The book was developed as a fine dining guide for business executives in Hong Kong and Macau, as there were no guides solely for fine dining in either city. Over the past eight years, the book has garnered a following not just among the business dining sector but also the fast growing “foodie” subculture in both cities.

Taking a look inside the 100 Top Tables guide, there are eight culinary categories – Chinese, Western, French, Italian, Japanese, Steak and Grills, East/West and Macau – where the best of the best in fine dining restaurants are featured. We also include features on the Hong Kong and Macau food and drink industry.

The past year has been tough on the industry, and many restaurants are still suffering the consequences of the anti-government protests and the more recent coronavirus outbreak, which has also led to the cancellation of this year’s launch event for 100 Top Tables 2020.

Some of our favourite eateries have had to close, but others have braved this testing climate and opened up, and some of the new restaurants are included in this year’s guide.

Editorial director, advertising and marketing solutions, Winnie Chung, says, “This year’s 100 Top Tables is dedicated to our winners who have shown incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

“It has been a most difficult year for their industry but they have managed to prove that delicious food, excellent service and great ambience will always win over patrons. Congratulations to our 120 winners in Hong Kong and Macau!”

This year we have included 21 new restaurants and four re-entries. New to our list is Hung Tong at the Kerry Hotel in Kowloon, PIIN Wine Restaurant, Xin Rong Ji and Yat Tung Heen in the Chinese category; Hue Restaurant and Bar and Roganic Hong Kong in the Western category; L’Envol, Louise and Mono in the French category; Castellana and Theo Mistral by Theo Randall in the Italian category; Godenya, Kakure, Kyoku, Ryota Kappou Modern and The Araki in the Japanese category; Henry at Rosewood Hong Kong in the Steak and Grills category; Zest by Konishi in the East/West category, and Aji, Alain Ducasse at Morpheus and Chiado Portuguese Restaurant in Macau. The re-entries are Canton Room, Amber and Haku in Hong Kong, and Wing Lei in Macau.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Theo Mistral has been recognised as [one of] SCMP 100 Top Tables 2020. It just goes to show what a fantastic job Fabio Guaglione and all the team at Theo Mistral are doing,” says renowned chef and restaurateur Theo Randall.

“When we opened back in March 2018, I wasn’t sure how we would be received in Hong Kong, but I have to say the support has been amazing and I love coming to Hong Kong to see all our regulars and the team. I look forward to the rest of 2020 being a prosperous and positive year for everyone.”

Last year, 100 Top Tables introduced new awards to celebrate outstanding achievements in various categories within the food and drink industry. This year, the categories have been refined to include Best Pastry Chef and Rising Star awards to add to Best Chef, Best Service and Best Ambience.

We congratulate Vicky Cheng from VEA Restaurant and Lounge who is our Best Chef in 2020 – we feel that his ChineseXFrench cuisine is outstanding and unique to Hong Kong.

Our praise also goes to Roganic Hong Kong for winning the Best Service award, Sevva for Best Ambience, Ringo Chan at the Four Seasons Hong Kong for Best Pastry Chef, and Ricardo Chaneton for winning the Rising Star award, which recognises those in the food and drink industry who are up and coming but also stand out.

Roganic Hong Kong’s Simon Rogan says,“We are incredibly honoured to be a part of the SCMP 100 Top Tables. Sean and the FOH team at Roganic have done a phenomenal job implementing our trademark guest experience and approach to service at our restaurants in Hong Kong.

“Since opening Roganic and Aulis Hong Kong last year, we have been welcomed into the community with open arms. We have loved every minute of this exciting process.”

The guide provides the reader with an impartial overview of each restaurant, including information on cuisine and ambience. There is a shortlist of signature dishes and the price of corkage, as well as amenities like valet parking and alfresco dining.

This year we have included information about vegan dishes and menus in each restaurant, as veganism is becoming mainstream and restaurants have increasingly been catering to this need over the past two years.

We also provide contact details, including the restaurant’s address and hours of operation.

100 Top Tables was honoured to be named Best Food Tourism Book/Cities at Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Best in the World last year.

100 Top Tables 2020 will be available at major Hong Kong bookstores at a retail price of HK$168 (US$22) from March 23. Copies can be found at premium airport lounges in Asia including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, on private jets, and select recreation clubs, such as airport lounges, membership clubs and deluxe restaurants in Macau.

WINNERS

Chinese

1. Above & Beyond

2. Ah Yat Harbour View Restaurant

3. Canton Room

4. China Tang (Landmark)

5. The Chinese Library

6. Dong Lai Shun

7. Dynasty

8. Forum

9. Guo Fu Lou

10. Hoi King Heen

11. Hung Tong

12. Hutong

13. Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine

14. Lung King Heen

15. Man Wah

16. Ming Court

17. Mott 32

18. Old Bailey

19. One Harbour Road

20. PIIN Wine Restaurant

21. Shang Palace

22. Spring Moon

23. Summer Palace

24. T’ang Court

25. The Chairman

26. Tin Lung Heen

27. Xin Rong Ji

28. Yan Toh Heen

29. Yat Tung Heen

30. Ying Jee Club

Western

1. Arcane

2. Frantzén’s Kitchen

3. Hue Restaurant & Bar

4. Hugo’s

5. Roganic Hong Kong

6. The Verandah

French

1. Arbor

2. Belon

3. Caprice

4. Écriture

5. Épure French Fine Dining

6. Gaddi’s

7. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

8. L’Envol

9. Louise

10. Le Pan

11. Mono

12. Pierre

13. Rech by Alain Ducasse

14. Restaurant Petrus

Italian

1. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana Hong Kong

2. Angelini

3. Castellana

4. Gaia Ristorante

5. Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano

6. Grissini

7. Nicholini’s

8. Octavium

9. Sabatini Ristorante Italiano

10. Spiga

11. Theo Mistral by Theo Randall

12. Tosca di Angelo

Japanese

1. Godenya

2. Hanare

3. Kaiseki Den by Saotome

4. Kakure

5. Kashiwaya Hong Kong

6. Kyoku

7. Nadaman

8. Nobu

9. Ryota Kappou Modern

10. Shikigiku Japanese Restaurant

11. Sushi Masataka

12. Sushi Saito

13. Sushi Shikon

14. Sushi Tokami

15. Sushiyoshi

16. Tenku RyuGin

17. The Araki

Steak and Grills

1. Alto Bar & Grill

2. Buenos Aires Polo Club

3. Grand Hyatt Steakhouse

4. Henry

5. Mandarin Grill + Bar

6. Morton’s The Steakhouse

7. Prohibition Grill House & Cocktail Bar

8. Steak House winebar + grill

East / West

1. Aaharn

2. Amber

3. Aqua

4. Bo Innovation

5. Haku

6. New Punjab Club

7. Ronin

8. Sevva

9. Ta Vie

10. Takumi by Daisuke Mori

11. Tate Dining Room

12. VEA Restaurant & Lounge

13. Zest by Konishi

Macau

1. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana Macau

2. Aji

3. Alain Ducasse at Morpheus

4. Chiado

5. Dynasty 8

6. Feng Wei Ju

7. Golden Flower

8. Jade Dragon

9. Lai Heen

10. Mizumi

11. Pearl Dragon

12. Robuchon au Dôme

13. Shinji by Kanesaka

14. The 8

15. The Kitchen

16. The Tasting Room

17. Wing Lei

18. Yamazato

19. Yi

20. Zi Yat Heen