A First Look at Bibo

A gilded door with art deco ridges sits unassumingly at 163 Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan. Just across from the famed Man Mo Temple, the door is the entryway to what may be the city’s hottest new restaurant and a true treasure trove of art and French fine dining. Currently in it’s soft opening, Bibo has been described by those working there as French taken to the ‘streets’.

Enter through the golden sliding door and immediately to your left is a famous Jean-Michel Basquiat painting. Descend the stairwell down into the bar area and on almost every wall and surface of the restaurant there is art. Pieces by Basquiat, Banksy, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Blek le Rat and the King of Kowloon are scattered around and walls have been personally covered with the trademark works of famous street artists such as Vhils, Mr Brainwash and Space Invader. The list is truly endless and even works by Damien Hirst hang above the urinals in the men’s bathroom. The space is unlike anything seen before in the Hong Kong dining scene and with so much to look at, it’s hard to imagine ever leaving.

Although the art is truly spectacular, the restaurant doesn’t fall short when it comes to food and drink either. French chef Mutaro Balde moved to Hong Kong eight months ago from Paris to work on the restaurant. He describes his food as gastronomic French cuisine with an urban feel and points out that he tries to source as much as he can locally. The food is effectively simple and artistically presented, definitely staying true to the restaurant’s concept and theme. On the other hand, bar manager Alexandre Chatté has created a menu to entice drinks enthusiasts all over town. With absinthe-inspired cocktails, foie gras infused alcohols and creative presentation, the drinks won’t disappoint.

In the video above, we speak to three men involved in the creation and upkeep of this artfully beautiful restaurant and give you an exclusive look into the world of Bibo.

Want to know what other new restaurants have opened or are on the horizon? Check out our coming soon feature here.