In light of COVID-19, we encourage diners to take precautions when going out. You can also support your favourite restaurants by getting takeaway and delivery.
While not being able to travel this Christmas may not make us feel all holly and jolly, these festive dining offerings sure will! This year boasts an impressive range of holiday dining options, offering something for everyone. After a difficult 2020, we certainly deserve a few treats, and indulging in these Christmas feasts is also a fantastic way to support Hong Kong’s hard-hit F&B industry.
Here are our top Christmas feasts that even Ebenezer Scrooge wouldn’t be able to resist:
181
First up, we have four festive British-inspired à-la-carte offerings at 181. To start, there’s chicken liver and foie gras parfait with caramelised onion brioche ($180). There are two stunners to choose from for your main: turkey with all the trimmings for two ($688) and côte de boeuf with sauce Diane and truffled mashed potato ($988), also serving two. And for afters, it’s that cracker of a British pud – King George Christmas pudding with brandy cream ($188).
Another Christmas dining option at 181 comes in honour of Fortnum & Mason’s one-year anniversary in Hong Kong, with the chefs crafting anniversary set menus ($368/person for lunch or $568/person for dinner) championing signature items and honing the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Highlights available on both menus include chicken consommé with dumpling, beef Wellington for two and chocolate croissant pudding with caramelised banana (get ready for the tableside flambée action). Drinks come with the menus, from the MUSEA Blend tea and iced tea choices at lunchtime to a sparkling tea mocktail or glass of Fortnum’s Blanc de Blanc champagne come evening. You can also choose a special F&M gift in advance to be wrapped and ready for your chosen one at the table. Even better, the views are some of the best in town.
1/F, Fortnum & Mason, Shop 022, G/F, K11 ATELIER, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 3916 8181, book online
Aria
For festive Italian fare with fabulous views, Aria is where its at. On 24 and 25 December, they’re offering a seven-course Christmas dinner ($1,688/person) designed by Executive Chef Andrea Zamboni. Indulge in creative dishes such as the winter vegetable and fruit tatin and Ode to XLB, an homage to the chef’s favourite dim sum of xiao long bao, made with turbot tartare ravioli, crayfish citrus and basil.
24/F, California Tower, 30–32 D'Aguilar Street, LKF, Central, 2804 1116, book online
Avobar![]()
With avocado obsession in full swing at K11 MUSEA’s Avobar, a special Christmas à-la-carte menu has been released filled with comforting gourmet goodies. We recommend the herb-crusted duck breast ($178) atop a bed of sweet potato mash with rocket, avocado and beet citrus salad or the pulled turkey brioche ($118) with sliced avo, wild berry compote, wasabi mayo and salsa verde – all topped with a turmeric poached egg.
Shop B201–4, B2/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2611 9900 (no bookings)
Big Birdy
Sai Ying Pun’s fun and fiesty Big Birdy is offering up a generous and well-priced feast from now until the end of the year. The Biggest Birdy Holiday Feast ($880) serves 4–6 people and is available for dine-in and takeaway. The star of the show is a US free-range, hormone-free turkey that’s brined for 24 hours before being dry-rubbed with peri-peri spices, steamed and finished on a flaming grill, served alongside cranberry sauce, mashed potato, gravy, maple-glazed carrots and coleslaw.
48–78 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2360 0968
Black Sheep Restaurants
For the first time, Black Sheep Restaurants, the restaurant group that keeps on giving, is offering a Christmas menu ($498/person) with all the fixings for takeaway or delivery from 24–26 December. Crafted by Chef Braden Reardon of Carbone and Buenos Aires Polo Club, the festive feast offers a choice of roast turkey or Christmas ham as the main, a bevy of tempting sides – the mashed sweet potato with spiced walnuts, mac ‘n’ cheese with fontina and provolone and Parker House rolls with maple butter are particular standouts – and either apple crumble with salted caramel or chocolate-chestnut yule log for dessert.
Email delivery@blacksheeprestaurants.com to order (orders must be placed by 18 December)
Ciao Chow
From 21–31 December, newly revamped Ciao Chow will present a special à-la-carte menu full of Italian winter delights. Some of the truffle-scented offerings include burrata al tartufo ($268), astice gratinato ($798) – a whole lobster gratin with winter black truffle – and pizza sottobosco ($1,498), which is showered with white truffle and baked in the eatery’s Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana–certified oven.
G/F, California Tower, 30–32 D'Aguilar Street, LKF, Central, 2344 0005, book online
COBO HOUSE![]()
Newly relocated COBO HOUSE focuses on spices and aromas with the release of Chapter 2 of their “unspoken” menu, taking us on a global culinary journey using a hand-picked selection of herbs and spices from Southeast Asia, Mexico, India, Malawi and Peru. Just in time for the holidays, the restaurant has prepared three options for the month of December: Silhouette four-course menu ($880/person), Abstract six-course menu ($1,380/person) and Full Experience eight-course menu ($1,880/person). Wine pairings are a must with each menu, also coming in three options, priced from $620 for four glasses of wine and $920 for four glasses of Mumm RSRV champagne. A notable dish is the flaky, tender Atlantic cod, pictured. Inspired by Peranakan cuisine of Southeast Asia, a laksa espuma sauce adds many layers of flavour. To experience COBO HOUSE at home, go for the COBO Culinary Box ($1,150/box + $200 delivery fee), available until 31 December. This can be purchased online and includes three starters, a choice of main (10+-spice short rib or Atlantic cod), dessert, Yorkshire parkin and chocolates in an elegant wooden bento box with reusable cutlery.
Shop 602, 6/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2656 3088, book online
Garden Lounge & The Tai Pan
There’s a very festive brunch ($698/adult and $348/child on 19–20 December and 1 January and $798/adult and $398/child on 25–27 December) on at The Murray’s Garden Lounge and The Tai Pan. Both venues will feature a slap-up spread of salads, smoked seafood, charcuterie, carvery, made-to-order mains and desserts. To really get you in the Christmas spirit, the family-friendly semi-buffet brunch comes complete with a gingerbread-decorating station, ornament-making station, live Christmas carols and a visit from Santa Claus himself. If you’re brunching before the 27th, make a pit stop at The Murray’s Christmas market on the hotel’s Cotton Tree Terrace for some last-minute shopping.
The Murray, Hong Kong, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, 3141 8888, themurray@niccolohotels.com, book Garden Lounge online, book The Tai Pan online
HABITŪ ![]()
Hosting a Christmas dinner or office party is made easy with the extensive festive catering menu from HABITŪ. Available for takeaway and delivery, you can have your pick of delicious sharing-style eats such as the whole roasted US ranch-raised young turkey ($1,200), New Zealand lamb rack ($680) and sweet onion confit halibut ($620). You can also order the HABITŪ Christmas platter ($2,988), which serves 8–10 people, or a selection of smaller finger food and canapé platters (from $300). We highly recommend adding on a few sweet treats such as the limoncello honey meringue tarts ($330/18 pieces), and for orders over $5,000, you’ll receive a complimentary box of Happy Gingie cookies. Delivery across Hong Kong; delivery fees apply.
Henry
We’d expect nothing more than a decadent carnivorous feast from Chef Nate Green’s Henry at the Rosewood. Guests can enjoy a month-long festive lunch menu ($498/person) and a three-course dinner ($1,498/person) on 24 and 25 December. This sure-to-be-delectable meal will kick off with oysters and champagne. Next comes a choice of bone marrow, lobster bisque, cold-smoked steak tartare or “butcher’s shop” terrine, before diving into smoked turkey with cranberry stuffing and plenty of sides and ending with a choice of indulgent desserts.
5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 3891 8732, book online
INK
For an al-fresco option that won’t break the bank, INK’s Christmas festive dinner ($380/person) sounds like just the ticket. It’s available on 18, 19, 22 and 23 December and features smoked turkey with tons of trimmings – highlights include smoked garlic and chive mashed potato, turkey, pork and apple stuffing and jalapeño and Cheddar cornbread – plus dulce de leche pumpkin pie, a glass of mulled wine and a take-home pack of mini pecan pies for late-night noshing.
G/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, TST, 3500 5881, book online (advance reservations required)
Lawry’s The Prime Rib
Family-friendly stalwart Lawry’s The Prime Rib presents a festive semi-buffet brunch (from $568/person) on 25 and 26 December and 1 January as well as a festive dinner (from $568/person) on 24–26 and 31 December. With mouth-watering dishes such as their signature roasted prime rib, poached Chilean sea bass and Christmas pudding, it’s sure to be a meal to remember. Kids’ menus (from $478/child) are available for both brunch and dinner, and free-flow packages (from $238) can be enjoyed with brunch.
3/F, The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2907 2218
The Legacy House
If refined Cantonese dining has you feeling jolly, head over to The Legacy House for Christmas Eve dinner (from $1,380–1,980/person). Delight in an eight-course banquet-style menu featuring elegant dishes like roasted goose liver with pork belly and mushroom and double-boiled partridge soup with dried mussel and maca root.
5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 3891 8732, book online
Miss Lee
Proving that Christmas is more than roast meats, vegetarian favourite Miss Lee is offering a Dee-lee-cious winter vegan menu on 24, 26 and 31 December. In the spirit of giving, each guest who orders the four-course lunch ($368/person) or seven-course dinner ($598/person) menu will be given a Christmas plant on the house! Enjoy fan favourites like roasted yam fries along with hearty mains such as mushroom and taro patty and braised winter melon, ending with a warming osmanthus wine-poached pear.
G/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan, 2881 1811, book online
Relish
Long-standing catering company Relish is letting you put your feet up with its Relish At Home ($1,800) delivery offering. Arriving fully prepped, with only minor cooking steps required to finish the meal, it includes five traditional side dishes (yay for pigs in blankets), cranberry sauce, gravy and bread sauce, one main course to feed up to six hungry folk (with vegan and vegetarian options included), one family-sized dessert (sticky toffee pudding all the way) and even Christmas crackers! Relish offers delivery to anywhere on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the outlying islands, and they will be running a 12 Days of Christmas campaign via their Instagram page from 1–12 December, sharing deals and offers on their products and dine-at-home services, with each live for only 24 hours. Shopping tip: Relish’s cookie-decorating kit and hot-chocolate-making kit are great gifts for little ones.
Roganic![]()
Executive Chef Oli Marlow and Head Chef Ash Salmon will be whipping up a traditional British Christmas lunch and dinner ($980/person) at Roganic – our Foodie Forks 2019 Editors’ Choice Best New Restaurant – on 24–25 December. The menu includes caramelised chestnut soup to start, followed by prawn cocktail, slow-roasted turkey with all the trimmings, 70% chocolate fondant, mince pudding and hot cocoa with brandy. Cheers, mates!
UG/F, Sino Plaza, 255 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 2817 8383, book online
Zuma
Zuma’s always a top choice for free-flow brunch, and this year’s Christmas weekend brunch (from $988/adult and $350/child) from 25–27 December takes it up a notch. It comes complete with 2.5 hours free-flow, with shogayaki chicken breast with dried apricots, peanuts and raisins the brunch centrepiece, ending with a Christmas-edition dessert platter including the likes of vanilla and wild berry chawanmushi, cinnamon doughnuts and warm Valrhona chocolate caramel cake. Kids will be kept entertained by St Nick in Santa’s Grotto.
If it’s not a family-friendly affair you’re after, another option is Zuma’s Yashoku night brunch ($920/person) in the lounge on 24–26 December with DJs and performers. We also love the sound (and look) of the Christmas pina cocktail ($140), created by new bar manager Lorenzo Coppola. This dreamy bright blue tipple is made with white rum, pineapple, clarified coconut cream and a hint of yuzu.
5–6/F, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3657 6388, book online
For more guides like this, like Foodie on Facebook
