MyHouse
MyHouse is one of our favourite openings from last year. It’s a place where music, wine and food flow seamlessly together. The food is phenomenal and the wines equally so. But what we particularly like is their truly euphonic sound system that makes parties great. Solo grooving is also encouraged if you’re having one of those lower energy days and would prefer to enter a world of solemnity with your own private headphones, turntable and vinyl from their collection. There aren’t many places you can do this in Hong Kong, if any at all.
MyHouse
Website or Tel: 2323 1715
202 Queen’s Road East, 26/F QRE Plaza, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Dinner: Mon to Sun from 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Music Hour: Wed to Sat, 10:00pm till late
Bar Hour: Sun till midnight | Mon & Tues till 1:00am | Wed to Sat till late
Tai Lung Fung
No longer a newcomer to the Wanchai bar scene, Tai Lung Fung has remained a local stand out. A throwback to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, it mixes a laid-back local atmosphere and an interior reminiscent of Hong Kong in the 60s, featuring good food and a cocktail menu to boot. Tai Lung Fung manages to stick to its theme perfectly, with old newspapers for menus and deliberately aged chairs placed outside for those who would prefer the, um, fresh air. Food comes in the theme of classic Western with a Tai Lung Fung twist. Order from a set menu (for lunch or dinner) or go for the a la carte. Expect to only pay $45 for cocktails during happy hour.
Tai Lung Fung
Facebook Page or Tel: 2572 0055
5 Hing Wan Street, Wanchai
Opening Hours
Mon to Thur from 12:00pm to 2:00am
Fri from 12:00pm to 3:00am
Sat from 4:00pm to 3:00am
Sun from 1:00pm to 1:00am
Maureen’s
With a menu that is built around Chinese-style noodles, Maureen’s is one of the few places that has managed to perfect the noodle to broth ratio. Situated just beside Tai Lung Fung on Hing Wan Street, Maureen’s is a place of quiet refuge during the day. With seasoned chef and owner Maureen Loh at the helm, the carefully crafted menu is much like the restaurant itself; sophisticated with an adventurous twist. Expect to find custom-made noodles that are a mix of a thinner style Guangzhou and the heavy yet popular Sichuan dan dan noodle. The unique touch, along with the quality and range of food on offer, puts Maureen’s well above any ordinary noodle bar.
Maureen
Website or Tel: 2915 2261
G/F, 11 Hing Wan Street, Wanchai
Opening Hours
Mon to Fri from 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sat to Sun from 11:30am to 10:00pm
Pololi
Pololi is the place that comes to mind whenever we have to name an eatery that hits the spot in serving both tasty and healthy food. What Pololi specialises in is poke; a food item originating from Hawaii that takes marinated and diced sashimi grade fish and mixes it with salad or rice or both. They’re slightly on the pricey side for $90 a pop, but the fish is extremely fresh (and sustainable) and the flavours robust, especially thanks to their dressings and sauces which are divine. They let you taste the different options they have before making your decision which makes it so much harder because every single one of them is amazing.
Pololi
Central Branch
Tel: 2755 8099
G/F., 35-39 Graham Street, Central
Opening Hours
Mon to Sun from 11:30am to 10:00pm
Wan Chai Branch
Tel: 3706 5641
G/F, 4 Swatow Street, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Mon to Fri from 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Sat to Sun from 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Ham & Sherry + Ham & Sherry Backbar
Jason Atherton’s tapas restaurant on Ship Street serves 50 delicious sherries, classic tapas with a twist and aged hams from around Spain. Its hard to miss with its distinctive blue and white Spanish tiles stacked up from sidewalk to ceiling. What we love most is the restaurant’s small and ‘secret’ bar that is accessed by the alley to the right of Ham & Shez. It’s a little hard to find and a one-way glass wall that looks through into the restaurant makes you feel like naughty school-kids spying on unbeknownst diners. This notion is enhanced by the hugely creative list of bootleg DVD-inspired cocktails that cater to film buffs and people who like to drink.
Ham & Sherry
Website or Tel: 2555 0628
G/F, 1-7 Ship Street, Wanchai
Opening Hours
Restaurant
Lunch: 12:00pm to 3:00pm (Mon to Sat)
Dinner: 6:00pm to 11:00pm (Mon to Sat)
Sunday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Back Bar
Mon to Sat from 6:00pm till late
Closed on Sun
Mahalo Tiki Lounge
If you’re a fan of Honi Honi, you will love its more upscale sister bar Mahalo Tiki Lounge. This Tiki bar has been much loved since its opening, as the atmosphere manages to be both high-end and relaxed, and drinks match this effort, which we’ve gathered should be called Tiki-chic. Though they’re pricey and potent, the pina colada can be drunk for days (danger) and the shareable rum punches deserve a round when you’re with a big group of friends. Or an average-sized group of friends. Or one friend. Actually just go and order a sizable watermelon filled with alcohol just for yourself, because you’re worth it.
They have pololi on offer during the day for $120 with a non-alcoholic drink accompaniment.
Mahalo Tiki Lounge
Website or Tel: 2488 8750
29/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queens Road East, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Mon to Thurs from 12:00pm to 2:00am
Fri from 12:00pm to 3:00am
Sat from 6:00pm to 3:00am
Sun from 4:00pm to 12:00am
Le Garcon Saigon
Rustic yet packed full of flavours, Le Garcon Saigon is the place to go if you’re looking for something authentically Vietnamese but away from the ordinary like pho or bahn mi. What you’ll find instead is traditional Vietnamese grilling with unique and bright flavours you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else, all accompanied by bountiful fresh herbs and vegetables that go along with almost every dish on offer. It’s really some of the best Vietnamese food in town and is as healthy as well as flavoursome as anything.
Le Garcon Saigon
Website or Tel: 2455 2499
G/F, 12-18 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Tues to Sun from 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Closed on Monday
The Optimist
The Optimist is a foodie-haven for Spanish food lovers with a focus on asador-inspired dishes which means a grill where all the meats, seafood and vegetables are cooked over hot coals. Expect epic portions of grilled meat and seafood and bar snacks that will keep you there far longer than the allotted two hours. They also have a pretty killer happy hour which boasts an extensive list of drinks (wine, beer, cocktails, spirits) and bar foods for under 50 dollars.
The Optimist
Website or Tel: 2433 3324
G/F – 2/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Restaurant
Lunch: Daily from 12:00pm to 2:30pm
Dinner: Sun to Thurs from 6:00pm to 10:30pm, Fri to Sat from 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Bar
Mon to Thurs from 11:30am to 1:00am
Fri to Sat from 11:30am to 2:00am
Sun from 11:30am to 12:00am
Stone Nullah Tavern
A street known for several of Hong Kong’s historical landmarks, Stone Nullah is also one of our favourite local hot spots. The eponymous Stone Nullah Tavern, with it’s vintage country-farm inspired decor and wooden paneling, brings re-imagined American classics using only the freshest local ingredients. This means that chef Vinny Lauria gets to tweak and change the menu depending on which produce is available seasonally. Stone Nullah Tavern sells itself at first glance with the welcoming open French doors and the warm lighting during an evening visit. And let’s not forget about their insane happy hour deal too.
Stone Nullah Tavern
Website or Tel: 3182 0128
G/F, 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Bar: Mon to Sun from 12:00pm to 1:00am
Lunch: Mon to Fri from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Dinner: Mon to Sun from 6:00pm to 10:30pm
Brunch: Sat to Sun from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Djiboutii
Djiboutii is a hidden gem. A lovely tucked-away venue, close enough to the bustling parts of Wan Chai but discreet enough to impress and prove that you know your bar game. Specialising in tea-infused cocktails and Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean inspired cuisine, this cocktail bar serves high-quality, fresh and health conscious food, with our favourites being the stone baked organic Za’taar flatbread, spiced handcut fries with homemade garlicnaise and the Djiboulini – made up of Prosecco Tenuta’s, pear puree, hibiscus water, rosehip rhubarb cordial, and pepper.
Djiboutii
Website or Tel: 9449 0777
G/F, 2 Landale Street, Wan Chai
Opening Hours
Mon to Sun from 12:00pm to 11:00pm
