This week in the ever-buzzing world of Hong Kong dining, we’re dishing up a fresh course of chef collaborations and menu overhauls, guaranteed to tempt you back to the table, alongside the inevitable reshuffling of restaurants to new digs—because staying put is so last year.
We’ve also updated our must-visit list of new openings for the month and weighed in on whether theatrical tableside service genuinely enhances your meal or simply distracts from what’s on the plate. Stick around for the latest culinary gossip and insights—you won’t want to miss a bite.
In case you missed it: Seoul’s Born and Bred collaborates with Fireside, Japanese pastry chef Koichi Izumi heads to Four Seasons, and more
Moving on
Roganic Hong Kong
The truffle pudding
Roganic will bid farewell to its current location at Sino Plaza in Causeway Bay on September 15. As the restaurant prepares for a move later this year to a new spot on Hong Kong Island, it is offering two Best of Roganic tasting menus that will run until September 15. These menus, available in both short (HK$780) and full (HK$1,180) versions, celebrate the best dishes crafted over the past five years, including highlights like the Hong Kong pea tartlet, grilled salad with Corra Linn cheese and the ever-popular truffle pudding.
The first menu will be available until August 25, followed by a second from August 27 until the final service in mid-September. Each menu offers a chance to revisit Roganic’s greatest hits, from the Hokkaido scallop glazed in red miso to the sea urchin custard, making this the last opportunity to experience these dishes before they are retired. The restaurant’s move promises a new look and an innovative menu, with Aulis Hong Kong, also set to reopen in early 2025. Diners are advised to book promptly to secure a final taste of Roganic’s current culinary offerings before the move.
Left to right: Zaiyu Hasegawa; Fumiyuki Kinsu; Shun Sato; and Gaggan Anand at Censu Tokyo
Censu Hong Kong is set to celebrate its third anniversary on September 5 with an exclusive eight-course dinner, bringing together the culinary talents of chefs Zaiyu Hasegawa from two-Michelin-starred and Green-starred Den in Tokyo, Shun Sato of Censu Hong Kong and Fumiyuki Kinsu of Censu Tokyo. This collaboration promises a menu that expertly blends traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary flair, though the exact dishes remain a secret at this time. Guests can anticipate a dining experience that reflects the distinct styles of these chefs, offering a taste of both Tokyo and Hong Kong in one evening.
Adding to the occasion is the debut of Somato, a new sake brand from Akita, crafted with a nod to tradition and designed by Yoon of streetwear label Ambush. For those who appreciate a well-curated sake pairing, the evening will also feature the premium sake Dan, available as an optional addition to the meal. Priced at HK$3,388 per person, with an additional HK$688 for the sake pairing, this event promises to be a highlight for Japanese food enthusiasts in Hong Kong. Reservations can be made via WhatsApp (+852 9887 5592), Instagram message or email (info@censu.com).
The lite lunch menu at Mosu
Dashima Basque burnt cheesecake
Mosu Hong Kong has rolled out a four-course lite lunch menu, offering a refined and efficient midday dining experience for HK$680. Curated by chefs Sung Anh and Bruno Cheong, the menu begins with seasonal small bites and progresses to standout dishes like big fin mulhoe squid in cold broth and butterfish with anchovy foam sauce. The meal reaches its peak with Mosu’s signature cast iron pot rice featuring Korean galbi (short rib), and concludes with the dashima Basque burnt cheesecake, a savoury twist on the classic dessert. Perfect for both business lunches and relaxed dining, this new menu captures Mosu’s sophisticated culinary approach in a lighter format.
22 Ships in Wan Chai
Uni and rusa toast
Another movement in Hong Kong’s dynamic restaurant scene sees 22 Ships, the much-loved tapas bar helmed by chef Antonio Oviedo, relocating from its longtime Wan Chai home to PMQ in Central this September. After 12 years of serving up Spanish delights on Ship Street, 22 Ships will close its doors in Wan Chai on August 21, with a soft opening at its new location slated for September 6. Known for its lively atmosphere and innovative take on traditional tapas, the bar has become a fixture for many Spanish cuisine enthusiasts, offering dishes like uni and rusa toast, chorizo croquetas, and roasted suckling pig that have kept diners coming back for more.
As 22 Ships makes its move to Central, the new location at PMQ will retain the bar’s distinctive energy while introducing a refreshed aesthetic that blends rustic charm with retro elements. The design includes bodega tables that foster communal dining, a nod to the Spanish tradition of social sharing that defines the 22 Ships experience. With favourites like the XXL carabineros paella and burnt Basque cheesecake making the journey to PMQ.
Andrew Ho of Hope & Sesame
Holly Graham and Wakana Murata of Tokyo Confidential
Intervals at Hong Kong International Airport is launching Cocktail Globetrotting, a digital guest shift series that brings world-class bartenders to your pre-flight routine. Kicking off on August 15, this eight-month series will feature a new cocktail each month, beginning with Andrew Ho from Guangzhou’s Hope & Sesame, who will showcase the Ango, a creative twist on the Trinidad Sour with flavours inspired by Cantonese stewed pig’s trotter. In September, Delhi’s Minakshi Singh of Sidecar will present the Gondhoraj, a cocktail celebrating the aromatic Bengali lime. December sees a Hong Kong twist with Tokyo Confidential’s Holly Graham, offering the Cheung Fun Old Fashioned, a playful nod to the city’s street food culture.
Each guest shift includes not only the signature cocktail but also a specially curated food pairing and a pocket-sized travel guide to the bartender’s home city, packed with insider tips and top spots to visit. By the end of the series, all the guides will be compiled into the Ultimate Intervals Guide, making it a must-have for any cocktail enthusiast.
IntervalsAddress: Level 9, Sky Bridge, Hong Kong International Airport
From coast to coast
The new spread at Osteria Marzia
Osteria Marzia has unveiled an expanded à la carte menu, crafted by executive chef Luca Marinelli in collaboration with chef Matthew Kirkley of Magistracy Dining Room and Belon. This refreshed menu, available for both lunch and dinner, is a celebration of coastal Italian cuisine, highlighting the freshest seafood with dishes that are rooted in tradition and inspired by seasonal ingredients. Starters like the hamachi crudo with capers and Sorrento lemon, and the tartare featuring sweet red prawns with Sardinian bottarga, set the stage for an indulgent journey through the Italian coast. Main courses are where the menu truly shines, with dishes like the ma yau alla griglia, a perfectly grilled fish served with red and yellow peppers, and the branzino all’acqua pazza, a pan-seared sea bream paired with Hokkaido clams and Sicilian tomatoes. For pasta lovers, the linguine ai ricci di mare offers a taste of the Mediterranean with its sea urchin topping, while the cappelletti al nero features squid ink pasta stuffed with ricotta in a rich crab broth.
Sanpellegrino sparkling drinks
Sanpellegrino is bringing the vibrant flavours of Italy to Hong Kong this summer. From now until October 31, the Italian sparkling drink brand is running a campaign that offers a variety of experiences, starting with weekend sampling at The Pulse in Repulse Bay, where visitors can taste the brand’s sparkling drinks, including limonata, with bright Sicilian lemon zest, aranciata, offering sweetness of freshly squeezed oranges, and pompelmo, capturing the tangy notes of sun-ripened grapefruit. For those seeking a more exclusive setting, Sky Beach at The Pulse’s rooftop garden hosts private parties complete with sunbeds, jacuzzis, and stunning views, where guests can sip on Sanpellegrino’s zesty beverages. Tickets for these beachside events are available through Trip.com, starting at HK$250.
The campaign extends beyond the beach with collaborations at popular dining spots like Amalfitana and Fratelli, where bespoke summer drinks menus feature Sanpellegrino’s sparkling range. From mid-August, The Coffee Academics will also join the mix, offering a series of limited-edition summer beverages that blend the best of Hong Kong’s coffee culture with the refreshing taste of Sanpellegrino. And for those who prefer to enjoy the Italian summer at home, Sanpellegrino’s sparkling drinks are available at over 250 supermarkets across the city, ensuring that the taste of Italy is never far away.
READ MORE
Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars to visit in August 2024
Tableside theatrics: The good, the bad and the flambé renaissance