The Sixteenth (located in the 16th district of Hong Kong, Eastern District, hence its name) soft-opened a few weeks ago, and we were there to take in the four F&B concepts by Pirata Group. The ambitious project – an 18,000-square-foot space seating 400 – encompasses extravagant Italian trattoria La Favorita, trendy sushi restaurant Honjokko (an offshoot of the group’s popular Honjo), TMK Funk & Rolls (the third iteration of the group’s music-inspired temakeria concept) and Med-inspired outdoor terrace bar Tempo Tempo.
Tempo Tempo![]()
We began our evening (when it was still balmy!) at Tempo Tempo’s lovely outdoor space, flanked by skyscrapers and city lights. It’s decked out with big umbrellas, wicker chairs, candy-striped sofa seating, lemon trees and magical lighting – a temporary escape from HK life.
We knocked back a killer Aperol spritz ($110) garnished with the biggest-ever olive we’ve ever seen, along with some premium Italian bar snacks. The seafood fritto ($168) was freshly fried without a hint of grease, encompassing a delicious selection of prawns, calamari and sole (so soft and flaky), and we couldn’t stop dipping them into the accompanying chilli-garlic mayo. The charcuteria Italiana ($248) is a feast of high-quality Italian cold cuts and cheeses; you could make a whole meal out of this baby.
We can see Tempo Tempo being packed post-work, but it would also be a top spot to while away a weekend afternoon or as a stopping-off point for an aperitif or post-prandial tipple.
Open daily, 4–11pm.
2788 3037 (bookings for groups of 10+)
Honjokko![]()
We next moved on to Honjokko, and we were immediately charmed by the whimsical design elements of the eatery – the paper umbrellas hanging akimbo from the ceiling, the brightly coloured patterned carpets, the hand-painted floral screens.
Like its sibling Honjo in Sheung Wan, Honjokko’s menu is contemporary Japanese, but the focus here is on their creative sushi selection, showcasing bold flavour and texture combinations. Sake is the draw of the drink list.
We recommend going for the well-priced tasting menu ($780/person; +$480 for wine and sake pairings) – or even the omakase menu ($1,290/person) at the sushi counter if you feel like splashing out.
Whatever you do, you must order the medai truffle ($210) for a savoury flavour explosion. This raw dish includes kombu-cured sea bream, black truffle soy and salted kombu.
Another winner where truffle makes an appearance once again is the indulgent uni and truffle gunkan ($230/2); we never knew sea urchin and truffle were such terrific partners, and there’s even a mountain of caviar added to the mix. There are also no-rice rolls for those who are avoiding carbs.
Open daily for lunch (11:30am–2:30pm) and dinner (5:30–10pm).
La Favorita![]()
Our final tasting experience at The Sixteenth was the best yet. La Favorita is a dramatic showstopper with its swooping drapes, red booths, graphic carpets and ornamental ledges – this is a spot that makes diners feel special.
The menu is a tribute to the bounty of the Italian dining table. The dishes are big and bold, meant for family-style sharing, and they’re served on beautiful, oversized hand-painted tableware. The drink list focuses naturally on Italian varietals (Super Tuscan fan, anyone?), as well as classic cocktails.
Several of the dishes are plated tableside by the charming servers, making for IG-worthy shots. The glorious cheese wheel al tartufo ($288) – we can’t seem to make it past anything with truffle – features bite-sized (and perfectly al dente – perhaps even before reaching the point of al dente, but we adored the bite) tubetti pasta in a decadent sauce of Pecorino cheese and truffle, topped with freshly shaved truffle, all mixed tableside. Then there’s the bistecca alla Fiorentina ($988), a monster of a T-bone steak (1kg) that left us speechless owing to its size, which was sliced before being plated.
Perhaps our favourite dish of our entire experience at The Sixteenth was the Sorrento lemon sorbet ($108), served in the picture-perfect lemon itself and accented with lemon curd and crumble – oh so tart and refreshing to the max, the ideal way to end such a gut-busting meal.
We’re keen to return to La Favorita for brunch, served at the weekend and on public holidays. The Brunch della Famiglia ($398/person) sounds like it gives diners a whole lotta bang for their buck. It starts with a “grand” selection of Italian cold cuts and cheeses, then moves on to three antipasti for sharing (currently, burrata, striploin carpaccio and prawn cocktail) and a choice of main and ends with another “grand” selection, this time of Italian desserts. Free-flow ($198 for classic or $298 to include champagne) can also be added if you really want to live la dolce vita.
Open daily for lunch (11:30am–2:30pm) and dinner (5:30–10pm).
TMK Funk & Rolls![]()
We didn’t make it (yet) to The Sixteenth’s final concept, TMK Funk & Rolls. Following in the footsteps of its siblings Punk & Rolls in Sheung Wan and Rap & Rolls in Wanchai, this third branch of the temakeria brand looks just as fun and even more funky. We’re loving the retro look.
If you’re craving American-style sushi, this is where to head. Innovative maki (sushi rolls) and temaki (handrolls) are TMK signatures. We also rate their lunchtime bowls, served over yuzu-cabbage salad and with or without rice.
Open daily for lunch (11:30am–2:30pm) and dinner (5:30–10pm).
Verdict
Quarry Bay might not sound like the most obvious place for destination dining, but we think The Sixteenth will make a big impact on the ‘hood. All four concepts are interesting and well executed, serving up great food and drink in immersive spaces. We can see ourselves going back again and again.
2/F, Oxford House, 979 King’s Road, Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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