Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Header images courtesy of Bathers (via Facebook)
Lantau Island is one of the go-to destinations for Hongkongers looking to escape the crowds and spend a day in nature. And while its hiking trails and beaches are reason enough to visit, there’s no need to resign yourself to a McDonald’s meal or a grumbling stomach until you step off the ferry and head back to skyscrapers and city life. Lantau plays host to a number of quality restaurants, from casual outdoor eateries to authentic regional cuisine. Here are some of our favourites.
For a Bali-style island café experience—complete with macrame wall art and rattan lampshades—head to Pause Café, a popular brunch spot with a chic plant-lined shopfront. (If you’re there after 11 am, you’ll be able to spot it easily by the crowd of brunchers sat outside.) Opened by the wellness brand of the same name, Pause Café is all about nourishing, healthy bites—think smashed avocado sourdough toasts, masala veggie bowls, and fresh juices. If you’ve worked up an appetite, you can explore the more substantial plates, such as the beef burger, chipotle pork tacos, or fruit-topped French toast.
Pause Café, 21 Chung Hau Street, Mui Wo, Lantau Island | (+852) 6111 6585
Nestled in the sleepy village of Tong Fuk is this long-standing, laid-back gastropub specialising in barbecued meats and homemade pizzas—and arguably the best garlic bread on Lantau. For a perfectly relaxed weekend lunch, come through for a steak and a glass of wine. Just remember to call ahead to avoid disappointment, because it gets pretty busy.
The Gallery, 28 South Lantau Road, Tong Fuk Village, Lantau Island | (+852) 2980 2582
Having upgraded from its previous takeaway-only venture, Southside Lantau now has a charming little venue in Mui Wo, welcoming guests inside a warm, red-brick interior. Since the move, Southside Lantau still serves home-cooked Southern soul food that has warranted the restaurant’s initial recognition. Dig into fried chicken tenders, Memphis pulled pork sandwiches, Mississippi fried fish, and chilli cheese tater tots as you settle into one of the booths, or drop by at lunch for a generous set meal!
Southside Lantau, Block 10, Silverview Centre, 8 Ngan Kwong Wan Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island | (+852) 2980 2582
Live your best beach-bum life with a trip to Lower Cheung Sha Beach, which offers plenty of beachfront dining options. One of the most popular restaurants around is Long Island, a chilled little hangout where you can plonk yourself down on the sand with a mojito. There are plenty of cuisines on offer, including Indonesian, Indian, and British, so you could easily follow your sambal shrimp wrapped in roll with a nasi goreng and lychee and rambutan drink, all while enjoying the sun.
Long Island, Shop 1A, G/F, Silver Centre Building, 10 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Lantau Island | (+852) 2320 2002
After trekking up and down all those stairs to see the Big Buddha, you will probably want something to eat. Enter Po Lin Monastery, which has a vegetarian kitchen on-site ready to whip up wholesome plant-based fares like deep-fried bean curd sheets in lemon sauce, spring rolls, mushrooms stir-fried with mixed vegetables, and vegetarian dim sum.
Po Lin Monastery Vegetarian Kitchen, Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Road, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island | (+852) 2985 4736
This open-air food market in Mui Wo boasts some of the freshest seafood in Hong Kong, and at a fraction of the price of its island counterparts! Comprised of several restaurants each housed under the tented structure, the market serves up freshly steamed dim sum to satiate local residents by day, while generous portions of rice, noodles, and protein are piled onto plates during the busy lunch and dinner service.
Mui Wo Cooked Food Market, Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island | (+852) 2984 2240
Located a few minutes’ walk from the Mui Wo Ferry Pier, The Hideout is a nature-filled lifestyle destination, farm, restaurant, and art studio. Some of the sustainable farm’s produce goes to the food and drinks served up to its guests—its menu includes Parma ham pizza, matcha croffle, vegan samosa, and more.
The Hideout (weather permitting) is a place to enjoy the Lantau outdoors and landscapes, so sit outside and end the day with a slice of the daily cake. Its reputation has begun to precede itself, and reservations are only available for the following 14 days. With art-jamming workshops, yoga, and sound bath sessions available to book, it’s one of the most serene spots to while away a weekend on the island.
The Hideout, Ngan Kwong Wan Road, Lantau Island | (+852) 9660 2625
Cheung Sha Beach is a popular choice among locals and visitors alike thanks to its long stretch of sand, comparatively clear waters, and the number of bars and restaurants on its doorstep (most of which are located on the beach’s lower section). Formerly known as The Beach House, Bathers is one such institution, offering alfresco all-day dining and a range of Western cuisine and drinks. It also hosts weddings, parties, and corporate events, so bookmark it for future occasions.
Bathers, 32 Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Cheung Sha, Lantau Island | (+852) 2504 4788
Koh Tomyums is an authentic Thai restaurant located in D’Deck, only a short walk from the ferry pier in Discovery Bay. With an open sea view, traditional interiors, spacious outdoor seating section, and a menu filled with traditional Thai dishes and flavours, this is a popular spot (particularly on the weekends), so we’d recommend calling ahead to secure your table. Its assortment of unique fusion dishes is not to be missed.
Koh Tomyums, Shop 105B, 1/F, D’Deck, Discovery Bay Road, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island | (+852) 2987 0767
First published on 8 February 2019. Written by Amanda Sheppard. 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