From classic French fine dining perfection at Caprice to melt-in-the mouth poulet, and everything in between, top quality French food is available in every corner of Hong Kong – lucky us! With one of the largest French expat communities in Asia, we’re really not surprised. Here is our round-up of our all-time favourite French restaurants in Hong Kong.
Caprice — Central
One of Hong Kong’s premier Michelin-3 star restaurants and arguably one of the best French restaurants in Hong Kong, Caprice has been impressing gourmands with their exquisite menu under the helm of Chef Vincent Thierry for years. Ranking No. 24 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2022, the concept here is haute cuisine, with guests settling into plush sofa-like chairs and sipping on a selection of champagnes before perusing the menu. The newish bar, discreetly positioned adjacent to the restaurant, offers a stylish yet cozy nook to enjoy a few flutes of unique wines and champagne, accompanied by a tapestry of fine cheeses. This option for a bit of sip and nibble is a great way to spent a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance St, Central | +852
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon — Central
Another Michelin-3 star darling, this fine dining restaurant is sectioned in half into L’Atelier and Le Jardin. L’Atelier is designed for the spectator in us, positioned with a circular bar that wraps around an open kitchen so diners can view all aspects of the cooking and preparation process. The menu here is served in tapas-style portions, and differ from the menu in the Le Jardin section, which is more along the lines of formal French fine dining. The decor is almost hypnotic, in vibrant glossy lipstick red and silky black. The patisserie downstairs also offers some of the best croissants in all of Hong Kong!
Shop 401, 4/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Rd Central, Central | +852 2166 9000
one-thirtyone — Sai Kung
Looking for a unique location to celebrate a special occasion? Well, look no further because one-thirtyone is certain to fulfil that “wow” factor. Located in a three-storey house with a garden overlooking Three Fantoms Cove, this romantic restaurant serves up contemporary French cuisine with plenty of style. Perfect for private parties or even small weddings, one-thirtyone even has their very own helipad to land your chopper or a private jetty to moor your yacht in case the trek from Central is too daunting. Oh how very James Bond!
131 Tseng Tau Village, Shap Sze Heung, Sai Kung | +852 2791 2684
LPM Restaurant & Bar — Central
With 7 locations worldwide, all featuring white, marble interiors with splashes of 20th century art and an open prep counter where chefs merrily prepare the dishes set in front of you, LPM feels like a well-oiled machine. Featuring French Mediterranean dishes where the focus is on seasonal vegetables, seafood, and perfectly done pastas and meats, the atmosphere and food alike are welcoming, warm, and not overly formal. A recommended go-to for consistently on-point French bistro cuisine.
Shop 1, 1/F, 23-29 Stanley St, H Queen’s, Central | +852 2887 1113
ÉPURE — Tsim Sha Tsui
This is an oldie but a goodie. A favourite casual one-Michelin-star Hong Kong French restaurant with a loyal following, Épure has remained a stable fixture in Tsim Sha Tsui over the years despite the comings and goings on numerous neighbourhood restaurants. The staying power is in part due to its down-to-earth French cooking, with a focus on classic recipes. The restaurant has indoor as well as a small terrace seating area, and is perfect for a cozy romantic tete-a-tete. Murals of Nice and other seascape French paradise adorn the walls, and the charming French staff truly makes a meal here memorable.
Shop 403, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 3185 8338
Bâtard — Sai Ying Pun
7,000 sq.ft wine store Fine Wine Experience store nestles a French restaurant in the back. Bâtard does a lot of tailored wine tasting events followed by private dinners. Even for regular dinners, the sommeliers are on-call to guide you through the 1,000-long wine list, although there is a core collection of wines that pair with signature plates like the Signature Roast Chicken for sharing (HK$880) and Grilled Threadfin fish (HK$450).
Inside The Fine Wine Experience, Shop E, 165-166 Connaught Rd West, Sai Ying Pun | +852 2318 1802 or +852 6504 9193
Bouchon Bistro Français — Central
Always consistently good for down-to-earth French comfort food, Bouchon is an old favourite of ours in trendy Soho. High bar stools upfront give the restaurant a casual bistro feel while a more intimate al fresco dining area is tucked at the back. The semi-open kitchen entices guests with their roaring grill and choice cuts of entrecôtes. But our favourite has to be the mussels, which are always plump, juicy, and perfectly steamed, served alongside a classic pairing of crispy frites!
49 Elgin St, Central | +852 2525 9300
Metropolitain — Sai Ying Pun
Modelled to reflect the Parisian central train station (but thankfully, minus the pigeons), Metropolitain is one of those places where one can enjoy a relaxing evening of good French food and wine at very decent prices. A French bistro under Pastis Group, Chef Frank is always entertaining at the open kitchen, so opt for bar seating if you are a small group. The menu features home cooking such as slow-roasted lamb shank and buttery, pillowy mash potatoes. You might get heavier after a meal here, but your wallet certainly won’t get that much lighter!
Aspen Court, 46 High St, Sai Ying Pun | +852 6271 6102
Bistro du Vin — Kennedy Town
Be enticed with home-style French comfort foods such as pates, duck confit, and coq au vin at Bistro du Vin. Classically French, this little K-Town venue that opened in 2013 is decked out in quaint antiques and rustic chic. This self-proclaimed “French haven in Kennedy Town” is definitely worth a try, although the restrictive seating times of either 6:30pm or 9:30pm might limit some diners.
Bistro du Vin, 39 Cadogan St, Kennedy Town | +852 2824 3010
Gaddi’s — Tsim Sha Tsui
Opened in 1953, Gaddi’s is one of the most venerated Hong Kong French restaurants from its home in the city’s oldest existing hotel, The Peninsula. Named after one of The Peninsula’s previous general managers, Leo Gaddi, the central sunken dining area and chandelier reveal the space’s previous use as the hotel’s grand ballroom. Although French restaurants in Hong Kong are already known to be pricier, this is still considered on the ‘special occasion’ end, with the 4-course Gaddi’s Degustation Menu priced at HK$1,688 and 3-course lunch menu at HK$688.
1/F, The Peninsula, Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2696 6763
Header image credits: LPM Restaurant & Bar
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