Looking to host an intimate dining affair? A Hong Kong private kitchen or dining room offers all the makings of a great night!
With space at a premium in Hong Kong, hosting elaborate gatherings at home may not be an option for many of us. Fortunately, the city has a number of well-established and emerging private kitchens and dining rooms designed for celebrations of every kind – birthdays, reunions, corporate events and beyond. Whether you’re in search of a sleek yet cosy venue for an intimate evening or a decked out dining space for the dinner party of your dreams, here’s your ultimate guide to private dining in Hong Kong.
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Private Kitchens & Dining Rooms In Hong Kong
Da Ping Huo
Da Ping Huo has a storied history going back over two decades, and proudly claims to be one of the first ever private kitchens in Hong Kong. A passion project of painter Wang Hai, and singer and executive chef Wong Siu King, who both hail from Chengdu, have put the spirit of sharing at the heart of this restaurant – specifically through bowls of huajiao-heavy fare.
While there’s no doubt that the city’s Sichuan cuisine landscape has expanded and grown more nuanced over the past few years, Da Ping Huo’s Mapo Tofu is still widely believed to be the most faithful rendition of what you’d find in Chengdu. Following the symphony of spices and a cooling dessert course, diners will be treated to Chinese opera – delivered live by none other than the singer-chef-founder.
Da Ping Huo, Shop F & H, G/F, Garley Building, 53A Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2559 1317, www.dapinghuo.com.hk
Gitone
Food and aesthetics have always gone hand in hand. At this artistic spot in Sai Wan Ho, founded in 1995, the age-old pairing comes to life. Operated by local artist and university instructor Terence Lee (the force behind K11 MUSEA’s Lilium), Gitone combines an art studio and gallery with a cafe by day, and transforms into a private kitchen by night. Not only are most of the paintings, ceramics and utensils original works by Lee, but guests can also take painting or ceramics lessons before sitting down for dinner. The menu (from $580 per person) leans Shanghainese, but incorporates Cantonese influences.
Gitone, 27-28, G/F, 45 Tai Hong Street, Lei King Wan, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong, 2527 3448, gitone.hk
Kea’s Kitchen
How about a dinner experience aboard a 63-foot Mandarin Manor yacht berthed in the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter? Kea’s Kitchen promises a dinner to remember with stunning harbour views and a Thai-inspired feast featuring dishes like Wagyu Beef Massaman and Crab Curry. There are seats for up to 20 people indoors on the middle deck, and a further 20 people on the covered alfresco top deck (a minimum of eight people are required per booking). Vegetarian options are available upon request, and corkage is priced at $100 per bottle.
Kea’s Kitchen, Row 1, Mooring 5345, Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, 6077 5964, www.keaskitchen.com
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Masala Bay
This catering company and private kitchen based in Clearwater Bay was born out of half-Indian, half-Afghani Vandana Anand’s love for cooking. After hosting a number of private dinners for her friends in her lush lawn, Vandana decided to open Masala Bay to share her food with those in the know. All ingredients featured on the table are purchased one day before the event, so expect plates packed with vibrant flavour and aromas. At $650 a head, Masala Bay can accommodate up to 22 people indoors and 30 people in the outdoor garden space (minimum eight guests to book).
Masala Bay, 29A Hung Uk Village, Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong, 9306 3967, www.facebook.com/Masala-Bay
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Olive Leaf
Accessible by a 20-minute ferry ride from Aberdeen, Olive Leaf serves up picture-ready spreads of vegan Mediterranean fare. Israeli chef Ayelet Idan sources imported Israeli ingredients and draws from traditional family recipes to keep the menu authentic to her roots. The spacious outdoor patio of her beautiful home in Lamma makes the perfect venue for a meal to remember.
Olive Leaf, Pak Kok Tsuen, Lamma Island, Hong Kong, 9723 0459, www.facebook.com/OliveLeafHongKong
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one-thirtyone
Local craft brews, fresh-caught seafood cooked Guangdong-style and pier-side falafel wraps before a big beach adventure – there’s no dearth of excellent food and drink in Sai Kung. But for an upscale private kitchen experience inspired by the Mediterranean, there’s only one place to go: one-thirtyone. Nestled in Three Fathoms Cove, inside a red, three-storey village bungalow on the seafront surrounded by dense foliage, Chef Gary Cheuk reimagines French cuisine using local produce. The eight-course set menu changes frequently and can be adapted to suit different diets. Capitalising on the stunning scenery that makes the area such a popular day trip destination, one-thirtyone also doubles as a stunning wedding venue.
one-thirtyone, 131 Tseng Tau Village, Shap Sze Heung, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2791 2684, www.one-thirtyone.com
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Pomegranate Kitchen
Since launching in 2011, Pomegranate Kitchen – part of a full-service catering company with a spacious venue in Wong Chuk Hang – has become one of the most sought after private kitchens in town. Spearheaded by chef Maria Bizri, who was raised in Syria and Lebanon, this private kitchen works closely with customers to construct a unique menu full of bold flavours, often drawing on Levantine culinary traditions. With both indoor and outdoor areas open for reservations, Pomegranate can help you host a cocktail party under the stars complete with canapés, or curate a series of sharing plates well-suited to a more intimate evening.
Pomegranate Kitchen, 4B, Sing Tech Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, 2580 0663, www.pomegranate.com.hk
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Relish Kitchen
Best known for its top-notch catering, Relish’s event space in Wong Chuk Hang brings its offering full circle with options for private dining. Take your pick from the industrial chic dining room (which seats 44) or the beautiful alfresco rooftop (which seats 60), and let Relish take care of the rest. The menu can be adapted to your cuisine of choice, with all dishes centred around sustainable, fresh produce – and with free-flow alcohol options to boot! As the cherry on top, the team can even sort out your decor and entertainment for you too for a truly hassle-free full-service experience!
Relish Kitchen, 22D, Yally Industrial Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, 3481 1924, www.relish-kitchen.com
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Sijie Sichuan
Dedicated to Sichuanese gastronomy, one of the eight great cuisines of China, Sijie remains a bastion of sophisticated Sichuan-style cooking in the city. While certain larger, labour-intensive dishes like Chongqing-style hot pot and spicy crabs along with steamed pork with rice flour, must be pre-ordered for a minimum of 12 guests, the regular menu has plenty to offer: think fish poached in mala chilli broth, cold noodles and thinly sliced pork belly with garlic sauce. Unlike other private kitchens, you can stray from the set menu here: choose from more than a dozen appetisers and over 60 mains.
Sijie Sichuan, 10/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2802 2250, www.instagram.com/sijie_sichuan
Ta Pantry Private Kitchen
Helmed by Chef Esther Sham, who cut her teeth with an apprenticeship at three-Michelin starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Richard Ekkebus’ two-Michelin starred Amber in Hong Kong, you’ll be in excellent hands with a dinner party at Ta Pantry. Esther’s one-table, home-style private kitchen serves up creative French dishes that lend testament to her culinary prowess and passion for gastronomy. Its private dining room serves one party of up to 20 guests at a time, with a 42-inch flat-screen TV available for showing videos or conducting presentations. Did we mention there’s free corkage too? Cheers!
Ta Pantry, 1A, Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (enter through Maison ES), 2521 8121, www.ta-pantry.com
Yin Yang Coastal
Originally opening in Wan Chai in 2008, the current – and only – location of Yin Yang Coastal transports diners to a tranquil beachside house in Ting Kau Village, New Territories. With chef Margaret Xu Yuan taking the lead, the menu reinterprets fishing village-style cuisine with organically grown vegetables and fruit from small farms in the area. While the Yellow Earth Chicken – chicken roasted in a bespoke terracotta urn – is a well-known signature, the rest of your meal will be something of a thrilling mystery until the day of. Each course comes together intuitively, with fresh and seasonal produce placed front and centre. French technique animates lively Cantonese flavours in this creative farm-to-table concept.
Yin Yang Coastal, House 117, Ting Kau Village, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2866 0868, WhatsApp: 9784 2280, www.yinyang.hk
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July, 2017 by Team Sassy and was most recently updated in June, 2022 by Team Sassy.
Main image courtesy of Olive Leaf via Facebook, image 1 courtesy of Da Ping Huo via Facebook, image 2 courtesy of Kea’s Kitchen via Instagram, image 3 courtesy of Olive Leaf via Facebook, image 4 courtesy of Relish Kitchen via Instagram, image 5 courtesy of Ta Pantry via Instagram.