May brings a fresh wave of new restaurants and bars across Hong Kong. From Big JJ Seafood Hotpot’s new Central home to Vincenzo Capuano’s award-winning Neapolitan pizzas and Manteigaria’s freshly baked Portuguese egg tarts, there is plenty to explore this month.
Another major opening is Blanc de Noirs, the Champagne bar at Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark, part of the hotel’s exciting reopening in Central on June 1.
Avalon — New Tavern & Martini Bar in Central
Avalon lands in Central as a comptemporary tavern and martini bar where ultra comfort food meets carefully crafted cocktails and wine. The menu reimagines global classics using refined techniques and premium ingredients, creating perfect pairings for every craving. Designed as a warm sanctuary for recovery and good conversation, Avalon offers an elevated yet approachable experience with cocktails, wine by the glass, and comforting dishes in a stylish setting.
Type: Contemporary Western
Price range: $$-$$$
Location: 2/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram
Big JJ Seafood Hotpot — New Cantonese Hotpot in Central
Big JJ Seafood Hotpot has reopened in a new, larger space at LANDMARK PRINCE’S, offering an all-day dining experience from classic Hong Kong breakfasts to premium seafood hotpot feasts using high-quality local ingredients. The restaurant also features co-produced low-intervention wines, house-brewed beers, and a hidden whisky bar (Bar CQ) accessible via a vintage rotary phone. Founder Peter Pang aims to elevate traditional Hong Kong cuisine to international standards while retaining its local charm.
Type: Hong Kong / Chinese hotpot / Seafood
Price range: $$–$$$
Location: Shop B4, B/F, LANDMARK PRINCE’S, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram
Blanc de Noirs — New Opulent Champagne Bar in Central
Expect pure opulence at Blanc de Noirs, the new Champagne bar on the 7th floor of Mandarin Oriental The Landmark. Oenophiles can enjoy 25 Champagnes by the glass and a 500-label selection, plus Champagne flights, signature cocktails, and a nightly Champagne fountain. Under the direction of Richard Ekkebus, the bar bites are equally impressive, ranging from fillet-o-fish with caviar to fried chicken with ranch dressing and Hokkaido milk soft serve topped with olive oil and sea salt.
Type: Champagne bar
Price range: $$$
Location: 7/F, Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram
James Suckling Wine Central — New Neighbourhood Wine Bar in Central
James Suckling Wine Central is a cosy, personal wine bar created by renowned wine critic James Suckling and his wife Marie as an extension of their Hong Kong home. The intimate space offers over 350 carefully selected Old and New World wines by the glass or bottle, paired with thoughtful seasonal sharing dishes, cheeses, and small plates. It provides a warm, welcoming setting for wine lovers and friends to enjoy good wine, good food, and good company.
Type: Wine bar
Price range: $$-$$$
Location: 6–10 Shin Hing Street, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram
Le Le — New Progressive Vietnamese Dining in Central
Le Le is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant with Chinese influences that reimagines classic dishes with refined techniques and premium ingredients. Highlights include chicken pho elevated with fish maw and Jinhua ham, duck three ways, lobster with sugar cane, and brined pigeon with coffee and sticky rice. Helmed by a young chef duo, the restaurant offers elegant lunch and dinner tasting sets in a warm, intimate space that blends Vietnamese heritage with modern sophistication.
Type: Contemporary Vietnamese
Price range: $$-$$$
Location: 3/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Contact: Website | Instagram
Manteigaria — New Authentic Portuguese Egg Tarts in Central
Lisbon’s celebrated Pastéis de Nata specialist Manteigaria brings its iconic Portuguese egg tarts to Hong Kong. Renowned for baking fresh batches throughout the day using artisanal techniques, the bakery offers warm, crispy tarts straight from the oven, paired with coffee. The transparent open kitchen allows customers to watch the entire process. Soft opening on 26 May, with grand opening and a special giveaway on 2 June.
Type: Portuguese bakery
Price range: $
Location: Shop B, G/F, Man Hing Commercial Building, 79-83 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Contact: Instagram
Minyoung Fresh Fish Factory — New Korean sashimi in North Point
Minyoung Fresh Fish Factory, a popular Korean seafood brand with over 45 outlets, opens its first overseas location in Hong Kong. Known for its market‑style takeaway concept, the restaurant specialises in Korean‑style sashimi and seafood dishes featuring air‑flown live fish from Korea. Expect a firmer, chewier texture compared to Japanese sashimi, alongside options like sashimi platters, sushi and rice bowls, highlighting both freshness and variety.
Type: Korean seafood / sashimi
Price range: $$–$$$
Location: Shop B, G/F, Block 1–3, City Garden, 233 Electric Road, North Point
Contact: Instagram
Oi Sweet Dessert — New Cantonese Desserts in Sham Shui Po
Beloved dai pai dong Oi Man Sang has opened Oi Sweet Dessert nearby in Sham Shui Po. The quaint shop serves made-to-order Cantonese desserts with creative twists, including sea salt white sesame soft-serve, preserved plum tanghulu coated in red wine glaze, banana sago pudding, and a popular pistachio ice cream dragon’s beard candy made fresh daily. Perfect for a sweet finish after a meal at Oi Man Sang or a light afternoon treat.
Type: Cantonese / Chinese desserts
Price range: $
Location: G/F, 225-227 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po
Contact: Instagram
Soon — Traditional Hong Kong dessert bar in Sheung Wan
Soon is a new dessert bar on Lok Ku Road specialising in classic Hong Kong tong sui, served hot or cold. The menu blends fruit‑forward options like mango pomelo sago and purple rice soup with nostalgic favourites such as red bean soup and black sesame tangyuan. Lighter choices include chilled milk steamed egg white, while chewy rice balls and street‑style sweets round out the offering.
Type: Hong Kong desserts / tong sui
Price range: $
Location: 27 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan
Contact: Instagram
Stübli — New Swiss Steakhouse & Fondue in Kennedy Town
Stübli, the latest venture from the team behind popular pasta chain Nocino, brings authentic Swiss Alpine dining to Kennedy Town. The restaurant specialises in premium pan-fried steaks (Australian Wagyu, UK Pork Tomahawk, and Dutch Rose Veal) cooked in browned butter, garlic, and herbs, alongside classic Gruyère & Emmental fondue and luxurious variations such as Lobster Thermidor and Summer Black Truffle. Don’t drop your bread, or face the fun “Oops, I lost my bread!” fondue penalty rules!
Type: Swiss
Price range: $$$
Location: Shop B, 39-41 Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town
Contact: Website | Instagram
The Forest Bakery+ — New Pineapple Bun Concept in Tsim Sha Tsui
The Forest Bakery+ launches a one‑year pineapple bun concept kiosk at K11 Art Mall, reimagining a classic Hong Kong staple with playful, contemporary flavours. Led by chef Jerry Man, the offering ranges from choux‑style bolo bao puffs with custard centres to sweet and savoury variations like caramel pudding and char siu molten egg buns. The space also features BabyPineappleBun merchandise, blending bakery craft with collectible culture.
Type: Hong Kong bakery
Price range: $
Location: Kiosk 17, B1/F, K11 Art Mall, Tsim Sha Tsui
Contact: Website | Instagram
Vincenzo Capuano — New Award-Winning Pizzeria in Wan Chai
Wan Chai welcomes Vincenzo Capuano, named after its founder who has been recognised on the 50 Top Pizza world list. The restaurant specialises in Nuvola pizzas — an inventive style of Neapolitan pizza with an exceptionally light, airy crust. Signature pies include the award-winning Provola E Peppe and the indulgent Abbraccio e Mamma with ricotta-stuffed crust and meatballs. Pizzas are served with golden scissors to preserve the fluffy texture.
Type: Neapolitan pizza / Italian
Price range: $$–$$$
Location: G/F, Units 01-04, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Contact: Website | Instagram
Header image: Vincenzo Capuano