Cover Unwind at the art-inspired interior of The Aubrey after Art Central (Photo: The Aubrey)
Unwind at the art-inspired interior of The Aubrey after Art Central (Photo: The Aubrey)
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After visiting Art Central, explore creative menus and edible art at these stunning venues
March in Hong Kong has become synonymous with art (and the arts)—it’s known in many quarters as Art Month, what with Art Basel, Art Central, the Hong Kong Arts Festival and gallery shows galore, but there’s more to see beyond exhibition halls, galleries and fairs across the city. For those making their annual sojourn to the harbourfront for Art Central, consider venturing into the heart of the district to relax, refuel and continue your creative journey.
Here, art periods inspire furnishings and interiors, menus transform classic recipes with artistic flair, and celebrated chefs and mixologists craft dishes and drinks with gallery-like presentations. Read on for bars and restaurants designed for art lovers with a refined palate.
The Aubrey
Above Settle down at The Aubrey for a cocktail or two after Art Central
Settle down at The Aubrey for a cocktail or two after Art Central
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Continue your art-fuelled excursion after Art Central at The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental. Wrapped in Japonisme-inspired interiors and adorned with art nouveau furnishings, the bar offers a drinking experience that feels like an occasion. Old-world charm pervades every corner, whether it be intimate nooks designed for slow conversations, tables with harbour views or the dark mahogany bar. The menu showcases a variety of Japanese spirits through botanical and fruity cocktails, while the omakase bar offers an off-menu experience perfect for a cultured evening out.
Mono
Above At Mono, each dish becomes an art piece
At Mono, each dish becomes an art piece
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Mono’s menu is an ode to the comforting flavours of Latin American cuisine. Helmed by Venezuelan chef-owner Ricardo Chaneton, the kitchen presents unusual ingredient pairings in unexpected harmony. The dining experience is comfortable and homely, where locally sourced produce star alongside coveted Latin American ingredients, while humble Venezuelan staples are reinterpreted with contemporary flair. Opt for a spot at the ten-seater kitchen counter and watch as chefs prepare your dishes with artistic precision.
Jean-Pierre
Above White table clothes add to the timeless atmosphere at Jean-Pierre
White table clothes add to the timeless atmosphere at Jean-Pierre
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Venture towards the fringes of Central for a more relaxed dining experience after Art Central. Occupying an unassuming spot along Bridges Street, Jean-Pierre delivers contemporary bistro fare with class. An attention-grabbing bar greets diners at the foyer of this Parisian enclave, which leads into an art deco-inspired dining room complete with dark mahogany interiors, velvet furnishings and flickering candlelight. Dapper waiters deliver comfort dishes like steak tartare, red wine-braised beef cheek and pan-roasted duck leg to the table, while a classic bistro soundtrack sets the stage for your post-fair meal.
Jean-Pierre
Address: 9 Bridges Street, Central, Hong Kong
Vea
Above Savour Chinese-French culinary artistry on a plate at Vea
Savour Chinese-French culinary artistry on a plate at Vea
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Multi-award-winning chef Vicky Cheng artfully marries Chinese cuisine with French culinary techniques at Vea. The Tatler Best 20 restaurant specialises in adventurous combinations of ingredients served with gallery-like presentations—think caviar-dressed fish maw and abalone pithivier. Beyond the menu, an intimate 25-seater counter envelops an open kitchen, and conversations flow as easily as the Chinese vintages being poured.
Maggie Choo’s
Above Transition into an evening of performance art at Maggie Choo’s
Transition into an evening of performance art at Maggie Choo’s
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After strolling through gallery displays at Art Central, make your way to the heart of Soho for Maggie Choo’s. Live cabaret performances set in a 19th-century English bank-inspired interior distinguishes Maggie Choo’s from neighbouring bars on Hollywood Road. The speakeasy serves a menu that leads with cocktails spotlighting quintessential Asian ingredients like coriander, yuzu and salted plum, accompanied by a comprehensive list of rare spirits and independent labels. Burlesque dancers set the tone of most evenings, while a live DJ offers a contrast to the vintage interiors on others.
Maggie Choo’s
Address: Shop 1, G/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Prince and the Peacock
Above Each detail is meticulously curated for artistic effect at Prince and the Peacock
Each detail is meticulously curated for artistic effect at Prince and the Peacock
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Prince and the Peacock fills a niche in Hong Kong’s dining scene at its quiet corner in Tai Kwun. This Indian restaurant serves a menu of royal recipes from the Mughal empire revived with contemporary sensibilities, such as nalli gosht lamb shank and ribs biryani, tandoori zafrani paneer tikka grilled soft cheese with spiced figs, and pandhra rassa-filled chicken leg with poppy seeds and coconut. Tai Kwun’s colonial architecture and abundant tropical greenery fills each corner of the restaurant, from the spacious main dining room to the cosy veranda overlooking the bustle of Central.
Prince and the Peacock
Indian
2/F, Central Magistracy, Tai Kwun, 1 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong
Argo
Above Clink glasses in Argo's stunning bar
Clink glasses in Argo's stunning bar
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Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s skyline, Argo offers an intimate yet upscale drinking experience for the art lover in Central. A seasonally rotating beverage programme and a extravagant floor-to-ceiling beverage shelf anchor each sip here. Collaboration leads the spring menu at Argo, where mixologists work with local restaurants and creatives to curate a series of cocktails that celebrates home-grown produce and talents, followed by two chapters of seasonal drinks and hand-picked items from past menus.
Peridot
Above Make your way to Peridot after Art Central for a menu of creative cocktails
Make your way to Peridot after Art Central for a menu of creative cocktails
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Serving a cocktail menu with location-specific ingredients at the summit of The Henderson, Peridot is shaping up to be one of Central’s go-to bars for casual tipples and quick bites. The menu leads with a curation of cocktails that spotlights personalities within a specific locale, with the first iteration highlighting Kagoshima-inspired concoctions. Each cocktail tells a story, whether it be a chance encounter on foreign lands, deep conversations from which ideas have sprung or a simple request for a home fragrance. The interior is equally discussion-worthy, with 20,000 points of light creating a soothing ambience in the sky-high lounge.
Peridot
Address: Summit 38, 38/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
Formerly a lifestyle editor, Celia is now an Associate Dining Editor at Tatler Hong Kong, where she covers local dining stories with a strong sense of narrative and cultural context. She focuses on the people, places and moments shaping the city’s food scene, bringing a storytelling-led approach to restaurant features, chef profiles and on-the-ground coverage.
