Bonjour! If you’re craving the rich and delectable flavors of French cuisine, you’re in for a treat. Did you know that there are over 25,000 French citizens living in Hong Kong? With that comes a wide range of French restaurants and bistros to try delicious dishes ranging from classic Coq au Vin or Blanquette to the elegant Beef Bourguignon. And of course, wine!
Whether you’re seeking French fine dining options or a cozy bistro experience, we’ve got you covered. Discover where to find the best French restaurant in Hong Kong and indulge in the culinary wonders of French cuisine.
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 Guillaume Galliot 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.
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Alaskan King Crab, Crustacean Jelly and Osciètre Prestige Caviar from La Maison Kaviari
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance St, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 3196 8882
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon — Central
Another Michelin-3 star darling, this fine dining restaurant is sectioned in half into L’Atelier and Le Jardin. L’Atelier is designed for the spectator in us, positioned with a circular bar that wraps around an open kitchen so diners can view all aspects of the cooking and preparation process. The menu here is served in tapas-style portions, and differ from the menu in the Le Jardin section, which is more along the lines of formal French fine dining. The decor is almost hypnotic, in vibrant glossy lipstick red and silky black. The patisserie downstairs also offers some of the best croissants in all of Hong Kong!
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Maine Lobster Spaghetti, Caviar Imperial, Petit Four, Duck Breast
Location: Shop 401, 4/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2166 9000
one-thirtyone — Sai Kung
Looking for a unique location to celebrate a special occasion? Well, look no further because one-thirtyone is certain to fulfil that “wow” factor. Located in a three-storey house with a garden overlooking Three Fantoms Cove, this romantic restaurant serves up contemporary French cuisine with plenty of style. Perfect for private parties or even small weddings, one-thirtyone even has their very own helipad to land your chopper or a private jetty to moor your yacht in case the trek from Central is too daunting. Oh how very James Bond!
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Duo of Foie Gras Pigeon Breast, Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallop Fregula, Chocolate Cremeux
Location: 131 Tseng Tau Village, Shap Sze Heung, Sai Kung
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2791 2684
LPM Restaurant & Bar — Central
With 7 locations worldwide, all featuring white, marble interiors with splashes of 20th century art and an open prep counter where chefs merrily prepare the dishes set in front of you, LPM feels like a well-oiled machine. Featuring French Mediterranean dishes where the focus is on seasonal vegetables, seafood, and perfectly done pastas and meats, the atmosphere and food alike are welcoming, warm, and not overly formal. A recommended go-to for consistently on-point French bistro cuisine.
Price Range: $$$
Signature Dish To Try: Escargots, Carpaccio De Coquilles St Jacques, Chimichurri, Crème Brûlée
Location: Shop 1, 1/F, 23-29 Stanley St, H Queen’s, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +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.
Price Range: $$$
Signature Dish To Try: Paris mushroom soup, Cévennes onion, black truffle, Raspberry and chocolate
Location: Shop 403, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | +852 31858338
Bâtard — Sai Ying Pun
7,000 sq.ft wine store Fine Wine Experience store nestles a French restaurant in the back. Bâtard does a lot of tailored wine tasting events followed by private dinners. Even for regular dinners, the sommeliers are on-call to guide you through the 1,000-long wine list, although there is a core collection of wines that pair with signature plates like the Signature Roast Chicken for sharing (HK$880) and Beef Tartare Cannelloni (HK$190).
Price Range: $$$
Signature Dish To Try: Bâtard’s Signature Roast Chicken, Beef Tartare Cannelloni, 52-Month Iberian Ham
Location: Inside The Fine Wine Experience, Shop E, 165-166 Connaught Rd West, Sai Ying Pun
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +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!
Price Range: $$
Signature Dish To Try: Onion Soup, Steak Frities, Moules Frites, Tartare De Boeuf, Garlic Butter Snails
Location: 49 Elgin St, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2318 1802 or +852 2525 9300
Metropolitain — Sai Ying Pun
Modelled to reflect the Parisian central train station (but thankfully, minus the pigeons), Metropolitain is one of those places where one can enjoy a relaxing evening of good French food and wine at very decent prices. A French bistro under Pastis Group, Chef Frank is always entertaining at the open kitchen, so opt for bar seating if you are a small group. The menu features home cooking such as slow-roasted lamb shank and buttery, pillowy mash potatoes. You might get heavier after a meal here, but your wallet certainly won’t get that much lighter!
Price Range: $
Signature Dish To Try: Beef Tartare, Tuna Tartare, Spring Chicken, Duck Confit, Smoked Salmon,
Location: Aspen Court, 46 High St, Sai Ying Pun
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 6271 6102
Bistro du Vin — Kennedy Town
Be enticed with home-style French comfort foods such as pates, duck confit, and coq au vin at Bistro du Vin. Classically French, this little K-Town venue that opened in 2013 is decked out in quaint antiques and rustic chic. This self-proclaimed “French haven in Kennedy Town” is definitely worth a try, although the restrictive seating times of either 6:30pm or 9:30pm might limit some diners.
Price Range: $$$
Signature Dish To Try: Loster Linguine, Roasted Chicken, Bouillabaisse, Roasted Bone Marrow
Location: Bistro du Vin, 39 Cadogan St, Kennedy Town
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +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. Gaddi’s kitchen is helmed by Chef Albin Gobil, an alumni of two-Michelin-starred restaurants, 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$1,778 and 3-course lunch menu at HK$728.
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: A5 Kagoshima Beef Tenderloin, Poached Dover Sole, Roasted Sisteron Lam Rack
Location: ,1/F, The Peninsula, Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2696 6763
Amber — Central
Amber, the prestigious French fine-dining gem in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. With 15 consecutive years of two Michelin-stars and the 2022 Michelin Green Star, Amber redefines fine dining. Culinary Director Richard Ekkebus crafts an unforgettable experience for each visitor through innate flavours and french technique. Indulge in one of their special highlights, where hand-selected caviar is elegantly served with homemade buckwheat crackers.
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Hokkaido Sea Urchin with Mousse Caviar, Suzuki Seabass, Diver Scallop
Location: 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2132 0066
Belon — Central
Belon, the epitome of modern French cuisine led by the talented Chef Matthew Kirkley and Chef Jacob Zuidervliet turns dining into a Michelin-starred adventure. Rooted in modern French cuisine and ingredient-driven cooking, spotlighting the season’s finest. The deep blue interiors set the stage for their showstopper, Cervelas en Brioche – a sausage in a golden-brown brioche blanket. Don’t forget to explore their private dining room, ideal for bespoke events. Bon appétit!
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Cervelas en Brioche, Trout Roe Tarlet, Gateau Opera
Location: 1F, 1-5 Elgin Street, Soho
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2152 2872
Louise — Central
Louise is a Michelin-starred gem offering heartwarming French cuisine in a charming two-story heritage building transformed by acclaimed architect Andre Fu. Louise’s signature dish, the Roasted Hong Kong yellow chicken with Niigata rice is undoubtedly the all-time favorite chicken dish in town. The succulent chicken is cooked in a cast iron pot, seasoned with chicken fat, chicken skin, onions, and chives, infusing the Niigata rice with a warm, comforting, and savory aroma that will leave your taste buds tingling.
Price Range: $$$$
Signature Dish To Try: Roasted Hong Kong Yellow Chicken with Niigata Rice, Angel Hair Pasta with Caviar
Location: PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 5722 3269
Header image credits: LPM Restaurant & Bar
Add comment