Our round-up of Hong Kong's best dining spots in July.
Margo and Kyle & Bain
Margo has now soft-opened on Hong Kong's Queens Road.
Brand new European brasserie-style dining space Margo has opened at The Galleria on Hong Kong's Queen's Road Central. And tucked away on a mezzanine level is American martini bar, Kyle & Bain (Kyle & Bain patented the first ice machine, making ice an affordable commodity in the hot and humid colony of Hong Kong in the late 1800s).
Margo is headed up by German-born chef Mario Paecke, formerly chef de cuisine of SOMM and sous chef at two-Michelin star Amber at Landmark Mandarin Oriental, while Kyle & Bain will be operating under the guidance of beverage director John Nugent, formerly of The Diplomat.
The European-influenced menu makes us of high-quality ingredients in the contemporary European dishes with German influences. Highlights include signature 'happchen' ('snacks', in German), rainbow trout confit with German home-style Bavarian potato salad and grilled leek and pickled radish; croquettes with Alexandre Polmard (aged) beef and truffle creme; 12-month local Tilapia (freshwater fish) with verbena-champagne sauce, grilled peach, mash potatoes and chanterelle mushrooms; and Konigsberger Klopse - meatballs in a creamy sauce.
Desserts and pastries are crafted by local pastry chef, Eane Wong with head sommelier Elvis Lo on-hand to make suggestions from a curated selection of wines.
Margo, Shop 6, 9 Queens Road, Central (soft-opened for lunch and dinner); Kyle & Bain, Shop 6, 9 Queens Road Central (6-12pm).
Censu
Japanese style at Censu.
Due to launch on July 15, this 40 seat Japanese restaurant is helmed by chef Shun Sato, formerly of Hong Kong hot spots Fukuro, Ho Lee Fook, Belon and Armani/Aqua. He will be joined by general manager Keaton Lai, also of Fukuro and Ho Lee Fook, in the opening of what is his Lai’s first independent venture.
The Gough Street dining space takes its unusual name from the Japanse word ‘sensu’ meaning ‘folding fan’, which also alludes to a celebration of the senses.
The menu is inspired by Shun’s father’s izakaya cooking and boasts dishes such as sliced squid sashimi with white kimchi, zucchini flower tempura and unigiri, a risotto-style dish with onigiri (Japanese rice ball) topped with uni (sea urchins). Wash it down with Japanese-inspired cocktails, wines and a selection of premium sake.
The interior has been designed by Mount Fuji Architects and pays homage to Shun’s grandmother’s house with Wabi-sabi (the appreciation of imperfect beauty and simplicity) overtones - at the heart of the space is a large grooved and unpolished walnut table made from a single piece of wood.
Throw an eclectic playlist of Japanese house, indie and light rock into the mix and the scene is set.
Censu, 28-30 Gough Street, Central (6 to 12pm).
Musubi Hiro
Musubi and more at Musubi Hiro.
More Japanese influence with the opening of this izakaya-inspired gastro-pub in Hong Kong’s Central district.
Mishubi Hiro is inspired by the 1960s action series Tokusatsu and brings a modern twist to old-school Japanese dishes.
The menu is described as ‘epic’ (like Tokusatsu’s Kyodai heroes who faced off against the Kaiju monsters), but down-to-earth, with plenty of made-to-order musubi (Japanese snacks) and izakaya bites, served alongside sake, cocktails and ice-cold beer on tap. The dining space claims to serve the ultimate spam-musubi, a popular Hawaiian take on the traditional Japanese onigiri, or rice ball. There are also vegetarian and Hong Kong-influenced options as well as a menu of sauces and toppings for diners to customise their dishes.
The interior has been designed by Hong Konger Quill Wong, with fun mural art depicting dramatic views of Hong Kong’s skyline and major landmarks painted by students from the Hong Kong Design Institute.
Musubi Hiro, 37 Cochrane Street (junction of Cochrane, Gage and Lyndhurst), Central (11am to 12pm).
Coffeelin Happy Valley
Coffee and cocktails in the Valley.
The Happy Valley neighbourhood welcomes a Milanese-inspired coffee-to-cocktail space this month, as Coffeelin Happy Valley opens its doors on Cheong Ming Street.
The café/bar is the first and only distributor in Hong Kong to use acclaimed Italian GRISO coffee beans.
Pet-friendly al fresco seats offer a welcoming vibe while inside, the space features bespoke hand-made Milanese designs from local and international artists. The coffee and cocktail bar occupies the heart of a venue that channels a twentieth century Milanese vibe, with dark green tiles and antique mirrors, a patterned marbled floor and walnut and terrazzo stone table tops.
Come for coffee, stay for cocktails.
Coffeelin Happy Valley, 8 Cheong Ming Street, Happy Valley (8.30 am to 10pm).
La Rotisserie
Spit-roast chicken, sides and more in Causeway Bay.
Popular French spit-roast chicken shop La Rotisserie is opening a new venue in Causeway Bay.
The Lee Garden One located space will launch on July 6 and will be the brand’s sixth outlet in Hong Kong. It will be serving the familiar spit-roast chicken and salads as well as spit-roast duck and will include a La Sandwicherie cutting made-to-order sandwiches and a salad bar.
La Rotisserie Causeway Bay will also be the first branch to introduce a breakfast menu, with croissants, pastries and fresh-brewed coffee served until 11.30am.
Further branches can be found in Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai and Quarry Bay.
La Rotisserie, Shop G12, Lee Garden One, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay (8.30am to 9pm).
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour
Yoga and brunch by Victoria Harbour.
The Hong Kong Island harbourside hotel has launched a Yogi Brunch at its Cruise restaurant venue. The dining experience happens on the first Sunday of each month, with the next event planned for July 4.
Enjoy an hour of morning yoga with instructor Agnes Chan while soaking up the views over Victoria Harbour. Relax with a post-class detox smoothie before tucking into the Yogi Brunch featuring a chilled selection of seafood and sashimi. Jugs of signature cocktail and energy smoothies will also be served.
All participants will receive a gift set from herbal skincare brand, belif.
The brunch costs HK$568 per person and is limited to 20 participants on a first come, first served basis. It includes a one hour yoga session from 10.30am, set menu Yogi Brunch from 12 to 2pm and one herbal skincare gift set per participant.
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour, Cruise, 23/F (West Tower), 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point (10.30am to 2pm).
Funky Monkey
More-ish momos at Funky Monkey.
‘Funky’ because of the groovy vibes and ‘monkey’ for the fun atmosphere, this neighbourhood cocktail bar in Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui and Tung Chung is launching a raft of summer promotions, including Bollywood and Reggae nights and live music performances.
Happy hour specials include buy-on-get-one-free offers, free cocktails, a two hour open bar for HK$198 and lunch specials.
Funky Monkey was founded by Nepalese bartender Gurung Dammarsing and launched in 2016 - the year of the monkey, another reason for the moniker. Think laid-back vibes and cool décor - all venues were hand painted with a tropical note by British artist Malcolm Golding.
Enjoy Nepalese-style dishes, including a Himlayan thali set, momo platters and chatamari pizzas, washed down with handmade cocktails.
Funky Monkey, G/F 17 Wai Ching Street, Jordan (12 to 10pm); 9/F Koon Fook Centre, 9 Knutsford Terrace, Tsim Sha Tsui (5 to 10pm) and Shop 101, 1/F, T-Bay, 9 Yi Tung Road, Tung Chung (11am to 10pm).
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