GBA Lifestyle News
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to brunches in Hong Kong. Got a lazy weekend to spare? Check out our list of popular choices below.
Brunch at Mercedes Me is a seafood-heavy, big group affair. First: get your fix of creative ceviches at the fish station, have a slow-cooked runny-yolked piece or three at the eggs station, sample the fromages at the cheese station, and balance it all out with a freshly whipped drink from the smoothies station. Then go crazy on salads, pastries and cold cuts buffet-style, before sharing no less than seven main dishes amongst your group, for mains. So that’s sobrassada and mozzarella bikini sandwiches; pork belly with smoked piquillo peppers; Mercedes Me’s signature baked Angel hair pasta with roasted garlic aioli and prawn jus; aged wagyu skirt steak… and the list goes on. For dessert, you’ll be sharing a dulce de leche and other sweet treats.
Price: $580 per person. $280 extra for free-flow house champagne, wine and cocktails.
When: Sundays, 11:30am to 2:30pm.
G/F, Entertainment Building, 30 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2895-7398, facebook.com/mercedesmehongkong.
Fried chicken and a range of Korean staples are the stars of the show at Jinjuu’s weekend brunch station. There is a whole station dedicated to bamboo baskets brimming with crispy hot KFC (and deep-fried tofu for the envious vegetarians), a bibimbap counter where the rice gets made to order and comes in mini stone bowls. There’s also a bagel area where you can take your pick of dips and cured salmon and pair them with crispy bagel chips. And those are just the buffet appetizers. For mains, you can choose from the menu: bulgogi steak, pork belly and short ribs are a few options. There’s a range of western-style fusion desserts like apple “mandoo” pie for the sweet ending.
Price: $250 per person for semi-buffet; $400 per person for semi-buffet plus main course and dessert. $200 extra for free-flow champagne and house wines.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm to 3pm.
UG/F, 32 D’Aguilar Street, Central, 3755-4868, facebook.com/jinjuuhk.
Catch On Catchick perfects the Aussie-style brunch — there are no buffet spreads here, but you’ll happily fill up on creative egg and toast-based dishes here. On the brekkie side, we’re not talkin’ boring Eggs Benedict: your poached eggs are served on sourdough and topped with chili oil and chipotle mayo. They’re also accompanied by much more than bacon and hash: think avocado, chorizo, kidney beans and heirloom tomatoes. Granola, baps and French toasts round out the early-morning menu. Those wanting a bit more substance can go straight for the lunch options, which tend to be seafood-focused. Soft shell crab burgers, champagne-topped oysters and fish spring rolls are a few examples.
Price: A la carte pricing, from around $98 to $188 per dish.
When: Saturdays 9am onwards, Sundays 10am onwards.
G/F, 93 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, 2855-1289, catch.hk.
Sunday brunch at Catalunya will keep you full until the next day. It’s indulgent and there are way too many choices — and that’s brunch, the Hong Kong way. Choose wisely between the seafood, fish, salad, Spanish charcuterie and cheese stations and remember not to slurp down too many freshly shucked oysters. Save a bit of room for the pastries and fresh breads, but not too much. Then move on to the eggs: have them served on top of potatoes or cooked in omelet form. You can also do a taste test of some of Catalunya’s signatures along the way, like the moreish Bikini sandwiches (imagine grilled cheese with Iberian ham and truffle). The true showstoppers — Segovian-style suckling pig, roast beef, salt-crusted fish and more — will be delivered straight to your table as a main. You’re also given fresh juices, tea, coffee, and pastry desserts to help the food stay down. (That’s the plan anyway.)
Price: $630 per person. $230 extra for free-flow sangria and cava.
When: Sundays
G/F, Guardian House, Morrison Hill, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, 2866-7900 catalunya.hk.
Aberdeen Street Social’s got the quintessential brunch venue: a beautiful two-story space complete with outdoor terrace where you can (theoretically) enjoy your meal with a fresh breeze to match. Usually the menu is different between the more formal upstairs dining room and the more casual ground floor space, but brunch is the exception. Eggs can be done in all sorts of different ways, paired with trendy sourdough of course. Slightly more adventurous items include lobster rolls, smoked salmon bagels and pastrami sandwiches. Sourdough pizzas topped with everything from roasted pumpkin to pulled lamb can be had. For dessert, the cakes, gelato, pancakes and cookies are a must.
Price: All items are a la carte, and mains range from around $88 to $288 upstairs.
When: Saturdays 11:30 to 3:30pm, with a 1.5 hour limit per table.
G/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, 2866-0300, www.aberdeenstreetsocial.hk.
Start with a bold Spanish spread of cold cuts and cheese (think Serrano and Manchego), tapas (think boquerones aka pickled anchovies, fish tiradito, scallop ceviche, croquettes) at Fofo by El Wily. But pace yourself, because there’ll then be tempting mains like seafood paella; Spanish “breakfast” of eggs, sausage and potatoes; or an eye-catching seafood tower loaded with lobster, king crab legs, king prawns and a whole bunch more to feast on afterwards. To complete the meal, a dessert platter of churros, chocolates, gelato and pastries will make sure you roll out the door.
How much? $358 per person. $230 extra or free-flow cava, sangria and wines. $98 extra for the seafood tower.
When? Saturdays,
20/F, M88, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, 2900-2009, www.fofo.hk.
Hongkongers know that dim sum is the OG of brunch, and Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira seamlessly fuses the two cultures together with an all-you-can-eat dim sum Oriental brunch menu, available only on Saturdays. The experience starts with each diner choosing their own pot of Acqua Panna-brewed Chinese tea: ginseng oolong from Fujian, pu-erh or tieguanyin perhaps? An appetizer platter of abalone, honey-glazed char siu and other goodies comes next. Then, you can go crazy over the actual dim sum: staples like har gow, siu mai and cheong fun, as well as all sorts of dumplings and rolls. The dim sum here sometimes come with a slight western twist, so don’t be surprised if you taste some foie gras or caviar in between. If you didn’t go overboard on the all-you-can-eat, a meaty main course (like Kurobuta pork roll or crispy butter prawns covered with salted egg yolk), a seasonal vegetable dish, and all-you-can-order Chinese desserts will definitely seal the deal.
How much? $498 per person, including free-flow orange juice and soft drinks. $150 extra for free-flow champagne and wines.
When? Saturdays, 11:30am to 2:30pm.
The Mira Hotel, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5222, Whatsapp 6273-3588, themirahotel.com/oriental-brunch.
Brunch takes a posh French twist at Upper Modern Bistro, where you’ll first be pampered with Normandy oysters, foie gras creme brulee, and truffle-ized croque-monsieur starters, to name just a few. Then you’ll have to choose your mains — will it be Alaskan salmon with king crab and mash, roasted 88-day free-range chicken with pearl barley risotto, or something more classic like Eggs Benedict (but with shiitake mushrooms)? Finish off with a range of pastries and a glass of champagne.
How much? $390 per person, but you can’t go alone so remember to bring someone along.
When? Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30am to 3:30pm.
6-14 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, 2517-0977, www.upper-bistro.com.
Gaucho serves up mean beats to go along with the food for its Electro brunch every weekend. Basically, you can choose as many dishes as your stomach can handle from their deceptively simple menu. Bell pepper frittata, Eggs many styles, blueberry pancakes, bacon sandwiches and smashed avocado on toast are a few examples of the dishes on offer. Pair everything up with a bloody Mary or other morning-appropriate cocktail — or if you want to go the slightly healthier route, with a glass of fresh fruit-and-veggie juice.
Price: $450 per person, including free-flow juices. $100 extra for free-flow alcohol. $150 extra for free-flow champagne.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 3pm.
5/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2386-8090, www.gauchorestaurants.com.
For a casual brunch option that’s less about all-you-can-stuff-in-your-mouth, check out Shelter Lounge in Sheung Wan. The hidden gem is tucked away on New Street, with a nice big two-story dining area to spread out across. Available on weekends and holidays, the signature Full Breakfast comes with two eggs, streaky bacon, chicken sausage, baked beans, mushrooms, slow-roasted tomatoes, potatoes and a crispy toasted brioche. There are a few lighter options as well, like the lobster roll (made with Maine lobster), a kale Caesar salad with grilled steak, a green-tea pancake with red bean and green tea gelato.
Price: All items are a la carte, and mains range from around $88 to $148.
When? Saturdays and public holidays, 11am to 2:30pm; Sundays, 11am to 6pm.
Shop A, G-1/F, Universal Building, 5-13 New Street, Sheung Wan, 2517-6211, www.shelterlounge.com.hk.
