After the pandemic put the 2021 edition of our awards on pause, the Tatler Dining community have once again rallied together to dine and decide upon the fresh 2022 Tatler Dining 20 list
With hundreds of restaurants and bars to be reviewed each year, Tatler Dining’s in-house team of experts also tapped into the wider F&B community for their time and expertise. The reviewing panel and the voting panel, consisting of industry leaders and tastemakers, are responsible for nominating, vetting, and voting to help us arrive at the annual Tatler Dining 20 list—an unranked collection of the year’s most interesting, impactful and inspiring restaurants—and the awardees for the Best of the Year accolades.
How do we do it?
Nominations for venues to be reviewed and reassessed, plus venues and groups/individuals to be considered for special awards, are submitted independently and consolidated by the Tatler Dining team. Each restaurant is reviewed anonymously to the best of our ability— our reviewers do not make themselves known to the restaurant prior to their visit, and always book under a pseudonym—and rated using an extensive scoresheet that takes into account more than 35 different points of reference including creativity of the plating, manners of staff, comprehensiveness of the drinks list, and whether or not the restaurant makes an effort to be environmentally aware. Reviewers are also encouraged to include additional notes and comments that are not covered by the scoring matrix. Following the completion of the reviews, we compiled the scores to find the top-rated restaurants. Each panellist was given the list, in alphabetical order and with no final scores to influence them, and asked to select 20 restaurants they felt were most deserving of inclusion based on their experiences.
Throughout the blind voting process, the panel adhered to a strict code of conduct that prevents votes where there may be significant conflict of interest. Votes must be accompanied by a justification and panellists may also voice opinions when they believe a particular venue should be reconsidered. Importantly, panellists are reminded that the Tatler Dining 20 is not simply a list of venues where they had an excellent meal— with over 250 restaurants featured in this guide based on that merit alone, the 20 named must prove to be offering something above and beyond, whether it is a significant contribution to the dining scene through their work, an undeniable sense of representing the culinary zeitgeist, or simply offering that deeper sense of irreplaceability. Ultimately, our collection here is a snapshot of the Hong Kong dining scene at a particular moment in time. Scroll down to read more about the new class of 2022.
* = denotes a new addition to the list, which is featured in alphabetical order
1. Amber
As one of the city's most coveted restaurants, Amber remains the crown jewel of the already star-studded dining roster of the Landmark Mandarin Oriental under the continued guidance of culinary director Richard Ekkebus. The Dutch chef's ethos of sustainability has only been burnished by his recently announced presidency of Food Made Good for the coming year, as well as seasonal menus that exhibit flair, creativity, and technical prowess—these qualities are best found in dishes like corn with Kristal caviar, seawater and sudachi, and the blue lobster with summer squash, Amalfi lemon and caper leaf. The restaurant's vegetarian menu is a strong contender for best in town, while the overall experience lends a softness and approachability to fine dining that is attracting a new cohort of younger, more conscientious gastronomes.