It doesn’t get more waterfront than this: traditional Hong Kong-style dinner on a boat right on Victoria Harbour. Shun Kee revives the culture of boat people who used to live in Hong Kong’s typhoon shelters. The formerly vibrant boat restaurant scene has all but disappeared. Thankfully, Shun Kee is one of the few to continue the dining culture. Only set meals are served here. The chili crab is the highlight.
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Tel: +852 8112 0075
Watermark is a 3,300-square-foot space inside the Central Star Ferry pier, with views of Victoria Harbour wrapping around the dining room. The Watermark is an ideal location for a romantic wedding party or other special celebration. The pan-European food may sometimes be inconsistent, but you’ll never be disappointed with their expertly grilled tenderloin, dry-aged on site for a minimum of 14 days.
Watermark, 1/F, Star Ferry, Central
Tel: +852 2167 7251
When Isola’s chef broke away to open his own place, expectations were high for the Italian chef’s namesake restaurant. But Gianni Caprioli surpassed all predictions with Giando. Located at the out-of-the-way historic Fleet Arcade building, the dining room is right on the banks of Victoria Harbour. Apart from the views, expect authentic Italian fare, good enough to have attracted a visit from singer Andrea Bocelli when he was in town last year.
1/F Fleet Arcade, Fenwick Pier, Wanchai
Tel: +852 25118912
Michael White’s outpost in Hong Kong, Al Molo is a chic American-Italian eatery serving crowd-pleasing thin-crust pizzas and pastas right on the edge of Victoria Harbour. After getting off the Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui, it’s a short stroll to the Ocean Terminal to get to Al Molo. The restaurant’s al fresco tables are so close to the water it became a perfect vantage point for gazing at Florentijn Hofman’s inflatable rubber duck last April to June.
Jumbo Kingdom is a dining institution in Hong Kong that has been an attraction for over 30 years. The enormous floating structure has been transformed to look like an imperial palace. Capable of taking on more than 2,000 covers, the kitchen dishes out Cantonese classics such as steamed garoupa.
Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, +852 2553 9111,
From a floating “imperial palace” to the Central Star Ferry Pier, here are five of our favorite waterfront hotspots where the food is good and the views are great