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.

Best fine-dining restaurants in Central

Plaisance by Mauro Colagreco

Plaisance best restaurants in Central

Plaisance is lauded Mirazur chef Mauro Colagreco’s marine-inspired temple, part of his luxurious new multi-storey dining and drinking complex spanning nearly 10,000 square feet at 1 Duddell Street. Inside the sleek, immersive 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 Terra Marique tasting menu (HKD1,888 pp) features innovative dishes including Gillardeau oyster and pear and hamachi and sudachi. The open kitchen makes the dining experience feel more relaxed, and the staff are extremely knowledgeable and personable. 

Plaisance by Mauro Colagreco, 1/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, 3156 2600, book here


Castellana

Castellana best restaurants in Central

A Foodie favourite dating back to 2020, when it was crowned Best New Restaurant at our annual Foodie Forks awards for its original Causeway Bay location, Castellana continues to deliver impeccable Italian cuisine centred around the regional specialities of Piedmont, a rare experience for Hong Kong diners. Executive chef Romeo Morelli transports guests to this extraordinary northern Italian food haven with two tasting menu options. Sticking to the chef’s roots, we recommend the five-course Immersion in Piedmont tasting menu (HKD1,280 pp). Current menu highlights include the Fassona beef tenderloin with Parmesan cheese sauce and smoked eel ravioli. We also adore chef Romeo’s modern take on vitello tonnoto, this time made with ultra-thin Fassona veal slices, a heaping portion of bluefin tuna tartare, and an umami veal jus.

Castellana, 1/F, Club Lusitano, 16 Ice House Street, Central, 3188 5028, book here


Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic

Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic best restaurants in Central

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, lauded as the world’s most Michelin-starred female chef, and crystal manufacturer Baccarat. The exceptional French gastronomy showcased by chef Anne-Sophie, who recently bagged another Michelin star (her 11th) for Cristal Room after just four months of opening, culminates in her eight-course Voyage tasting menu (HKD2,880 pp), available for dinner. Innovation meets tradition in dishes like the chef’s signature Les Berlingots ASP, delicate sobacha pasta parcels filled with 24-month aged Comté.

Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic, 44/F, FORTY-FIVE, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3501 8580, book here


MONO

MONO best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: Mitch Geng

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 (HKD1,888 pp) and Journey (HKD2,288 pp) dinner tasting menus feature an add-on dish that is truly ravishing in its fusion harmony: the signature Danish langoustine (+HKD480) gilded with a rich chocolate sauce made of Ecuadorian cacao and langoustine head.

MONO, 5/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, WhatsApp 9726 9301, book here


Arcane

Arcane best restaurants in Central

Just two floors down from MONO is Arcane, a Michelin-starred modern European eatery brought to Hong Kong nearly 10 years 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 and chef de cuisine Sebastian Lorenzi offer a plant-based option (HKD1,188 pp) for their seasonal seven-course tasting menu (HKD1,388 pp), nailing plant-based cuisine as true poetry on the plate. An innovative signature standout is Arcane’s punchy and colourful Japanese fruit tomato starter.

Arcane, 3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, 2728 0178, book here


Arbor

Arbor best restaurants in Central

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 & Caviar dessert, which is inspired by gunkan sushi and pairs N25 caviar with genmaicha ice cream, mochi, and shortbread. The six- and nine-course tasting menus (HKD1,688 pp/HKD1,888 pp) are seasonal and ingredient driven, starring premium Japanese produce.

Arbor, 25/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3185 8388, book online


Whey

Whey best restaurants in Central

A fine-dining fusion powerhouse that straddles the Sheung Wan border, Whey by Lion City chef Barry Quek launched in Hong Kong three 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 deconstructed New Territories pork bak kut teh (+HKD198 at lunch), a fan favourite inspired by the classic Singaporean peppery soup.

Whey, UG/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2693 3198, book here


Heimat

Heimat best restaurants in Central

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, featuring dishes including Schweinebacke (pork cheek) and Regenbogenforelle (rainbow trout). Catering to one and all, there’s a vegetarian menu (from HKD780) and kindermenü (HKD488) 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


WING

WING best restaurants in Central

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 offers seasonal tasting menus (HKD1,980 pp/HKD2,980 pp) that pays 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, drunken South African abalone, and baby pigeon glazed with sugar cane.    

WING, 29/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2711 0063, WhatsApp 9310 0172, book here


Best fine-casual & affordable restaurants in Central

SOMM

SOMM best restaurants in Central

An abbreviation for “sommelier”, SOMM is a fine-casual restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental serving up French neo-bistro delights to the clink of over 1,600 champagnes, wines, and sakes. We love that SOMM offers such a wide array of menus, from breakfast to supper (with a newly launched lunch menu in between). For night owls, the three-course SOMM Supper menu (HKD868 pp) is particularly good value for money, available from 9–10:30PM; in addition to a starter, main, and dessert, the menu is inclusive of 90 minutes of free-flow sommelier-selected champagne, sake, and red and white wine. SOMM’s French menus are complemented by plenty of top-notch Japanese ingredients.

SOMM, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2132 0055, book here


Ho Lee Fook

Ho Lee Fook best restaurants in Central

Black Sheep RestaurantsHo 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 Kurobuta pork char siu (HKD268), steamed live razor clams with glass noodles (HKD268), and smoked crispy-skin three-yellow chicken (HKD268). We strongly suggest pre-ordering (72 hours’ notice) the Ho Lee Duck (HKD938), 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


Sumac

Sumac best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: Instagram/@sumacrestauranthk

Lebanese stalwart Sumac underwent a complete revamp 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 bread, and pine nuts, is a standout. Sumac also features a sultry indoor lounge area with its own (much more spacious) outdoor terrace, ideal for intimate private dinners and gatherings.

Sumac, G/F, 8 Glenealy, Central, WhatsApp 9594 1173, book here 


Kinjo’s Izakaya

Kinjo’s Izakaya best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: website/AutoReserve

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, including dishes of deep-fried shima tofu (HKD68), aosa seaweed rolled omelette (HKD88), and stir-fried bitter melon with pork (HKD98). The menu offers something for everyone, from assorted daily sashimi (HKD418/10pcs) to yakitori – the tsukune, or chicken meatball (HKD48), is a fave. The chef, Kinjo-san, is warm and welcoming; look out for his special don of the day. A little slice of Okinawa in Hong Kong!

Kinjo’s Izakaya, G/F, 27 Elgin Street, Soho, Central 2362 9992, book here


Holy Eats

Holy Eats best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: Instagram/@holyeatshk

Proclaiming its “binge-worthy grub and the best drink deals in town,” next-door neighbour Holy Eats presents a scrumptious and rib-sticking fusion 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 Ghetto Gospel, supplying half-price bottles of house wine and Prosecco every day from 10PM till midnight.

Holy Eats, G/F, 23 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2890 2892, book here


King Noodles

King Noodles best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: Instagram/@hochunlui

The Central outpost of King Noodles (aka 自家麵, aka YKY Home 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 rate 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.

King Noodles, G/F, 61 Wellington Street, Central, 2887 9766


Cornerstone

Cornerstone best restaurants in Central

The more laid-back sibling to Shane Osborn’s Arcane (see above), Cornerstone is a contemporary Australian-style bistro overseen on the daily by chef Neal Ledesma. The seasonal menu is driven by the quality ingredients and bold flavour combinations for which Australia’s food scene is so well known. To start, we love the courgette-flower tempura (HKD198) with kasundi (Bengali mustard relish), anchovy, avocado, and Espelette pepper, and then for the main, it’s a toss-up between the “char shiu” glazed octopus (HKD288) and iconic Aussie pub dish of chicken parmigiana (HKD198), here jazzed up with romesco and mortadella. Keep your eyes peeled for the hotly anticipated debut of chef Neal’s braised kangaroo-tail pasta this autumn!

Cornerstone, G/F, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, WhatsApp 6809 9771, book here


Priyo Shaad

Priyo Shaad best restaurants in Central
Photo credit: website/Google Maps

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 (HKD42/HKD70), deep-fried shells filled with potato and chickpeas that are similar to India’s pani puri, shrimp dopeaja (HKD148) in a spiced onion gravy, and slow-cooked beef kala bhuna (HKD158). On the side, be sure to order a bhorta, a mixture of fried mashed veg; our pick goes to the aloo (HKD50) featuring potato kicked up with peppery mustard oil.  

Priyo Shaad, G/F, 29 Aberdeen Street, Central, 6737 4607, book here

Stephanie Pliakas is the Digital Editor of Foodie. From Michelin-starred fine-dining to the local comfort-food eats dished out at cha chaan tengs, she has immersed herself in the city’s ever-changing food scene since making Hong Kong her home more than a decade ago. When Stephanie is not devouring something delicious, she’s cooking and baking up a storm at home (whilst listening to true crime podcasts).

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