New Launches
Marmo Bistro
Rosewood Hong Kong welcomes its first French restaurant with the launch of Marmo Bistro. With sophisticated marble interiors laden with vintage posters and rounded candlelit dining tables, the establishment exudes Parisian chic. Dreamed up by Chef de Cuisine Giovanni Galeota, the seasonal menu showcases quality classic French fare and a thoughtful curation of exceptional wines. Have a standout Domane de Terrebrune’s 2022 Bandol rosé with some flavourful bouillabaisse, a fish stew hailing from Marseille, or get the full Bordeaux experience when you pair a glass of Bordeaux with the Côte De Boeuf à La Bordelaise, a roasted Argentinian rib-eye glazed with red wine and topped with bone marrow.
Ground Floor, Rosewood Hong Kong, No. 18, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; @marmobistro
LMO Freshly Baked “Savoury & Sweet” edition at BaseHall
A “Savoury & Sweet” edition of LMO Freshly Baked by Richard Ekkebus has landed at BaseHall! Unmissable for its playful red exterior and the mouthwatering scent of freshly baked goods that lingers in its path, this grab-and-go cafe serves up an irresistible selection of both savoury and sweet food. An array of hot gourmet pies with flavours like Thai green curry chicken and beef bourguignon, as well as fresh salads with spicy tomato or roasted pumpkin make for a light yet fulfilling meal. Meanwhile, goodies from the signature Landmark Mandarin Oriental pastry collection are also available—chocolate “brookies”, vanilla and sea salt financiers, and basque burnt cheesecakes to name a few.
Shop 10-11, LG/F, Jardine House,LANDMARK, 1 Connaught Place, Central
Saemaeul Sikdang
Hot on the heels of the success of Netflix hit show “Culinary Class Wars”, beloved judge and South Korean celebrity chef Paik Jong-won has brought his global K-BBQ chain to Hong Kong. Adding to the ever-growing rosters of Korean restaurants in Tsim Sha Tsui, Saemaeul Sikdang is a vibrant eatery boasting barbecue specialties and a bevy of traditional dishes. Favourites include Saemaeul’s signature yeoltan bulgogi, which are thinly sliced strips of pork marinated in a secret spicy sauce, and the hearty chilbun dwaeji kimchi stew.
Shop 101, 1/F, Multifield Plaza, 3–7 Prat Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui; @saemaeul.hongkong
Festive menus and more
Holiday feasts at Mandarin Grill + Bar, Clipper Lounge and more
Leave it to the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong to go all out for the holidays! Guests are spoiled for choice across a wide range of the hotel’s exquisite restaurants and bars. Over at the Michelin-starred Mandarin Grill + Bar, traditional roasts are the ultimate cornerstone of a festive feast, whilst a Clipper Lounge Christmas looks like lavish brunch and dinner buffets or themed afternoon tea delights paired with champagne and bubbles. Those looking for Asian flavours can head straight to the top floor of the hotel for opulent Chinese fine dining at Man Wah on one side, or The Aubrey’s moreish Japanese bites and festive cocktails on the other. The Krug Room, The Chinnery, Café Causette, and The Connaught Room are also hosting for the holidays, but those who prefer to celebrate from the comfort of their own homes can opt instead to order a roast turkey, honey-glazed ham, or prime rib from The Mandarin Cake Shop.
5 Connaught Road, Central; mandarinoriental.com
Ankôma
Chef Frankie Wong is putting a festive spin on his seasonal Chef’s table tasting menu from December 20 to 31, 2024. The amuse-bouche selection sees traditional blinis and French beignets reinterpreted with Japanese flavours, whilst a slice of Bouillabaisse Pithivier showcases a seafood medley of cod fish, ankimo and cuttlefish mousse wrapped in artfully flaky pastry. Mains are a choice between Ankôma’s signature roasted three yellow chicken with ikura rice, or Australian wagyu prepared in three deliciously inventive ways—pan-fried with celeriac purée and truffle beef jus, a beef tartare atop potato pavé and a bowl of gyudon with soy-cured egg yolk that is worth every precious bite. Ankôma’s pistachio tart is also being made available for pre-order throughout the festive period, with three different sizes to suit any merry occasion.
5/F, Kam Lung Commercial Centre, 5/F, 2 Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui; @ankoma_hk
A Christmas at Grandma’s with Jean May
Christmas at Jean May is all about spreading the love. This festive season, the cosy French bistro is decking the halls and cooking up a wholesome feast reminiscent of a “Christmas at Grandma’s”. Soulful specials such as a seafood mousse cannelloni with leek fondue and prawn bisque or classic crêpes suzette (a favourite of Chef Tiff and her mum) are evocative of comforting meals shared with family, while Jean May’s housemade mulled wine nods to longstanding festive traditions. In paying homage to all beloved grandmothers around the world, Chef Tiff is opening the Jean May guest book for diners to pen down their most cherished holiday memories with grandma, creating a treasure trove of heartfelt stories that celebrate love, tradition, and the joy of family gatherings.
Shop A, 14 Gresson Street, Wan Chai; @jeanmayhk
Arbor
Who better to trust will bring the authentic flavours of Santa’s hometown than Arbor’s Finnish chef-owner, Eric Räty? His festive menu showcases a masterful blend of Nordic and Japanese sensibilities, incorporating seasonal wintertime flavours sure to resonate with holiday diners. A bowl of velvety chestnut soup is enriched with winter truffle, signature pigeon arrives with a touch of Christmas-red lingonberries and braised red cabbage, and chocolate gingerbread is a delightful complement to a glass of berry mulled wine.
25/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central; arbor-hk.com
La Terrace by Louise
Rooted in nostalgia and French savoir-faire, La Terrace by Louise is Louise’s new bistro concept on the ground floor of their heritage-listed house in PMQ. For the festive season, indulge in delectable new dishes like the pumpkin agnolotti, a pillowy pumpkin-stuffed pasta accented with sweet amaretto and black truffle. Meanwhile, clementine and smoked cream accompany a bed of langoustine all while the scallop crudo swims in a pool of bigarade vinaigrette, resting underneath the sails of dainty lemon slices. For dessert, the passion fruit crème brûlée is silky and light, and the clementine Eton mess is complete with creme fraiche and meringue.
PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong; @louise.hkg
Café Landmark
Christmas shopping may as well be a sport with all the steps you’re putting in going back and forth between stores! If you’re trying to set a new personal record at LANDMARK, stop by the Café Landmark for a well-deserved break or a delightful reward for all the hard work you’ve been doing. Coinciding with the Christmas Atelier at LANDMARK, the restaurant has whipped up a festive afternoon tea set brimming with holiday spirit. Treat yourself to savoury bites such as parma ham rolls and mini sesame wagyu beef sandos, sweets like bow-topped mont blanc tarts and a decadent molten chocolate cake pierced with candy cane.
Shop 107-108, 1/F, LANDMARK Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central
Qura brings a Taste of the Riviera
Make no mistake, the Regent Hong Kong’s resident bar is an epicurean gem with a dining experience that rivals some of the finest restaurants in the city. Aptly named Sublime, Qura’s latest cocktail programme is designed to be as much of an emotional encounter as it is a sensory one. Guests are encouraged to choose according to descriptions that speak to them across unexpected creations like the ‘Kismet’, which uses edamame, pineapple, gyokyuro tea and tequila. Meanwhile, Regent Hong Kong’s Culinary Director Ciro Petrone has introduced the remarkable flavours of the riviera into Qura Bar’s dining room. Delight in deceptively simple dishes that are executed perfectly such as grilled octopus with potato espuma and salsa verde, a heavenly tomato tart à la Provençale, a thick-cut Veal Milanese and roasted potato gnocchi with lardons, chestnuts, and a melange of wild mushrooms.
Lobby Floor, Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong; @qurahongkong
Bold bites at Barkada
Crispy, tangy, rich, and creamy! That’s the Barkada menu for you. The modern Filipino restaurant has updated their menu with a host of thrilling new dishes that continue to showcase the vibrant, punchy flavours of Filipino cuisine. Cosy bulalo beef stew is reinvented into a sizzling plate of melt-in-your-mouth beef shank, bone marrow, charred corn and cabbage in a juicy beef gravy; stir-fried pancit canton gets a fun Hong Kong twist with the addition of calamansi char siu slices; and a garlic-pineapple glazed chicken sandwich with pickled atchara boasts a soft pandesal bun from local Filipino bakery Solar Hands.
48 Cochrane Street, UG/F, FOCO, Central; @barkada.hk
Collaborations and Pop-ups
SNOWSAND @ K11 Art Mall
Can’t make it to Hokkaido? Worry not, Shintaro Naganuma of the famed Bake Cheese Tarts is bringing Japanese wintertime to Hong Kong with the SNOWSAND pop-up at K11 Art Mall. SNOWSAND or SNOWS is a wintertime exclusive dessert brand from Sapporo specialising in fresh chocolate treats crafted exclusively from Hokkaido’s pasture-raised milk, a delicacy that is all the more rich and decadent during the winter months. Talk about a commitment to quality and flavour. Until January 5, 2025, guests will be able to shop and indulge in two signature SNOWSAND products at the pop-up. The SNOWBALL Chocolate Truffles feature fresh Hokkaido cream encased in chocolate, while the flagship SNOWSAND Chocolate Sandwich boasts a delicate Langue de Chat cookie and lush, milky chocolate filling. Both make for wonderful gifts, arriving in charming packages adorned with woodblock prints by Japanese artist Kazuyoshi Otani.
G/F Atrium, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; snows-winter.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong x Cle de Peau The Frosted City of Dreamlight Afternoon Tea
Experience the magic at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, with the Frosted City of Dreamlight Afternoon Tea, inspired by Clé de Peau Beauté’s dazzling “City of Dreamlight” holiday collection and designed in collaboration with French artist Jean Dalin. Guests can indulge in savoury delights like Roasted Chestnut and Cranberry Puff and Unagi with Caviar Éclair, as well as artistic sweet treats such as a Vanilla Cinnamon Cake and Strawberry Matcha Tart. To top off the enchanting experience? Participate in an interactive AR game and explore the “City of Dreamlight” collection in a virtual world.
The Ritz-Calton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon; ritzcarltonhkshop.com
Peep x Pan de PAIN x JPS Gallery
Pancakes, Peep, and plenty of Instagrammable spots—gear up for the Peep x PAN de PAIN x JPS Gallery pop-up at K11 Art Mall. Peep Project’s signature figures are seen across fluffy pancakes, mirrors, and placemats, transforming the Japanese cafe into a living canvas that is both a feast for the eyes and palate. Soft pancakes sandwich kabayaki eel and thick tamagoyaki for a savoury delight, while the all-day breakfast is a hearty plate of crispy bacon, sausage, tomato, and sunny-side-up. Mark your calendar for December 6, 2024 onwards for the 1-month showcase.
Shop B111B & B111C, B1/F, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Editor
Alyanna Raissa J. Payos and Karrie LamCredit
Lead image: Courtesy of Jean May
