Hong Kong’s most romantic restaurants

A perfect choice for special occasions, Tosca is a stunning Italian restaurant inspired by one of the most famous operas in history. In a theatrical space featuring flowing fountains, chandeliers and jaw-dropping cityscapes, guests can enjoy refined takes on Italian favourites, such as cavatelli with red prawns, and tortelli with burrata, lemon and anchovies.

Where better setting for a date than a bar and restaurant devoted to the theme of romance? If you are the type to wear your heart on your sleeve, Dear Lilly at the IFC is the place to go. It’s decked out with bouquets, love letters, personal trinkets and quotes about romance. Even the desserts are love-inspired, like the Dear Lilly Heart made of raspberry and white chocolate. If all that doesn’t win over your companion, maybe the stunning views of Victoria Harbour will.

Thoroughly impress your date with a dinner at The French Window, Miramar Group’s fabulous French-dining playground. The brasserie takes you out of feeling like you’re in the IFC Mall, thanks to the fabulous harbourview highlighted through the giant glass windows. The polished waiting staff and the perfectly prepared dishes, which range from orange glazed duck breast to whole sea bass baked in rock sea salt crust, are also worth swooning over. The hopelessly romantic Parisian ambience is sure to set your hearts racing.

Being in love can often make your head spin. And The Grand Buffet captures that feeling well with its rotating restaurant on the 62nd floor of Wan Chai’s Hopewell Centre. The view is killer for much of the 360 rotation and there’s a staggering array of options at the buffet, including live shrimp from the tank, fresh seasonal delights at the seafood counter, and everything from Cantonese barbecue to tempura, teppanyaki and Indian curries.

If old-school charm is what you need to woo your objet d’amour, look no further than Hugo’s. Suits of armour and ornate light fixtures provide the decoration here and evoke a mood of classic European style. The menu is much the same, populated with the likes of roasted French challandais duck breast, Weiner schnitzel and Dover sole. Let the exceptional service take care of every little detail so you can devote yourself to your partner. 

If you really need the European grandeur turned up to 11, take your beloved to Junon. The classic Hong Kong restaurant – the city’s first revolving eatery back when it originally opened in Mong Kok in the 1960s – reopened last year in Wan Chai and is full of glass chandeliers, pale yellow table lamps and even a glass ceiling decorated with the image of the Roman goddess Juno. A thoroughly romantic setting, the food is up to scratch too – chef Bruno Ménard, who headed L’Osier in Tokyo when it was awarded three Michelin stars in 2008, was recently appointed culinary director.

Let the dim lighting and historic grounds of Tai Kwun help set the mood for your meal at Madame Fu. Beneath the arches of the colonial Barrack Block that houses the restaurant, it can all feel a little Days of Being Wild, like a slice of old Hong Kong. Enjoy modern Cantonese-focused Chinese fare here, and if you’re worried that the food won’t provide enough fodder for conversation, the stunning interiors should provide plenty to talk about.

This place, hugely popular as a wedding venue, is as romantic as it gets. The traditional colonial-style restaurant is furnished with window shutters that overlook scenic Repulse Bay (it looks even better at night), ceiling fans spinning lazily overhead and rattan chairs that transport you to a by-gone era. Serving traditional Continental cuisine with a modern twist, The Verandah also houses The Bamboo Bar for post-dinner drinks and — should you want somewhere even more intimate — The Reading Room, which even boasts a fireplace. 

If you’re looking to wow your other half with sky-high dining, you can’t go wrong with Parisian restaurant Le39V. Situated on the 101st floor of ICC, treating diners to a broad, bird’s eye view of the Hong Kong island skyline – grab a table by the window to experience the full effect – the fine-dining restaurant celebrates French culinary heritage while giving it a contemporary spin. Reignite sparks over Kristal gold caviar, oysters (which are aphrodisiacs, you know) and roasted pigeon, then share a soufflé with fresh strawberries for the perfect ending. 

Want to keep things intimate or simply don’t like dining with others? Whichever it is, this discreet French restaurant has you covered. Le Blanc has private compartments for couples and you can even save a few bucks as it’s BYOB. The cute and kitschy décor is a treasure trove of fairy lights, wreaths, figurines, lanterns and other trinkets which all add to the romantic charm.

Tucked far, far away in one of the prettiest crevices of Sai Kung is the three-storied romantic delight that is One Thirty One. The fine French restaurant looks like a rosy pink French country home and houses only four tables inside. But you’ll hardly be sitting for long as there’s a well-groomed lawn to stroll and lounge around in while catching the sunset over the clear waters of Three Fathoms Cove. The French fare on offer here is top notch and uses herbs fresh from the restaurant’s own garden. Be warned: bookings must be made in advance – no walk-ins.

If stuffy dates aren’t your thing, then book a table for two at The Optimist. Pirata Group’s multi-storey venue in Wan Chai is a great casual dining spot that’s successfully swank without forcing anyone to have to dress up for the occasion. The ground-floor bar is great for either an aperitif or digestif – whichever you feel is more urgent. When you’re ready to eat, tuck into Optimist signatures like black rice made with charcoal-grilled calamari and squid ink and enjoy other Spanish classics.

Swoon on a sampan and enjoy Cantonese-style seafood with this unique dining experience. Sure, the boat itself isn’t anything fancy and the service leaves a little to be desired, but there’s definitely something wonderful about dining out on the water and cracking a Typhoon Shelter crab claw with your loved one.

Get lost in time at Tai O Lookout, the glass-roofed dining establishment in the one-of-a-kind architectural classic that is the Tai O Heritage Hotel. The design is colonial-era-inspired and the menu consists of favourite comfort foods from around the world: think pastas, Singaporean fried rice and the special crispy fried pork-chop bun sandwich. This is a cosy nook that will double as a great little getaway for those who need to get out of the city life for a romantic evening. 

Nothing screams romance more than a stroll on the beach followed by dinner. Helmed by celebrity chef Margaret Xu Yuan, the seaside Yin Yang Coastal in Tsuen Wan serves fresh, local and organic produce, including locally caught seafood, all cooked Cantonese-style. Yuan also uses organic produce from her own farm, so you can dine eco-consciously as well as romantically.