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What a year! Just when we thought 2021 couldn’t get an worse than the start of the pandemic in 2020, we have one word for you: Omicron. But the good news is that, unlike last year when people were still cocooning at home, the F&B scene is buzzing, and there are so many great options for dining out on New Year’s Eve this year. We’ve narrowed down our top picks, so get booking!
Artisan Lounge
On the 31st, head to K11 MUSEA’s atmospheric Artisan Lounge for either the La Fête afternoon tea ($898/2), highlighted by a gorgeous Cémoi chocolate fondue with premium Japanese fruits (Kumamoto strawberries, Nagano muscat grapes and Hokkaido honeydew melon) and homemade marshmallows for dipping, or La Fête festive tasting menu ($1,688/2). This indulgent five-course dining experience includes Hokkaido jumbo scallops, foie gras with lobster quiche, butternut squash and roasted apple soup, a main course option of pan-seared Alaskan sea bass or filet mignon and berry yule log for dessert.
Another fun New Year’s Eve option at this elegant eatery is to embark on a cocktail adventure ($300/2) with a partner. You’ll get two tickets to see the haute-couture exhibition Savoir-Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion at the MUSEA, along with two special tipples made in partnership with locally inspired Fok Hing Gin in honour of the exhibit, available from 3pm onwards.
Shop 008 & 008A, G/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2601 3428, book online
Bacchus
Ring in the new year with the New Year’s Eve dinner menu ($1,888/person) at new Asian-influenced French restaurant Bacchus, showcasing six luxurious, seafood-forward courses the likes of Russian king crab leg with Kristal caviar, Japanese sea urchin with dry caviar and grilled Atlantic turbot on the bone with champagne-caviar sauce. Of course, this wine-focused restaurant named after the Roman god of wine is also offering an exceptional six-glass wine pairing ($888/person) too. NYE is about going all out, so we say go for it!
3/F, Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 3750 5200, book online
Candour
Candour will be rolling out the red carpet (literally) for their glam black-tie NYE event – The Candour Gala ($1,188/person early bird or $1,288 late bird). Swanky swag is a must for this do, and you’ll be treated like a superstar for the night with a four-hour Moët & Chandon free-flow and live DJ hip-hop sets from 10pm.
You can also start the night earlier with a three-course set menu ($498/person) from 6–9pm. We’re keen to try Chef Karisa Cheque’s beef birria tacos and leite frito – fried milk pudding topped with dulce de leche. A reduced charge of $688 per person is available for those who want to party on after dinner.
65 Peel Street, SoHo, Central, 2362 8100, book the dinner, book the gala
Caprice Bar
There are a limited number of tables available to ring in the new year at Caprice Bar. The bar has magnificent views of the HK skyline and plenty of caviar and vintage champagne options to choose from, and they will have DJs on from 7pm until the early hours of 2022. Whilst there is no set dinner, you will find upscale bar snacks like oysters, foie gras, truffle burgers and cheese platters to keep you satiated for the countdown. There should be no problem getting to the minimum spend – which starts at an eye-watering $10,000 per table (3 people).
6/F, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, 3196 8882
Foxglove
Foxglove’s No Time to Die NYE party ($900/person early bird or $1,000/person late bird) might have an off-putting name, but it’s headlined by awesome live music performances by the classy Ms Lolo, alongside three hours of unlimited vintage Moët et Chandon champers, martinis and beer from 10pm. There’s a dress code for this posh affair – black tie and gold.
Want dinner first? Then book the all-inclusive dinner package ($1,900/person early bird or $2,200/person late bird) from 7:30pm. It includes all the party perks mentioned above, as well as a set Chinese dinner and bottle of premium wine per pair.
2/F, Printing House, 6 Duddell Street, Central, 2116 8949, book online
Giacomo
Spend the last night in 2021 surrounded by the fine-dining flavours of southern Italy at Giacomo. Chef Keith Yam’s six-course New Year’s Eve degustation menu ($2,880/person) starts with Royal oysters with Beluga caviar and tomato jelly and also features decadent savoury dishes of foie gras with chestnut emulsion and hazelnut, Brittany blue lobster Sardinian gnocchi with sea urchin, homemade tagliolini with Alba white truffle and Mayura beef tenderloin with winter black truffle (we recently tried Chef Yam’s white truffle dishes – wow). Pictured above is the menu’s innovative dessert – white truffle gelato with panna cotta, pear, zabaglione foam and candied walnut. Gild the lily by adding on wine pairings (+$1,080).
G/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, 3980 3008, 6425 4918 (WhatsApp)
GRAIN![]()
GRAIN is mixing things up by putting Pilsner in its cheese fondue, and this Gweilo brewlab slash gastropub has a five-course NYE dinner ($650/person; minimum 4) on the cards (two seatings – 8pm and 8:30pm) that sounds ideal for beer-loving groups. Dubbed “ABBA in Switzerland”, the dinner party menu of comforting eats includes grilled fingerling potatoes with red onion, chives and thyme covered with raclette, a charcuterie selection, the aforementioned Pilsner cheese fondue, steak frites with truffle and apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream and lemon curd. Pair this feast with a 2.5-hour free-flow add-on ($380/person) and you’ll be in craft beer heaven (with Prosecco, house red and white wines and G&Ts for good measure). A post-dinner countdown party is also set from 10pm. The free-flow drinks package with two bar snacks is priced at $490 per person.
3–5 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 3500 5870, book online
Island Shangri–La![]()
For the very first time, Lobster Bar and Grill is taking over the 56th-floor rooftop of Island Shangri-La on New Year’s Eve for an epic celebration. Opt for either a starry four-course dinner ($2,588/adult; $1,288/child) from 6:30–9:30pm that comes complete with a live band performance or the countdown party ($1,688/adult) from 10pm for free-flow champagne and wine. Bottoms up!
56/F, Island-Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, 2820 8560, lbandgrill.isl@shangri-la.com (full payment is required upon booking)
La Rambla
Ring in the new year at Spanish eatery La Rambla with indulgent dishes including grilled Boston lobster and Josper grilled sea bass served directly to diners at the brunch on New Year’s Day ($780/person), plus luxurious sharing plates like Hokkaido uni doughnuts made from homemade fried bao with miso mayonnaise and dry caviar and foie gras with cava gelatin and strawberries. If you’re more of a nighttime person, check out the New Year’s Eve dinner ($1,200/person; minimum 2) instead. Say adios to 2021 with a spread of 48-month acorn-fed Ibérico ham, Baeri caviar, Hokkaido uni doughnuts and foie gras before you even get to the mains! See the full menu here.
Shop 3071–73, 3/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, 2661 1161, book online
LPM Restaurant & Bar
One of our fave French restaurants in town, LPM is being transformed into iconic NYC nightclub Studio 54, spinning disco classics underneath a mirror ball from 8pm till midnight on the 31st. There will be two early seatings on NYE (6pm and 6:30pm) with no minimum spend, while the late seating at 8pm requires a minimum spend of $1,800 per person. Chef Maurizio Pace has crafted some festive dishes that can be ordered à la carte on the night – we particularly like the sound of the scallop tartare with Granny Smith apple ($328), gratinated Royal oysters ($298), grilled Black Onyx sirloin ($598) and grilled pink sea bream ($498). Get out your sequins, rhinestones and polyester for this one!
1/F, H Queen’s, 23–29 Stanley Street, Central, 2887 1113, book online (credit card guarantee and 72-hour cancellation required)
The Sixteenth![]()
The Sixteenth is Pirata Group’s new destination dining spot in Quarry Bay, featuring four eateries with four fab NYE menus – #fourtimesthefun. Italian feasting is the name of the game at La Favorita, with the menu (from $690/person) showcasing some of the restaurant’s signature Italian stunners, from vitello tonnato, to lobster tagliatelle, to Sorrento lemon sorbet.
At Honjokko, the menu (from $680/person) at this contemporary Japanese hotspot includes Wagyu beef tataki, a festive sushi platter and grilled barramundi or salmon.
For a laid-back Japanese alternative, make a booking at TMK Funk & Rolls, offering a menu (from $420/person) featuring the likes of chicken-thigh karaage, a sushi platter and plenty of the temakeria’s creative handrolls.
The big kahuna is set to take place at Tempo Tempo’s atmospheric outdoor terrace from 10pm. Disco Countdown under the Stars is a good-vibes-only party with DJ music, free-flow drinks, mini sandwiches, sweets and bubbly aplenty.
There are two seatings at La Favorita, Honjokko and TMK (5:30pm and 8pm) on the 31st. Guests with a guaranteed second-seating booking can purchase tickets to Disco Countdown under the Stars ($680/person) or buy Countdown-only tickets ($880 until 30 December or $980 at the door). Exclusive VIP tables for up to 12 guests (from $18,000) are also available if you’re ready and willing to splash out.
2/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, 2788 1993, book online
Smoke & Barrel
Hit Bourbon Street this NYE with an epic circus party at Smoke & Barrel. Featuring a live DJ and drag show, the dinner (1 sitting from 7–11pm) is a N’awlins-inspired menu, sharing style, and includes oysters, gumbo, shrimp po’ boy, seafood boil and more. Standard free-flow is included with the dinner for $988 per person or upgrade to cocktails and champagne for $1,300 per person. Choose to stay on until 1am with another package or just order drinks à la carte. You might also like to consider the special NYE menus (and entertainment) at Kinship and new izakaya Brooklyn Yakuza by the same restaurant group.
1/F & 2/F, Wyndham Mansion, 32 Wyndham Street, Central, 2866 2120, book online
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