https://www.scmp.com/rss/330890/feed As Content Director, Douglas oversees the creation of a broad range of lifestyle publications, foremost of which is 100 Top Tables, SCMP’s fine-dining guide. When time allows, he loves to indulge his passion for film and write about cinema as well. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In 2012, when Angelle Siyang-Le told her father she had taken a job with a company called Art Basel, his initial reaction wasn’t one of pride, but one of concern. “My dad was like, ‘OK, never heard of it,’” she recalls. The inquisitive parent researched the company address in Wan Chai and set off to find its office, only to come up empty, not realising the different company he found at that address was a co-working space. Perturbed, he promptly texted his daughter to warn her she’d been conned... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348090/art-basel-hong-kongs-director-fairs-role-citys-cultural-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348090/art-basel-hong-kongs-director-fairs-role-citys-cultural-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:50:30 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In an increasingly globalised world, culture is the common thread that binds communities together. For over two decades, the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has worked to weave loose local threads into a cohesive global fabric, bringing together urban centres from all over the world. Its goal is to champion creativity in a way that helps make that sometimes ambiguous force a concrete driver of sustainable development, placing it at the heart of urban policy and international... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In Hong Kong, the click-clack of mahjong tiles is part of the unofficial soundtrack to Lunar New Year. A staple at family gatherings, playing mahjong is more than something to do while making small talk with relatives you may not have seen all year. It can also represent a pursuit of good luck for the year ahead. Local craft brand Conspiracy Chocolate – known for its Coa and Bakehouse collaboration bars – is reimagining this cultural staple through a lens of fine cacao, launching a 13 Orphans... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3343445/conspiracy-chocolates-mahjong-set-unites-good-luck-and-tastiness-chinese-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3343445/conspiracy-chocolates-mahjong-set-unites-good-luck-and-tastiness-chinese-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes As Hong Kong’s bar scene has evolved beyond its colonial roots – British gentlemen’s clubs and bar crawls around Lan Kwai Fong – the city’s mixologists have become increasingly keen to celebrate local and regional flavours. Everything from egg waffles to puer and chrysanthemum teas to Yuk Bing Siu Zhao has featured in cocktails across the city. Everything, that is, except durian. The pungent fruit is incredibly popular here but rarely makes an appearance on menus. Perhaps that’s no surprise.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3341493/drink-focus-durians-consent-peridot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3341493/drink-focus-durians-consent-peridot?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:25 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes It’s the season to be jolly again, and Hong Kong’s top restaurants and bars are ready to ensure you oblige with some exciting new Christmas cocktails. So pull up a bar stool and let these inspired winter tipples fuel your festive glee. Bar Q88 The JW Marriott’s intimate lobby bar has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the best spots in Admiralty to unwind. This year, the establishment is offering two festive drinks for the Christmas period. The first is an Asian-inspired take on mulled wine... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3336464/3-festive-cocktails-spice-your-christmas-celebrations-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3336464/3-festive-cocktails-spice-your-christmas-celebrations-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes As the festive season approaches, the quest for the perfect holiday meal begins. This year, ditch your oven gloves and basting brush, and let the city’s finest restaurateurs take care of you. From timeless feasts to modern marvels, these festive offerings are the main event, promising to “sleigh” your guests and leave your own oven green with envy. So, gather your loved ones, make a list (and check it twice), and prepare to indulge. Embla On Upper Station Street, chef Jim Löfdahl and his team... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3336070/hong-kongs-best-christmas-feasts-mandarin-oriental-osteria-marzia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3336070/hong-kongs-best-christmas-feasts-mandarin-oriental-osteria-marzia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes Cooking a fantastic Christmas spread is never easy in Hong Kong when few of us have ovens suitable for toasting bread, let alone cooking an entire turkey. Frankly, that’s all the excuse we need to let someone else manage the Yuletide kitchen chaos. This year, put away your cookbooks and delusions of grandeur and let the professionals handle the turkey and all the trimmings. Allow the city’s finest restaurants to do the heavy lifting, serving seasonal menus to satisfy every palate, while you... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3334085/where-enjoy-next-level-christmas-dinner-hong-kong-festive-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3334085/where-enjoy-next-level-christmas-dinner-hong-kong-festive-season?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:17 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes You’ve visited campuses, spoken to teachers, reviewed the curriculum and extracurriculars, and are happy with the academic results. You feel good about the community and have finally chosen the right school for your young child. Congratulations! The hardest part is over. Now for the next step: understanding the admissions assessment. Sometimes this is straightforward, but it can just as easily be an impenetrable fog. Phrases like “social-emotional development skills”, “numeracy, cognitive... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330460/how-hong-kong-schools-are-taking-holistic-approach-student-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330460/how-hong-kong-schools-are-taking-holistic-approach-student-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes Ginza is one of Tokyo’s most iconic neighbourhoods, recognised for its luxury stores, hotels and history, which lives on in monuments like the Wako department store and even the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line – Asia’s first underground railway. Less well known is the fact that Ginza is hallowed ground for global cocktail culture. In the post-war era, a new style of Japanese bartending emerged here, one defined by attention to detail, flawless technique and an almost reverent approach to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3323580/ginzas-7-best-cocktail-bars-punch-room-tokyo-edition-bar-high-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3323580/ginzas-7-best-cocktail-bars-punch-room-tokyo-edition-bar-high-five?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes When DeepSeek R1 launched in January, it sent shock waves through the tech world. Here was a large language model (LLM) capable of rivalling ChatGPT yet developed at a fraction of the cost. The breakthrough shifted global attention from Silicon Valley to Hangzhou, underscoring China’s emergence as a leader in artificial intelligence. This development was part of a broader, decisive national movement. In March, the local government in Beijing mandated new artificial intelligence courses for the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3322237/ai-literacy-key-hong-kongs-future-supremacy-global-education-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3322237/ai-literacy-key-hong-kongs-future-supremacy-global-education-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:15:25 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes Bar Leone is drenched in Italian kitsch – portraits of famous (and not-so-famous) Serie A footballers, vintage movie posters of Al Pacino, even Vacanze di Natale ’91. Now, after being crowned Asia’s Best Bar for the second year running at this week’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards in Macau, perhaps it’s time staff found room on the wall for one more poster – of Rocky. Bar Leone’s story mirrors Sylvester Stallone’s underdog tale. Like Rocky Balboa – the unknown brawler who shocked the world by going... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3318749/bar-leones-lorenzo-antinori-secret-his-latest-asias-50-best-bars-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3318749/bar-leones-lorenzo-antinori-secret-his-latest-asias-50-best-bars-win?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:00:17 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes Filipino cinema made a resounding statement at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, signalling a potential return to the global stage for a country with a rich, yet often overlooked, cinematic history. Five Filipino-produced films graced the Croisette, including acclaimed director Lav Diaz’s feature-length production Magellan, Japanese co-production Renoir, and short films Bleat! and Ali. The festival marked a historic moment for Filipina filmmakers. Kyla Danelle Romero became the first Filipina... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314262/rising-hopes-revival-filipino-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314262/rising-hopes-revival-filipino-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:22:39 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes For Marino D’Antonio, the newly appointed executive chef at 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana Macau, cooking is clearly in his blood. Sipping an espresso in quintessential Italian style, D’Antonio recounts how his father travelled from southern Italy to Lombardy to visit his sister who had opened a restaurant after moving there with her husband. It was there – because of that restaurant – that D’Antonio’s parents met and fell in love. It’s the perfect origin story for a chef: Fellini would have been... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3311228/chef-marino-dantonios-culinary-odyssey-across-world-italy-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3311228/chef-marino-dantonios-culinary-odyssey-across-world-italy-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 03:00:10 +0000 Tessa Yau,Douglas Parkes Tessa Yau,Douglas Parkes If you still haven’t recovered from the hectic flurry of activities that swept Hong Kong in March, the long Easter weekend is your chance. While traditional celebrations like painting eggs and eating hot cross buns are all well and good, Easter is also historically tied to a theme of revival. On Hong Kong’s ever-changing dining scene, new names continually pop up, bringing novel flavours and bold concepts. Exciting as each new restaurant or bar is, it’s hard not to feel a sense of nostalgia for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3306964/word-streat-9-restaurants-and-bars-left-their-mark-hong-kongs-dining-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3306964/word-streat-9-restaurants-and-bars-left-their-mark-hong-kongs-dining-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Apr 2025 04:00:20 +0000 Now in its 13th edition, Art Basel Hong Kong returns with 240 exhibitors from 42 countries and territories, including record-breaking participation in the fair’s Kabinett sector. There are more than 20 new galleries joining the event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this year, with more than half of the participating galleries from around the Asia-Pacific region. The event is expanding beyond its traditional showcase of galleries and artwork in a number of ways. The winner of... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3303937/art-basel-hong-kong-2025-explores-new-frontiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3303937/art-basel-hong-kong-2025-explores-new-frontiers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:06:44 +0000 With awards in 10 categories, 100 Top Tables is dedicated to celebrating the exceptional restaurants, bars and individuals that make Hong Kong and Macau’s F&B scenes world-class. Here are this year’s outstanding winners. Best Chef – Tam Kwok-fung Seasonality is an admirable concept. The idea of using the freshest ingredients at the peak of their flavour is one all restaurants should aspire to. In fact, an increasing number do – to the point where it has become something of a cliché to hear... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3302970/cream-crop-100-top-tables-celebrated-finest-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-and-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3302970/cream-crop-100-top-tables-celebrated-finest-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-and-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:15:13 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes Paella may seem an odd choice of signature dish at a Japanese restaurant but it perfectly reflects the journey of Censu’s founder, chef Shun Sato. Born and raised in Japan – where he developed a particular affection for his grandmother’s house in Sendai, which inspired the interior design at Censu – Sato leveraged his culinary career to travel the world. After stints at prestigious restaurants in Tokyo, he spent seven years in Sydney before moving to London to lead the team at Aqua Kyoto for two... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3300181/dish-focus-fxxking-paella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3300181/dish-focus-fxxking-paella?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Feb 2025 04:00:25 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes I was born in Hainan and grew up during the Cultural Revolution. My parents sent me back to their hometown to keep me away from the armed conflicts, fights and struggle sessions happening in the cities. I still remember a visit I made back to the city to see my mum during that time. She had been publicly accused in a struggle session and I saw the aftermath. They had cut her hair – first into a cross shape on her head, then with a flag shaved into it. They kept cutting it over and over until she... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3298499/how-hong-kong-filmmaker-fruit-chan-found-his-way-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3298499/how-hong-kong-filmmaker-fruit-chan-found-his-way-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:15:07 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes An onstage discussion about film conservation seems an unlikely big-ticket draw in Hong Kong a week before Lunar New Year. And yet a large crowd has arrived an hour early, to stand outside in what passes for winter here, wrapped up in scarves outside M+, in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Nearby, skateboarders pop ollies and young girls practice K-pop dance routines. Tourists pass the queue bewildered by all the fuss. Said fuss is the presence of Tilda Swinton, the Hollywood A-lister who... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3297565/tilda-swinton-brings-hollywood-star-power-conversation-restoring-classic-films-hong-kongs-m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3297565/tilda-swinton-brings-hollywood-star-power-conversation-restoring-classic-films-hong-kongs-m?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes The British culinary legacy in Hong Kong is an odd one. On the one hand, there’s an obvious and daily debt that stretches from the city’s cha chaan teng culture, with its milk tea and scrambled eggs on toast, to the lingering affection for afternoon tea and its assortment of sandwiches and other nibbles. But when it comes to bona fide British restaurants, there’s a conspicuous dearth. Magistracy Dining Room is unashamedly British. Describing itself as “a timeless London restaurant”, the concept... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3294162/dish-focus-dressed-crab-magistracy-dining-room?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3294162/dish-focus-dressed-crab-magistracy-dining-room?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes When 22 Ships revealed it was moving from Wan Chai to Central, there was consternation among the Spanish restaurant’s dedicated fan base. First there were worries that by nearly tripling in size, the restaurant would lose its familiar, intimate feel. There were also concerns that taking over the site formerly occupied by Sake Central – previously a dark, cavernous space without windows – was at odds with 22 Ships’ previous open-plan design. Then there was the philosophical question – can it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291726/dish-focus-marmitako-spanish-restaurant-22-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291726/dish-focus-marmitako-spanish-restaurant-22-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 22:15:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes If there’s one bar in Hong Kong guaranteed to offer a menu of Christmas cocktails, it’s DarkSide. The award-winning bar at the Rosewood Hong Kong has earned numerous plaudits for the hard work and creativity that goes into its regularly changing menus, which see not just whole new cocktails created but new physical menus and glassware too. Past menus have been inspired by everything from the phases of the moon to mahjong. It’s no surprise then that DarkSide is serving more than just mulled wine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291641/drink-focus-festive-manhattan-darkside?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291641/drink-focus-festive-manhattan-darkside?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Dec 2024 22:00:14 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes We’ve all been there. We’ve all burnt some toast, overcooked a steak or steamed a fish too long – and ended up with disappointing meals. It happens to the best of us – even the pros at Hong Kong’s best restaurants. The coming holidays – and the chaos that is sure to follow – prompted Hong Kong’s top chefs to take stock of their kitchen nightmares. Here, they recount some of their own worst kitchen nightmares, so cheer up, you’re not the only one. Adam Catterall, head chef, Roganic Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291647/word-streat-kitchen-nightmares-power-outages-clogged-pipes-and-exploding-siphons-hong-kongs-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3291647/word-streat-kitchen-nightmares-power-outages-clogged-pipes-and-exploding-siphons-hong-kongs-top?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:00:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes “It’s not about the drinks,” declares Lorenzo Antinori, making the most counter-intuitive statement uttered in local F&B this year. Those are stunning words coming from the man behind Bar Leone, the Bridges Street concept that has, in the last six months, been named Asia’s best bar and the second-best bar anywhere on the planet. Imagine Allan Zeman claiming the popularity of his venues has nothing to do with their location in Lan Kwai Fong. Yet Antinori is completely earnest. Noticing our raised... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3290472/whats-bar-leones-secret-hong-kong-establishment-was-named-best-bar-asia-and-second-best-world-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3290472/whats-bar-leones-secret-hong-kong-establishment-was-named-best-bar-asia-and-second-best-world-its?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:00:08 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes If China’s rise is one of the biggest economic feats of the past half-century, Jia Zhangke is likely its most important chronicler. The Chinese filmmaker, now 54, has spent his career documenting the economic lift-off of his homeland, and the social changes that have taken place as a consequence. This approach has earned Jia numerous awards, most notably the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion in 2006 for Still Life. Despite such acclaim, however, in 2008, New York Times film critic Manohla... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3290315/how-director-jia-zhangke-captures-chinas-economic-rise-his-gritty-films?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3290315/how-director-jia-zhangke-captures-chinas-economic-rise-his-gritty-films?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:15:09 +0000 Since dropping his debut feature in 1997, Jia Zhangke has barely stopped. The acclaimed Chinese director has spent the last 27 years releasing a consistent stream of feature-length films, shorts and documentaries. Don’t know where to start with Jia? Here are five of his best films to help familiarise you with this master of world cinema. 1. Xiao Wu (1997) Jia’s debut feature Xiao Wu (Pickpocket) set the tone for much of his filmography, with its gritty focus on the urban poor in Shanxi, the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289703/5-best-films-chinese-auteur-jia-zhangke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289703/5-best-films-chinese-auteur-jia-zhangke?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Dec 2024 07:15:07 +0000 Having a merry Christmas is practically an order at this time of year. Fortunately, Hong Kong’s best bars and bartenders are here to nudge you in the right direction with a plethora of seasonally inspired drinks. Whether you’re seeking a winter tipple for an extra special romantic occasion or a work do, or you’re just looking to get in the spirit of the season with friends, these concoctions will surely bring some Christmas cheer. 1. DarkSide The bar team at DarkSide are among the most creative... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3289345/7-best-christmas-cocktail-menus-hong-kong-jw-marriotts-asian-inspired-mulled-wine-and-spin-irish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3289345/7-best-christmas-cocktail-menus-hong-kong-jw-marriotts-asian-inspired-mulled-wine-and-spin-irish?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Dec 2024 04:45:09 +0000 Christmas meals are the great equaliser of the holiday season. While the annual exchange of gifts can occasionally be an unbalanced affair – you spend hours researching and acquiring the perfect present weeks ahead of time; they snatch whatever was left on the shelves on Christmas Eve – a seasonal lunch or dinner is a gift everyone shares together. That’s why it’s best to make it a good one – if not for grouchy relatives, then at least as a treat for yourself. Fortunately, Hong Kong is packed... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3288659/hong-kongs-12-best-christmas-feasts-italian-grand-hyatts-grissini-and-chinese-tin-lung-heen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3288659/hong-kongs-12-best-christmas-feasts-italian-grand-hyatts-grissini-and-chinese-tin-lung-heen?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:14 +0000 Every Indian restaurant has its own recipe for butter chicken – but few have a version as special as Leela in Hong Kong. Some places serve it overwhelmingly creamy, at others it is noticeably sweet and a few, like Leela, serve it with a distinctly smoky flavour. One of the most popular Indian dishes around the world, butter chicken can also be found on menus under the name chicken makhani or murgh makhani. The classic recipe is often credited to the founders of the restaurant Moti Mahal, either... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286326/dish-focus-why-smoked-butter-chicken-leela-stands-out-rest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286326/dish-focus-why-smoked-butter-chicken-leela-stands-out-rest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Nov 2024 04:30:08 +0000 It was in the third year of its reign atop Asia’s 50 Best Bars that Coa co-founder Jay Khan and his trusted deputy Ajit Gurung opened The Savory Project. The Staunton Street concept was a risky move, far removed from the agave-soaked ideas that had brought so much renown and success to Coa. It was a timely one, however, with drinkers’ palates trending towards umami and savoury flavours, allowing Savory Project to position itself as one of the standard-bearers of this shift in tastes. No cocktail... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286577/drink-focus-thai-beef-salad-cocktail-savory-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286577/drink-focus-thai-beef-salad-cocktail-savory-project?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:25:39 +0000 Hong Kong’s cocktail bar scene is celebrating a golden era. For the fourth year in a row a local establishment was ranked No 1 by Asia’s 50 Best Bars, with Bar Leone finally bringing an end to Coa’s record-breaking run at the top. An impressive nine of the city’s watering holes made the list, a total bettered only by Singapore, represented by 12 bars. These two cities have long dominated Asia’s 50 Best Bars, which is to bars in the region as the Michelin Guide is to restaurants. The competition... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3284560/chinas-cocktail-bars-are-great-so-why-hasnt-world-noticed-yet-hong-kong-and-singapore-dominate-asias?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3284560/chinas-cocktail-bars-are-great-so-why-hasnt-world-noticed-yet-hong-kong-and-singapore-dominate-asias?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Nov 2024 04:00:09 +0000 It is an almost universally accepted assumption that the more educated individuals and societies are, the better. However, a new report is challenging conventional wisdom and asking serious questions about how children are taught around the world. The study, “Learning to Act for People and Planet”, co-authored by the Unesco Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report and the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) Project, states that “higher levels of educational... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3268993/unesco-gem-report-challenges-educations-role-climate-change-advocates-global-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3268993/unesco-gem-report-challenges-educations-role-climate-change-advocates-global-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Sep 2024 03:00:09 +0000 Asking “what’s the best Indian restaurant in Hong Kong?” is a little like asking where’s the best place to get Chinese food in New York. In both cases, long-established immigrant communities have built deep historical ties between their homeland and adopted country and there exists a wealth of fantastic restaurants one could mention. In Hong Kong’s fast-paced F&B world, popular restaurants come and go but the city’s Indian eateries have shown enduring popularity in this often fickle town.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/article/3276946/whats-best-indian-restaurant-hong-kong-heres-5-contenders-chaat-chutney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/article/3276946/whats-best-indian-restaurant-hong-kong-heres-5-contenders-chaat-chutney?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 02:00:08 +0000 “My father never wanted me to get into F&B. He didn’t want me to even get close to it,” reveals Manav Tuli. It’s a surprising revelation from a man at the top of his profession, whose restaurants in Hong Kong have been awarded Michelin stars and who was duly named best chef earlier this year at the 100 Top Tables awards event. We chat in the private dining room at Tuli’s newest concept, Leela, the floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the room with sunlight. His previous restaurant, Chaat, focused... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3271717/how-leelas-chef-manav-tuli-overcame-setbacks-chart-path-international-acclaim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3271717/how-leelas-chef-manav-tuli-overcame-setbacks-chart-path-international-acclaim?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:24:55 +0000 Home to stars like Aaron Kwok and Joey Yung, Happy Valley is one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive residential areas. Supposedly its English name is ironic, referring to the death toll from disease in the area back in the 19th century, which prompted the establishment of Hong Kong’s first Christian cemetery. Happily, the neighbourhood has only grown in esteem and value since, with property agents often dividing the valley into distinct lower and upper sections. While the upper section, away from... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271673/exploring-celebrity-hangout-happy-valley-hong-kongs-exclusive-neighbourhood-scenic-views-and-great?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3271673/exploring-celebrity-hangout-happy-valley-hong-kongs-exclusive-neighbourhood-scenic-views-and-great?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:15:09 +0000 Every year, the South China Morning Post’s 100 Top Tables awards pay tribute to the outstanding individuals and restaurants who help make Hong Kong’s F&B scene one of the very best in the world. Read the full 100 Top Tables 2024 guide here Following the announcement of this year’s awardees, we profile the winners ... Best New Restaurant – Leela The past 12 months have seen a raft of high-quality openings, but nowhere impressed on as many fronts and so significantly as Leela. Upon entering, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3255228/hong-kongs-best-restaurants-chefs-and-nightlife-revealed-get-know-winners-scmps-100-top-tables-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3255228/hong-kongs-best-restaurants-chefs-and-nightlife-revealed-get-know-winners-scmps-100-top-tables-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2024 02:00:09 +0000 With the pains of the pandemic finally in our collective rear-view mirror, 2023 will be remembered as the year that Hong Kong came out of its shell. This was welcome news in particular for the city’s F&B industry. Battered by relentless restrictions – not least 945 days of a continuous mask mandate – restaurants across the entire industry were affected, from cheap Lan Kwai Fong bars to high-end establishments. The casualties appear countless – the iconic Jumbo Kingdom closed early in the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3254385/hong-kongs-fine-dining-scene-finally-road-recovery-central-foodie-hub-forty-five-new-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3254385/hong-kongs-fine-dining-scene-finally-road-recovery-central-foodie-hub-forty-five-new-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2024 06:00:44 +0000 It’s a long-standing jibe that Hong Kong is a cultural desert. One South China Morning Post column from 1951 notes that “old residents are familiar with the criticism levelled at Hong Kong – that the Colony is a cultural desert”, indicating that even then the phrase was a tired one. Of course, the remark has long rung false. Hongkongers can point to the centuries-old Lei Cheng Uk Han tomb or the 13th century Sung Wong Toi memorial as indicators of the territory’s ancient history. In more recent... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3245002/training-young-agents-history-and-culture-how-hong-kong-palace-museum-nurturing-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3245002/training-young-agents-history-and-culture-how-hong-kong-palace-museum-nurturing-new-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 03:00:11 +0000 Eat, drink and be merry may be the standard Christmas commandments, but there’s more to the holiday season in Hong Kong than just hedonistic pleasures (no matter how flavoursome). If you’re able to pull yourself away from the bar or dining room, here are the best seasonal events happening this year. 1. Central Market There are winter markets throughout Hong Kong and while Central Market’s might not have the charm of traditional European-style stalls, it makes up for it with a breadth of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3245948/where-celebrate-christmas-and-new-years-eve-hong-kong-2023-family-friendly-workshops-ritz-carlton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3245948/where-celebrate-christmas-and-new-years-eve-hong-kong-2023-family-friendly-workshops-ritz-carlton?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:27:40 +0000 You can’t judge a book by its cover, but for Terence Wong that is not true when it comes to the label on a bottle of wine. Intuitively, he recommends any neophyte begin there. As area sommelier for the Island and Kowloon Shangri-La hotels, Wong curates a wine list for the one-Michelin-starred Restaurant Petrus that spans 1,800 labels and multiple wine cellars. He always starts an examination of any wine with a deep dive into the details revealed on the label. “The label contains a lot of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3245012/how-curate-wine-cellar-will-make-any-oenophile-swoon-experts-hong-kongs-restaurant-petrus-amber?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3245012/how-curate-wine-cellar-will-make-any-oenophile-swoon-experts-hong-kongs-restaurant-petrus-amber?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Dec 2023 04:00:08 +0000 Christmas and the New Year is a time for celebrations – and Hong Kong’s best bars and restaurants always rise to the occasion. Whether it’s that classic seasonal drink that you’ve been waiting all year for or an inventive original creation that you’re craving, there is something for everyone. Barcode There’s always a danger of one too many chocolates over the festive period and Singular Concepts – the people behind bars like The Daily Tot, Tell Camellia and Bianco & Rosso, among others – are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3241942/8-hong-kong-bars-serving-christmas-cocktails-and-winter-warmers-holiday-season-darksides-fully?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3241942/8-hong-kong-bars-serving-christmas-cocktails-and-winter-warmers-holiday-season-darksides-fully?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:38 +0000 Leaving cookies or mince pies out for Santa? Then don’t skimp on a few treats for yourself. Exorcise the ghost of recent Christmas Pasts and embrace the chance to gather your loved ones close for a special meal. Here are some of the best, most luxurious or plain comforting Christmas lunches and dinners in Hong Kong this holiday season – updated weekly. How Hong Kong’s fine dining scene is getting greener – at last Amber Consistently one of the most engaging dining experiences in Hong Kong,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3241772/hong-kongs-best-christmas-lunch-and-dinner-menus-2023-top-restaurant-set-meals-traditional-fare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3241772/hong-kongs-best-christmas-lunch-and-dinner-menus-2023-top-restaurant-set-meals-traditional-fare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Nov 2023 02:00:25 +0000 Agung Prabowo’s new bar Lockdown is easily recognisable – it’s the one with the toilet in the front window. We tried to imagine this as a Marcel Duchamp-esque moment, the Hong Kong bar scene’s very own Fountain (1917) – a homage to the French sculptor who in 1917 famously put a urinal in New York’s Grand Central Gallery. Perhaps Prabowo was calling into question the preponderance of Prohibition-styled cocktail bars in 2023, or of their existing a speakeasy “hidden” on Hollywood Road? Here, in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3236252/will-agung-prabowos-new-lockdown-bar-stack-penicillin-or-old-man-inside-hong-kong-mixology-mainstays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3236252/will-agung-prabowos-new-lockdown-bar-stack-penicillin-or-old-man-inside-hong-kong-mixology-mainstays?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:00:12 +0000 Summer is traditionally a slow time for new F&B ventures in Hong Kong, as residents jet off for holidays, and managers sidestep the stress of an opening fanfare during the season’s oppressive heat (or in the case of 2023, torrential rain). Come September though, the pace picks up as smarter investors look to open in time for Mid-Autumn Festival, and to be well established come Christmas and the New Year. Which is a long way of saying: it’s high season on the city’s dining scene. Here then are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3235948/6-new-restaurants-hong-kong-try-now-alice-pizzas-world-famous-square-pies-michelin-starred-sushi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3235948/6-new-restaurants-hong-kong-try-now-alice-pizzas-world-famous-square-pies-michelin-starred-sushi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:47:31 +0000 The city as a mix of old and new is one of the enduring clichés that surrounds Hong Kong. This particular mix takes many forms – the outmoded Star Ferry boats that criss-cross Victoria Harbour in the shadow of towering skyscrapers, or the Central to Mid-Levels escalator that pushes tourists and locals alike up past historic buildings like Tai Kwun and Central Market. Much like the city, the Regent hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, downtown Kowloon, is a perfect blend of old and new. The establishment... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3233869/why-5-star-rebranded-regent-hong-kong-worth-visit-architect-lo-chi-wing-has-transformed-interiors-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3233869/why-5-star-rebranded-regent-hong-kong-worth-visit-architect-lo-chi-wing-has-transformed-interiors-2?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Sep 2023 05:00:11 +0000 Read more of SCMP’s Good Schools Guide While there is merit in letting your child take it easy over the summer, what with the sweltering weather, it is also the perfect time to get them doing something productive. In Hong Kong, we are lucky to have plenty of activities for adventurous children of all ages and interests – and many even come with the comfort of air con. So no matter whether your child wants to be a better athlete, improve their English skills or become a well-rounded citizen, this... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3225928/hong-kong-summer-camps-kids-all-ages-singapore-international-schools-sports-and-stem-courses-ymcas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3225928/hong-kong-summer-camps-kids-all-ages-singapore-international-schools-sports-and-stem-courses-ymcas?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jul 2023 03:00:09 +0000 Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn might arguably be the most important Thai chef of his generation. Frustrated by the conservatism that surrounded traditional Thai cooking, he transformed it, bringing it off the streets and unleashing its potential in his restaurants, which are now considered some of the finest in the world. Le Du, the ground zero of Ton’s revolution, currently sits at the top of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings, while Nusara, another of his concepts, sits third. Both... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224283/le-dus-head-chef-opening-niras-k11-musea-hong-kong-thitid-ton-tassanakajohn-behind-asias-50-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224283/le-dus-head-chef-opening-niras-k11-musea-hong-kong-thitid-ton-tassanakajohn-behind-asias-50-best?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:11:08 +0000 When Coa opened in 2017, I was tasked with writing a review for my then-employer. The bar was almost empty when I visited in the first couple of weeks after its opening, which wasn’t uncommon for new bars back then. The drinks were excellent and the staff supremely helpful, guiding me through a menu, loosely bound like a book, of mescals and tequilas that was almost encyclopedic in its detail. We sipped some spirits from a selection of tiny gourd cups. My review contains possibly one of the most... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224060/savory-project-hong-kongs-next-coa-jay-khan-mastermind-behind-two-time-no-1-asias-50-best-bars-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224060/savory-project-hong-kongs-next-coa-jay-khan-mastermind-behind-two-time-no-1-asias-50-best-bars-list?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jun 2023 02:00:17 +0000 The South China Morning Post released the latest edition of its 100 Top Tables dining guide last Friday. The book, an annual independent guide to the best restaurants and bars in Hong Kong and Macau, was unveiled at a ceremony recognising the achievements of all 135 establishments included. The launch event at Soho House Hong Kong was attended by hundreds of luminaries from across the Hong Kong and Macau food and beverage industries, marking the first time it has taken place since 2019 and the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3215851/scmps-100-top-tables-2023-back-and-bigger-ever-record-25-macau-restaurants-making-list-royal-garden?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3215851/scmps-100-top-tables-2023-back-and-bigger-ever-record-25-macau-restaurants-making-list-royal-garden?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Apr 2023 01:00:24 +0000 Published annually, 100 Top Tables celebrates the best restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau. Focused on fine dining, the guide celebrates the two cities’ best in class. First published in 2013, 100 Top Tables is celebrating its 11th edition this year. Featuring 135 establishments in total – 100 restaurants in Hong Kong, 25 in Macau, and 10 bars – this year’s guide is the biggest ever and highlights outstanding establishments that are raising the bar for F&B. Included are Hong Kong’s best Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3215499/100-best-restaurants-hong-kong-2023-revealed-complete-100-top-tables-winners-list-celebrates-citys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3215499/100-best-restaurants-hong-kong-2023-revealed-complete-100-top-tables-winners-list-celebrates-citys?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 03:17:01 +0000