5 Best Restaurants in Hong Kong, China

Slide into one of the dozen-some seats and tuck into the delicious baos—fluffy steamed buns sandwiched with all types of delicious ingredients. The rest of the menu is globally inspired and includes to-share plates such as drunken clams, short-rib dumplings, and truffle fries.

This trendy restaurant and bar is in the penthouse of the One Peking Road building, and you might hear it referred to by many different names (Aqua Tokyo, Aqua Roma, Aqua Spirit). The menu brings together the East and the West—the Japanese kitchen plates up fresh sashimi, tempura, and innovative sushi rolls, while the restaurant’s Italian side offers traditional risottos and pastas with a modern twist. The Japanese offerings usually fare better than the Italian ones, but the thing really worth going to Aqua for is the superb view of the Hong Kong skyline. You might want to just stop in for a drink—the bar stays open until 2 am from Thursday to Saturday.

As its name suggests, this restaurant goes back to the basics by focusing on a few key ingredients. Everything that passes through the kitchen is top grade, whether it’s the fresh homemade tagliatelle with chicken and truffle emulsion, or the whole roasted Italian sea bass with fennel. Dishes are categorized into small or large plates, but everything is designed to share. Fish & Meat offers decent cocktails, but if you’re serious about your drinks, check out its sister bar, Stockton, which is located below the restaurant.

This place started out as a one-table private kitchen in a quiet Wan Chai neighborhood. Due to popular demand, chef-owner Esther Sham moved to a much larger location. Decked out like a chic Parisian apartment, the newer space accommodates 48 guests. There are seven different menus from which to choose, ranging from the Japanese-inspired meal to the Shanghai-style dinner. The latter includes the famous not-so-Shanghainese foie gras dumplings. Wine connoisseurs can also take advantage of the extensive selection at Hip Cellar next door.

If you’ve made your way out to Tai O, this gorgeous glass-roofed restaurant is a great place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea or dinner. Formerly the Tai O Police Station, the historic building has been lovingly refurbished, and the restored colonial decor includes authentic wooden furnishings. The menu is short, sweet, and eclectic, offering a mix of Asian and western dishes. Be sure to try the Tai O–inspired items, such as the fried rice and crispy pork-chop bun with shrimp paste.