Best views
CAFÉ GRAY BAR The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
Great harbour views on the Hong Kong side can be enjoyed from the popular Café Gray Bar and restaurant. It’s run by celebrated New York chef Gray Kunz, whose menu is a mix of European and Asian influences. It also serves a luxurious brunch.
THE OCEAN The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay
It’s on the south side of Hong Kong Island but The Ocean is more than worth the journey for its lovely sea views through floor-toceiling windows and its excellent sustainable seafood menu, which includes slow-cooked abalone and smoked scallops. Argentinian executive chef Agustin Balbi was named the Best New Chef in 2016 by Hong Kong Tatler. À la carte is available but the eight-course dégustation is the signature attraction.
AQUA 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui aqua.com.hk
Housed in the same building as Hutong, Aqua boasts an insane view (generally, the best views of the harbour are from the Kowloon side, as you can see Hong Kong Island’s towers and The Peak). Enjoy the panorama while eating unique Italian-Japanese fusion. In fact, there are two separate menus and you can stick with one cuisine or dip into both. If you can’t tear yourself away from the view, stay for a drink at the bar, which is open until 2am.
TOSCA Ritz-Carlton, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon ritzcarlton.com
You can’t get much higher than this. When you score a table at Tosca, you’re on the 102nd floor of the International Commerce Centre, knowing that Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank are beneath your feet. Obviously, the view is absurdly good and, better still, Tosca does a great job of making the venue feel less like a tourist attraction and something more Tuscan and Romanesque, with high ceilings and stately chandeliers. Try the sea tiramisu.
WILDFIRE PIZZABAR & GRILL The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road, Hong Kong
Cafe Deco was the go-to for breathtaking views and decent food on The Peak until it closed its doors in July after 20-odd years. The mantle has passed to Wildfire, whose window seats offer panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the skyscrapers that flank it. The menu is not haute cuisine but it’s more than decent, with lobster risotto, Wagyu tomahawk steak and no end of pizzas. There’s also a good-value lunch menu with a buffet that includes smoked salmon and mussels. The restaurant is in the tower where the Peak Tram pulls in.