Cover The tiramisu at Page Common (Photo: Page Common)

Look no further than this list when picking a place to fulfil your tiramisu cravings

There's something uniquely addictive about the delicately assembled mixture of coffee, rum, mascarpone cream, cacao and cake that we call the tiramisu, and luckily, Hong Kong has no shortage of quality purveyors of this quintessentially Italian dessert. Given Hong Kong's wealth of Italian restaurants, we're a little spoiled for choice when it comes to tiramisu, which comes in a variety of styles, from humble and creamy to dramatic and rum-soaked. Here is our pick of the best tiramisu in our city.

See also: Where To Find The Best Pancakes In Hong Kong

Page Common

Head to Page Common, the cafe that occupies the lobby of the Page148 boutique hotel in Jordan, and you'll often find a line snaking out the door for one thing only: the tiramisu. It's easy to see why—the mascarpone that envelops the dessert and dusted with cocoa powder is so seductively, perfectly unctuous that one can't help but consume it with the eyes, then the camera, and finally, with much delighted gnashing of teeth. Biting down into this tiramisu yields a well-considered balance of sweet and bitter, while the pillowy structure of espresso-soaked ladyfingers melts in your mouth, leaving an urge to order seconds. Arrive early, ideally before lunchtime, as this dish often sells out by mid-afternoon, such is the demand.

Page148, 148 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Grissini

The Grand Hyatt's Italian restaurant Grissini is a space of grand proportions, and its take on the tiramisu is similarly sized. Presented tableside as a perfectly undisturbed plane of chocolate brown in a family-sized sharing bowl, the house tiramisu is scooped with much ceremony using a silver ladle and laid to rest upon the plate, leaving its amaretto-soaked interior to settle with a finality befitting the gravitas of a great meal. Light, airy and creamy, it's made with the perfect ratio of marscarpone cream to ladyfingers, making this one of the top reasons to visit the restaurant in our opinion.

Grissini, 2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

See also: The Best Cafes And Bakeries For Vegan Desserts In Hong Kong

Grappa's Cellar

The newly reopened Grappa's Cellar brings its long history of live music to Causeway Bay, made all the better by one of the city's best tiramisus. Eschewing the traditionally soft texture of the dessert, Grappa's take is much firmer, bolstered by a generous ratio of brandy and amaretto that brilliantly pairs with the mascarpone cream. The strawberry and blueberry garnish adds a welcome hint of tart acidity, cutting through the sweetness of the dessert.

Grappa's Cellar, LG08, LG/F, Lee Garden Two, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Ciak In The Kitchen

This Italian trattoria serves a two-for-one deal with its tiramisu, pairing a scoop of coffee ice cream with the cake. Layered into a glass cup, the light but rich tiramisu builds upon a base of coffee jelly with sponge cake and ladyfingers, while the top layer of mascarpone cream is garnished with crunchy chocolate balls for extra mouthfeel. A riff on the classic while taking tentative steps into the future of this crowd-pleasing dish.

Ciak In The Kitchen, Shop 327-333, 3/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

See also: Four Seasons' Pastry Chef Ringo Chan On His Favourite Hong Kong Ingredients For Dessert

Gustaci Pizzalounge

Having returned rave reviews for its pizza, Gustaci Pizzalounge is no slouch when it comes to dessert either. Their tiramisu is served alongside a slice of chocolate cake, giving diners the choice of melt-in-your-mouth texture, or a firmer slice of baked indulgence—though the tiramisu is more than capable of standing its own ground, having been made using the recipe of Sal De Riso, one of only 70 Pastry Chef Masters in Italy.

Gustaci Pizzalounge, HG01-05, G/F, Block B, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong

Amalfitana

The saving grace of this beachside restaurant's modest dessert menu, the tiramisu comes in a mason jar with alternating layers of mascarpone cream and espresso-drenched ladyfingers. The portion is hefty, though the mascarpone layer is surprisingly light and mildly sweet, making for a great ending to a full Italian pizza feast.

Amalfitana, Shop 105, G/F, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong

See also: Casa Cacao's Jordi Roca And Damian Allsop On How To Unearth The Flavours Of Chocolate

Mo Bros

Mo Bros, otherwise known as Mostaccioli Brothers, is a much-loved Italian restaurant hidden just off Elgin Street, and the pasta isn't the only thing keeping diners coming back for more. The house tiramisu is served in a decently-sized standalone block, and endowed with rich cream and just the right amount of rum, though a note of caution should be attached to the cocoa powder and any side effects of accidental inhalation. Pair it with a glass of Moscato d’Asti dessert wine for a final hit of decadence.

Mo Bros, B/F, 16 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong

Aria

Tatler Asia
Above Aria's tiramisu is served in cocktail-inspired fashion (Photo: yolanda_siu/Openrice

Served up in a chilled coupe glass, Aria's tiramisu takes notes in verticality from its sky-high surroundings in Lan Kwai Fong's California Tower. Otto e Mezzo alumni Andrea Zamboni is responsible for the homemade recipe, which stands out for its ultra-smooth complexion and a delicate balance of flavours and textures, making for a satisfying end to the restaurant's truffle-heavy savoury dishes.

Aria, 24/F, California Tower, 30-32 D'Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong

Tosca Di Angelo

No tiramisu round-up would be complete without Tosca Di Angelo's famous rendition in the Ritz-Carlton. Often cited as one of the best in Hong Kong, it includes Italy’s famous bitter almond liqueur, amaretto, along with traditional marsala and dark rum. Tosca's version features flourishes such as shaved Amedei chocolate in place of cocoa powder, and is served with side of coffee granita. The result is not at all overly boozy, and the beautiful presentation puts a traditional tiramisu to shame.

Tosca Di Angelo, 102/F, The Ritz-Carlton, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong

Paul Lafayet

Tatler Asia
Above The Tiramisu Celebration Cake from Paul Lafayet (Photo: Paul Lafayet)

The most ardent tiramisu zealots will find a warm welcome at French patisserie Paul Lafayet, which sells tiramisu in three different sizes: as an artisanal pastry (HK$50), a 1lb Joy Cake for 6-8 servings (HK$392), or a 2lb Celebration Cake (HK$692) for 10-12 servings. That the cake servings are able to stand on their own is an impressive feat, given the unmatched airy texture of the inside; the sweetness of the cake perfectly balances against the bitterness of the coffee. Topped off with cappuccino-flavoured macarons, this is the final word in tiramisu appreciation in Hong Kong.

Paul Lafayet, Shop 1104B, Podium Level 1, ifc mall, Central, Hong Kong; paullafayet.com

See also: 8 Best Places For Doughnuts In Hong Kong

Topics