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Café Claudel exudes the charm of Parisian cafés
4. Café Claudel As if it had been plucked from the cobbled streets of Paris and placed right on our doorstep, Café Claudel is a chilled-out spot for traditional French food in a convincing 1930s Parisian setting. It is also kind of a social hub at Tai Kwun, a well-located spot that visitors won’t miss out on. Chef Kevin Li of the French bistro Pastis on Wyndham Street delivers classics such as Croque Monsieur, as well as Eastern-influenced delights such as Mini Peking Duck Burger. A brunch menu is available from 10.30am to 4pm on weekends.
5. LockCha Tea House An elegant, peaceful teahouse where you can have made-to-order vegetarian dim sum and fine Chinese tea in a relaxing atmosphere. LockCha is the brainchild of Ip Wing-chi, a tea connoisseur and the founding chairman of the Hong Kong Tea Association. The well-loved LockCha Tea House in Hong Kong Park is the first teahouse that Ip opened.
What we love: The only thing that beats relaxing with your coffee and savouring the scrumptious food is doing it on the outdoor terrace, where you could easily sit all day and watch the world go by. Just don’t be taken aback when your outdoor refreshments are served in disposable cups – the terrace is actually a public area but you can still enjoy Café Claudel’s food there. Room for improvement: We’ll tell you if we ever think of anything! Shop 01-G08, open 11am-11pm, 2411 1310
gie Veg
What we love: The fact that this places serves veggie dim sum – still thin on the ground in Hong Kong – deserves kudos. Besides, they are delicious and go very well with the fine tea. We also admire the hanging lamps made of bird cages, and, of course, the adjacent tea shop, where you can find a big collection of premium tea leaves and teapots. Room for improvement: It’s not so much about improvement as an evolution. LockCha serves dinner, but at the time this article went to print, the restaurant did not have a liquor licence. If you fancy wining and dining here, just be patient. Shop 01, G06-7, open 11am-11pm, 2276 5777
22 | hongkongliving.com
Tai Kwun will continue to get more exciting, as several more F&B establishments are set to open this month. Under the helm of renowned chef David Thompson, Aaharn, on the first floor of the Armoury building, will serve fine Thai cuisine. The restaurant has a bar called Bar at Armoury on the ground floor, serving wines by the glass, cocktails, draught beers and even premium teas and coffees and a simple menu of modern Thai bar snacks. Then there’s hc:Bistro, which will be bringing light gourmet dishes as well as a community spirit to diners. The local bistro is the 13th catering social enterprise project of the non-profit Hong Chi Association, which provides training and a safe working environment for people with intellectual disabilities. In the main police headquarters block will be three new F&B establishments by Aqua Restaurant Group. In the East wing is The Chinese Library, which will offer up Chinese delights, and in the West wing is Statement, which will serve innovative British cuisine that reflects Hong Kong’s colonial heritage. The third venue coming soon is Dispensary, a lounge redolent of Hong Kong’s colourful past.
6. Behind Bars
Hipste r fave s’
When a cluster of former jail cells are transformed into a hip, neon-streaked joint for a casual rendezvous in the late afternoon and after-dinner cocktails late at night, you get the aptly named Behind Bars. What we love: Apart from the irresistible Instagram-worthy decor (they insisted we couldn’t publish any photos though), it’s also a bar that takes its coffee seriously. We dig the Australian-style coffee, which goes well with the stylish playlist.
Veggie dim sum, a rarity in Hong Kong
Room for improvement: If you prefer your cocktails mixed in front of your eyes, this probably isn’t the place for you. Pre-made concoctions in glass bottles just don’t make the cut for freshness and zing. Shop 15, E Hall, G/F, open 4pm-midnight (Tue to Thu), 3pm-2am (Fri), 2pm-2am (Sat) and 2pm-midnight (Sun), ask@behindbars.hk