Where to dine al fresco in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, nothing beats those crisp mornings when you can sit outside with a steaming coffee and breakfast sandwich under the warming rays of the sun. Get ready for the idyllic days to come with our list of Cathay dining partners that offer scenic outdoor seating alongside superb food. Plus, as a Cathay member, you’ll be able to earn Asia Miles when you dine at these locations. Thanks to Card Linked Earn, you’ll be able to earn HKD4 = 1 automatically when you pay with any credit card linked to your Cathay membership. If your linked card is a Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard^®, you can earn more, at a rate of HKD4 = 2. 

Read on for the best places to dine al fresco in Hong Kong.

noc

Shaded tables just outside the glass façade of this trendy Hong Kong coffee chain provide a relaxed space for you and a few friends to chat over a latte and light bites. noc’s selection of drinks is extensive enough to satisfy all, from the coffee enthusiasts to the caffeine-uninitiated. Standouts include iced chocolate shakes and pour-overs made from seasonally sourced, single-origin beans. Pair your brew with a plate of creamy eggs and lightly charred portobello, featured in the all-day breakfast, or dig into a hearty dish of shakshuka with toast.

Various locations including: Shop Unit LG02, LG Floor, The Southside, No. 467, Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, 3615 0969 

Jin Bo Law 

Wait until golden hour to visit this rooftop bar at Dorsett Kai Tak. As the glow of the setting sun splashes over the Hong Kong skyline, dances across Victoria Harbour and bounces off the iridescent shell of Kai Tak Stadium, there’s no better time to enjoy a fizzy sip of guava bellini, made with guava purée and sparkling wine. Don’t miss other notable cocktails, crafted with Chinese spirits, like the YY: a blend of Moutai, espresso, yuen yeung (a Hong Kong-style drink that combines coffee and milk tea) and dark chocolate.

​​​15/F, Dorsett Kai Tak Hong Kong, 43 Shing Kai Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon City, 3528 8207 

Hooman by the Sea 

Views and vibes? Check and check. At this cheerful café on the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, shaded picnic tables allow diners to look out onto grassy lawns, sun-flecked waves and the densely-packed skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island beyond the harbour. The café is pet-friendly, with dish names that pay tribute to all things furry and four-legged; the signature Poodle, a hotdog topped with bolognese sauce, caramelised onions and roasted garlic sauce, is above all not to be missed. Salads and toasts are also available, while special doughnut-topped milkshakes add a dose of sweetness to your day. 

Shop GF-07, G/F, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, 6749 0777 

ALTO Bar & Grill 

Hong Kong’s glittering nighttime views are world-famous, and this Causeway Bay restaurant allows you to admire them up close. On the floor above its main dining space, ALTO offers relaxed rooftop seating where you can while away the cool hours of the evening nibbling on spicy Cajun fries, a refined cheese platter or a classic margherita pizza. When it comes to drinks, there’s no shortage of options, including beers, whiskies, gin, wines, cocktails and more. Happy hour lasts from 5pm to 8pm, while the rooftop stays open until midnight, allowing plenty of time to wine, dine and linger. 

​​​31/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street Causeway Bay, 2603 7181  

SPIGA

While the indoor dining room at SPIGA is the image of retro glamour, featuring softly lit booths where you can tuck into classic Italian fare, the adjacent terrace offers a casual Mediterranean-inspired setting that’s perfect for unwinding with an aperitivo. You might even be tempted to curl up on your cosy deck seat, loaded with plump cushions, and let yourself be carried away by the laid-back grooves of the live DJ set. Or maybe you’re too engrossed in conversation, or a Mango Maelstrom, or your bite of pollo fritto, to succumb to the lull of this tranquil portico. 

​​​3/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road, Central, 2871 0055 

Harbourside Grill 

It doesn’t get more fresh than this Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant. Its terrace, named Le Deck, plants diners right on the edge of the water, offering far-reaching views of Hong Kong Island, right up to where its westernmost edge recedes into the harbour. The dishes served here bring to mind the expression “eat with your eyes”; picture the soft glow of a tableside lamp illuminating your glass of Moscato and revealing the perfect char on your medium-rare steak. How much hungrier are you now?

​​Shop OTE401, Level 4, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2619 9100

BLA BLA by sensory ZERO  

Take yourself on a mini-holiday at the brand new Go Park Sai Sha, where speciality coffee chain BLA BLA has an outpost with sunny outdoor seating. Snack on heart-shaped egg puffs (gai daan zai), egg waffle cones filled to the brim with sweet toppings like peanut butter and condensed milk, or protein-packed bagel sandwiches. Among the wide selection of drinks, spanning coffees, teas, chocolate drinks and smoothies, the matcha Hokkaido azuki (red bean) smoothie looks especially tantalising: it comes heaped with a mountain of whipped cream and sweet red beans. 

​​​Shop G12, G/F, GO PARK Sai Sha, 9 Hoi Ying Road, Ma On Shan, 5941 6249