12 best alfresco dining spots around Hong Kong

Calling all nature lovers! Michelin-starred restaurant Duddell’s boasts a stunning 2,200-square-foot Garden Terrace on which to enjoy a menu of authentic Cantonese cuisine. Leafy plants and comfortable, cushioned seating create a serene tropical oasis in the heart of the urban sprawl, where diners can enjoy a range of seafood, meat, dim sum, snacks, and Chinese delicacies from the à la carte or lunch menu. This stylish little getaway is also home to a seasoned collection of art and some beautifully whimsical cocktails such as the Mist Starts to Linger ($160) and Dew Glistens On Grass ($160).

Duddell’s, 3/F & 4/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central | (+852) 2525 9191

If you fancy a day at the beach, complete with tasty food, then Bathers on Lower Cheung Sha Beach offers delicious food mere footsteps away from the ocean. Showcasing modern British cuisine with a focus on freshly cooked seafood and sharing plates, this casual eatery is often filled to the brim on the weekends when families and friends gather together to enjoy sunny lunches and romantic sunset dinners. Must-order dishes include roasted red snapper, beer-battered barramundi, and cheeseburgers with onion rings. There is also a full range of wines, spirits, cocktails, and craft beers on offer, and if you arrive around 9 am on weekends and public holidays, you can enjoy breakfast too.

Bathers, 32 Lower Cheung Sha Village, South Lantau | (+852) 2504 4788

Perched on the thirty-first floor of the stunning V Point Tower in Causeway Bay, ALTO offers breathtaking views of Hong Kong and a spacious terrace on which to enjoy a simple Sky Menu of treats such as crispy pig skins, cheese fondue, chicken satay, and Indonesian spiced chicken wings. The restaurant also boasts a superb range of wines from some of the world’s most respected vineyards and a creative assembly of cocktails to keep everyone topped up as they admire the city views below.

ALTO, 31/F, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2603 7181

On the hunt for a new neighbourhood favourite with a gorgeous alfresco dining area? Vietnamese-American kitchen veteran John Nguyen takes a bold and progressive approach in his latest venture, XUÂN, drawing inspiration from literature to create a menu of northern Vietnamese cuisine. Nestled along a quiet Wan Chai street, XUÂN is the perfect destination for a lovingly-made meal enjoyed over a catch-up with friends.

With exceptional phở as Chef John’s claim to fame, you can’t miss the classic beef prime rib phở ($138), with slow-cooked Angus prime rib in a rich beef broth. Snag one of the chả giò crispy spring rolls ($128) before they go like hotcakes! Made with fresh grouper, crab meat, fragrant Vietnamese herbs, and homemade nước mắm, this is an appetiser you’ll want to order seconds of.

XUÂN, G/F, 18 Lun Fat Street, Wan Chai | (+852) 2891 1177

On days where the sun comes out in full force and all you want to do is soak up the rays with a fruity cocktail in hand, there’s no better spot to do so than at Harbourside Grill. Offering sweeping panoramic views from the Hong Kong Convention Centre in Wan Chai across IFC Mall and all the way over to ICC in West Kowloon, this alfresco dining experience at the very tip of Ocean Terminal is perfect for all occasions.

Modern European cuisine is the focus of the menu, with dry- and wet-aged steaks as its stars and an authentic Spanish Josper grill—an important component in achieving high cooking temperatures—at the heart of the operation. From tableside steak tartare with grilled sourdough ($158) to seared scallop with crispy pork belly ($218), full flavours and rich indulgence with a touch of French flair best describes the culinary experience at Harbourside Grill. Definitely one to mark down for your next special occasion dinner!

Harbourside Grill, Shop OTE401, Level 4, Ocean Terminal Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2619 9100

Helmed by Virgilio Martínez Véliz, the celebrated chef behind award-winning Central in Lima, ICHU aims to honour Peru’s “no-fuss” dining culture, where the atmosphere is relaxed, the dishes are shared, and the recipes highlight fresh ingredients and traditional flavours. Whilst their land-and-sea-inspired interior is thoughtfully designed and intricately beautiful, it’s their outdoor terrace that we’re here for.

Tuck into their vibrant quinoa ($140), served on a layer of creamy goat’s cheese, and the punchy ceviche clásico ($150) with fresh snapper, choclo, red onion, and sweet potato all while taking in the open sky from a leafy green terrace, surrounded by towering plants along the walls and rustic wooden furniture. With an atmosphere like this, the term “urban jungle” is given a whole new meaning.

ICHU, 3/F, H Queen, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central | (+852) 2477 7717

Taking over the old location of Aberdeen Street Social is JIA Group’s precious alfresco baby, Louise. Created in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Julien Royer, you know you’re in good hands when you step into the airy and botanical downstairs parlour and tuck into honest homestyle fare and all-day French favourites. Ingredients are sourced from speciality producers that echo the rustic comfort Louise provides, with ingredients like frog legs and foie gras coming across as completely unpretentious. Standouts from their menu include the la saucisse de Toulouse ($268), a Toulouse-style sausage served with thick truffade, and the ravioles de langoustine ($478), langoustine ravioli with snow peas and crustaceans bisque.

Louise, G/F, JPC, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central | (+852) 2866 0300

Love the idea of alfresco dining but not the glaring sun and heavy foot traffic that could come with it? Ruam is the answer. A casual Thai eatery surrounded by lush greens, Ruam focuses on family-style food, with a spotlight on lesser-known, authentic dishes that you don’t come across at most other Thai eateries.

For starters, dig into the moo dad deauw ($88), sun-dried pork strips served with toasted sesame seeds and Sriracha sauce, and the gai ping ($78), chargrilled chicken skewers served with a savoury peanut sauce. Fan favourites like the pad see ew ($118) can be spotted on the menu, as well as Ruam’s take on Thai boat noodles, the kuay tiew rua ($138), served with tenderloin in a pig’s blood broth. Curries come aplenty—just take your pick from colourful dishes like gaeng phed ped yang ($188), a duck leg red curry, and gaeng Penang kung ($178), a creamy coconut-based prawn curry.

And how can you have a Thai meal without wrapping up with a classic mango sticky rice? As a finisher, the khao neeo mamuang ($88) is not to be missed. Pop down and indulge in some of Thailand’s most famed fare with a gingery Oh Yeah! ($88) cocktail in hand.

Ruam, Shop 9, 1/F, J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 3160 8535

Fancy taking a trip to 1930s Paris? Wander up to Café Claudel, Tai Kwun’s quintessential French bistro, to indulge in traditional and authentic fare from la France. For us, their terrace dining area is the best place to be for a lazy afternoon rendezvous and people-watching. Sate your appetite with a steak sandwich ($158) or a classic croque monsieur ($108), or set your sights on bigger plates like the filet de maigre ($248), a salmon bass filet with bell pepper and chorizo. Finally, quench your thirst with a soyeux fruité ($60), a refreshing number of pineapple, orange juice, egg white, milk, and grenadine.

Café Claudel, Shop 01-G08, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 2411 1310

Boasting an open kitchen and alfresco seating area, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse is the perfect spot for people-watching and soaking up the buzzing atmosphere of Tsim Sha Tsui’s bustling harbourside promenade. Guests can also expect live music served alongside favourites like the signature lobster bisque, classic Caesar salad, and of course, juicy grilled Australian filet mignon. From succulent tenderloins to sizzling rib-eyes and the popular wet-aged Australian wagyu, this is one restaurant carnivores will not want to pass up.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, G7/8, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2722 7050

If you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of Central and enjoying a spot of people-watching over lunch or dinner, then Italian bar and restaurant Enoteca in Quarry Bay is the place to be. A mainstay of the neighbourhood’s dining scene, the casual venue offers Italian pasta and pizzas as well as interesting Mediterranean choices. A popular post-work watering hole among office workers in the area, and an ideal choice for stress-free weekend dining, Enoteca has the feel of an Italian town piazza where guests can kick back and relax with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.

Enoteca, G/F, 35–41 Tong Chong Street, Quarry Bay | (+852) 2744 6000

Nothing beats dining against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s iconic harbour, and the outdoor terrace at Spanish restaurant La Rambla by Catalunya is the perfect spot to do just this. Seating up to one hundred guests, the wooden-decked terrace includes a separate outdoor bar where you can enjoy the venue's infamous Spanish gin & tonic, and tuck into some tasty food from a separate menu after 3 pm daily.

Nibbles include truffle chips, patatas bravas, suckling pig, and foie sliders, and an ibérico platter. Plus, if you swing by on the weekend, you can enjoy live DJ beats with your gorgeous view.

La Rambla by Catalunya, 3071-73, Level 3, IFC Mall, Central | (+852) 2661 1161