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Header image courtesy of La Rambla by Catalunya (via Facebook)
Originally published by Catharina Cheung. Last updated by Malin Victor Angell.
There’s alfresco dining, and then there’s rooftop alfresco dining, and there’s pretty much no question of which is better. Summer is the perfect time to leisurely indulge in some food and drinks whilst sunning yourself until you reach Brazilian model levels of tanned. We’ve already explored rooftop bars in Hong Kong, but should you prefer to line your stomach while you imbibe, here is a list of rooftop restaurants for you to try out while the sun’s still high in the sky.
This well-loved steakhouse may not offer your typical postcard-like harbour views of Hong Kong, but it is still a great spot for sky-high dining. From the spacious terrace, you’ll get to see wrap-around views of the bustling Wan Chai neighbourhood, as well as some of the harbour. Should it get too hot, the interior is also lovely to duck back into, with views that are no less stunning. They have classics including burgers, steaks, and beef Wellington, as well as a bang-for-your-buck executive lunch set and a holiday lunch.
Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, 31/F & Rooftop, The Hennessy, 256 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2893 6960
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 and a delicious bite in the other, 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 and all the way over to ICC in West Kowloon, this restaurant 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 to seared scallop with crispy pork belly, 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
Perched atop the IFC Mall, La Rambla is modelled in spirit after a Spanish market and serves up interpretations of Catalan cuisine. The outdoor terrace, which overlooks the Central Ferry Piers to Kowloon and beyond, features lounge seating and makes for the perfect place to catch the sunset with a cocktail in hand.
In terms of food, they do a fantastic Sunday brunch which includes starters like the Ibérico platter and spherical olives. Continue the meal by choosing two tapas from a wide selection, including broken eggs, Wagyu beef cheek bikini, pulpo gallego, and lots more. A wide variety of plates to share including meat dishes and paellas are also available, and don’t forget about the churros. Make your Sunday even more fun by adding a free-flow package.
La Rambla by Catalunya, Shop 3071–3073, 3/F, IFC Mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central | (+852) 2661 1161
This contemporary European restaurant takes its name inspiration from the cockatoos that live in the neighbouring Zoological and Botanical Gardens and Hong Kong Park. The visitors’ eye is first drawn to the stylish bar, then to the wraparound terrace framing the restaurant. From this vantage point, you can see Hong Kong’s most stunning skyscrapers and buildings that are dotted around Central and towards Admiralty.
They do a four-course weekly special menu, but should you choose to order à la carte, get the duck carpaccio, the pan-seared Hokkaido scallops, and the Pyrenean suckling lamb.
Popinjays, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central | (+852) 3141 8888
Situated in the penthouse of Prince’s Building, Sevva is an artful and eclectic space in the heart of the city. Twice a year, a new pop-up decoration will transform the whole place and is eagerly awaited by regulars, but their crowning jewel is their wrap-around terrace, from which visitors can soak in a panoramic, 360-degree view of the city’s skyline, as well as the nightly laser lights and music show.
Their dishes are reimaginings of food from kitchens in regional Chinese homes—with a fancy, modern spin. They’ve got a good range of seafood dishes from award-winning Australian chef Chase Kojima, such as the salt and pepper baked Boston lobster or their unique daily bento, an innovative and balanced creation. Ask the staff to know what the daily special is.
Sevva, 25/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central | (+852) 2537 1388
Tucked away in the laid-back Southside, Komune is built on community collaborations and therefore has paired up with the Cocktail Professors for their signature drinks and creatives for their aesthetics and cool tunes. While by no means a huge space, the garden terrace has comfy couches and wicker chairs to lounge around in, as well as calming views of the hills and sparser buildings of Wong Chuk Hang. Best of all, it’s also a dog-friendly space!
Drop by Komune for their good-value lunch set including one starter, one main or a pizza, one dessert, and a drink. If you’re dropping by during the weekend, try out their extensive brunch set that can be paired with a free-flow package.
Komune, Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang | (+852) 3460 8157
While there is much less of a view from Ichu’s terrace, we still love it for its natural design, inspired by the mountainous terrain of Peru. Accented with sandy coloured wood furniture, the outdoor space is decked out in towering plants on the walls, truly giving the term “urban jungle” a new meaning. It doesn’t even feel like Hong Kong at times, but when you lift your eyes high enough, you’re then greeted with the lights of the surrounding buildings.
Start off with an apéritif—we like the Ichu pisco sour—then get on with ordering the coconut aji tuna, the Pez Amazonia seabass, and the tacos de chancho.
Ichu, 3/F, H Queen, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central | (+852) 2477 7717
Inspired by the Cantonese word meaning “great” or “fab,” Zeng is an eatery and bar that brings together scenic views, well-designed interiors, and harmonious dishes. The terrace overlooks the Kowloon Peninsula and is always in high demand whenever there might be fireworks on the harbour.
Apart from scenic evenings, the terrace is also popular for sun-drenched weekend brunches. If dining here, don’t miss the Wagyu tartare which is topped with caviar and an egg yolk injected with mascarpone truffle paste, or the mentaiko udon carbonara.
Zeng, 30/F, V-Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2353 0053
Okay, yes, we’re technically cheating a little with Aqua in that they haven’t got outdoor seating, but they do occupy the top floors of one of the buildings with the best view of Hong Kong Island. With their huge floor-to-ceiling windows affording one of the best city views in the world, are you really complaining? The interiors are also thoughtfully done up, simple enough to not compete with the view outside, yet still elegant and cosy enough for a thoroughly enjoyable meal. Standouts from their menu include the lobster and king crab tortelloni, the grilled Kobe beef, and the seasonal vegetables and tiger prawn tempura.
Aqua, 29/F–30/F, One Peking, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3427 2288
If you want to enjoy the lights of Victoria Harbour as well as the “Symphony of Lights” show displayed in the harbour every night at 8 pm, then book your table at Kaboom. This place in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui is the new talk of the town, well-liked for its rooftop facing the harbour on the twentieth floor. Cabana-themed interiors transport you to an exotic holiday resort, filled with fun drinks, a relaxed environment, and good food.
Kaboom’s menu is Southeast Asian-inspired. Try out the signature cocktail, Kaboom, which incorporates ingredients like milk tea and whiskey. For a hungry stomach, the crab bao bao and tom yum gong carbonara will be sure to satisfy, or order the sharing platter for a snack beside one of their many special cocktails.
Kaboom, 20/F, Prince Tower, 12A Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3708 8114
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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