Recommended by Time Out and Cathay: a restaurant for every occasion

If you’ve dined at one of Hong Kong’s best restaurants, you’ll have likely spotted a black “Time Out Recommended” badge displayed in the window. This year, we’re proud to announce that we’ve partnered with the lifestyle magazine to curate a list of top dining venues together. So, next time you’re out, be sure to look for the new “Time Out x Cathay Recommended” stickers adorning a select few restaurants. You can feast easy knowing that the restaurant has been given the ultimate seal of approval, guaranteeing the city’s finest offerings and an unforgettable dining experience.

Beyond identifying Hong Kong’s buzziest spots for a meal or drink, this year’s guide is even more exciting: you can earn Asia Miles as you dine at any of these winning establishments. To ensure planning your next special occasion is effortless, these celebrated spots have been broken down into categories ranging from impressive date night hangouts to Instagram-ready feasts.

With 40 venues to choose from, you won’t be short on dining options this year. Looking for a place to start? We’ve highlighted some of our favourites for you. Don’t forget to present your Cathay membership number to rack up those Asia Miles for your next culinary adventure – you can savour an earn rate of HKD4 = 1 when you dine at these restaurants. 

Instagrammable spots

Maison ES

Romantic cosy interiors play backdrop to picture-ready food at Maison ES, a garden-inspired restaurant helmed by chef Esther Sham of Ta Pantry fame. Filled with antiques and flea market furniture finds, the restaurant’s mint walls and inviting dining rooms complement laidback Asian-French-inspired tasting menus which highlight dishes like the French yellow chicken and the lobster ravioli served with decadent beluga caviar.

Shop B, UG/F, Hang Tak Building, 1 Electric Street, Wan Chai, 2521 8011

Kinsman

Nostalgic Hong Kong touches permeate this Peel Street bar, with red leather booths, chequered tiles and old school bric-a-brac welcoming cocktail aficionados inside. Chinese spirits get their moment in the sun with traditional Cantonese liquor Yuk Bing Siu and snake wine-based cocktails, alongside unique infusions of local ingredients such as roselle and magnolia, and monkfruit. It’s the cocktail salon of Wong Kar-wai’s dreams.

G/F, 65 Peel Street, Central, 2865 5011

Date night destinations

dolos 

This intimate Soho restaurant celebrates seafood through its fine dining menu, captained by the team behind Twins Kitchen. Inspired by the concrete structures that protect Hong Kong from oceanic waves, this eatery spotlights French and Japanese preparations which honour ingredients such asmonkfish liver, firefly squid and eel. Bold tasting menus are complemented by a thoughtfully curated wine list – though aficionados can also bring their own bottle without a corkage fee. 

G/F, 60 Staunton Street, Central, 3488 5770 

Salisterra

Mediterranean flavours meet sweeping city views at Salisterra, The Upper House’s chic restaurant which overlooks Victoria Harbour and Admiralty’s serpentine streets. Led by Italian chef Ricardo Chaneton, the menu is inspired by his travels, with standout dishes including a seafood platter served with a bright citrus shallot sauce, Provençale-style lamb shank and thyme roasted peaches for a sweet end to the evening. Arrive before sunset for the ultimate sundowner from their stellar cocktail list, or a specially curated three-course menu. 

Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 3968 1106 

Al fresco dining

Harbourside Grill 

Hidden away in Harbour City’s Ocean Terminal you’ll find a sprawling terrace touting a postcard perfect vista of the Hong Kong skyline: unobstructed views of the Star Ferry navigating the Victoria Harbour as iconic landmarks rise up behind it. Harbourside Grill’s menu lives up to its unrivalled views, featuring crowd-pleasing French favourites like duck confit and beef tartare, which sit alongside impressive cuts of beef, grilled to perfection over Japanese charcoal in a Josper oven. 

Shop OTE401, Level 4, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, 2619 9100 

Sugar

High up on the 32nd floor of EAST, this effortlessly cool rooftop bar and restaurant boasts views over the harbour and a mean gin list. Locals in the know flock to Sugar for sundowners that make an impression, with solar system-inspired cocktails and dangerously drinkable G&Ts. You won’t want to miss out on the Japanese bar snacks either, with decadent takoyaki, furikake and Kewpie mayonnaise-topped fries, and pork belly buns on offer. 

32/F, EAST, Hong Kong, 29 Taikoo Shing Road, Taikoo Shing, Quarry Bay, 3968 3738

Chill hangouts

Matchali

This cosy spot on Moon Street specialises in all things matcha, sourcing ceremonial-grade ingredients from Japan as well as plant-based milks and natural sugars. Run by two cousins, Matchali’s restful space is filled with the sound of whisks hard at work creating their signature emerald drinks. From mango matcha lattes to affogatos served with soft serve matcha ice cream, you’ll find creativity galore here alongside all the caffeine classics. 

G/F, 5 Moon Street, Wan Chai, 9880 7661

Shh Cafe

A spa’s in-house café might not immediately sound like a winner but Shh Cafe’s fusion-style menu and tranquil interiors beg to differ. Bright, airy decor and swathes of pampas grass create a relaxing ambience, while red bean and matcha-topped croffles and iced honeycomb coffees will sate any sweet tooth. Looking for something more substantial? Tiger prawns served on a bed of kimchi cheese risotto and a side of tomato should do the trick.

Shop B&C, G/F, Cheung King Mansion, 144 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3795 3065

Check out the full list of Time Out x Cathay Recommended restaurants here .