Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Header image courtesy of Louise
French restaurants are thriving all over Hong Kong, meaning that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining with flair. From French fine dining to wine bars and regional delicacies, we’ve whittled down the options with the best French joints in town. Bon appétit!
Dining under water may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of French cuisine, but one-Michelin-star restaurant Belon, with its intimate, deep-blue décor that is reminiscent the ocean, dishes up what most would agree is some of the most exquisite French cuisine in town.
Skill and refinement are shown in every dish, from the cervelas en brioche with truffle gastrique to the Maine lobster en croûte with morel and madeira and the honey and passion millefeuille. The best way to get the complete Belon experience is to order the gorgeous sélection du chef for a seven-course voyage, from tarte au foie gras with plum and macadamia nut to smoked Peking duck with sugar cane and sakura.
For the ultimate dining experience, make your reservations for chef-counter seats at the beating heart of the restaurant: the kitchen. Come up close to observe the orchestration live in action for your gastronomic pleasures by booking your seats here. Enquiries about private dining are welcomed as well—shoot them an email at [email protected].
Belon, 1/F, 1–5 Elgin Street, Soho, Central | (+852) 2152 2872
Julien Royer’s three-Michelin-starred Odette in Singapore took the premier spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, and a reflection of that wild success in Hong Kong is one-Michelin-starred Louise, his tribute to honest French homestyle fare that he knows and loves. Louise’s airy and botanical downstairs parlour as well as the upstairs dining room feature heart-warming dishes lifted from Chef Royer’s childhood.
Head to PMQ for its three- or four-course set lunch, made even more special with a bespoke wine pairing, or Louise signatures like the indulgent and flavourful angel hair pasta with Kristal caviar, black truffle, and kombu and the sautéed Hong Kong frog leg with parsley and garlic crisps. Of course, the star of the show is the gorgeous roasted Hong Kong yellow chicken with Niigata rice “en cocotte.”
If you have enjoyed its lunch offerings, we suggest you splurge on the six-course signature menu to discover Louise’s well-loved and greatest hits. For reservations, book online here or email [email protected].
Louise, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central | (+852) 2866 0300
Brought to Hong Kong by eponymous culinary legend Joël Robuchon, this restaurant is one that’s studded with three Michelin stars, which has been awarded flush for more than 10 years now. Divided into two areas, L’Atelier and Le Jardin, L’Atelier is bordered by a circular bar enveloping an open kitchen that allows diners a full preview of the cooking and plating, while Le Jardin stretches out to encompass the views of a rooftop garden.
From what’s recognised as classically French—quail, foie gras, and caviar—to incorporating non-traditional ingredients to create modern and borderless imaginings of the cuisine, the culinary team here is credited for being outstanding and versatile.
For a full panorama of its signature dishes, opt for the “signature” set menu, which includes the duck breast and foie gras duo with cherry confits and almonds and grilled Maine lobster with green peas and lobster bisque. We recommend making reservations early, which you can do by clicking here, as there is likely to be a waitlist.
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Shop 401, 4/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central | (+852) 2166 9000
Helmed by model-turned-chef Esther Sham, Maison ES offers a charming touch of French flair in the heart of bustling Star Street. Housed in a sun-filled, vintage-inspired venue, the 2,300-square-foot restaurant oozes sophistication, with an elegant interior adorned with antiques, artworks, and collectibles sourced from flea markets around the world—look out for the adorable vintage bicycle on the garden terrace!
Here in this beautiful setting, designed by Sham herself, guests can indulge in exquisite cuisine centred on Asian and French fusion. Aside from a tantalising à la carte and a regular lunch, the restaurant offers an eight-course menu, and a stunning private kitchen and dining area called Ta Pantry. It’s the perfect spot to escape the city and enjoy a touch of “je ne sais quoi.” Make your reservations online here.
Maison ES, 1A Star Street, Wan Chai | (+852) 2521 8011
Running through Central and Sheung Wan, Hollywood Road is pinned with art, culture, and food, and La Cabane is one of the many restaurants situated in this stretch. We, the Localiiz team, know a great lunch spot when we see one, and the one at La Cabane is of amazing value, and rotates regularly, allowing you to try all sorts of fresh seasonal ingredients.
Its cosy and intimate venue, along with the friendly atmosphere, creates the perfect setting for dinner and a catch up with friends or a date. What could be more romantic than sipping on a gorgeous selection of natural wines—its speciality—over a lovely meal for two?
La Cabane, 62 Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 2776 6070
Situated in Tsim Sha Tsui, Scarlett Café & Wine Bar is an eatery worthy of crossing the harbour for. We recommend going there with a bunch of friends and ordering several dishes to share. Its cheese and cold cut platters are the perfect happy hour treat and pair flawlessly with a bottle or two of red. On top of that, the sumptuous rotating blackboard rotation of dishes is to die for at lunchtime.
Scarlett Café & Wine Bar, Residence G Hong Kong, 2 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3565 6513
Bringing the food of the northwesternmost region of France, La Crêperie offers Hong Kong a taste of the humble food creations of the lesser-known region of Brittany. When you need a proper French crêpe or galette, La Crêperie does it right. You know the restaurant has foundational flavours on lock when it offers so many variations on its menu. Both crêpes and galettes can be enjoyed in over 30 preparations—sweet or savoury, it’s the ultimate comfort food. Get your hands on your own slice of Brittany by making a booking here.
La Crêperie, 1/F, Kui Chi Mansion, 100–102 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai | (+852) 2529 9280
As one of many fine-dining establishments in Harbour City, Épure is an unmissable restaurant for a French gastronomic experience. Rightfully earning its one Michelin star, the restaurant executes modern French cuisine and hospitality effortlessly. Backed up by knowledgeable sommeliers and helpful service staff, dine-in and takeaway offerings prepared by the culinary team are thoughtfully complimented.
If you’ve made a reservation in either Épure’s dining room or its al fresco area The Blooms, a thing to note is that it offers different menus for each area—which could be something to look forward to for next time! Regardless of where you choose to dine here, you are guaranteed fine French food (and wine pairings, if you’re feeling boozy).
Épure, Shop 403, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3185 8338
Tucked away in Wan Chai is the neighbourhood French bistro Jean May. With an eye-catching green storefront and uncomplicated and homey interior, gourmands are eased into the simplistic, rustic, and home-style approach to French cooking. Reflecting this relaxed approach is its welcoming and friendly team.
Incorporating various ingredients that speak to the best produce of each season, the Jean May menu includes stunning takes on French classics, with updates scrawled in chalk on the blackboard every day. Jean May’s duck à l’orange, and hand-cut squid ink mafaldine with mussels and squid chilli are examples of its French cooking done well, and are must-order dishes whenever they are on the menu.
Due to the restaurant’s immense popularity with foodies and casual diners alike, we would recommend reserving a spot beforehand, which you can book here.
Jean May, Shop A, 14 Gresson Street, Wan Chai | (+852) 3590 6033
Created by chef Johan Ducroquet is the French bistro Bouillon. For wanderers of the hidden and hilly streets of Sheung Wan, you might have already walked past the striking restaurant by accident, and wondered what it has in store for your taste buds. In the curation of the menu, the chefs oscillate between French classics and creative recipes—this merged and open-ended interpretation of French food is displayed on the plates served here.
If you work or live nearby, the lunch set is great value-for-money, inclusive of a starter with a main dish, and French wines by the glass for an extra. With a considerable menu to choose from, you will be able to get a snippet of what Bouillon’s full à la carte menu has to offer. Jump on the restaurant’s familiar yet adventurous flavours and by booking here.
Bouillon, 6 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2886 0056
Having been awarded three Michelin stars, Caprice’s culinary greatness has helped push the Four Seasons Hotel to be crowned the only hospitality establishment to hold a staggering eight Michelin stars. The highly acclaimed restaurant cannot achieve greatness without the inventiveness of chef Guillaume Galliot and its extensive wine list under its belt—every dish can be paired with any wine you can possibly think of.
The upscale cuisine takes pride in all its dishes but we particularly favour the signature Alaskan king crab, crustacean jelly, and Osciètre prestige caviar from La Maison Kaviari. If that does not sound intriguing enough, you can test the waters and give the lunch set a try. Secure your reservation online.
Caprice, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central | (+852) 3196 8882
Hidden in the quiet streets of Sheung Wan, one-Michelin-starred Racines has established itself as one of the best French restaurants in Hong Kong. Hailing from two regions of Southern France, the leading duo, chefs Romain Dupeyre and Adrien Castillo, insist on bringing warmth to fine dining. The intimate space is quite small, making for a first-hand experience of the chefs at work, especially if you book a seat at the open kitchen counter. Dishes on the menu are regularly refreshed with seasonal ingredients whether on the six-course dinner menu, or the three- to five-course lunch experience.
Racines, 22 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan
It’s rare to come across French snail dishes in Hong Kong, but the search ends here—LPM is incomplete without snail on its menu. The French-Mediterranean food served here is light, fresh, and simple, but still very much elevated. From well-studied sommeliers to the experienced culinary team, LPM is armed with the best to serve the best of French cuisine.
Building upon flavours with subtlety and mostly single hero ingredients is something we didn’t know could be done so well. Here, we recommend the escargots de Bourgogne for the perfect slurp of snail—don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
LPM Restaurant & Bar, H Queen’s, 23–29 Stanley Street, Central | (+852) 2887 1113
Amber is a two-Michelin-starred and Michelin-Green-starred restaurant that offers gourmands and connoisseurs of French food the chance to experience executive chef Richard Ekkebus’s forward-facing vision of the cuisine. By incorporating responsible dining into the soul of the restaurant, Chef Ekkebus allows diners to enter into a new world of culinary possibilities, pushing classic French cooking to new limits.
Beautiful flavours are presented in both simplistic and over-the-top creative plating, as the culinary team here adapts the presentation to highlight the star ingredient of each dish. Our recommendation would be to opt for the Amber Experience tasting menu for an introduction to Chef Ekkebus’s culinary style. The vegetarian Amber Experience menu is maybe one of the best fine-dining experiences for those who avoid meat. Book here.
Amber, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
First published on 13 July 2018. Written by Aude Camus of Hong Kong Madame and French Shopping & Dining in Hong Kong. Last updated by Lily Valette.
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
Top
