Neighbourhood Guide: Where To Eat And Drink In Soho, Hong Kong
Where to eat
Belon
Chef Daniel Calvert always finds new ways to blow diners’ minds at Belon. The food is creative and consistently fantastic, whether it’s menu staples like the roast chicken (indisputably the best in town) and the millefeuille, or specialities inspired by the best seasonal produce. Set up like a bright and modern neo-Parisian bistro, Belon gives guests a fine dining experience in a setting that's refreshingly warm and inviting.
Belon, 41 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2152 287, belonsoho.com
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Louise
Designed by André Fu, this two-story restaurant is a lush, colonial-inspired oasis that provides three unique settings; a leafy courtyard, a casual space on the ground floor and a more formal, ivory-hued dining room on the first floor. The menu at Louise pays homage to chef Julien Royer's memories of home cooking while embracing local ingredients, like sautéed Hong Kong frog legs with parsley butter and garlic crisps, as well as more decadent dishes like angel hair pasta with caviar and truffles.
Louise, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2866 0300; louise.hk
Fukuro
This lively hideaway transports diners to Tokyo's late night izakayas, where sake flows, delicious food is shared and the energetic atmosphere is contagious. Fukuro's menu surprises and delights with the likes of raw dishes, including quality sashimi and oysters elevated with a yuzu ponzu dressing, to its now-famous sweet and salty caramel butter corn, grilled meat and seafood (the hamachi collar with fuji apple ponzu is a must) and an irresistable yaki udon with snow crab and crab miso butter.
Fukuro, 1-5 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2333 8841; fukuro.com.hk
Posto Pubblico
Posto Pubblico is the kind of restaurant that anyone would be happy to have in their neighbourhood—it serves great food made from quality ingredients, the staff are always friendly and its laidback setting makes it the perfect spot for long, lazy lunches or a lively dinner with friends. This New York Italian osteria serves up home-style dishes inspired by generations-old recipes and made with local, organic produce wherever possible. Start with a generous plate of antipasto or their signature meatballs before digging into delicious bowls of pasta and hearty mains (their chicken parmigiana is comfort food at its finest).
Posto Pubblico, 28 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2577 7160; postopubblico.com
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Jalan
This newcomer on Peel Street serves the exciting flavours of Malaysian street food in a welcoming tropical space, which combines rattan furniture with lush plants and vibrant accents. Jalan's moreish menu showcases items like beef rendang samosas, laksa fried chicken, and homemade roti to savour every last drop if the restaurant's rich, creamy curries—don't miss the coconut-roasted prawn curry was served in a young coconut.
Jalan, 42 Peel Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2386 2216; jalanhk.com
Bun Cha Vietnamese
What this intimate Vietnamese eatery lacks in size, it makes up for in bold, authentic flavour. Occupying a charming corner space on Aberdeen Street, Bun Cha is owned and operated by no-nonsense Vietnamese ladies who make and serve favourites like bun cha vermicelli, banh mi, rice paper rolls and steaming hot bowls of pho that feel like a hug from the inside.
Bun Cha, Shop 1, G/F King Ho Building, 41-49 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2858 1900
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Kinship
Veteran chefs Aaron Rhodes and Chris Grare joined forces last summer to bring us Kinship, a casual restaurant and bar serving family-style food that puts a playful Asian spin on favourites like beef tartare (theirs is made with chopped lime pickles), sticky barbecued pork belly served with dashi on a bed of shiitake mushrooms and brussels sprouts with ponzu. Serving elegant food at honest prices, these talented yet humble chefs believe in "celebrating the lasting bonds of family and friendship in a city where most interactions are fleeting."
Kinship, 2 Shelley street, Central, Hong Kong +852 2520 0899; kinshiphk.com
Where to drink
Fineprint
Trusted by the city's most discerning coffee snobs, Fineprint was opened by James Wilson and Scottie Callaghan, who won the Australian Specialty Coffee Association Australian Barista Championship back in 2007. Here, quality coffee is made and brewed in-house, served alongside fresh, Australian-style breakfast dishea and a killer selection of pastries. Fineprint opens at the crack of dawn at 6am, and in the evenings, it turns into a bar serving craft beers and wine.
Fineprint, 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 5503 6880; fineprint.hk
Sake Central
Sake Central may appear to be a sake emporium, but hidden behind an indigo curtain is an intimate 16-seater bar and dining room that serves excellent tapas-style dishes designed to pair perfectly with—you guessed it—sake. You'll find homemade pickles that are zesty and crunchy, tempura and a knockout katsu sando. Tastings and pop-up dinners with guest chefs happen regularly (last year saw kitchen takeovers by the likes of Diego Rossi of Trippa Trattoria-Milano and Julian Cincotta of Thievery in Sydney to name a few), so be sure to stay in the loop.
Sake Central, PMQ, S109 - S113, Block A, 35 Aberdeen St, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2656 6552; sake-central.com
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Shady Acres
Shady Acres’ ‘come as you are’ attitude makes its customers feel right at home, which is why on any night of the week, you’ll find crowds pouring onto the street outside of this cosy bar. Stocked with a well-curated wine selection, quality liquor and food options that are slicker than your average bar menu, an evening at Shady Acres is always a good idea.
Shady Acres, 46 Peel St, Central, theshadyacres.com
65 Peel
In Soho, you'll find restaurants and bars that take inspiration from all over the world—but 65 Peel finds its inspiration right here in Hong Kong. With bright tiles, the warm glow of neon lights, vintage interior elements and a seemingly endless menu of beers brewed right here in our city, this unassuming watering hole is a sweet little love letter to the SAR. Cocktails and bar food are also locally-inspired, like a Spicy Hot Pot cocktail that includes Szechuan spices and mala bitters. Those feeling peckish will find garlicky fried school prawns and the eternal Hong Kong classic, char siu rice topped with an egg.
65 Peel, 65 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2342 2224
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