights that showcase this rich culinary heritage include mashwiya, a Tunisian grilled salad, stone-baked frena (Moroccan flatbread), spanner crab with chraime, a spicy sauce made from tomatoes and paprika, and a lamb merguez. Francis classics remain on the menu, while wine is also front and centre. The list is sourced exclusively from the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and features highly regarded historic producers alongside emerging winemakers.
The courtyard has a warm, welcoming Moroccan theme while the intimate tapas bar takes inspiration from southern Spain. The result is a vibrant and bright new neighbourhood hang-out.
Felicity Building, 42 & 44 Peel Street, Central
info@francis.com.hk | sevenrooms.com/reservations/franciswest
New restaurants, bars and menus to try this March
Filipino Flavour
Singular Concepts’ new fusion restaurant Barkada is a joint collaboration with influencer Jen Balisi (@IndulgentEats), and it brings Filipino soul and Hong Kong heart to Central. The word barkada means “a group of friends” in Tagalog, and you’ll want to bring yours along to enjoy the savoury, sour, sweet and spicy sharing plates on offer. Jen recommends trying the adobo popcorn chicken, lumpiang Shanghai spring rolls and sizzling sisig; you’ll also find charcoal-grilled meats, noodle dishes, unique desserts and cocktails that play on Southeast Asian flavours. The stylish retro interior includes a karaoke machine!
Dining at the Regent
Regent Hong Kong is now open after an extensive makeover and a reflagging from the InterContinental name, as are some of its previous iconic dining spots. Modern, light-filled Harbourside has a waterfront garden setting, with lunch and dinner buffets including Western, Indian, Chinese and local dishes. The reimagined Steakhouse features quality cuts from Spain, Japan, Uruguay and Australia, and an interior of Japanese burnt-wood panels. And The Lobby Lounge’s stunning harbour views feature from breakfast to dinner – grab a morning coffee here, or a classic afternoon tea, or make it a late-night cocktail and dessert instead.
Inspired by Izakaya
In Japan, when 5pm rolls around, you don’t go to the pub but to an izakaya. Another new venue from Singular Concepts, Yurakucho in Central offers this izakaya watering-hole culture in Hong Kong. Named for a district of Toyko where izakayas abound under brick arches and beneath elevated train tracks, the eatery has a live open kitchen grill and a soundtrack of underground hip-hop. Dishes we suggest trying include the katsu sandos, garlic butter edamame and chicken karaage. Plus, there’s an extensive sake and cocktail menu for the full izakaya experience.
IG: @yurakucho.hk
Food for a Cause
Combining kindness and community with delicious food, Rén is a pop-up aimed at raising funds for charities in Hong Kong. Founder Jo Soo-Tang’s first event in February was in collaboration with the Hong Kong Student Aid Society and brought people together for a three-course meal and fine wines. The team behind this unique restaurant concept is seeking to use its F&B network to maximise the impact on charities and change the scope of HK’s foodie scene.
More events will roll out this year, so keep an eye on Instagram (@renhk__) for updates.
A Lively Location
Located on the 11th floor of Sugar+ in Causeway Bay, Vivere celebrates authentic Italian cuisine, specialising in seafood dishes inspired by Italy’s coastline. The scallop and tiger prawn risotto is a favourite, though we’re also eyeing off the menu’s roasted lamb rack and rich sausage ragu. After sunset, Vivere transforms to focus on fun and excitement (the restaurant’s name means “to be alive”, after all!). This sassy alter ego brings quality music and drinks till late, with DJs featuring each Saturday – and even a monthly Drag Show Brunch!
Spanish Treats
Causeway Bay has welcomed Calle Ocho, a new tapas restaurant/bar with a nod to Spain’s historic Madrid de Los Austrias neighbourhood. A tiled façade, 25-foot hand-drawn mural and flamenco paintings set the scene. The Jamon Bar sees premium Iberico ham carved in front of your eyes, while the second floor offers intimate dining and private rooms overlooking Victoria Park. Dishes range from tuna tartar with avocado wasabi puree and sea urchin in a crispy ice-cream cone ($180) to grilled Spanish cuttlefish ($160) and arroz negro, a squid ink paella with spicy calamari ($280). Finish with a tempting dessert treat and a smooth red or white sangria.
Best of Bali
Three of Bali’s culinary stars are bringing the island’s vibrant cuisine, laid-back party vibes and signature cocktails to Test Kitchen in Hong Kong. Available from 16 to 18 March, this pop-up dinner experience, “Four Hands Two Shakers”, will see chefs Stephen Moore and Benjamin Cross and mixologist Zac de Git showcase Balinese food finesse with an eight-course sharing menu ($980 with a complimentary cocktail). It includes coffee sourdough with sugar-cured salmon, black garlic taco, turbot with kombu crips and passionfruit jelly, while a curated playlist creates the perfect backdrop.
Super Skewers
Kushitei has arrived in HK, serving an array of batter-dipped, deep-fried morsels on bamboo skewers, called kushi. Hailed in Japan for its signature thin and crunchy coating, the new restaurant in TST offers two omakase menus. The 10-course version kicks off with wagyu sirloin drizzled in truffle sauce, followed by angel shrimp and more, while the 12-course menu includes salmon, pork tenderloin, grilled eel and yellowtail. You can go à la carte, too, choosing the likes of edamame and seared Kurosatsuma chicken breast. Kushitei has an extensive sake list and wines to complement each course.
IG: @kushitei_hk
Meaty Feasts
Recently opened in Soho, Macelle Italian Steakhouse – with a name inspired by the Italian word for butcher – is a quick and casual restaurant that cuts out the middleman to bring fresh, premium produce at affordable prices. The indoor and alfresco dining spaces have a relaxed trattoria vibe, and the menu includes sharing dishes such as a 1kg Angus Fiorentina steak (2 people, $695) and a wagyu rump (3-4 people, $995). The set lunch ($165) centres around the steak or fish of the day, with a selection of sides and a frozen custard with biscotti to finish. Wines are served in trattoria-style stemless glassware.
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