Alfresco Eats
If you want to kick back and relax outside, then we’ve pulled together our list of the best outdoor dining and drinking spots in Hong Kong. From fancy rooftop restaurants to chilled out beach front bars, here’s where we’ll be hanging out when the sun goes down.
This guide was reviewed and updated December 2015.
Lunch & Dinner
Aberdeen Street Social – Featuring a casual, open-plan restaurant and bar on the ground floor which spills out onto the patio, Aberdeen Street Social specialises in modern British cuisine and is located at Sheung Wan’s coolest venue – PMQ. There’s an extensive brunch menu and the setting plus quality of food makes it another success for Atherton’s ventures in HK.
D’Deck – If your party can’t quite narrow down their dining choice, take a stroll around D’Deck in Discovery Bay and check out the many outdoor restaurants on offer. The spacious setting allows for 180º sea views which glow nightly from the Disneyland fireworks. Cuisines ranging from Thai, Korean, Japanese and western flavours in the form of brasseries and bars means there is something for all appetites.
Koh Thai – Tasty Thai cuisine served on a terrace in Wan Chai or rooftop in the Mid-levels makes for a relaxing and reasonably priced midweek meal. The Mid-levels location overlooks the escalators and is particularly good for people-watching.
Penthouse, by Harlan Goldstein – With a 5,000 square foot rooftop with stunning views across the Harbour, Penthouse is a stylish urban-rustic restaurant featuring an extensive menu of contemporary Western cuisine in addition to a solid wine and cocktail menu.
Wooloomooloo – The Wan Chai location of this steakhouse has a rooftop bar with fantastic panoramic views of the evening light show. Great for pre-dinner cocktails, as finding a place to sit can be difficult as the night goes on and restaurant patrons file upstairs for a nightcap. Al fresco dining is available in Wooloomooloo’s TST restaurant.
DiVino Patio – If you are looking for relaxed al fresco dining, then DiVino Patio offers an outdoor terrace alongside a warm and cosy restaurant that attempts to recreate the traditional Italian grocery store of the 1950′s. The food is rustic; large hunks of bread and cheese, pizzas, rich pastas and delicious desserts. The restaurant is very child friendly and there’s a weekend brunch available.
Brick Lane – If you want harbour views, alfresco seating and little taste of England, then head to the Admiralty branch of Brick Lane. Expect all day breakfasts, roast beef and good coffee all in relaxed and bright setting. The terrace is huge and as well as being a great place for dinner, it’s also perfect for afternoon or after work drinks.
Al Molo – take in the view from TST to Hong Kong at this harbourside eatery. The weekend buffet is extensive and great value, the service attentive and it’s very welcoming to families.
Quayside – Featuring an international menu with distinctive French bistro influences, Quayside is the perfect balance of location, cuisine and atmosphere. The outdoor space is huge with the backdrop of Victoria Harbour and a wide selection of cocktails to sip while enjoying the view.
Spices – The food here is delicious, but the curries can feel a bit heavy in hotter weather, making autumn the perfect time of year to enjoy a lazy Indian/Thai/Malay lunch on the veranda before strolling over to Repulse Bay Beach. Reservations are a must, particularly at the weekend.
The Backyard @ The Langham Hotel – Garden patio with stunning mango trees, which offers a buffet, good pizza and light bites. A real treat for the whole family.
Shelter Italian Bar and Restaurant – Enjoy this al fresco space which is dedicated to Italian gastronomy. Located at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay, Shelter prides itself on offering largely organic food, in a stunning and very romantic outdoor setting. It’s an ideal spot for a special occasion.
Gaia – one of Hong Kong’s most famous Italian restaurants, Gaia offers a large amount of outdoor seating where you can watch the streets of Central buzz around you. The lunch buffet is superb and the menu offers a great range of Italian classics.
Cafe Deco – An assortment of Asian and Western dishes with great views over the Peak and all of Hong Kong Island from the outdoor dining area. Being on the Peak, this place does tend to draw a bit of a touristy crowd (and you do pay a bit for the view) – but go in knowing this and you’ll do just fine. Desserts are delicious if you don’t have time for a full meal, and a well stocked kids’ corner will keep little ones busy.
Mavericks – Want to escape the hustle and bustle? Head over to Lantau Island and go to Mavericks – a bar, restaurant and board shack located right on Pui O Beach. The award-winning executive chef Austin Fry serves simple, quality beach food and drinks in a dramatic space featuring large scale artworks by some of Hong Kong’s leading young artists.
One-ThirtyOne – Looking for a unique location to celebrate a special occasion? Well, look no further because One ThirtyOne is certain to fulfil that “wow” factor. Located in a three-storey house with a garden overlooking Three Fantoms Cove, this romantic restaurant serves up contemporary French cuisine with plenty of style. Perfect for private parties or even small weddings, One ThirtyOne even has their very own helipad to land your chopper or a private jetty to moor your yacht in case the trek from Central is too daunting! Oh how very James Bond!
Stanley Promenade Restaurants – If it’s shaping up to be a lovely day and you find yourself wishing you’d thought to make a lunch reservation, don’t despair – head to the Stanley waterfront and take your pick of alfresco restaurants for an easy afternoon meal. Menus are displayed outside the restaurants for passers by to peruse – the fare tends toward pub/international cuisine, with several pizzerias. Most (if not all) the restaurants in this location are very family friendly and have high chairs available. We suggest Spiaggia for its widely varied menu and Pizza Express for a sure fire kid-pleaser.