10 Spots to Dine & Drink this Festive Season

OUR FAVOURITES FOR ALL THE CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

1. Commissary

An American affair offering a festive set menu for December, plus a special buffet on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

What’s the deal? On the evenings of 24 and 25 December, tuck into a menu of 20 dishes including roast turkey with all the trimmings, St Louis ribs and build-your-own pulled BBQ pork and soft shell crab tacos for $358 per person. Plus, through December there’s a three-course lunch or dinner menu, with options including roast turkey & trimmings and boozy chocolate pie. Prices start at HK$288, and need a minimum of 10 people.

Where? Shop 405, 4/F, Pacific Place

2. Oolaa Petite

Perfect for large groups, the laid-back little sister of Oolaa brings out the festive fare you know and love

What’s the deal? Oolaa Petite is offering a special three-course Christmas menu of festive classics, with options including traditional Christmas roast turkey, Christmas pudding and Maryland crab cakes, plus a two-hour free-flow drinks package for $700. It’s available for corporate or private parties, with a similar menu also available on 25 December.

Where? Shop 2, G/F, Starcrest, 9 Star Street, Wan Chai

3. Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House

A relaxed atmosphere, some of Hong Kong’s best views and a bounty of festive menu options

What’s the deal? An array of feasting options through the holiday season. Between 2 December and 1 January, there’s a festive afternoon tea set including a selection of finger sandwiches, pastries and golden raisin scones at $310. There’s also a family sharing menu to be enjoyed as a private event for $600 per person, including coffee-rubbed beef striploin and mashed pumpkin and orange. On Christmas Eve, there are two sittings and several menus starting at $1550 per person. If that wasn’t enough to digest, on Christmas Day you’ll find a special lunch menu at $995 per person.

Where? Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place

OUR FAVOURITES FOR NON-TRADITIONAL FEASTING

4. MANA!

The perfect choice for vegetarians and the health- or eco-conscious

What's the deal? Plant-based and eco-friendly eatery MANA! is the perfect antidote to indulgent traditional Christmas fare. Here, you’ll find vegetarian oven-baked flatbreads and signature burgers, along with raw and gluten-friendly desserts. For a touch of Christmas spirit, there’s also a vegan pumpkin spiced latte. Get there early for a drink and you’ll find ‘Hippy Hour’ specials between 6pm and 8pm, including gluten-friendly beer and a gin & kombucha, starting at $50.

Where? 8–10 Queen’s Road East

5. Madame Ching

Pirata Group’s beloved Chinese restaurant is serving up an Asian-inspired Christmas

What’s the deal? Putting an Oriental twist on the season, a Christmas tasting menu will be available on 24 and 25 December at $480 per person. Highlights include roast duck and suckling pig with long beans, XO and roast baby carrots as seasonal sides, plus a sweet note of Ovaltine tart. You can add a free-flow drinks package for $298 from 8:30pm until midnight. Looking to feast in the leadup to the big day? A selection of the chef’s favourite dishes is available for sharing at $380 per person.

Where? 5 Star Street, Wan Chai

6. Pici

In an intimate setting across two floors, Pici serves up fresh, classic handmade pasta

What’s the deal? Everyone’s always keen for a carb-fest during winter, and Pici delivers. The pasta is made fresh each morning by chef Andrea, and the menu includes favourites like home-made meatballs, pappardelle with an eight-hour ragu, and tagliolini with shaved black truffle. There’s a standard tasting menu at $290 a head in the lead-up to Christmas, which makes group ordering really easy. If you’re looking to feast between 24 December and 1 January, there’s a festive brunch at $248 a head, Christmas dinner set for $250 a head and festive daily specials like rum & raisin chocolate mousse.

Where? G/F, 16 St. Francis Yard, Wan Chai

7. LUMI borderless cuisine

Feast on a semi-buffet menu of French-Japanese cuisine only over the festive season

What’s the deal? On 23, 25, 26 and 31 December, borderless restaurant concept LUMI is offering a full semi-buffet dinner, including juice, a buffet bar, seafood platter and entrée, for $758, or just the buffet for $618. Renowned Japanese chef Kihachi Kumagai will be serving up dishes including cashew and bacon-crusted Chilean sea bass, Toyama shrimp linguini and Parisian Hokkaido pork chop.

Where? Shop 301, 3/F, Pacific Place

OUR FAVOURITES FOR… HAPPY HOUR DRINKS

8. FRANCIS

Drinks at one of the chicest tables in the neighbourhood — plus delicious Middle Eastern food if you fancy a bite

What’s the deal? Drinks at $55, running every weekday from 3pm to 5:30pm. The deal includes spritz, red, white, sparkling and rosé wines.

Where? 4 & 6 St. Francis Street, Wan Chai

9. MORTY’S

Happy hour at the city’s favourite NYC-style deli

What’s the deal? Wines and draft beers starting at $55, running daily between 3pm and 8pm. Plus, if you fancy, a side of one of the city’s most authentic Reuben sandwiches.

Where? Shop 8–10 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai

10. Le Garçon Saigon & Le Petit Saigon

Find discounted tipples at the Vietnamese sibling restaurants

What's the deal? At Le Garcon Saigon, you’ll find bottled beers, house spirits and a selection of cocktails starting at $38 daily between 5pm and 7pm and, on the weekends, free-flow wines and rosé for $198. Next door at Le Petit Saigon, from 5pm to 7pm, enjoy half a Banh Mi Thit and a bottle of Saigon Special beer for $58.

Where? 12 & 16 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai