Hong Kong’s Best Private Kitchens
Along with an excess of restaurants to suit every budget and taste, Hong Kong has a bustling and innovative private kitchen scene. If you are no longer content with fighting for a table at one of the city’s hot restaurants, why not pull together a group of friends for a special night of food and drink somewhere a little off the beaten culinary track.
Here’s a round-up of our favourite private kitchens hosted by some of the city’s most talented chefs, who showcase their talent and techniques everywhere from obscure industrial buildings to their very own apartments.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate
Founder and chef Maria Bizri creates stunning food packed full of eastern Mediterranean flavours, yet fused with tastes of South Asia and the Orient. The open-plan kitchen and minimalist dining area inside, coupled with an impressive 2,000 sq ft. outdoor terrace, make Pomegranate a perfect venue for an intimate birthday or a large event. Expect a welcoming, relaxed home-from-home atmosphere with impeccably produced food that is the perfect backdrop to an evening with good friends.
Burgers at Pomegranate
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Where: 4B, 44 Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen
Contact: 2580 0663 / info@pomegranate.com.hk
BYO? Yes; corkage fee depends on number of bottles brought
Price: $650 – $950 per head
Gong Guan
Gong Guan
Resembling the likes of a Shanghai mansion in the 1930’s, Gong Guan’s cuisine is a crossover between Shanghainese and Cantonese, and is also influenced by a variety of ingredients from other Asian regions. You can expect beautifully presented dishes including sichuan beef, drunken chicken, scallops, fish rolls and much more.
Celestial Rolls at Gong Guan
Cuisine: Shanghainese/Cantonese
Where: 12/F，Fung Woo Building, 279 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan
Contact: 2577 9789 / gongguanhk@gmail.com
BYO? Yes; corkage fee of $100/round of glasses/table (not per bottle).
Price: $430 per head (minimum 8 people)
Curore
The setting at Curore
Chef Andrea Oschetti expertly prepares heartwarming Italian food at his own home – a beautiful loft in Wong Chuk Hang. His love of Italian food comes from hours spent helping his grandmother as a young boy, and he opens up his home to share his passion for the freshest ingredients and the best Italian wines. Andrea only hosts one group a night, three times a week, 6 months of the year, so you can expect a very intimate and unique dining experience.
Dessert at Curore
Cuisine: Italian
Where: Wong Chuk Hang – contact Andrea for booking and address information
Contact: andrea@cuoreprivatechef.com
BYO? No; Andrea partners with Italian wine producers to bring diners an interesting and varied selection.
Price: $780 per head, minimum 10 people
Yin Yang Coastal
Yin Yang Coastal
If you’re looking for a bit of a city escape to go along with your private kitchen experience, check out Yin Yang Coastal, located in a beachside village house in Tseun Wan. Chef Margaret Xu Yuan excels in creating farm-to-table Chinese dishes that focus on local seafood. All you need to do is decide how many courses you want (options of 6, 8, and 10), and let Chef Margaret do the rest.
Cuisine: Chinese
Where: House 117, Ting Kau Village, Tseun Wan, Kowloon
Contact: 2866 0868 / booking@yinyang.hk
BYO? Yes; corkage fee of $150 per bottle
Price: $880 – $2000 per head, depending on the number of courses
Dine Art
Dine Art
Dine Art is a space where art gallery meets private kitchen; a concept that, although relatively simple, works oh-so well. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or are looking for something a bit more casual, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful artwork and fine Italian cuisine. The menu, curated by Italian Chef Cosimo, changes seasonally, so you can always expect fresh flavours and high quality ingredients.
Lunch at Dine Art
Cuisine: Italian
Where: 16/F, Kwai Bo Industrial Building, 40 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang
Contact: 2805 8555 / info@dinearthk.com
BYO? Yes; corkage fee of $150 per bottle
Price: $880 per head (minimum 10, maximum 24 people)
Le Marron
Le Marron
The warm, old-fashioned (in a good way!) French dining space at Le Marron, combined with the beautifully prepared French food, transports diners to provincial France. The menu changes to reflect seasonal availability of ingredients, and the dishes range from French classics to modern creations. There is also a small outdoor terrace; perfect for a more casual cocktail party on a cool autumn evening.
Food at Le Marron
Cuisine: French
Where: 12/F, Ying Kong Mansion, 2–6 Yee Wo Street , Causeway Bay
Contact: 2881 6662 / booking@marron.com.hk
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: $485 per head for the set menu or you can opt for the a la carte menu.
Viral Fusion
The front door at Viral Fusion
Tucked away in a secret sanctuary in the heart of Central, Viral Fusion offers an East meets West cross-over cuisine with a menu meticulously created by highly renowned Chef Felix who was trained at prestigious establishments including L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Robuchon Au Dome, and Zuma. Unlike most private kitchens in Hong Kong, you can enjoy the menu at Viral Fusion with a party of two, alternatively, you can book out the VIP room with a minimum party of 8.
Viral Fusion
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Where: 13/F, Pearl Oriental House, 60 Stanley Street, Central
Contact: 2677 5300 / reservation@viral-fusion.com
BYO? Yes; corkage fee of $100/round of glasses/table (not per bottle).
Price: Lunch $168 per head / Dinner $550 – $750 per head
Dining at Home
Dining at Home
Puja opens up her home and kitchen to provide guests with superb, authentic North Indian cuisine – think moorish chutneys, delicious bhajis, flavoursome Sindhi curry, and fresh fish, that changes each season. Puja believes Dining at Home sets itself apart from other Indian restaurants because of her focus on serving incredibly flavourful dishes – the recipes of which have been passed on from generation to generation.
Samosas at Dining at Home
Cuisine: North Indian
Where: Midlevels – address given on booking
Contact: puja@diningathome.biz
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: $520 per head (minimum of 8, maximum of 10 people)
Ta Pantry
Ta Pantry
Ta Pantry is a humble private dining space that seats 20 – 25 guests with an open kitchen attached, so you can see the ‘behind the scenes’ action. Beginning her culinary journey at three-Michelin starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong, founder and Chef Esther Sham has a plethora of experience working in fine dining establishments in this city as well as in France.
Cuisine: French
Where: 1A Star Street, Wan Chai (entrance on Electric Street)
Contact: 2521 8121 / booking@tapantry.com
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: $650 – $950 per head (minimum of 8, maximum of 10 people)
Love True Food Kitchen
Love True Food Kitchen
If you want to enjoy a private dinner that focuses on whole, ethical, and sustainable food, then Love True Food Kitchen is the place for you. The emphasis on mouth watering, healthy seasonal menus in a home style setting offers something a little different to other Hong Kong private kitchens.
Salad at Love True Food Kitchen
Cuisine: International, with a focus on whole and sustainable food.
Where: The Waterfront, No. 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon
Contact: 2167 8889 / LTF@lovetruefood.com
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: $500 – $800 per head (maximum 11 people for a sit-down dinner)
La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita
Owned by Stilvino Club, a wholesale company selling all things wine, La Dolce Vita is their private kitchen (which is actually their wine cellar!). You’ll be surrounded by hundreds of bottles of expertly chosen wine as you dine on an Italian 4-course dinner. The chef will choose ingredients that are in season in order to create your menu, however, if there is something specific you would like your dinner party to have suggestions are welcome.
Oysters at La Dolce Vita
Cuisine: Italian
Where: Unit 203, Oceanic Industrial Centre, 2 Lee Lok Street, Ap Lei Chau
Contact: 3528 0531 / info@stilvino.hk
BYO? No; wine pairing available at an additional fee.
Price: $880 per head (minimum 10, maximum 20 people)
Masala Bay
The garden at Masala Bay
From her home in Clearwater Bay, Vandana Anand creates fresh, aromatic, Indian inspired dishes for groups of hungry diners. If the weather’s good, you can dine outside in the beautiful garden.
Indian food at Masala Bay
Cuisine: Indian
Where: Clearwater Bay – full address given on booking
Contact: 9306 3967 / vandana@aceltd.com.hk
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: $650 per head. 8 – 16 people indoors, with up to 30 if weather permits to use the garden.
Le Blanc
Appetisers at Le Blanc
From the same stable as Le Marron, Le Blanc is a French restaurant and private kitchen. The dining area is adorned with fairy lights and mismatched, cute decor. The menu is a la carte and features French classics including goose and duck liver pate, and escargot and confit de canard.
Cuisine: French
Where: 6th Floor, 83 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai
Contact: 3428 5824 / bookings@blanc.com.hk
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee
Price: Menu is a la carte
Corner Kitchen
Corner Kitchen
Not to be confused with Corner Kitchen Cafe (though they are part of the same company), despite only being a stone throw away from each other, Corner Kitchen has been hosting cooking parties and private dinners since 2007. Corner Kitchen has two dining areas to choose from: a larger extension of their open kitchen concept (perfect for those who want to be part of all the action), or a smaller dining area that is closed off from the kitchen.
Pasta at Corner Kitchen
Cuisine: International – five menus to select from
Where: Ground Floor No. 21-23 New Street, Sheung Wan
Contact: 2803 2822 / info@corner-kitchen.com
BYO? Yes; no corkage fee for up to 10 bottles of wine
Price: From $600 per head (minimum 10, maximum 24 people)
Sabor Spanish Private Kitchen
Sabor
Sabor offers creative and expertly prepared Spanish food and wines, giving diners an authentic taste of Spain in a fun and lively atmosphere. While it’s likely you’ll be dining with other guests if you have a small party, you are also able to rent out the entire restaurant for larger groups. Choose from either the Chef Tapas Menu or Sabor Mix Menu.
Food at Sabor
Cuisine: Spanish
Where: Room 601, 6/F, Cheungs Building, 1-3 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
Contact: 2481 8828 / sabor@live.hk
BYO? Yes; free corkage
Price: $530 per head
Fa Zu Jie
Fa Zu Jie
Don’t be deterred by the sketchy alleyway in LKF you’ll have to walk through to get to Fa Zu Jie, we promise it’ll be a breath of fresh air once you step in. Fa Zu Jie serves Chinese/French fusion food in an intimate venue with tables surrounding an open kitchen. The menu consists of quality, innovative cuisine with rather peculiar-sounding dish descriptions (“Reunion. A French Farm. A Daughter-in-law from China”… Anyone?).
Food at Fa Zu Jie
Cuisine: French/Shanghainese
Where: 1/F, 20A D’Aguilar Street, Central
Contact: 3487 1715
BYO? Yes; free corkage
Price: $600 per person
If you think there’s a restaurant that we’ve missed off the list, please tell us about it on feedback@thehkhub.com