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Header images courtesy of Tango
Our regularly updated guide to the newest restaurant openings in 2024 will cut through the noise and help you find the best places to eat and drink in Hong Kong this month.
Over at Mondrian Hong Kong—the newest hotel opening in town—Dario Cecchini, one of Italy’s most renowned butchers, brings eight generations of meat-preparation knowledge to Carna, the first Asia location of his nose-to-tail steakhouse concept.
Guests can eat their way through a menu showcasing a wide range of cuts in a Joyce Wang-imagined space, designed to echo the opulence of seventeenth-century Italy and amplify the theatrical nature of the dining experience. Expect dishes such as the bistecca alla Fiorentina, deep-fried beef meatballs, beef tartare, and the signature charcoal-grilled steak. Cecchini believes in promoting respect for animals and ethical meat consumption, as well as eliminating waste and pursuing sustainability, so the cocktails at the bar use ingredients from the kitchen for a “no-waste” approach, including the likes of Carna, a fat-washed bourbon tipple made with salted maple syrup and cumin bitters.
Carna by Dario Cecchini, 39/F, Mondrian Hong Kong, 8A Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Head to Mira Place in Tsim Sha Tsui for a brand-new dining experience focused on the gastronomic delights of Thailand—but with an unexpected Chinese twist. Led by Saito Chau, formerly of Chinesology, John Anthony, and Dim Sum Library, Mue Mue’s traditional Thai offerings are elevated through Chinese culinary philosophies, resulting in novel menu items such as the tom yum-roasted crispy chicken, Thai curry lobster with rice cake, red curry with Wagyu beef cheeks, and beetroot-infused deep-fried tofu.
Mue Mue also houses Mue Bar; it specialises in playful cocktail creations, such as the basil paloma with basil-infused Mexican agave, Thai lime, and Chinese pomelo, and the pineapple punch, made with Scotch whisky, Caribbean white rum, and coconut meat and water.
Mue Mue, Shop 302, 3/F, Mira Place, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Marcello Scognamiglio and Félix De Arriaga Balanzat have buddied up to open Trattoria Felino, the latest restaurant to debut on Ship Street. Focusing on Neapolitan flavours and Mediterranean hospitality, Felino’s rustic charm is embodied in the down-to-earth décor and homestyle dishes, such as the carbonara egg, the hamachi carpaccio with a smoked artichoke dressing, the Campanian scialatielli pasta, and the classic tiramisu.
Trattoria Felino, Shop 3 & 4, G/F, Pao Yip Building, Ship Street, Wan Chai
S&S Hospitality’s Argentinian steakhouse has found a new home in Lan Kwai Fong, and although the location has changed, the dining experience carries on the promise of showcasing the best of South American culinary traditions. Helmed by corporate chef Duilio Desimoni and head chef Saruulgerel Eggi Enkh-Amgalan, the restaurant’s focus on Argentinian meats extends from Pampas-raised cattle to pork, poultry, and even sausages.
Aside from the signature dry-aged steak selection, seared to perfection at a high temperature, order the salchicha parrillera minced pork sausage, the humita salteña steamed corn, the empanada in four different flavours, and the almendrado, a dessert of vanilla and honey ice cream, almond praline, and orange chocolate sauce.
Tango, 2/F, Grand Progress Building, 15–16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Lubuds Group starts the year off strong with Charcoal Bar, a new grill and open-fire concept led by executive chef Bjoern Alexander, formerly of Octavium. Modern, approachable, and convivial, the experience at Charcoal Bar is centred around the theatrical performance of live fire grilling. Guests can enjoy meat and seafood sourced from around the globe, expertly prepared over different kinds of charcoal and wood that infuse the ingredients with flavour.
Using both a Josper grill and a wood-fire grill, Charcoal Bar presents classic steak cuts such as the sirloin and US Choice Brandt beef, marine delights like the charcoal-grilled eel, and specialities such as the lychee wood whole grilled jumbo tiger prawn and Japanese king crab leg. House-made sauces like the coriander chimichurri and five peppercorn au poivre serve as perfect accompaniments to the main courses. Dessert is grilled too; the charred pineapple offers the perfect finishing note of caramelised sweetness.
Charcoal Bar, Shop OT G62, G/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui
Oenophiles in Hong Kong will be glad to hear that the folks behind Brut! have opened a new wine-centric drinking and dining destination that showcases the best of small-batch producers without breaking the bank. Guests can wet their whistles with a three- or five-glass wine flight before continuing with by-the-glass options from the extensive menu, including red, white, orange, rosé, and bubbly wines, among others. Comfort food dishes such as roast acorn squash with burrata and hazelnut brown butter and scallop risotto with sumac beurre blanc ensure that you can wine and dine in equal measure.
Crushed Wine Bar, Shop A, G/F, 6-8 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun
Born in Hong Kong, raised in Germany, and educated in the U.S., Jen is an award-winning creative with a background in illustration, communication design, art direction, and content creation. When she’s not getting lost in a good book, you’ll find her doing crosswords, eating dim sum, covering all sides of a “Hamilton” number, and taking naps.
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