By: Rebecca Simpson
Keeping up with new restaurants in Hong Kong, let alone new chefs and new menus, can be tricky. Our Hong Kong 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 brunches and bars, it’s all here!
Free flow pool party
A free flow brunch that turns into a free flow pool party, what could possibly go wrong?! The folks at Le Méridien Cyberport have announced a lineup of six pool parties this Summer. Join the fun on Saturdays May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5 from 2pm to 8pm. HK$588 per person (Early bird) that includes entry to the swimming pool and free flow standard drinks and Prosecco from 2pm to 8pm. Or join for brunch at Prompt from 12pm to 2:30pm first for HK$688 per person (Early bird), then kick on to the pool with free flow standard drinks and Prosecco from 2pm to 8pm.
More: ticketflap.com/lemeridiencyberport
Japanese izakaya + Jazz at Silencio
Silencio is Hong Kong’s first and only contemporary Japanese izakaya featuring live jazz music. This new venue recreates the vibrant ambience of Japan’s much-loved drinking dens, uplifted with modern art pieces by Tomoo Gokita, an impressive line-up of live jazz and a menu of reimagined Japanese izakaya favourites. Sounds like a fun night out! Try the Traditional Sashimi or Nigiri Platter (HK$1,200) with one of their many sake’s.
More: silencio.hk
Special event at SPIGA
The highest Michelin star chef in Italy, Enrico Bartolini, will be hosting special “Taste of Italy” events at SPIGA in Hong Kong and offering a special menu from 19-31 May. Bartolini will be hosting his personally created wine-paired menu on two nights, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 May, which features dishes from Tuscany, accompanied by a selection of Sparkling Wines from around the world.
More: facebook.com/SpigaHongKong/
2014 Iron Chef Thailand is in Hong Kong – sweet!
Head to Le Méridien Cyberport’s Umami Japanese restaurant from May 3 to 12 and treat yourself to one of the four new a la carte desserts created by Jason Licker, winner of “2014 Iron Chef Thailand” pastry edition. He’s also put his special touch on the afternoon tea and the restaurant’s Mother’s Day event.
Get your tickets here: ticketflap.com/jasonlicker
Pineapple Cake Afternoon Tea
Do you love pineapple cake from Taiwan? Then head to Hotel ICON for Hong Kong’s first-ever SunnyHills Pineapple Cake Afternoon Tea. Take your seat in GREEN’s breathtaking salon and indulge in a sublime afternoon tea experience featuring SunnyHills’ renowned Pineapple Cakes—a buttery soft pastry, filled with hand cut, perfectly simmered pineapples that have been blended into a luscious paste. Sounds delicious!
More: hotel-icon.com/dining/green
Ah Yung Kitchen is open
Ah Yung Kitchen, located inside L’Hotel Causeway Bay Harbour View, opens this week. This new venue is led by Ah Yung, abalone expert and multi Michelin Star restaurateur. His team say he’ll be unveiling a brand new chapter of refined Canton Cuisine by manifesting the authentic essence of Canton delicacies in a modern and elegantly designed gourmet restaurant. Check it out at 18 King’s Road, Causeway Bay.
New afternoon tea at the InterContinental
And now, for some non-Easter food news. If you love skincare and beautiful afternoon teas, then grab your girlfriends and head to the InterContinental Hong Kong. The Rose de Mai Afternoon Tea collaboration with Chantecaille, the creators of beautiful botanical skincare and cosmetics, will launch on 1 May. Inspired by Chantecaille’s signature Rose de Mai in Grasse where Rose de Mai blooms just once a year during the month of May, Executive Chef Maxime Luvara and Executive Pastry Chef Christian Gonthier have created a selection of afternoon treats with French, floral and refreshing springtime ingredients and touches. This pretty Tea Set is served with a selection of Fine Mariage Frères Tea or Coffee. From HK$688 for two persons, including two sets of Chantecaille Rose de Mai Signature Skincare Discovery Kits (while stock lasts) valued at HK$1,140.
Authentic chef’s choice dining experience, Omakase, at NOMU
The NOMU team tell us that they are paying tribute to the beloved Japanese tradition of trusting the chef to tailor a personalised menu. Omakase at NOMU introduces guests to the century-long culture in an authentic, affordable, and approachable way. Raw and cooked elements are curated in balance to highlight the star ingredients of each dish. Combined with traditional Kaiseki visuals and inspirations from daily life, NOMU stands out with its combination of delectable tastes and alluring plating. Now open in a discrete location in buzzing Tsim Sha Tsui, NOMU welcomes tastemakers to enjoy a personal and authentic chef’s choice dining experience not found anywhere else. 3/F, Rich Towers, 2 Blenheim Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui
Le French GourMay
May is going to be extra-delicious, as it’s the time when we all enjoy Le French GourMay. This is a celebration of gastronomic delights of French cuisine during the Le French May Arts Festival. What could be better? Le 39V welcomes this particular month with a special Loire Valley Wine Dinner menu throughout May; it’s HK$1,380 per person (6-course menu), and an additional HK$680 per person for wine pairings. The grand finale will be a Barons de Rothschild Dinner curated and hosted by Chef Frédéric Vardon. HK$1,480 per person (including wine pairing)
See all the details here. Reservations: 2977 5266
Sunday session of food truck delights and local buskers
What could be better than a Sunday afternoon of food truck munchies and busking fun? Head to the The Garage Bar at the Cordis on designated Sundays (starts 14 April) to be entertained by local buskers, gorge on food truck delights and choose from a selection of over 40 craft beers.
More: The Cordis Garage Bar
Good news: drinking G&Ts at the InterContinental will help erase malaria!
Do you love a G&T at sundown? We do too. This spring, make sure you enjoy your gin and tonic at InterContinental Hong Kong’s Lobby Lounge to help “Raise a glass, erase malaria” from 22 April to 31 May. Resident mixologist Sabrina Cantini-Budden will showcases Four Pillars Gin from Australia’s Yarra Valley for her artisanal cocktail creations. Two of the Four Pillars Gin Cocktails are made with Fever-tree Tonic, that includes quinine which is used to cure malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria kills one child every two minutes. For every photo of a cocktail with Fever-tree Tonic uploaded on Instagram using the hashtag #MALARIAMUSTDIE, Fever-tree will donate HK$50 to Malaria No More UK to help erase Malaria.
More: Fever-tree Malaria no more
The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau Dining series is back
The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau Dining series is back. This series reignites the region’s most anticipated chef collaboration series, the International Chef Showcase (ICS), with a line-up of unique multi-hands culinary collaborations for 2019. In May, the undisputed queen of innovative French-Chinese fine dining in Hong Kong, Chef Vicky Lau, will present a special Yi x Tate Dining Room Special International Chef Showcase Menu. It will feature several signature dishes from Tate Dining Room’s seasonally evolving tasting menu of “Edible Stories”.
More: ICS 4hands
New wine restaurant, PIIN is open!
PIIN, an independent wine restaurant established by the owners of two of Burgundy’s most impressive domaines – Château de Meursault and Château de Marsannay, is now open. The expertly curated wine programme focuses on wines from Burgundy, with over 2,000 pours to choose from and up to 100 by-the-glass options. With special attention paid to older large format bottles and rare vintages, PIIN will make Burgundy wines accessible to all.
More: PIIN wine restaurant – 2/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
Try a Sunday Fiesta brunch at Pica Pica!
Spanish tapas bar Pica Pica will redefine the Sunday brunch with its all-new Sunday Fiesta launching this weekend. Bring your crew for brunch and enjoy a delicious Spanish-inspired semi-buffet as well as made-to-order signature dishes. Brunch’s must-have ingredient, free flow, is also on offer – but this time with a twist! Pica Pica includes house-aged sangria, Cava, selected Spanish red and white wines, and more! The semi-buffet is priced at $310 per person with the two-hour free flow only an additional $260 per person.
For reservations, call 2811 9880.
See more in our Wine & Dine section:
Hong Kong’s best rooftop bars
Best brunch spots in the city
