55 Best Restaurants in Central, Hong Kong

Spearheaded by Umberto Bombana (the former executive chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong and often lauded as the best Italian chef in Asia), this glitzy space delivers everything it promises. The service is crisp, the wine list is extensive, and the interior is nothing less than glamorous.

Celebrated chef Gray Kunz’s restaurant offers expertly prepared modern European fare in a casual and relaxed 49th-floor locale with stunning urban vistas. A fan of fresh, seasonal ingredients, Kunz incorporates local produce into the ever-evolving menu whenever possible, often adding Asian flavors to excellent effect.

This place is good—really, really good. Tucked away in a nondescript building in a hidden alley off Lan Kwai Fong, this reservations-only private kitchen plates up inventive, French-inspired Shanghainese dishes that are prepped in a polished open kitchen.

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 place has made a serious case for being the best Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong, especially after winning and retaining three Michelin stars every year since 2009. Where other contenders tend to get too caught up in prestige dishes and name-brand chefs, Lung King Heen focuses completely on taste.

Hidden behind a signless gray door, Ronin is an ultraslick izakaya-style restaurant that serves some of the most creative seafood dishes in town. The menu is market driven and always features a selection of fresh sashimi. Most dishes are designed to share. Be sure to try the deep-fried fish karaage, which is perfect for pairing with the bar’s extensive selection of Japanese whiskies, sake, or shochu. Word of warning: there are only 14 seats at the bar, and reservations are only accepted via email. You could also head down a few blocks and check out Ronin’s sister restaurant, Yardbird, which serves delicious yakitori (grilled chicken) to an eager, walk-in crowd.

This stylish restaurant and bar serves the delicious flavors of the Mediterranean. Start with a round of warm pita bread and savory dips, such as the addictive taramasalata (smoked fish roe blended with lemon and garlic). Other must-try items include the succulent octopus, grilled halloumi cheese, and tender lamb ribs. Of course, you should also try the namesake souvla, which is a Greek-style spit-roasted meat.

The restaurant celebrates a return to authentic Cantonese fare. Using only the freshest possible ingredients—from locally reared free-range chicken to wild-caught seafood—this unique eatery focuses on the intrinsic flavors of each ingredient. Appetizers are creative: shredded pig’s ear and tripe salad is given an extra crunchy edge with the addition of freshly sliced guava, and razor clams are steamed with pickled lemon and garlic. And it gets even better with the mains. A particular favorite is the signature soy-sauce chicken, perfumed with 18 different fragrant Chinese herbs. Also recommended is the steamed fresh crab, which is steeped in aged ShaoXing wine.

This gorgeous restaurant is truly the full package. For starters, the space is gorgeous—cool, classy, and intimate at the same time. More important, though, is that Vasco serves truly inspired Spanish cuisine with global influences. The red Palamos prawns and sea urchin is a standout, as is the incredibly tender roast pigeon, which is balanced by tart apple cream. For dessert, a combination of rice and cardamom rounds off the meal perfectly. Our recommendation is to go for the chef 's tasting menu, which offers the crème de la crème that the restaurant has to offer. If you’re looking for something less formal, head to Vasco’s sister restaurant, Isono, one floor below.

Chef Jason Atherton worked at some of the best kitchens in the world before opening the highly successful London restaurant Pollen Street Social in 2011. His culinary empire has since expanded to more than a dozen outlets around the world, with Aberdeen Street Social being one of the more recent additions. This bi-level space is located at the former Police Married Quarters and encompasses a restaurant, café, and bar. Head upstairs to enjoy meticulously plated modern British fare, such as the signature CLT (crab, lettuce, and tomato) and braised ox cheek with roasted bone marrow. You can also grab a table downstairs and try the casual, all-day menu and house special drinks.

As you would expect from a restaurant in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Amber will linger in your memories for its modern style, impeccable service, and creative cuisine. Chef Richard Ekkebus’s menu of creative European dishes still doesn’t fail to impress.

Few places in Hong Kong have the kind of stunning garden views that you’ll find at AMMO. Housed in a former ammunition compound (hence the name) that was converted into the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the restaurant's interiors and menus blend the old with the new resulting in an impressive and dynamic dining experience.

Despite its unassuming location in an alley, this dai pai dong (outdoor food stall) remains immensely popular due to its delicious stir-fried dishes. The wok-cooked noodle dishes are especially good—thin noodles are cooked until crispy and topped with strips of pork and bean sprouts.

Touting itself as Hong Kong's "first authentic Italian steak house," Bistecca has become one of the best places to go for delectable beef. The space is charmingly rustic, decorated with butcher knives, hanging bunches of herbs, and a giant display case that shows off the restaurant’s premium cuts imported from the best suppliers around the globe. The steaks are all aged to tenderness and flavored with flecks of sea salt and peppercorns, then grilled and drizzled with a little Tuscan olive oil and lemon.

Set in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, this convenient, family-friendly restaurant promises views of Victoria Harbour, an outdoor terrace, and a stylish cocktail bar. Though the menu is eclectic enough to keep everyone happy, most people come for the views.

The Four Seasons spared no expense in creating this space, bringing in well-known designers and feng shui masters, and the result is a private dining room that might be one of the most spectacular in the world. Guests can see into the entire open kitchen, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of Victoria Harbour and beyond. Executive chef Fabrice Vulin hails from France but worked in Geneva and Morocco, and dishes such as the caramelized pigeon breast with North African spices reflect his multicultural influences. The restaurant also boasts an excellent cheese cellar. Even if you’re not having a full sit-down meal, you can still enjoy some fromage and wine at the adjoining bar and lounge.

The Mandarin Oriental’s Clipper Lounge has long been lauded for serving one of the best afternoon teas in town. Sandwiches and miniature cakes cascade down a multitier stand, and classic scones are served with clotted cream and the restaurant’s famed rose-petal jam. The restaurant also offers sumptuous buffet and à la carte options throughout the day.

One of the best in the city, this Cantonese restaurant is known for its traditional menu embellished with nouvelle liberties. The restaurant is also loved for its elegant harborside location, which has recently been refurbished into an even sleeker space. In this gorgeous setting, enjoy signature dishes such as sautéed crystal king prawns and fried rice with minced beef and greens.

Indulge your sweet tooth with C’est La B’s wide array of gorgeously whimsical cakes and desserts. The sugary creations at this bakery-café are decidedly extravagant and come with playful, tongue-in-cheek names like Better Than Sex (chocolate fudge cake with caramel crunch and red sugar lips) and Blessing in Disguise (carrot and cheesecake with berry glaze). Most cakes are available in miniature portions, so feel free to sample a few. C’est La B operates a second branch in Tsim Sha Tsui.

This ultracool wine bar and restaurant serves small plates for casual snacking and mixed platters ideal for sharing. Not surprisingly, it’s popular with the drinks-after-work crowd. But don’t underestimate the food: the tuna tartare with avocado, for starters, is delicious. You can also enjoy cheese and charcuterie for snacking purposes or create your own tapas platter. Gorgonzola and black-truffle penne or lobster linguine with fresh tomatoes are among the best mains. DiVino also stays open for revelry late into the evening.

Art and food come together in this beautiful two-story establishment, which encompasses a bar, garden terrace, and dining room. The interiors are sophisticated yet inviting, making the perfect backdrop for the year-round art exhibitions hosted at the restaurant. But Duddell’s isn’t just a feast for the eyes—the Cantonese cuisine here is solid and satisfying and has garnered plenty of praise from locals and visitors alike. Signature items include crispy salted chicken and fried lobster with scallions and shallots. The dim sum lunch here is also quite popular and includes creative dishes like egg-white dumplings with shrimp and caviar.

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.

The Hong Kong outpost of Shanghai’s popular restaurant is showy, with a snow-white interior decked out with designer chairs and fiberglass animal figurines. On the food side of things, authentic tapas share menu space with creatively contemporary Spanish dishes. Ibérico ham served with tomato bread, sautéed prawns with garlic, and chilled tomato gazpacho represent the classics, and they’re certainly well executed, but the modern dishes offer much more excitement. Scallop ceviche, for instance, is laid on a bed of creamy avocados and topped with crispy shallots, while braised beef cheek is served with bananas and passion fruit. The paellas are also worth trying, whether steeped in the flavors of Boston lobster or bathed in jet-black squid ink.

The menu here is inspired by the multicultural flavors chef Harlan Goldstein grew up with while living in New York. Italian preparations take precedence, but you’ll also find things like salmon crudo with a citrus dressing and crispy falafel served with tahini. The handcrafted pastas are easy favorites, but if you’re in the mood to feast, go for the 38-ounce fiorentina (steak Florentine style, designed for two) with a side of black-truffle mash. Gold also has a great wine selection, and you can always enjoy a glass on the restaurant’s open-air terrace.

Opened by award-winning Sydney-based chef Jowett Yu, this funky eatery is nothing like your average Chinese restaurant. As the tongue-in-cheek name suggests, the food here is bold and playful, inspired by old-school Chinatown classics but with a decidedly modern twist. Standout creations include the Yunnan-style steak tartare with hot-and-sour sauce, as well as the roast wagyu short ribs with a jalapeño puree. The cocktail list is just as inspired—try the Cooler, which is made with vodka infused with oolong tea.

Located within the International Finance Center, Isola’s floor-to-ceiling windows and harborside terrace afford spectacular views of Hong Kong’s famous skyline. The restaurant serves regional Italian fare, with selections like hand-twisted pasta with Parma ham, black truffle, fava beans, and Norcia cheese, or sea bass baked in sea-salt crust. Don't pass up the simple and well-executed stone-baked pizzas. Isola is also as much of a nighttime destination as anything else, and it’s worth coming just to sample cocktails in the equally trendy Isobar upstairs.

This well-established Indian restaurant has kept up with the times, and although you’ll still find the spice-scented classics on the menu, the newer dishes with a contemporary twist are the ones that steal the spotlight. Try the mirchi kebab—delicious grilled chicken flavored with coriander and chilies and served with a cooling cilantro dip. We also recommend the grilled halibut and the mackerel curry. The restaurant has a wide range of vegetarian specialties that can impress even devout carnivores. For a true Indian feast, drop by for the buffet lunch, which is available from Monday to Saturday.

One of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong, Jimmy’s Kitchen opened in 1928 and continues to serve comfort food from around the world in a private-club atmosphere. The handy location just off Queen’s Road in Central and a menu that offers a wide selection of dishes—including steak, borscht, goulash, bangers and mash, curry, and burgers—have made Jimmy’s a favorite with both Chinese locals and tourists looking for a taste of home. It’s not cheap, but it’s a good choice for a night out with friends, especially if your group’s cravings are pulling you in different directions.

A collaboration with the world-renowned Krug Champagne house, this private dining room is a must-visit for serious epicures. The experience is a bit surreal—guests are led through the hotel’s legendary Chinnery Bar to a black door that announces the exclusive Krug Room; within is a table that seats up to 12 diners and gives full view of the kitchen, where chef Uwe Opocensky and his team are busy at work. This is essentially Opocensky’s creative workshop: he trained at El Bulli, and he calls his cuisine “progressive gastronomy.” Salads may appear like potted plants with edible soil, while consommé are served in teapots with herbs and flowers. A meal here isn’t cheap; it costs at least HK$2,688 per person—but you get 10 to 14 courses (sometimes more) with Champagne pairings.