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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Best fine-casual & affordable restaurants in Central
SOMM
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
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 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
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, 8 Glenealy, Central, WhatsApp 9594 1173, book here
Kinjo’s Izakaya
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, 27 Elgin Street, Soho, Central 2362 9992, book here
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 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, 23 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2890 2892, book here
King Noodles
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
