Newly opened: Lilya Moroccan Lounge and Bar brings exotic taste of Marrakesh to Central
From 14-hour slow-cooked black cod to a melt-in-the-mouth saddle of lamb, this new lounge and bar is bringing Moroccan flair to Hong Kong’s culinary scene
Dining Concepts has gone Moroccan in the space that was first occupied by Laris, then The Bellbrook, bothownedby Australian chef David Laris. The Wyndham Street, Central, location has now turned its taste buds to Marrakesh for inspiration with the new Lilya Moroccan Lounge and Bar.
Once the elevator doors open to the second floor, you are immediately face-to-face with a wall completely covered in colourful slippers evoking a souk or bazaar. At first we wondered if we were at the right place, but behind the wall is a red-lit bar and some really loud music playing from the turntable nearby. Thankfully the volume was eventually turned down.
Lilya seems more like a bar than a restaurant – with comfortable sofas and low-lying tables, Moroccan geometric designs everywhere and a menu featuring small plates.
Bar review: Bar De Luxe in Central – elegant Japanese cocktails from Hidetsugu Ueno, and sweeping views
We started with a carpaccio of beetroot and orange (HK$58). It was a small, delicate dish of thinly sliced, lightly pickled beetroot with peeled orange segments. However, the taste was underwhelming.