From South American buffets to lazy Mediterranean terrace lunches, Hong Kong restaurants have conjured up a tempting mix of menus as temperatures dip, writes Carolynne Dear.
Terrace by LQV
Mediterranean vibes at Terrace by LQV in Hong Kong's Stanley.
A welcome arrival to the seaside town of Stanley on Hong Kong Island is this Mediterranean-inspired al fresco space at the top of Stanley Plaza.
Terrace by LQV is inspired by the French ‘en terrasse’ way of life, showcasing the best of Provence and the South of France. This is the second opening by LQV Group this year following the launch of Terroirs by LQV in Central earlier this summer.
Soak-up the sea views from the terrace as you sip easy-on-the-palate rosés, white wines and champagnes. Artisanal spirits include Pastis de Marseille, served in the traditional way at the table with a carafe of water and plenty of ice and craft gin ‘Le Gin’ by Provencal wine producer Domaine Milan.
Light dishes focus on Mediterranean cuisine with plenty of fresh vegetables, grilled meats and seafood. Signature dishes include vegetable tian - a vegetable mille feuilles, grilled French sea bass and Pastis flambée grilled prawns served with linguine and Provencal tomatoes. There are plenty more a la carte options and also a children’s menu.
The dining space opens from 8am on weekends and 10am on weekdays to catch the breakfast crowd - think homemade viennoiseries, fresh juices, yoghurt bowls and frittata.
Terrace by LQV opens on October 14; Monday to Friday 10am to midnight, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 8am to midnight; Shop 505, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley Plaza, Stanley, Hong Kong.
The Magistracy
Hong Kong's former Central Magistracy reopens as a dining space this autumn.
The Magistracy by Black Sheep Restaurants is one of Hong Kong’s most exciting heritage restaurant projects to launch this year.
Located in one of the hundred declared monuments in Hong Kong, The Magistracy brings back to life an historic building in the heart of the city that has lain empty for more than 40 years.
The first magistracy in the new colony was completed in 1841 but it was reconstructed into the building we know today in 1914. It was decommissioned in the 1980s and was eventually listed as a declared monument, along with Central Police Station and Victoria Prison. The entire compound was revitalised as a dining, arts and heritage centre in the early 2000s, opening as Tai Kwun in 2018.
The Magistracy will be opening in phases, with the first phase now complete and welcoming diners. The Magistracy Dining Room is helmed by Michelin-starred executive chef Matthew Kirkley and spills onto a leafy ‘gin and tonic’ terrace, Botanical Garden.
The classic British influenced chef's menu includes Scottish razor clams, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, Dover sole meuniere, burnt Cambridge cream and sticky toffee pudding.
The building will eventually host two restaurants, three bars, four private dining rooms, a sports room and a wine cellar.
The Magistracy, G/F, Central Magistracy, Tai Kwun, 1 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2252 3177.
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
Tantalise your taste buds with a South American buffet.
The harbourside Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong is channelling a South American vibe this autumn with its ‘Latin American Flavours’ buffet at The Farmhouse dining space.
The fun experience features plenty of insta worthy moments, with chefs conjuring South American favourites including Brazilian churrascaria (where servers slice the meat straight from the ‘sword’ onto the diner’s plate) and a traditional Argentinian ‘asado’ grilling grass-fed Argentine Wagyu beef complemented by classic sauces chimichurri and salsa criolla.
Further dishes include feijoada (pork and black bean stew), chiles rellenos (a Mexican dish of roasted peppers stuffed with cheese) and encebollado, an Ecuadorian onion fish soup. Freshly made tacos and quesadillas are also available.
Churros specialist Twist & Buckle is hosting a special pop-up, with yummy toppings including cookies and cream, white chocolate and Oreo crumbs, Nutella with hazelnuts and dulce de leche with chocolate sprinkles.
More sweet treats include alfajores (Argentinian cookies filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut), pancakes, suspiro limeno (a Peruvian dessert of vanilla custard topped with meringue) and Mexican rice pudding.
Latin American Flavours at The Farmhouse; until November 20; midday to 2.30pm Monday to Friday and 6-10pm daily including public holidays; prices from HK$238 per child and HK$358 per adult; Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong, 2/F, 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point, Hong Kong; +852 3896 9896.
Barbar
Tapas and wine will soon be flowing at Wan Chai's Barbar.
Hong Kong’s Epicurean dining group will be opening Barbar later this month, a 50-seat Spanish tapas and wine bar on Wan Chai’s Ship Street.
An extensive wine collection has been curated by the group’s Spanish culinary specialists and wine sommeliers and includes classic labels as well as pours from up-and-coming Spanish wine producers. Spanish sherries, artisan craft gins and Spanish sparkling wines will also feature on the menu.
Eats are inspired by the tapas cultures of Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona and have been developed under the lead of Spanish chef and culinary director Edgard Sanuy Barahona, formerly of Shueng Wan’s Pica Pica. Dishes will be served as small-plate tapas.
A chic interior of timber, marble and intuitive lighting hosts a main dining room, wine bar, communal dining table and dining counter with an open kitchen.
Barbar opens in mid-October for lunch and dinner (date to be confirmed); Shop A, G/F, Pinnacle Building, 9 Ship Street, Wan Chai.
Good Fortune Club
Enjoy a glamorous Good Fortune Club dim sum brunch at Ho Lee Fook.
Hong Kong’s Black Sheep Restaurants dining group is launching Good Fortune Club, a limited date weekend bubbles and dim sum banquet in its SoHo dining space, Ho Lee Fook.
The unlimited dim sum will be paired with a curated selection of champagnes and head chef ArChan Chan will be joined by dim sum chef Winson Yip to host the feast.
Dishes feature creative twists on local dim sum staples, including har gow, fried turnip cakes, siu mai and Ho Lee Fook’s own hand-chopped pork jowl and cabbage dumplings. Classic Cantonese dishes will feature egg fried rice with spring onion, stir-fried broccoli with garlic, chef’s seasonal greens, prawn roe stirred noodles with crispy scallop and crispy scallop, spring onion and shallot oil. Good Fortune Club will also be serving Ho Lee Fook’s signature honey-glazed and charcoal-grilled Kurobuta pork char siu.
The ‘Lucky Eight’ Good Fortune Club dining experience costs HK$888 and includes limitless dim sum and one bottle of champagne per guest.
Good Fortune Club at Ho Lee Fook; from 12pm; October 9, November 6 and December 4, G/F, 1-5 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2810 0860.
Ovolo
It's a pita pop-up at Ovolo's TQM this month.
Ovolo Hotels in Hong Kong are launching two vegetarian pop-ups to mark Vegetarian Awareness Month in October.
The hotel group will be welcoming Za Za Ta, its award-winning Middle Eastern dining space at its Queensland property, and Kazba, also from Australia, to Veda at Ovolo Central and TQM at Ovolo Sheung Wan.
The Kazba x TQM Pita Pop-Up runs until October 14 offering both takeaway and dine-in. Tuck into Spiced Kofta Pita with spiced tomato, yoghurt, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, sumac and onions and Cheeseburger Pita stuffed with cheddar, tomato, cos lettuce, cucumber and pickles.
Za Za Ta Pop-Up at Veda embraces Mediterranean and Middle Eastern taste with entrees including Zucchini Baba bursting with pistachio and green olive and Sesame Falafel with apple and fresh horseradish. Means feature Cauliflower Shwarma Amba Laban with green mango and curry leaf and Israeli couscous with eggplant and kashkaval. The pop-up runs from October 15 to 31.
The Kazba x TQM Pita Pop-Up, 286 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; +852 3423 3290; Za Za Ta Pop-Up at Veda, 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3755 3067.
Read more about Hong Kong's dining scene
Pull up a chair and tuck into the best tea trays in town.
There's lots going on despite pandemic restrictions.
Keep up to date with all the local dining news by following us on Facebook and Instagram. And receive a FREE newsletter straight to your inbox with all the latest travel information, airline news and resort openings - click here.