Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Header image courtesy of El Vaso de Oro
Originally published by Sophie Pettit. Last updated by Jen Paolini and Celia Lee.
Sharing is caring, and with so many amazing Spanish restaurants dotted around Hong Kong, each serving tasty tapas and more, love is definitely in the air when it comes to dining out in the 852. So the next time you find yourself craving a piping hot paella or ice-cold sangria, be sure to check out these venues that won’t fail to impress even the pickiest hombres and chicas.
Focused on bringing authentic Spanish recipes to diners in town, El Vaso de Oro offers dishes that pay homage to traditional Spanish recipes. We found its cosy and relaxed interiors are best paired with some Padrón peppers to start, followed by pan con tomate and garlic prawns. For mains, the seafood paella is a must-try, and if you still have room for dessert, the vanilla seed flan with double cream ice cream blew us away. The name El Vaso de Oro (which translates to “The Cup of Gold”) refers to the house craft beer on offer at the restaurant. Don’t forget to give this minty brew a taste on your next visit!
El Vaso de Oro, G/F, 44 Sai Street, Sheung Wan
You will find a wide selection of Spanish tapas, mains, and desserts on offer at Cassio. The restaurant is known for its Ibérico ham with Manchego cheese, broken eggs with chorizo, and patatas bravas. For a more filling meal, opt for the Galician-style octopus or 12-hour slow-cooked suckling pig. For paella, you can choose between pink prawns, mussels, and clams or pork ribs. Finally, for sweets, the Roulette dessert platter is perfect for those who want to try a bit of everything. Cassio’s delicious grub is perfectly complemented by its cosy, secluded ambience. What’s more, if you plan on going out after your meal, you can stay exactly where you are—Cassio turns into a nightclub after dinner.
Cassio, 2/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
Named after its location on Ship Street, 22 Ships is a lively tapas bar serving up delicious food and good vibes. The casual joint has a rotating menu, so you can find out what’s on offer by glancing at the chalkboard. Expect the usual offerings of tapas, such as pan con tomate, chorizo croquetas, and Padrón peppers, with specialities such as the uni and rusa toast also worth a try. For mains, the whole lobster paella is not to miss, while its Manchego lamb and roasted suckling pig are perfect for sharing. Order a glass from the extensive wine list for an elevated experience. If you want to visit 22 Ships, better come early or be prepared to queue, as the popular restaurant only take walk-ins.
22 Ships, 22 Ship Street, Wan Chai
If you are looking for a casual spot to hang-out with friends over some food, you should try out Rojo. Its dark exterior shields its patrons in a cosy, secluded interior. The selection of fusion tapas and mains include the refreshing tomato anchovies toast and tuna tataki, the pan-fried halibut in Thai red curry sauce, and—of course—seafood paella. Rojo also serves a wallet-friendly set lunch which includes tapas and soup of the day, a choice of mains, and a drink.
Rojo, 3 Jupiter Street, North Point
Highly-lauded Spanish restaurant Pica Pica continues to delight the Sheung Wan neighbourhood. From their tapas-oriented menu that highlights the best of seasonal ingredients, culinary director Edgar Sanuy Barahona presents contemporary creations like aromatic ajillo prawns; piping-hot Ibérico ham croquettes, and Galician-style octopus on potato “al caliu.” Of course, one of Spain’s most popular exports, the paella (a Valencian rice dish), makes an appearance in the form of the black paella rice and the lobster and octopus juicy rice. We will wrap up with a dessert, the vanilla ice cream with Catalan cream foam, to make this meal a true holiday experience.
Pica Pica, Shop G & H, G/F, 317–321 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2811 9880
Espuma, in our opinion, does a little bit of everything: It offers modern Asian-Spanish fusion cuisine and delicious roasted coffees done the Barcelona way, all in modern European interiors designed to encourage a sense of comfort and home. It is no wonder then that we find their deep-fried churros the most comforting part of their menu, served with a miniature cup of chocolate sauce, and a whole lot of love. Shaped in a long oval, with the ends so neatly tucked together that they look like large throwing hoops, it is hard to deny these sugary treats.
Not only home to some of the best gin cocktails in town, but also some of the most drool-inducing northern Spanish dishes, The Optimist is as authentic as it gets. With over a dozen small dishes to choose from, as well as tantalising meat, fish, and charcoal baked mains, you will definitely want to gather the gang and share a few. Among our favourites are the charcoal-grilled tomahawk steak and whole charcoal turbot with homemade guetaria sauce.
While The Optimist sits at the more modern and stylish end of the scale, it certainly does not lack in atmosphere, with brass lamps, vintage pictures, gold railings, and studded brown leather upholstery evoking a rich, European ambience with Barcelona-style influences. Arrive during happy hour any day of the week (from 3 pm) and you will also get to sip on gorgeous cocktails like the Pamplona.
The Optimist, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2433 3324
Located in the hip neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun, La Paloma (which literally translates to “The Pigeon”) is certainly striking on the eye, boasting a spacious venue adorned with fresh and modern decor, funky furnishings, and bursts of colour which help to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It is also home to Hong Kong’s largest paella pan!
Here, guests can watch the chefs whipping up treats in the interactive, open kitchen as they prepare a plethora of tapas, signature rice dishes, and wood oven delights like the sautéed prawns with garlic and chilli, Spanish dry-aged beef, and crispy slow-roasted suckling pig. Just make sure you leave plenty of room for those heavenly churros at the end!
La Paloma, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2291 6161
There is a reason this legendary Spanish eatery has remained a Central landmark for the past 20 years—the food is amazing! Swaying more towards the traditional side of Spanish culture and cuisine, the cosy setting of Olé Spanish Restaurant oozes romance and an old-world charm that is often lost in favour of more contemporary tastes.
If you love tapas and are a sucker for romance, then you will love the classic menu of all-time favourite Spanish dishes, all served among the rustic arched alcoves of this timeless gem. And that’s not all—you may also find yourself falling under the spell of the musical duo who serenade you at your table on flamenco guitars. Diners will be charmed to the core as they tuck into the sizzling garlic prawns, grilled Spanish octopus with paprika and ali oli, and traditional Spanish seafood paella, all the while listening to those beautiful strings.
Olé Spanish Restaurant, 1/F, Shun Ho Tower, 24 Ice House Street, Central | (+852) 2537 8856
The latest restaurant to join the Spanish dining scene in Hong Kong, La Rambla by Catalunya boasts a gigantic 5,000-square-foot space at IFC Mall, which overlooks the iconic Victoria Harbour. This modern, sleek venue offers a Catalan-inspired menu which showcases the freshest ingredients from the region, as well as seasonal seafood flown in twice weekly from Spain, Europe, and Japan.
The menu includes a diverse range of tapas, meat and seafood dishes, and must-try paellas, and while this certainly is not the cheapest dining option when it comes to Spanish cuisine, it certainly leaves a good impression—and flavour. The brunch is perhaps more appealing, getting you several tapas, made-to-order paellas, and meaty dishes. There are also free-flow packages available, with some cracking gin and tonics on offer and, of course, sangria. You can also choose to sit on the beautiful outdoor terrace and nibble on bar snacks from a separate (and more affordable) menu while enjoying a live DJ on the weekends.
La Rambla by Catalunya, Shop 3071–73, Level 3, IFC Mall, Central | (+852) 2661 1161
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