Favourite Hong Kong restaurants of Gil Lempert-Schwarz, wine and whisky auctioneer
The Dragon 8 Auctions founder is a long-time Hong Kong visitor who counts Mercato, Gaia, On Dining and One Harbour Road among his high-end favourites and Ophelia and Nocturne for a decent glass of wine
I first arrived in Hong Kong from Denmark in 1989. I was in the wine business, importing California wine and American products. Now I live between Las Vegas and here. I am very adventurous with food although I don’t eat pork because I’m Jewish.
Otherwise, I have been fortunate to have travelled the world and eaten at all the great restaurants. I’m lucky to have become friends with some great chefs too. It was cool to catch up with Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the pre-opening of Mercato (8/F California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, tel: 3706 8567). The food there is outstanding. It’s Italian but different.
Consistency counts a lot to me. If I want a good top-class Cantonese meal I go to One Harbour Road (7-8/F Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2584 7722). I have worked with chef Tim professionally and what they do is classic. I don’t know why it is not more highly regarded.
I drink a lot of wine professionally but when I go out I like to have cocktails. I love the Lobster Bar and Grill (level 6, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2820 8560). I like mixology and they’ve stepped up their game with fresh young top mixers.