Hong Kong outdoor brunches: top 5 leisurely spots for al fresco dining
Your weekend starts here - with a long, lazy brunch under clear blue skies
The cool, sunny weather this time of year makes it the perfect time for dining outside without breaking into a sweat. So what better way to start your weekend than with a leisurely brunch al fresco? Pick a spot in the sun, sit back, relax and enjoy the view - whether in the city, by the water or on a high-floor restaurant terrace. You may have a favourite spot in mind already, but we’ve picked a mix of new and classic places we think you’ll like.
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Unit 406, L4, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2704 5211
The Continental’s Saturday brunch menu (HK$265) features a cocktail, brunch plate and dessert from the patisserie trolley. Brunch plate options include the perennial eggs Benedict, croque monsieur or madame, omelettes, pancakes with streaky bacon, beef and potato hash with fried eggs, and kedgeree with red lentils.
For its Sunday brunch (HK$365), choose from salad, soup or a half-dozen oysters, followed by roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes, and finish with a choice of desserts: a fruit crumble with custard, passion fruit bavarois with strawberry ice cream, or chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream.
The Piazza, Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen’s Road Central, tel: 2167 8200
This long-standing Italian favourite has a large alfresco dining area at the top of a big open square at the western end of Central. Take a seat under Gaia’s maroon umbrellas for a civilised brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from noon (HK$308). You’ll have the pick of a buffet of antipasti, seafood, salads, cured meats and cheeses, followed by a choice of six main courses, and dessert. An additional HK$148 or HK$328 gets you free-flow prosecco or champagne respectively.
118/F, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, tel: 2263 2263
From December 6, have a toast with free flow Dom Perignon Champagne and a gourmet brunch (from HK$1,280) on the terrace at Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton. Start with appetisers and savoury pastries (or, for an extra charge, freshly shucked oysters), before digging into a main course. The selection of mains include slow cooked pork short ribs, soft shell crab burger, or the decadent wagyu beef burger with foie gras ganache. Finish with your pick of some stunning desserts.
35 Aberdeen Street, Central, tel: 2866 0300
Sit on the second-floor balcony of this cosy joint for a laid-back brunch. Celebrity chef Jason Atherton has devised an à la carte brunch menu with dishes that are meant for sharing. They include most of the standards, as well as a “Peking duck” salad (HK$128), lobster roll (HK$218) with French fries, and even whole roasted barramundi (HK$248). There is also a selection of savoury flatbreads. And what’s brunch without dessert? There’s an extensive list of sweets, such as sticky toffee pudding (HK98), or just nibble on a chocolate chip cookie (HK15).
Épure
Shop 403, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3185 8338
Sit on the terrace at Épure for a panoramic view of Hong Kong Island as you dine at one of the top French restaurants in the city. The brunch set menu is available on weekends and public holidays from noon to 3pm, with a four-course meal at HK$398 per person. Begin with the soup of the day and a choice of appetisers, such as gratinated snails, duck foie gras terrine, beef carpaccio or lobster salad. This is followed by mains (choices include veal stew, beef striploin, spaghetti with free range chicken, or the spit roast of the day. Finish the meal with a classic French dessert or, for an additional charge, a selection of unpasteurised cheeses.
