Dim sum lunch and a dose of nostalgia at The Chinese Library
- Favourite dumplings include the black garlic siu mai and pan-fried turnip cake wrapped with Parma ham
FARE Sophisticated contemporary Cantonese
AMBIENCE The decor takes diners on a journey back into history. Aqua Group takes up the whole first floor of the former police headquarters, where The Chinese Library and Statement take up the east and west wings while The Dispensary bar separates the two. Designed by Hong Kong-based AB Concept, the dining room retains many of original features including the wooden floors and window frames, and details such as the mirrors take the form of police officer’s badges while the colour blue is inspired by the police uniforms.
COST The most expensive dish is the roasted 45-day Imperial Peking duck, HK$698. Lunch sets start at HK$350 per person.
WHO TO BRING Good for gatherings and larger parties.
TURN-ONS Dim sum lunch is delicious at The Chinese Library. We enjoyed the sea urchin and crabmeat spring rolls, which offered a fresh, briny take on the popular favourite. The black garlic siu mai was delightfully fragrant – with a whole garlic clove inserted into the pork dumpling, rather than just minced, as in the many other versions of this dish. Our favourite was the pan-fried turnip cake wrapped with Parma ham, which added an extra layer of crispiness and sophisticated flavour to the classic dish.