It’s one of the busier areas in Hong Kong…even chaotic, we dare say. But among bustling shoppers on the narrow streets, and up in the tall buildings with unassuming exteriors, are some hidden gems for dining and drinking in Causeway Bay. There’s some old western and Chinese food favourites here, along with new bars that may soon be your next haunt. We’ve also included spots in nearby Tin Hau for you to try when your belly is rumbling or thirst comes calling. Enjoy!
SKYE
Who says you have to dine in TST for a wicked view? SKYE’s outdoor deck on the 27th floor of the Park Lane hotel is quite the treat for the eyes, with a cool illuminated bar and glowing tables set against a sparkling view of Victoria Harbour and Victoria Park. Indoors, dine on Chef Lee Adams’ award-winning cuisine in an inviting dining area alongside tall windows for more of that awesome view. There’s also three private rooms for a perfect birthday dinner or other celebratory event.
Where: 310 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2839 3327 or [email protected]
Shelter
We love coming here for a romantic evening on Shelter’s elegant terrace sipping cocktails in one of their cosy teepee-like seats. And when we’re dining outside among the tranquil lighting and lush greenery, we always forget we’re in Hysan Place. Shelter’s Executive Chef Simonetta Garelli prepares her Italian dishes using fresh organic vegetables, fruit and herbs straight from the outdoor garden, which adds to the pretty scenery. Prices can be on the high side, so save a visit for a special night.
Where: 718-719, 7/F Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2778 8398 or [email protected]
Seasons
A great spot for afternoon tea of the French variety, boozy brunch or lunch al fresco, you will find many reasons to frequent Seasons. The restaurant’s chic indoor dining areas, handsomely decorated in organic timber, marble and changing light, make for a pleasant night out to indulge in distinctive French fare courtesy of Chef Lorenz Hoja, who’s worked with world-renowned chef and Hong Kong favourite Joël Robuchon. We can recommend virtually everything on the menu, from the seafood to the meat, and don’t forget the cheese! The seasonal cheese selection alongside a French red is glorious.
Where: Shop 308, 3/F, Lee Garden Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2505 6228 or [email protected]
Fleur de Sel
Crepes for dinner! Give it a go and you’ll soon find yourself changing your regular meal plan to that of a true Breton. We’re talking galettes topped with delectable cheese and meat imported from France, and delicious crepes drizzled with sweet toppings like homemade chocolate, caramel or salted butter sauce. Whether you’re going sweet or savoury, either is nicely paired with a cider from Brittany served in a lovely traditional ceramic cup. The restaurant can seem hard to locate for first-timers among the mass signage, but just look up and you’ll see the white facade and name/logo.
Where: Shop 2J, Po Foo Building, Foo Ming Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2805 6678 or [email protected]
The Coffee Academics
Don’t be fooled by the name. Yes, they do coffee – and they do it well. But they also do really good comfort food. The pizza and pasta dishes they serve up rival those of any top Italian restaurant, and anywhere that does an all-day breakfast is tops for us late risers. Ah yes, the coffee. They mean business, with signature blends made from beans sourced globally and roasted right here in HK (the Causeway Bay flagship store boasts a roasting facility), a ‘Globally Inspired Coffee’ menu featuring a different coffee concoction each month, and an ice drip coffee that takes a whopping eight hours to make, resulting in a rich, velvety brew. The cake and pastries are divine too, to be taken at the wooden communal table, or alone indoors or out, in the cool industrial/vintage setting.
Where: 38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2156 0313 or [email protected]
Burgeroom
For those who like their burgers big, with juices dripping down their hands with each bite, you must head to Burgeroom. The burgers are phenomenal, tall suckers that require you to open wide, with toppings ranging from pineapple to portobello mushroom, and a mega cheese burger featuring 80g of cheddar. They also have the best sides we’ve seen, with a variety of fries to make your head spin (thick ones, twisty ones, wedges, even mini hash browns) that you can douse with melted cheese sauce. It’s located at Fashion Walk’s Food Street, which has other places for eating and imbibing at, notably El Born for casual tapas and Coedo Taproom for excellent Japanese craft beer and nibbles.
Where: Shop D, G/F, 50-56 Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2890 9130 or [email protected]
Brick Lane
Unlike the famous east London street lined with the best curry restaurants, this Brick Lane does proper English fry ups with thick sausages, baked beans, ham, bacon, eggs – the standard artery-clogging goodness – plus fish and chips, and classic roast dinners. Dessert, of course, means Victoria sponge cake or Eton Mess. In the mood for a picnic? They pack up all this yummy grub and more in a picnic basket that’s ready to go for a British meal on the grass.
Where: G/F, Lee Garden Six, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2736 8893
ToTT’s and Roof Terrace
Up on the 34th floor of The Excelsior hotel, ToTT’s (‘Talk of The Town’, don’t you know) has a fabulous free flow brunch on Sundays where you can throw back the Champagne while feasting on a fine spread of brunch favourites. Or skip your usual Pret sandwich and have a sky-high luncheon; the three-course set lunch ($288) has oysters, crispy skinned duck and other indulgent options. Take it on the outdoor patio setting, which puts you smack beside CWB’s skyscrapers for a thrilling view, tipsy or not.
Where: The Excelsior, 34/F, 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2837 6786
ALTO
Another beauty of a view can be found at ALTO, inside and out. Dine in a stylish setting inspired by the elements – stone, wood, fire and water – and cast your eyes on the magnificent Victoria Harbour backdrop as you sit 31 floors up. They do a mean steak and decadent desserts to boot, from palette-cleansing sorbets (the passion fruit-mango flavour is so damn tasty) to gluttonous apple strudel with vanilla ice cream and honeycomb. Happy Hour (from 5.30pm-8pm) is a great opportunity to partake in their luscious cocktails, namely ‘Lavender Me’, an invigorating tonic of Tanqueray, orgeat and lavender syrup, fresh pineapple juice, and a fragrant lavender sprig atop foamy egg white.
Where: 31/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung St, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2603 7181 or [email protected]
Jamie´s Italian
HK families are fans of Jamie’s Italian as they do eating out with kids well: a fun little play area, unique kids’ menu with some nutritious highlights (like the ‘five a day picnic box’ with a chicken wrap, rainbow vegetable crisps, seedless grapes, cherry tomatoes and a piece of seasonal fruit) and monthly pizza-making workshops, where they can get their hands dirty with flour and tomato sauce while mum and dad park themselves at the bar for some antipasti and Prosecco. It’s also a good bet for a weekly express lunch, including a starter and main from $98.
Where: 2/F, Soundwill Plaza II, Midtown, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 3958 2222
FRITES
An old favourite for Belgian beer lovers (their ‘Beer Bible’ contains one of Hong Kong’s largest selections of draught and bottled Belgian beer), and fans of the Belgian classic moules et frites, where every Monday you can have all the mussels you can eat, served with fries and bread, for $195. Burgers and steaks, fish and schnitzel, all with frites, of course, also feature on the extensive menu. Kids will love their tasty choices (bangers and mash, fresh fruity smoothies) and the FRITES Café play area, where they can do a bit of role play as customers and baristas.
Where: Shop 1, G/F Park Haven, No. 38 Haven Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2142 5233 or [email protected]
Sushi Hiro
Continually ranked as one of the best sushi spots in Hong Kong. The service can at times be hit and miss, but people keep coming back so they’re doing something right. Maybe it’s the endless sushi list of maki, temaki and sashimi, or the superb sake selection, each measured with a Sake Meter Value (categorising sweet and dry) to ensure you’re getting the best pairing with your meal. It ain’t all raw either, with tempura, noodles, soups and heaping donburi bowls to satisfy non-sushi eaters.
Where: 10/F, Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2882 8752
Din Tai Fung
This Taiwanese import is coveted by dim sum lovers for its xiao long bao, with many queuing up for the steamed dumplings. In between baskets (because you will order many) you can watch the masters roll out dumpling after dumpling, each one swiftly made by hand and filled with black truffle, shrimp, chicken or pork – they’re acclaimed for the latter. Fuel up on spicy peanut sauce noodles and drunken chicken too in between hitting up the shops.
Where: Shop G3-11, G/F, 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 3160 8998 or [email protected]
Strokes
‘Strokes is Hong Kong’s premier Crazy Golf & Lifestyle club’. So says the write-up, which definitely piques curiosity, and yes, here you can unwind in a 9,000 sq ft space combining crazy golf, a speciality bar and restaurant, and a multi-purpose event area. The colourful and relaxed ambiance is perfect for chilling out post-work with a naughty tipple or soothing tea, and the food is done well, with a ‘guilty’ and ‘green’ menu that delivers more than the usual chips and nachos you’re used to at crazy golf venues.
Where: G2-3, 1/F, Fashion Walk, 9 Kingston Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2877 1800 or [email protected]
Inn Side Out
Neat freaks may skip this one, unless you like the sound and sensation of used peanut shells under your feet. Because that’s the vibe at Inn Side Out, an American-style bar favoured by the sports crowd due to live games they frequently show on massive screens throughout the laid-back bistro. Park your butt on one of the high chairs inside, or spread out with a group in the large outdoor seating area overlooking the South China Athletics Association field. Then, bite into the free peanuts and throw the shells on the floor. But if you’re into classier fare, say a full slab of BBQ ribs, the menu is chock-full of pub food to munch on.
Where: 2/F, 88 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2895 2900 or [email protected]
Dickens Bar
A long-standing haunt of British expats in the city, this bar on the lower ground floor of The Excelsior has your typical mix of British pub food and sports on TV screens. It can get loud in here during Happy Hour (from 4-8pm) and when football, cricket…pretty much any big game is on. The food won’t wow you (an exception is the filling Guiness beef pie with mash and the apple crumble), but the daily specials like Thursday Curry Night will happily remind Brits of home for sure.
Where: The Excelsior, Lower Ground Floor, 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2837 6782
Pong
Leave your paddles at home, because this is a beer pong joint. Intrigued? Beer pong (in which players attempt to throw a ping pong ball across a table into a cup of beer) has crossed over from college parties to bars, and Pong is the first to do it here high tech: their cutting-edge beer pong table works with an app that keeps track of your score, helps you find other players, and manages your bar tab. There’s a large beer selection to plop the wee balls into, and lots of time for chugging as they’re open late every night.
Where: 1/F, Zing!, 38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 3956 5001 or [email protected]
WTF
This local bar is worth the fuss (the name is not what you were thinking) for cocktail and whiskey lovers wanting a chill hangout, with pretty decor – the table by the blue and white tiled wall is our favourite seat. The skilled bartender can help you choose from a slew of whiskies from Japan, Taiwan , Scotland and Ireland, or whip up a stiff cocktail (they do a killer Old Fashioned with just the right amount of bourbon, sugar and bitters). Teetotalers will rejoice at the impressive mocktail list that goes beyond the Shirley Temple.
Where: G/F, 10 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2792 0823 or [email protected]
Belgica Bar & Seafood
The bar is not too big and there is limited seating out front, but Belgica is good for popping into for a quick beer and bite. One cannot bill itself as a Belgian establishment without mussels and fries on the menu, and they’ve got ‘em, along with waffles and tempting house-made croquettes that hit the spot with a Trappist Ale or Kriek. The requisite Manneken Pis statue is around to pose with for photos, as is the Kwak, the Belgian amber ale served in a distinctive glass with wooden holder.
Where: G/F 125 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2110 1018 or [email protected]
Hex Bar & Billiards
Like its neighbour Pong in the Zing! building, Hex Bar & Billiards also does beer pong, but 26 floors up, providing some nice views in between a round, playing pool or checking out the latest match on the big screen. You’d be surprised but for a games bar, they do decent cocktails, some elaborately presented in Instagrammable glassware and colours. The ‘Tsunami’ will feature heavily on your feed, presented in a fish bowl, with a gummy fish swimming in the blue icy drink that you’ll happily sip up.
Where: 26/F, Zing!, 38 Yiu Wah Street, Causeway Bay
Contact: 2329 0899 or [email protected]
Texas Burger
Tin Hau locals needn’t go far for a juicy patty between two soft buns and all the fixings, and for everyone else, Texas Burger is but a mere walk from Tin Hau MTR. You’ll be happy to make the trip, as their burgers are amazing, just like the moreish fries, onion rings and coleslaw that goes with them. We always ask for an extra pickle, its saltiness wonderfully washed down with a thick milkshake. The ‘Tropical Forest’ is our go-to, made with refreshing guava, mango, passion fruit and lime ice cream, but if there’s still room, the ‘Funky Monkey’, a sinful blend of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, banana, chocolate syrup and whipping cream, takes care of the thirst and dessert quotient.
Where: G/F, 109 Electric Road, Tin Hau
Contact: 2805 7811 or [email protected]
Drunkerland
Despite the name, this isn’t a bar frequented by boozy pub crawlers. It’s a small venue, nice and dark inside, perfect for shooting the breeze with a friend over a pint. Serious beer drinkers come here to sample the more than 100 craft brews available from Belgium, Japan, Hong Kong, UK and USA (don’t come here expecting Budweiser). Cheap weekly specials pairing beer with pizza or snacks help soak up the suds.
Where: Shop B, G/F, 27 Ngan Mok Street, Tin Hau
Contact: 3702 1841 or [email protected]
Sister Wah
Nothing fancy here, just a few tables in an unassuming setting, but this mom and pop eatery has a true following, mainly for its famous beef brisket with noodles in clear broth. Those flat rice noodles will slither down your chopsticks and chin, and that’s fine, as you’ll fit right in. Slurping is not frowned upon here and your wallet will not take a hit, whether you’re going for the brisket or their other signature dish, braised daikon radish in clear beef broth.
Where: G/F, 13A Electric Road, Tin Hau
Contact: 2807 0181
Camper’s
Camper’s is Japanese comfort food made with no additives, minimal fat and lots of vegetables. In fact, many of their dishes are vegan, like their popular vegan curry and rice. The setting is homey and intimate, perfect for a quick lunch, and the meal sets are a good introduction to their food, like the fantastic beef curry served with plenty of colourful veg and rice that is not the usual boring scoop; theirs is complemented with bits of sweet potato and corn.
Where: 127 Electric Road, Tin Hau
Contact: 2889 7377
Palki
Palki consistently gets a thumbs up from locals who come for authentic Indian food without the fuss. It’s a small restaurant, so you’ll definitely hear the couple beside you fighting over the last papadum, but you won’t mind because the food is great. The staff are friendly and are happy to recommend a dish, helping you branch out from the usual butter chicken and naan. Spicy lamb shank curry, aloo gobi and tender tandoori chicken are some of the highlights.
Where: G/F, Fook Wah Mansion, 2 Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau
Contact: 2566 8411
Nancy Matos is a lifestyle and culture writer from Vancouver, Canada currently based in Hong Kong and London. She has a love-hate relationship with Causeway Bay, but always seems to return for the food.
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