Month: July 2014

Brunch spots in Hong Kong!

Hands up if you like lazy weekend brunches !

Sometimes getting up early on weekends isn’t that bad when you get treated to a nice cozy brunch.  Try out the below places for your next weekend brekkie fix!

1. Lily and Bloom

They call their weekend brunch ‘A Movable Feast’. Quite different from your usual brunch experience, buffet style dishes are brought to your table throughout the meal. Perfect for lazy people like us! They also have a separate Omelette Station where you get to choose your own toppings AND the TYPE OF EGG – be it Japanese eggs, Thai eggs, duck eggs, Free range eggs. Good value brunch!

Price : HK$295 + 10% , additional costs for free flow of Bellini

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5/F LKF Tower, Wyndham Street, Central | www.lily-bloom.com

2. The Flying Pan

My to-go place for diner style breakfast. Opens 24/7. Generous portion and option for bottomless coffee. Personal Favourite: Eggs Guacamole – a Mexican twist of the eggs Benedict with salsa and avocado. Also love their fluffy buttermilk pancakes which satisfy my random cravings for IHOP. Go to the Wanchai branch with more seats and shorter queue.

Price: HK$100ish per head

3/F 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai ; 9 Old Bailey Street, Central | www.the-flying-pan.com

3. Madame Sixty Ate

Located in the J Senses building, the elevator opens up to a space with massive sunlight.  There are a la carte options as well as a breakfast menu for 2.  The honeycomb and coffee cream pancakes are devilicious.

Price : around HK$200 per head

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1st Floor, 60 Johnson Road, Wanchai | madamsixtyate.com.hk

4. Club Chow

Hidden in The Pemberton Club Chow is a cool chillax spot if you wish to stay away from the crowd.  For Saturday brunch they offer a self-service salad bar, with main course choices like crab cake benedict, seafood linguine, and for meat lovers, lamb chops or striploin.  Their desserts are great too – it was a hard time choosing between Panna Cotta and Creme Brulee!  Their setting can be easily adjusted to cater your group size and there is a private section which can accomodate around 20.

Price: HK$128 up (closed on sundays)

9/f The Pemberton, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan | www.clubchow.com

5. St. Betty

Indulge in the view of Victoria Harbour while enjoying the delish dishes offered at St. Betty! Their menu ranges from Classic Eggs Benedict to Smoked Haddock Fishcakes and the yummy wagyu steak sandwich!  Also try their mocktails – Princess Tam Tam is a refreshing choice with carrot, orange, ginger and rosewater.

Price: around HK$250 per head.

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Shop 2705, Podium Level 2, IFC Mall, Finance Street, Central | www.stbetty.com 

6. Boqueria

All you can eat TAPAS!! And I can’t get enought of the paella and suckling pig! Upgrade the drink package to get access to the DIY Sangria Station (how cool is that), free flow cava and bloody marys. Perfect for hangover cures.

Price: HK$238, add $128 for the drinks package

7/F LKF Tower, Wyndham Street, Central | www.boqueria.com.hk

7. LUPA by Mario Batali

Italian buffet of chef’s selections, a secondi of your choice be it pizza or pasta and a selection of desserts, accompanied by live jazz music. Book a table on the terrace if you prefer an Al Fresco experience.

Price: $388, add $200 for free flow beverages.  Sundays only.

 3/F LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong | http://www.luparestaurant.com/hongkong/home.cfm

8. Duddell’s 

Not a fan for eggs benedict or pancakes? Head to Duddell’s for unlimited dim sum served to your table with free flow champagne and Pimm’s cocktail.

Price: HK$580+10%, Non-alcoholic option at $480.

Level 3, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell’s Street, Central | duddells.co

9. Toro Steakhouse and Gastro Bar

New addition to the Civic Square of Elements, Toro provides a unique Latin American brunch. Appetizer buffet includes signature dishes like ceviche and blue crab causa, with Mexican dishes for main course like heuvos rancheros.

Price: HK$218 , optional main course add HK$40-50.

toro

Shop R008, Rooftop Garden, Civic Square, 3/F, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon | http://www.diningconcepts.com/toro/index.php

10. Oolaa

Generous portions for all your breakfast favourites – Breakfast Burrito, French Toast, Bagel etc., all reasonably priced.  No doubt it will remain a popular spot for breakfast.  Head there early!

Price: around HK$150

G/F, Bridges Street, CentreStage, Soho, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong | http://www.casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/oolaa

11. Le Dome de Cristal

The dome-shaped space of the ex “club 9” has now been taken by a champagne-themed restaurant.  Their weekend brunch provides an appetizer buffet, a 6-piece oyster platter and main course of your choice.  Make your experience perfect by adding $280 for the free flow of Louis Roederer champagne.

Price: HK$580, additional $280 for free flow champagne

3/F The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road Central, Central | www.cristal-hk.com 

12. The Verandah at The Repulse Bay

Want a more lavish brunch? Make the trip to The Repulse Bay and indulge in the colonial charm.  The sunday brunch includes a quality appetizer buffet with unlimited freshly shucked oysters, alaska crab legs, foie gras station, pasta station.  It comes with a main course of your choice and desserts in buffet style. A lovely 3.5 hours pass by quickly with the entertainment of a Jazz band. The brunch is a quite pricey provided that it does not come with wine/ champagne.  It is certainly not a weekly choice but do treat yourself to The Verandah for special occasions. It gets fully booked every week so make sure you make one month before and request for a table by the window side.

Price: HK$638+10% (Sundays only)

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The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road | www.therepulsebay.com

 

 

Let me know your favourites too!

 

Find the baker in you!

I love freshly baked, real bread.  When the bread machine just can’t give you enough, start baking from scratch at The Mixing Bowl!

I found myself going back for the third time awhile ago.  So far I learned making fresh pasta and pavlovas, focaccia, ciabatta and biscotti. and croissants.  Friendly owners/friends Victor and Kyle started offering classes at their own place in Sheung Wan and has recently opened their baking studio/ cafe on Shin Hing Street near PMQ.

You would see Victor and Kyle are really passionate in baking and they enjoy sharing their hands-on skills in the relaxing environment of their baking studio. More than one item are usually taught during one sessions – so you get lots of bring home after class.  Snacks and tea are also offered during the class which make the waiting time more enjoyable.

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Not interested in baking? Their cafe on the ground floor is such a cozy spot for a nicely brewed coffee and their freshly baked goodies – signature cinnamon rolls! scones, cakes, and bread which you may toast it with the toaster on your table.

Find the baker in you today!

mixingbowl1

The Mixing Bowl, 5 Shin Hing Street, Sheung Wan  http://themixingbowlhk.com

 

Happy Hour Anyone?

We love happy hour! Happy hour is indeed happy coz it means that you can get off early for the day, or simply that you are taking a break from work and meet some old and new friends. Here you go my list of favourite happy hour spots around Central:-

1. DOT COD

OYSTERS WEDNESDAYS!! 2 for 1 offer on house wine and beer, and most importantly, freshly shucked oysters at HK$15 per piece from 6-8pm every wednesday.  Be sure you go get your table by 5:45 or else the seats will soon be filled.

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DOT COD, Basement B4, Prince Building, Chater Road, Central, 2810 6988

 

2. TAZMANIA BALLROOM

Apart from the Snooker tables with a much shorter queue, Taz offers an AMAZING happy hour snacks buffet FOR FREE – puff pastries, mushroom tarts, chocolate fondue, fruits, and my favourite of all – HAR GAU! (The plate of Har Gaus is usually cleared within a minute) They also have buy-1-get-1 offer as long as you order the same drink.  Also it is one of the rare places which takes reservations for happy hour (and no you dun have to be a member) – so it’s a great place to gather some friends for a Happy Hour party.

TAZMANIA BALLROOM, 1/F LKF Tower, 33 Wydnham Street, Central, 2801 5009

 

3. FRENCH WINDOW

$29 standard drinks at IFC, need I say more?

French Window Brasserie and Bar , Shop 3101 IFC Mall, Finance Street, Central, 2393 3812 

 

4. GOGYO

You probably wouldn’t go to a Ramen place for Happy Hour, but GOGYO may change your mind.  You would be served with a small welcome drink and buy 1 get 1 offer for all Happy Hour drinks, including ice cold Kirin draft at just $25 each and sake-based cocktails. Craving for a bite? try their HTC Toast (HTC= Ham, Truffle, Cheese) and you would not be disappointed.

HTC

GOGYO, Shop 3020 IFC Mall, Finance Street, Central, 2385 1366

 5. SEVVA  and ARMANI/PRIVE

Although drinks at these two places are generally more expensive than the above-named, they remain in the favourite list due to the perfectly convenient location and the wonderful patio overlooking the night view in Central.  Popular among the bankers and professionals nearby, they remain the hip spots to see and be seen.

SEVVA, 25th Floor, Prince Building, Chater Road, Central, 2537 1388

ARMANI/PRIVE , 2/F Chater House, Central, 3583 2828