The majority of Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred restaurants land in Central, and there’s a reason for that – Central is Hong Kong’s main business district, where most of the city’s wheeling and dealing takes place. This is why many of Hong Kong’s most prestigious – and priciest – restaurants can often be found in the district.
On the other hand, there’s more to Central’s F&B scene than just fine-dining, and this district is also home to cha chaan tengs, dai pai dongs, and affordable eateries – Chinese, Asian, and Western – galore.
Without further ado, here is Foodie’s list of our favourite restaurants in Central at a range of price points.
The best fine-dining & premium restaurants in Central
1. Yakiniku Great
Our pick for the best yakiniku in town goes to Yakiniku Great. This is a carnivore’s paradise, where the lusciously marbled, top-quality Japanese beef is grilled up by knowledgeable, attentive servers. On offer here are three omakase menus (HKD680/HKD980/HKD1,180) spotlighting rare A5 Wagyu. The priciest menu of the lot comes with eight premium cuts, plus the chef’s recommended sides and an appetiser.
Yakiniku Great, 1/F, The Steps, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 2758 8688, book here
2. Plaisance by Mauro Colagreco
Plaisance is lauded Mirazur chef Mauro Colagreco’s marine-inspired temple, part of his luxurious multi-storey dining and drinking complex spanning nearly 10,000 square feet at 1 Duddell Street. Inside the sleek, immersive Michelin-starred restaurant space on the first floor, diners can savour a refined menu that embraces the sea’s unique terroir via modern and creative touches, utilising as much local produce as possible. The ultimate six-course dinner tasting menu (HKD1,888 pp) features innovative seasonal dishes the likes of Brittany brown crab with Japanese sweetcorn and Challandais duck with girolle mushroom and parsnip. The open kitchen makes the dining experience feel more relaxed, and the staff are extremely personable.
Plaisance by Mauro Colagreco, 1/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, 3156 2600, book here
3. Testina
Winner of the Foodie Forks 2024 Best Italian Restaurant award, Testina debuted as part of ZS Hospitality Group in 2022 in partnership with acclaimed Milan-based trattoria Trippa Milano. The nose-to-tail Italian restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience that dances between the boundaries of rustic Italian comfort eating and fine-dining finesse. Chef Marco Xodo’s standout dishes crafted with often overlooked cuts of meat include the trippa fritta (HKD218) of fried honeycomb beef tripe, lingua tonnato (HKD298) starring milk-fed veal tongue, homemade pappardelle with chicken offal ragù (HKD298), and pig’s head with salsa verde (HKD368).
Testina, 3/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 2798 0668, book online
4. Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic
Dazzling Cristal Room at LANDMARK’s sky-high dining destination FORTY-FIVE is one of the latest haute-cuisine restaurants to grace Central, courtesy of Anne-Sophie Pic, heralded as the world’s most Michelin-starred female chef, and crystal manufacturer Baccarat. The exceptional French gastronomy showcased by chef Anne-Sophie, who bagged another Michelin star (her 11th) for Cristal Room after just four months of opening, culminates in her six-course Voyage dinner tasting menu (HKD2,280 pp). Innovation meets tradition in dishes like the chef’s signature Les Berlingots ASP, delicate sobacha pasta parcels filled with goat cheese.
Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic, 44/F, FORTY-FIVE, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3501 8580, book here
5. MONO
A pioneer of fine-dining Latin American cuisine in Hong Kong, Venezuelan chef Ricardo Chaneton continues to innovate at Michelin-starred MONO under JIA Group, opened in 2019. At the intimate eatery, chef Ricardo presents a seamless blend of sophisticated Latin American flavours, Asian influences, and his own expertise in French culinary techniques. The seasonal tasting menus are strong on sustainability and responsible sourcing whilst playing with texture and flavour. The Soul (HKD1,688 pp) and Journey (HKD2,288 pp) dinner tasting menus feature ravishing fusion dishes like the Shizuoka fruit tomato taco.
MONO, 5/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, WhatsApp 9726 9301, book here
6. Arcane
Just two floors down from MONO is Arcane, a Michelin-starred modern European eatery brought to Hong Kong a decade ago by celebrated Australian chef (and Netflix’s The Final Table star) Shane Osborn – and it’s still going strong today. Uniquely for a fine-dining restaurant, Shane offers a vegetarian option (HKD1,188 pp) for the seasonal seven-course dinner tasting menu (HKD1,388 pp), nailing plant-based cuisine as true poetry on the plate.
Arcane, 3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, 2728 0178, book here
7. Arbor
Eric Räty’s Nordic-Japanese Arbor, crowned with two Michelin stars, is a soothing, elegant feast for the eyes as well as for the palate. The chef’s culinary approach is inventive and intricate, showcasing unusual yet complementary flavour pairings – in dishes like this striking genmaicha and caviar (+HKD380) dessert, which is inspired by gunkan sushi and pairs N25 caviar with genmaicha ice cream, mochi, and shortbread. The dinner tasting menus (HKD1,688 for 6 courses; HKD1,888 for 9 courses) are seasonal and ingredient driven, starring premium Japanese produce.
Arbor, 25/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3185 8388, WhatsApp 3622 0748, book here
8. Whey
A fine-dining fusion powerhouse that straddles the Sheung Wan border, Whey by Lion City chef Barry Quek launched in Hong Kong about five years ago, picking up a Michelin star just six months later for the chef’s innovative modern European cuisine injected with elevated elements from his own Singaporean roots. Chef Barry builds his tasting menus around fresh local seafood, meat, and vegetables and works towards harnessing the entirety of ingredients. No matter if you come to Whey for lunch (HKD588 pp) or dinner (HKD1,380 pp), we recommend supplementing with the asam laksa dry noodles (+HKD278), where Lamma-made hae bee, a dried shrimp sambal, is a vibrant addition.
Whey, UG/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2693 3198, book here
9. Heimat
It’s not often that Hong Kong diners have the chance to experience refined German cuisine, but chef Peter Find offers just that at Heimat, reinterpreting classics from his homeland. The Chef Story dinner tasting menu (from HKD980 pp) takes guests on a creative journey throughout Germany. Catering to one and all, there’s a three-course Schnitzel Saturdays menu (HKD428 pp) and kindermenü (from HKD228 pp) too. The gummy bear trolley wheeled over at the end of a meal at Heimat is the cherry on top.
Heimat, 8/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, 2881 1022, WhatsApp 5279 8108, book here
10. WING
Although we also rate chef Vicky Cheng’s Michelin-starred Chinese-French restaurant VEA upstairs, it’s his newcomer WING that pips it to the post for us. At WING, chef Vicky features seasonal tasting menus (from HKD1,980 pp) that pay homage to traditional Chinese culinary techniques and recipes, with an emphasis on premium local ingredients. Currently wowing diners are inventive dishes including smoked aubergine with house-made sour sauce, fragrant chilli Alaskan king crab, and baby pigeon glazed with sugar cane.
WING, 29/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2711 0063, book here
11. SOMM
An abbreviation for “sommelier,” SOMM is a cosy restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental serving up French neo-bistro delights to the clink of over 1,600 bottles of champagne, wine, and sake. The eatery’s menus, from brunch through to dinner, are complemented by plenty of top-notch Japanese ingredients. Our pick of the menu lot is the brand-new SOMMAallset dinner menu (HKD758 for 3 courses; HKD918 for 4 courses), which allows diners to customise a selection of creative, comforting seasonal dishes the likes of hand-cut tartare of grain-fed O’Connor tenderloin to start, a divine yellow chicken main, and, for dessert, Piedmont hazelnut and vanilla diplomat cream millefeuille.
SOMM, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2132 0055, book here
12. Carbone
Carbone is a beloved throwback Italian-American restaurant from the Big Apple that was brought to Hong Kong in 2014 by the Black Sheep Restaurants team. A decade later, and diners are still clamouring for iconic Carbone sharing dishes such as the Caesar alla ZZ (HKD308), spicy rigatoni vodka (HKD288), and veal parmesan (HKD788). The prices are definitely on the high side for this type of cooking, but Carbone is a bucket-list dining experience for many. The restaurant’s service team are well known around town for being as hospitable as it gets.
Carbone, 9/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, 2593 2593, book here
13. Feuille
This nature-inspired French restaurant boasts both Michelin and Green stars for its progressive sustainable dining approach. Feuille is a collaborative concept by acclaimed chef David Toutain and ZS Hospitality Group, with the kitchen overseen by chef Joris Rousseau. The refined seasonal dishes are centred around local fruit and veg, and the root-to-shoot dinner tasting menu (from 1,288 pp), the menu terroir, flows seamlessly from grains and seeds to flowers and fruits. The chefs’ inventive plant-based plates, such as this signature cumin, corn, and hazelnut dish, are sublime in taste and exquisite in presentation.
Feuille, 5/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2881 1848, book here
14. TABLE by Sandy Keung
TABLE has recently relocated from Sheung Wan to a snazzy space in Central where chef Sandy Keung continues her commitment to the use of local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients. The chef describes her cooking style as “conscious ingredient-based cuisine,” and she follows the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and the 24 Solar Terms to craft her menus. Seafood plays a starring role here, including in a dedicated seasonal hairy crab tasting menu (HKD1,489 pp).
TABLE by Sandy Keung, 23/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 6827 8585, book here
15. Sushi Shikon
Sushi Shikon (also known as Shikon by Yoshitake) at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental towers above other sushi restaurants in Central. Crowned with an incredible three Michelin stars for the past decade, the main counter seats just eight diners eager to savour chef Yoshiharu Kakinuma’s Edomae sushi excellence – with eye-watering price tags to match. The lunch omakase course is priced at HKD2,250, whilst the dinner omakase course comes in at a cool HKD4,000.
Sushi Shikon, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2643 6800, book here
16. New Punjab Club
Michelin-starred New Punjab Club by the Black Sheep team is known as the first Punjabi restaurant to have been crowned by the Michelin gods, and we think it’s just as deserving now, nearly a decade after its debut. Inspired by the tandoori grillhouses of post-colonial Punjab, chef Palash Mitra weaves a delicious narrative using the language of aromatic spices. The masalewali chaanp (market price), tandoori cobia (HKD498), keema pau (HKD328), and malai tikka (HKD348) are just a few of the restaurant’s enduring standouts.
New Punjab Club, G/F, World Wide Commercial Building, 34 Wyndham Street, Central, 2368 1223, book here
The best fine-casual & affordable restaurants in Central
1. Frank’s
A proud member of the Red Sauce Hospitality portfolio, Frank’s is a haven for down-home Italian-American eats as they do it in the Big Apple. The two-storey space features a buzzy ground-floor bar fuelled by resident DJs spinning vinyl and a cosy and intimate upstairs dining room. The eatery’s crispy fried lasagne bites (HKD168) and chicken parmigiana (HKD328) are saucy, carby perfection. We also can’t get enough of the complimentary gnocco fritto with red sauce, a gift from the kitchen to whet the palate.
Frank’s, G/F & 1/F, Harilela House, 79 Wyndham Street, Central, 9097 9730, book here
2. Yurakucho
Inspired by the lively small-town izakayas of Japan, Yurakucho is a hip Central hotspot offering an atmospheric glimpse into the culinary culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Pair your sake and handcrafted Japanese cocktails, designed by veteran mixologist Gagan Gurung, with a flurry of skewers served up at the robatayaki open-kitchen grill. On the non-grilled side, we rate the Wagyu sando (HKD118) and warabi mochi (HKD68) in matcha and soy.
Yurakucho, G/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43–55 Wyndham Street, Central, 2663 0068, WhatsApp 9662 7675, book here
3. Ho Lee Fook
Black Sheep Restaurants’ Ho Lee Fook is another Central eatery that’s been around for about a decade, a testament to the strength of chef ArChan Chan’s authentic yet contemporary Cantonese menu. Ho Lee Fook’s greatest hits include the likes of the Kurobuta pork char siu (HKD278), steamed live razor clams with glass noodles (HKD278), and smoked crispy-skin three-yellow chicken (HKD278). We strongly suggest pre-ordering (72 hours’ notice) the Ho Lee Duck (HKD968), a Cantonese-style riff on traditional Peking duck. Shout-out to the wall of waving golden cats at the restaurant’s entrance that beckon guests downstairs to the plush main dining room.
Ho Lee Fook, LG/F, 3–5 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2810 0860, book here
4. Sumac
Lebanese stalwart Sumac underwent a complete revamp over a year ago, decked out with a stylish slant towards the classic design elements of Lebanon. The team of Middle Eastern chefs deliver traditional flavours in the inviting space, with polished service to boot. Diners can’t go wrong with any of the mezze – be that hummus (HKD130), fattoush (HKD150), or falafel (HKD140). For the main course, the shrimp fatteh (HKD430), a Sumac-exclusive dish of shrimp, yoghurt, grilled aubergine, chickpeas, toasted pita, and pine nuts, is a standout. Sumac also features a sultry indoor lounge area with its own outdoor terrace, ideal for intimate private dinners and gatherings.
Sumac, G/F, 8 Glenealy, Central, WhatsApp 9594 1173, book here
5. Kinjo’s Izakaya
Kinjo’s has also stood the test of time for its charming ambience and tasty and affordable Japanese cuisine. There’s a strong emphasis on authentic Okinawan fare at this izakaya, including dishes of deep-fried shima tofu (HKD78), aosa seaweed rolled omelette (HKD98), and stir-fried bitter melon with pork (HKD118). The menu offers something for everyone, from the assorted daily sashimi (HKD448/10pcs) to yakitori – the tsukune (HKD55) chicken meatball is a fave. The chef, Kinjo-san, is warm and welcoming. Kinjo’s is a little slice of Okinawa in Hong Kong!
Kinjo’s Izakaya, G/F, 27 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2362 9992, book here
6. Holy Eats
Proclaiming its “binge-worthy grub and the best drink deals in town,” next-door neighbour Holy Eats presents a scrumptious and rib-sticking East-meets-West menu. We heart the mac daddy ‘n’ cheese (HKD108), ox-tongue macaroni (HKD138), and tom yum seafood linguine (198), but it’s the funky eatery’s numerous weekly promotions that really get our blood boiling, from two-for-one steaks on Tuesdays to the daily two-hour free-flow wings and drinks (HKD200 pp) deal.
Holy Eats, G/F, 23 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2890 2892, book here
7. YKY
The Central outpost of YKY (aka 自家麵, aka King Noodles) is one of several branches of this cheap-and-cheerful noodle chain around the city. The cold noodles with shredded chicken (HKD57) are the bomb, and we also adore the shop’s many varieties of dumplings (from HKD56/10pcs). However, it’s the homemade beef with onion pie (HKD36) with its incredibly flaky puff pastry and umami filling (choose your heat level) that has truly stolen our heart; note that the meat pies are only available in limited quantities after 3PM.
YKY, G/F, 61 Wellington Street, Central, 2887 9766
8. Priyo Shaad
This new spot on Aberdeen Street is your best bet for sampling authentic Bangladeshi cuisine in Hong Kong, and we’re here for it. The earnest wait and kitchen staff at homely Priyo Shaad serve up the bona fide flavours of Bangladesh. Must-orders include the fuchka (HKD48/HKD78), deep-fried shells filled with potato and chickpea that are similar to India’s pani puri, shrimp dopeaja (HKD158) in a spiced onion gravy, and slow-cooked beef kala bhuna (HKD172). On the side, be sure to order a bhorta (HKD62), a mixture of fried mashed veg kicked up with peppery mustard oil.
Priyo Shaad, G/F, 29 Aberdeen Street, Central, 6737 4607, book here
9. RightSideUp
RightSideUp is a relative newcomer to the trendy Peel Street pack, having opened in the summer of 2024 with a charming retro American ambience that’s made it a quick hit with customers. The signature creative cocktails do not overshadow the bar’s short-but-sweet food menu. The RightSideUp wings (HKD88) come in a choice of sriracha buffalo or lemon yuzu butter, and both are delectable. We also adore the East Coast shrimp roll (HKD98) and 53 Peel Street platter (HKD198), a glorious East-meets-West DIY mash-up of char siu pulled pork, toasted milk buns, pickles, fried shallot, and BBQ and ranch sauces. Brunch here offers levelled-up comfort-food eats, from the chicken and waffles (HKD138) to the hot honey shakshuka (HKD128).
RightSideUp, G/F, 53 Peel Street, Soho, Central, 3480 3019, book here
10. Jean-Pierre
Opened in May 2025, Black Sheep’s Jean-Pierre is a rollicking spot that channels the energy and flavours of a typical Parisian bistro. The classic French dishes here are spot on, with some of the biggest menu hits going to the escargots de Bourgogne (HKD148), pâté de foie de volaille (HKD168), poulet de Simone (HKD888 for 2), boeuf bourguignon (HKD328), and profiteroles au chocolat (HKD168) – but trust us, each and every plate is delectable. This charming bistro is highly recommended for groups of gourmands who like to eat well and let loose in equal measure.
Jean-Pierre, G/F, 9 Bridges Street, Soho, Central, 2154 6101, book here
11. Bourke’s
Aussie-inspired wine bar Bourke’s made its appearance on Peel Street in late 2024, the team’s replacement for popular watering hole Shady Acres. The evolution from cocktail bar to restaurant has seen major upgrades to the food menu, rendering the spot a destination for not only great vibes and wine but high-quality food too. Small bites, constructed simply and packed with flavour, are the USP of this convivial eatery; we’re big fans of the whipped cod roe dip (HK120), liver parfait toast (HKD90), ox tongue (HKD100) skewer and seared lasagne (HKD120). Weekly events like the Sunday roast lunch (HKD220 pp) add to Bourke’s neighbourly appeal.
