Luxury Living Made Easy: Tane Residence x VACAY&CO Collaboration
Exclusive Offer: 10% Off with Promo Code “MORRIS10”
Tanne Residence, known for its sophisticated urban living, has partnered with VACAY&CO [www.vacayandco.com], a premier provider of luxury vacation rentals, to offer an exclusive discount for Tane customers. Now, when you book a stunning villa or upscale rental through VACAY&CO, you can enjoy 10% off your stay by using the promo code “MORRIS10″ at checkout.
Whether you’re planning a short getaway or an extended monthly stay, this collaboration brings you the best in comfort, style, and convenience.
Experience Luxury Villas with VACAY&CO
VACAY&CO specializes in high-end villas and vacation homes in sought-after destinations, offering:
From beachfront escapes to mountain retreats, VACAY&CO ensures an unforgettable experience tailored to luxury travelers.
Ideal for Monthly Stays – Comfort Meets Convenience
For those seeking longer stays, VACAY&CO’s luxury rentals provide the perfect blend of home-like comfort and hotel-style service. Benefits of monthly stays include:
– Cost savings compared to traditional hotels – More space and privacy – Flexible leasing options – Work-from-friendly environments with high-speed Wi-Fi
Whether you’re a digital nomad, relocating for work, or simply indulging in an extended vacation, VACAY&CO’s properties offer the ideal setting.
How to Redeem Your Discount
Booking your dream getaway is simple:
1. Browse VACAY&CO’s luxury villas at [www.vacayandco.com]
2. Select your desired dates and property
3. Apply promo code “MORRIS10” at checkout for 10% off
4. Enjoy a premium stay at an exclusive rate
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your travel experience with Tane Residence and VACAY&CO. Book now and indulge in luxury living at its finest!
Exclusive Offer for Tane Residence Guests: 10% Off Big Foot Tours
At Tane Residence, we value your stay and want to make your Hong Kong experience even more memorable! We’re excited to offer an exclusive 10% discount on any Big Foot Tour booking. This special offer is also shareable with friends or family visiting Hong Kong—a perfect way to enhance their trip!
How to Redeem:
Upon confirmation of your booking at Tane Residence, you will receive a unique promotional code.
Terms & Conditions:
Valid until 31 December 2025.
Applies to new bookings only and is subject to availability.
The voucher can only be used once.
Cannot be combined with other promotional offers or discounts.
Not exchangeable for cash or other services.
Big Foot Tour’s standard terms and conditions apply.
Explore Hong Kong with Big Foot Tour for a unique and unforgettable experience. Learn more about the tours at bigfoottour.com.
Big news – we’ve teamed up with BC 24 HOUR FITNESS to bring you an unbeatable offer! Ready to get fit and save big? We’ve got you covered with a fantastic discount exclusively for our tenants. We’ve been able to secure a special rate Tane Residence rate of just $498/month. That’s nearly 40% off the usual $798/month, with no contract required!
Thinking about committing a bit longer? Dive into a 7-month plan for only $2988, working out to around $426/month.
With 5 locations across Hong Kong – in Central, Mong Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Ho Man Tin, and Ngau Tau Kok – and more on the horizon, BC 24 HOUR FITNESS is always within reach.
Poplar Residents:BC 24 HOUR FITNESS’ Mong Kok Location is located an extremely convenient 15-20 minutes away from our Poplar units: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4pZFmkx52kK8QDu99
Mong Kok Residents: BC 24 HOUR FITNESS’ Mong Kok Location is located an extremely convenient 10 minutes walk from our Mong Kok units: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pfKdwFPGBBnL6iVe6
Sheung Wan Residents (Hillier, Cleverly, NPH, Mercer): BC 24 HOUR FITNESS’ Central Location is a short walk away from our Sheung Wan units: https://maps.app.goo.gl/esHZdQJaoR9R4KxQ8
If you’re interested, tell the gym you’re a tenant at Tane Residence and show them the flyer PDF, and they will message our team to confirm you are a tenant.
Don’t miss out on this chance to kickstart your fitness journey with BC 24 HOUR FITNESS. Let’s get moving!
Starting January 2, 2025, we are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership between Tane Residence and Hong Kong’s first Isaan Thai restaurant and bar, Chachawan! 🎉
Conveniently located just 15 minutes away, Chachawan offers a delightful array of vibrant Thai dishes. As a special perk, Tane Residence guests can enjoy a 10% discount on food and drinks during weekdays!
To redeem, simply present the check-in email you received from us at Chachawan and indulge in a flavorful dining experience. Be sure to review the terms and conditions below to ensure a smooth redemption process.
Terms & Conditions:
Offer valid until January 31, 2026.
A guest booking confirmation email must be shown to redeem the offer.
Offer not applicable on Fridays, weekends, public holidays, special events, or festive dates within the validity period.
Cannot be combined with other promotional offers or discounts.
Chachawan reserves the right to amend the offer or its terms without prior notice and retains final decision-making authority in case of disputes.
Applicable for all Tane Residence serviced apartment guests.
Enjoy this exclusive dining privilege with Chachawan!
Author: Charmaine Ng
Source: https://hongkongliving.com/
Link: https://hongkongliving.com/shisha-lounges-hong-kong/
In a city where space at home is limited, shisha lounges provide a great venue to sit back and hang out with friends. For a mellow night out or an after-work hookah, here are Hong Kong’s best shisha bars, whether you’re down for wacky new flavours or something more authentic.
With locations in Los Angeles and Seoul, Boba Bear offers Hong Kongers a unique bar experience with its creative cocktails inspired by bubble tea drinks. It boasts an impressive selection of shisha, from familiar favourites such as mint, melon or strawberry to more adventurous options such as safari melondew, blue mist, saffron pistachio and more. Stop by in the early evening for your after work drinks and stay late to experience the lively atmosphere as the night goes on.
Boba Bear, 30/F, Zing, 38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, 2618 6907
We’re all for this aptly named lounge’s space-themed setting. Situated in Central, SpaceX is spacious (no pun intended) with both indoor and outdoor seating. It offers over 30 flavours of shisha flavours, all of which can be customised to your liking. And if you’re not too intoxicated by the time you leave, make sure to snap a picture with its iconic neon signs for the ‘gram.
Newly opened in Mong Kok, Be Humble is a café-cum-shisha lounge serving tea by day and wine by night. It’s become somewhat of an Instagram hotspot and it’s not difficult to see why. Decked with Turkish style lamps, intricately painted ceramics and colourful window panes that take you on vacation to Turkey, the bar is brimming with photo opportunities. Be sure to make a reservation before you visit, as it is not accepting walk-in customers at the moment. The shop will share its full address with you once you’ve confirmed a booking.
Located in Lan Kwai Fong, this classy shisha lounge is known for its large display shark tank and open-air terrace offering sweeping views of the Central neighbourhood beneath it. Bloop has a wide range of shisha flavours available, including classic fruits to speciality aromas such as pina colada or blue mist. Along with its variety of choices comes a premium charge, but shisha veterans will tell you it’s worth it for stylish environment.
Bloop, 21/F, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Central, 2686 1234
Zeng
Bringing east meets west cocktails to the heart of Causeway Bay, Zeng can be found perched on the 30th floor of V Point, offering 270-degree views of Victoria Harbour. At the sky-high bar and eatery, you can choose from more than 100 flavours of shisha such as rose and earl grey to enjoy in its elegant oriental setting.
Zeng, 30/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 2353 0053
FJAKA
With a name that describes a sublimal, laidback state of mind in Croatian, FJAKA offers an intimate shisha experience with a 10-seater VIP room, semi-private lounge and open-air terrace. If you’re a seasoned shisha enthusiast, get excited, because cotton candy milkshake, honey lemonade and coconut yoghurt are just some of the creative flavours you’ll find at the bar. For a smoke in the privacy of your own home, FJAKA also does shisha delivery – the first of its kind in Hong Kong.
FJAKA, Shop B, 26/F, Midtown Soundwill Plaza II, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 2304 6088
Charcoal
If you like a vibrant atmosphere with your hookah, then Charcoal’s your spot. One of the more popular shisha lounges in Lan Kwai Fong, a queue for tables can be found outside its doors come Happy Hour on Fridays. Once you’re settled in, choose from countless shisha flavours to enjoy in its dark and compact setting.
Charcoal, Flat A & B, 4/F, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Central, 2351 5007
Lounge Hakuba
Founded by three après ski enthusiasts, Lounge Hakuba boasts a stunning design modelled after the cosy winter cabins commonly found in the Japanese Alps. We are particularly fond of its outdoor terrace, which is covered with grass and adorned with camping-inspired furniture like hammocks and canopies. It offers cocktails, bar snacks and various shisha flavours to choose from.
Lounge Hakuba, Unit 302, Tower 535, 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, 2111 1707
Mark your calendars, bookworms! China In Print—Asia’s leading fair for rare books, maps and manuscripts—is returning to Hong Kong from November 30 to December 2. Before the fair opens at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, we reveal five leading dealers that are exhibiting this year:
1. Douglas Stewart Fine Books
Travel buffs should make a beeline for this Australian dealer’s booth at China In Print, where he’s showcasing The Decades, a book that dates back to 1521 and is both the world’s first travel book written in English and the first tome to refer to “China” (pictured above).
The book was originally written in latin by historian Peter Martyr d’Anghiera and then translated into English by Richard Eden. Douglas Stewart Fine Books is selling it for US$225,000.
A rare journal written by a British army commander during the start of the First Opium War is being shown by Voyager Press. The journal is written by vice-admiral George Herny Seymour, who records battles with pirates and the blockading of rivers at the very beginning of the war.
Alongside 127 pages worth of diary entries, the journal also includes two watercolour paintings Seymour made during his time in China (one pictured above).
3. Ursus Books
Two albums of Chinese gouaches dating back to the mid-1800s are being shown by Ursus Books. Depicting everything from scenes from the Emperor’s Court to local fish, these gouaches are likely to have been commissioned by a wealthy French merchant, who would’ve brought them back home as a luxurious souvenir of his time in China.
Picture This, which relocated to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong in 2016, is returning to the city to take part in China In Print. At its booth, Picture This is showcasing a travel poster of Cambodia from 1931 (pictured above, selling for £4,250) and a board game from a P&O cruise ship from the 1930s that features a 1927 painting by Jack Spurling of Victoria Harbour.
5. Kagerou Bunko
Tokyo-based Kagerou Bunko specialises in rare Japanese books and prints, several of which will be exhibited at its booth at China In Print. Don’t miss Nagakubo Sekisui’s 18th-century map of the world or an 1824 illustration of the arrival of Russian explorer Yevfimiy Putyatin in Japan (pictured above).
China In Print runs from November 30 to December 2 at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Ferry Pier No.8, Man Kwong St. For more information, visit chinainprint.com
The pie may be hot, but the service is served cold at Wyndham Street’s Kytaly
When it comes to food, we often leave authenticity out of it. In a town where the idea of the perfect pizza is stretched into a lengthy debate between thin or thick crust and Italian- or American-style, let’s not forget the strong opinions people hold on what toppings are considered appropriate, gourmet or, well, pineapple. When Kytaly opened its doors earlier this autumn, serving Franco Pepe’s world top-ranking pizzas, we couldn’t wonder how his pies would fare on this side of the world.
The no-reservations restaurant takes up the space where Japanese izakaya Koko used to be, accessed via an ancient lift of an old commercial building on Wyndham Street. The brightly lit signage on the narrow hallway leads guests into an elongated corridor. It wouldn’t be appropriate to call it a room, as booths lining the indoor area will seat four max, while the other tables are snug and spill onto the terrace. Lighting was dim but adequate. At dinner time the small restaurant comes alive where crowds share the restaurant’s signature pizzas over cool cocktails, prepared at the bar hidden on the side of the space. The best table, we found, was on the far end next to the kitchen, offering a full view of pizzas being prepared and benefiting from swift delivery. The high table comfortably seats six, and is often shared among smaller parties.
Kytaly’s menu is a short read. The antipasti section offers a humble selection of salads. We opted for the Capri, where buffalo mozzarella tops cherry tomatoes and dressed with dollops of basil cream and olive oil. The mozzarella yields softly, as its creamy texture contrasts with the meaty tomatoes, while the basil adds a nice, herbaceous touch to the refreshing first course, which with its small size should suffice for a dinner for two.
A range of 19 pizza varieties are on offer, from classics to creative ones. We started with the one that is ranked number one in the world, the Margherita Sbagliata, where buffalo mozzarella tops the made-to-order pizza base, followed by squiggly pipings of Riccio tomato sauce and green dots of basil reduction and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. It is worth noting that the pizzas are baked on its own before adding toppings, in a similar fashion like blind-baking in pastry making. The toppings are quickly added seconds after each pizza comes out of the oven. The residual heat melts the cheese and warms the topping.
The crust is light and refreshing, with a soft and almost gelatinous bite to it but not the heavy, bloated feeling that fast-food pizzas often bring. The abundant moisture from the mozzarella keeps the crust rather soft, making it easier to be enjoyed with knife and fork, although a skillful hand with plenty of napkins are just as good.
We also ordered the Sole Nel Piatto, where buffalo mozzarella, Caiazzo black olives, Cetera anchovies and a mélange of herbs top the beautifully hand-crafted crust. The herbs give the flavours a lift, although the toasty aroma of seared gluten-rich dough builds up the canvas that enriches the briny black olives and umami-rich salt-cured anchovies shining through in each irresistible bite.
While pizzas are excellent, the three desserts on offer are different variations of tiramisu. A classic one sees savoiardi, or sponge ladyfingers layered in pillows of mascarpone cream. Our Nutella version replaces the original with a hazelnut cream and topped with a dollop of the famed chocolate hazelnut spread. While the pairing of chocolate and hazelnuts are ethereal in Italian desserts, the sponge and cream are both stodgy, and overly sweet.
Kytaly offers a wide range of wines by the glass with a humble selection from various regions of Italy. Cocktails are beautifully crafted, especially those made with Campari, created at Hong Kong’s first Campari bar within the establishment. The Negroni Sbagliato blends vermouth and Campari with Prosecco. A very chilled cocktail that doubles as aperitif for pizzas served throughout our visit. Limoncino mixes vodka with limoncello, while tonic and lemon zest brings a fresh zing to the refreshing concoction.
The three-person kitchen team turns out pizza every few minutes at Kytaly, but the restaurant floor is extremely short-staffed and disorganized. The hostess who greeted us at the door also occasionally helped refilling our water, while hot, ready-to-serve pizzas were left unattended on the pass, rapidly cooling off. Orders were rarely missed, but service was certainly messy and staff needed frequent reminding, although they were well-versed with knowledge about the restaurant’s pizza and calzone offerings.
Kytaly hits all the right notes on its food offerings, as pizzas are masterfully crafted with high consistency. Its service, however, is substandard even for a restaurant aiming for casual dining. It is worth the visit, especially early on in the evening for the first-round seating to avoid extended waiting time.
A meal for two with one cocktail amounts to HK$1,000.
The buzz: Hailing all the way from Fremantle, Perth is Aussie craft brewery Little Creatures. Already well established in Oz, the microbrewery-slash-restaurant has just opened up in Kennedy Town, bringing fresh brews and all-day dining options for big groups and family crowds.
The décor: Setting up shop where a flour and sugar warehouse used to be, the massive 6,000 sq. ft. space retains some of that industrial feel with impossibly high loft ceilings, an open kitchen and bar, and exposed pipes. Behind the long bar is where the magic happens: towering metal drums where the malt mash is boiled, the hops are added, and the beer is fermented, filtered and eventually poured. The furniture and décor is comfortable, with brown leather booths and sofas made for up to 10 diners per table in the back, and with enough space around the bar for beer geeks to cluster and learn more about the brews.
Lamp Chop & sausage, pistachio mint salsa
The drinks: Brewed on the premises, this is craft beer as fresh as you’re gonna get. Three classic Little Creatures beers are brewed onsite ($65-78/pint), including the signature Pale Ale, and the brewery’s full range is available by the bottle. Choose from the refreshing Pale Ale, a punchy Rogers’ amber ale, a light pilsner, a hopped up IPA or sweet Orchard Crush cider. Brewed especially for Hong Kong is the Early Days pale ale, which tastes like a lighter, even more sessionable version of the classic Pale Ale.
The White Rabbit White Ale, a wheat beer, tastes very floral and hoppy, not unlike a Hoegaarden, but fresher with more body. Can’t decide, or want to try them all? A beer paddle, with six 100ml pours of different beers, costs only $100. And if you’re a disillusioned craft beer connoisseur looking to be more adventurous, you might want to try a beer from what is dubbed “the Randall,” where the Creatures folk get to tinker with their ales by adding flavors after it’s done brewing, with wacky ingredients ranging from lemongrass to rocky road. Not a beer fan? You should probably get out… or you can choose from a sizeable list of (mostly Aussie) wines, available by the small or big glass (from $65).
White Rabbit White Ale
Why you’ll be back: Offering everything from breakfast to late night bites, Little Creatures is not just your basic beer bar. It aims to be K-town’s neighborhood local—whether you’re there just for lunch or to type away at a laptop for half the day. It’s a far cry from greasy pub grub too, with a menu of comforting eats designed to go well with beer. With healthy-sounding sharing plates such as a smashed avocado bowl ($85 for small portion) and kale pizza ($110) to full blown, protein-packed mains like a grass-fed rib-eye ($295), this isn’t a place for you to get slizzard on sub-par bevvies. Instead you can enjoy every clean sip—until you have to be carried home.
One HK Mag staffer might be slimming down and beefing up at the gym, but the rest of us are out getting happily fat. Here’s how to do it with the city’s best all-you-can-eat deals, fatty portions and delicious, delicious excess.
Stuff your face for $88 at Wildfire.
Wildfire
Wildfire’s Fashion Walk outlet has a new and unbeatable $88 all you can eat offer, with unlimited 8-inch pizzas, pastas and drinks, in addition to unlimited beer for an extra $28. The only catch is that it’s not exactly made for the 9-5 worker bee: the offer is only for 1.5 hours, any time between 2:30-5:30pm on Monday to Thursday. So if you’re looking to carbo-load on a Tuesday afternoon, you know where to go… 59-65 Paterson St., Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, 2352-0198.
How much dim sum can you handle?
Cuisine Cuisine
Stuffing your face with food can be a daintier, more sophisticated affair, at The Mira Hong Kong’s Michelin-recommended Cuisine Cuisine. Feast on all the siu mai, xiaolongbao, and char siu pastries you could want for just $328 per person on weekdays (excluding public holidays). If you want to extend the feast to the weekends, the restaurant also offers a Saturday brunch deal for $498, including appetizers, all-you-can-eat dim sum, mains served to your table and unlimited desserts. It’s paired with premium Chinese teas, but you can tack on $150 for free-flow wine to kick it up a notch. Saturday brunch 11:30am-2:30pm, except public holidays. 3/F, The Mira, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5222.
Fill up on fried bird at Stone Nullah Tavern.
Stone Nullah Tavern
Stone Nullah Tavern’s ace happy hour is already an attractive after-work draw, but it’s the Breakin’ Bacon Thursday deal that’s got all the hot greasy action you need to get both watered and fed on a Thursday night—the perfect primer for the weekend. For $158 per head after 10pm, you can get in on all-you-can-eat bacon and Southern fried chicken, made with organic free-range chicken and served with pots of homemade BBQ sauce on the side. Wash it all down with beer or discounted bourbon cocktails. 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, 3182-0128.
The Parish satisfies southern soul food cravings. Pictured: Smoky duck and andouille gumbo.
The Parish
Now that stalwarts Restoration and Jack’s Fried Chicken are no more, the place to get chef Jack Carson’s famous fried chicken is at his latest establishment The Parish: For $288, you can help yourself to unlimited portions of the bird every Monday, served with fries, homemade ketchup and chipotle sauce. The week of excess carries on with Fat Tuesdays: $188 for endless barbecued baby back ribs served with soup, salad and unlimited fries. On Wednesdays, get your hands dirty at Shrimp Boil night—with succulent and sweet fresh shrimp cooked in The Parish’s own spice blended broth, served with new potatoes and corn-on-the-cob ($250 for a half pan, $488 for a full pan). While you’re at it (and if you have the stomach space), help yourself to The Parish’s twist on hearty Creole classics like black truffle grits with mushroom and Brie gratin, smoky duck and andouille gumbo, and prawn and chicken jambalaya. 44 Staunton St., Central, 2803-0050.
Pies the size of your head at Linguini Fini.
Linguini Fini
It’s Friday: you’re finally released from the shackles of the work week and free to fall into a heavy, food-induced coma that lasts well into Saturday. Linguini Fini’s Hip Hop Anonymous Friday night deal is the perfect way to do this, with $158 for all-you-can-eat pizza (we love the Homemade Sausage pizza), free flow PBRs to wash it all down and hip hop playing into the night. Have you seen the sizes of LF’s pies? By the end of the night you definitely won’t still be hungry (or standing)… 49 Elgin St, Central, 2387-6338.
Spit-roasted prawns and meat at Braza Churrascaria.
Braza Churrascaria
It’s time to bring on the meat sweats: At Braza Churrascaria, get showered with all the Brazilian barbecued meat you can handle until you can’t handle no more (and you flip the sign on your table from green to red). For $388 per person, you’ll get bread and Brazilian starters, unlimited trips to the salad bar, and when you’re ready, delicious cuts of barbecued beef, lamb, pork, chicken and prawns, sliced off a silver skewer. You’ll want to try the signature Picanha—juicy cuts of charcoal grilled beef—and round off the gluttony with grilled pineapple (dinner only). Looking to make the party a boozier affair? $220 gets you two hours of free-flow alcohol. 3/F, Grand Progress Building, 15 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, 2890-9268.
It’s pizza time at Moonshine and the Po’Boys.
Moonshine and the Po’Boys
Tucked away on Sun Street, one of HK Mag’s tried and true faves for Southern eats in Hong Kong is Moonshine and the Po’Boys. Its newly launched pizza menu also features an all-you-can-eat option for $198 per person, between 3-8pm on Monday-Thursday. It’s not your average boring pepperoni and cheese, instead bringing on decidedly more Bayou stylings in its pizza toppings. Try the alligator pizza, topped with actual fried alligator meat, the Louisiana Cajun spicy chicken, or Po’man cheeseburger with bacon jam. 4 Sun St., Wan Chai, 2776-2668.
Come and get it at Lawry’s The Prime Rib.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
Okay so this one’s not exactly all-you-can-eat, but it pretty much may well be with the size of the thing. Created by the founder of Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Lawrence L. Frank himself, in 1956, the hefty 24oz Beef Bowl Cut is an American Football institution, having been served to over 20,000 players at the Rose Bowl finals ever since its creation. The tradition finally makes its way to Hong Kong this month via the Beef Bowl Combo for Four ($2,280), so yes, you will have to share with three other diners, but the set also includes Lawry’s famous spinning bowl salad or its classic lobster bisque (plus $60 per person), plus a fiery Baked Alaska to end the meal. Free-flow drinks packages for $288 per head are also available with order of any dinner entree from Mon-Thu. Shop 201B, 2/F Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Rd., Central, 2907-2218. Beef Bowl Combo available daily, 6-10:30pm; two-hour free flow drinks packages available in main hall only, Monday-Thursday 6-10pm.
Author: Evelyn Lok
Source: https://hk-magazine.com/
Link: https://hk-magazine.com/article/restaurants/features/19224/license-indulge-hong-kongs-best-all-you-can-eat-deals
From well-respected chefs venturing out on their own to relative newcomers making a big splash on the scene, this has been a groundbreaking year for restaurant openings.
Saam
Why it’s the best: While the age of molecular gastronomy might have come and gone, there’ll always be a time and place for science experiments with food. The kitchen lab that is Saam reflects influences from all over the world (hence the name, which means “together” in Afrikaans): Chef Patrick Dang plays with, deconstructs and reconstructs his food, serving up foie gras “candy” enveloped in white chocolate and liquid cherry gastrique, and “Gangnam-style” tartare mixed with pear kimchi and shiso. It’s all a bit crazy and kooky, but it works.
The Ocean
Why it’s the best: Le Comptoir group continues its hot streak of churning out hip, stylish dining destinations, and we can’t help but be drawn in hook, line, and sinker. Boasting stunning azure-washed décor and panoramic sea views, The Ocean is a study in dining with the senses, with the tranquil atmosphere, exquisite tableware and artful plating working in harmony to create memorable feasts. We’re not saying it’s the best Japanese or seafood in town, but executive chef Agustin Balbi and sushi chef Yukio Kimijima (formerly of Sushi Ta-ke) have done an excellent job of illustrating the marriage of art and food that Le Comptoir is known for, making this destination worth the splurge.
The Optimist
Why it’s the best: This Spanish steak and seafood house brought the bold flavors of the Basque country to Wan Chai this year, and we’ve lapped up every last morsel. Serving rustically grilled meats and seafood over a charcoal asador grill, the three-story Barcelona-chic restaurant and bar is a welcome change in a Spanish scene dominated by tapas and paellas. Founders Manuel Palacio and Christian Talpo have hit the nail on the head twice now—first with Italian comfort food haven Pirata, and now with The Optimist—and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Ore-no Kappou
Why it’s the best: Billed as Michelin for the masses, Ore-no Kappou lets you cheat a bit at dining in a fancy location, on fancy dishes, and with a fancy company, at a fraction of the price. This Japanese import brings over a handful of two-Michelin-starred dishes from the original Ginza Okamoto in Japan, including sliced abalone with Japanese cucumber, grilled Kagoshima pork loin with miso, and our favorite, a moist miso-marinated grilled cod. With standing-room-only at a third of the tables and speedy service, Ore-no is able to keep prices fairly reasonable—although you could also easily splurge here if you opt for the full two-star treatment.
Ta Vie
Why it’s the best: Previously chef de cuisine at Ryugin, chef Hideaki Sato brings his painstaking attention to detail and passion for his craft to Ta Vie, a restaurant that blends his classical French training with the Japanese ingredients he’s built his name on. With an eight-course degustation available at $1,880 a head, dinner here is a pricey treat, but it’s worth it from start to finish. Ingenious techniques combined with subtle flavorings and fresh, seasonal treats take you on a culinary journey—just make sure you’re strapped in for the ride.
On Dining Kitchen + Lounge
Why it’s the best: Hot on the heels of his success at Upper Modern Bistro, Chef Philippe Orrico grabbed the attention of the Michelin man again with this sophisticated new venture. The appointment of the coveted star last month confirmed what we already knew—that chef Orrico can create that wow factor in the kitchen, marrying classic flavors in exciting combinations that are familiar yet new all at once. Don’t miss the amped-up beef and tuna tartare, or the flawless 63-degree egg with frog legs and pearl barley in a comté emulsion.
La Paloma
Why it’s the best: We weren’t sure what to expect from chef Willy Trullas Moreno’s more casual, pigeon-bespattered successor to FoFo, but we were charmed right off the bat by the twinkling fairy lights and colorful setting that makes you want to stay the night for a glass of sangria or three. The menu may not break any new boundaries—one of the tastiest items is a variation on the original “explosive” smoked salmon bags at FoFo—but it’s consistently tasty, from the Valencian paella to the huevos roots broken eggs which are some of the best we’ve had in Hong Kong.
Tycoon Tann
Why it’s the best: In a town dominated by fantastic, dirt-cheap Chinese food on every street corner, is it even worth shelling out more than $100 for char siu and fried rice? Yes, when it comes to Tycoon Tann, the trendy contemporary Chinese restaurant-bar that’s nailed a winning combination of classic and cool. Covering three stories of prime real estate space on Wellington Street, Tycoon Tann does avant-garde fine dining with a classical Chinese foundation, plating up char siu made with Hungarian Mangalica hot, crispy salted chicken and crunchy fried rice with abalone, shrimp, and conpoy. Don’t leave without trying the refreshing Chinese-inspired cocktails from the ground floor Mod Bar.
El Mercado
Why it’s the best: In an increasingly saturated restaurant scene, a new cuisine is likely to pique our interests right away. Luckily, El Mercado deserves the attention it’s received as Hong Kong’s first Nikkei restaurant, serving Japanese-Peruvian fusion (who knew?). From seared beef nigiri with banana-flavored rice to the ceviche with ohnibe fish and sweet potato, the interplay of textures and combinations here is addictive. The dish that really made our eyes pop? A plump Japanese oyster with lime and squid ink foam, with a tart house-blend of leche de Tigre ceviche marinade poured over just before serving.
Vea
Why it’s the best: What happens when you bring together one of Affordable Studio apartments Hong Kong’s best chefs (Vicky Cheng from Liberty Private Works) and most renowned mixologists (Antonio Lai from Quinary)? A groundbreaking concept bringing something new and daring to the restaurant scene: Cocktail pairings that feature ingredients working just as well on the plate as they do in a glass, making for a seamless experience. An open show kitchen lets you ogle over an army of trained chefs meticulously plating your food, from tuna belly with burnt cucumber jelly to sous-vide pigeon with smoked eel, pigeon blood, and cabbage. Occupying the top two floors of The Wellington, Vea serves up only one tasting menu at a time and serves it well.
1. Friday, December 11
It’s your time to shine: Rúla Búla is hosting an Ugly Sweater Competition! Show up in your scratchiest abomination and drink until the sweaters look good. 6pm | Rúla Búla, G/F, 58-62 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2179-5225 | Happy hour extends to 10pm. See contest rules at tiny.cc/hk-uglysweater.
2. Saturday, December 12
Charbon Art Space has invited Swiss illustrator Emmanuelle Houdart to exhibit her drawings and costumes. She’ll also be hosting workshops on creating personal “coat-shelters” this weekend—illustrations of coats that protect and defend us. Ooh, complex! Dec 12-13, 10am-12:30pm, 2:30-5pm | Charbon Art Space, Unit B 8/F Sing Tek Factory, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd., Aberdeen, 2518-0035 | Free entry; workshops $390 from charbonartspace.com, includes all materials.
3. Sunday, December 13
Tired of reading about stocks and corporate competition? Watch it happen in person at the Hong Kong Corporate Sevens, a fundraiser in which corporate rugby teams from all over town lay the touchdown smack down. There’ll be activities for everyone, young and old and all proceeds will go to the Po Leung Kuk Tackling Life Program. Gates open 9:30am | So Kon Po Recreation Ground, 55 Caroline Hill Rd., So Kon Po | Free entry.
4. Monday, December 14
Hip Hop House Dance Week has flown in French dancer Niako and Japanese dancer Usuke for Street Dance Session 2015. They’ll be teaching you how to get down and dirty in four sessions, so get your kicks ready for some new creases. Dec 12-13, with Niako | Dec 14 with Usuke | $300 for one session, discounts available for multiple sessions; register at tiny.cc/hk-streetdance.
5. Tuesday, December 15
Take a photo (or a selfie) with Pacific Place’s Santa, sit on his knee, and tell him about your wishes for world peace. Then discover you’re on the naughty list and run out of the mall because nobody understands you. Afterwards, post a tearful selfie on Instagram and tag us @HK_Magazine. We understand you. Through Dec 25 | Garden Court, LG1, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty | $110; one ticket admits up to four people. All proceeds go to charity drive Operation Santa Claus.
6. Wednesday, December 16
IndieCast.fm is hosting Showcase Vol. 2 at The Wanch tonight, featuring super duper indie bands Oh! Nullah, The Benefactor, and Planck. 9pm | The Wanch, 54 Jaffe Rd., Wan Chai | Free entry.
Super Duper Dinners: Where to Eat Superfoods in Hong Kong
Want to have your kelp and eat it too? Taste-test this year’s trending superfoods without sacrificing your social life. Cynthia Chung and Melissa Frankenberry track down a few restaurants serving up some extra-healthy helpings.
By Cynthia Chung | Jan 22, 2015
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