Dinner With a View: With its sensational views of the skyline, it’s no wonder that Aqua is a Hong Kong institution. It might be number one in every tourist guidebook, but the sophisticated restaurant and bar doesn’t lose the cool factor thanks to its inspired Japanese and Italian fare, great cocktails and lively DJ beats after dark.

Look & Feel: Taking up the top floor of One Peking in Tsim Sha Tsui, Aqua is dark, sleek and dramatic, with floor-to-ceiling windows and intimate seating that offer prime views of the harbor. Aqua Tokyo serves up Japanese cuisine while Aqua Roma offers Italian fare. Upstairs is Aqua Spirit, the stylish bar section that’s popular with the late-night crowd.

On the Menu: The three-course menu, featuring both Japanese and Italian dishes, kicks off with a choice of a sashimi selection ($528, 18 pieces) or crystal-blue prawns tartare with shaved caviar and burrata cheese ($298), followed by a choice of truffle potato and egg-filled ravioli ($348), pan-fried sea bass ($478) or Wagyu beef ($388), and finishes with a dessert platter ($188 per person). 

Service: Props for flexible service — we inform Aqua of our dining companion’s food allergies, and the restaurant presents her with a special gluten-free menu. It’s more or less the same as the standard menu except for a choice of freshly picked Italian vegetables ($288) and a medley of fruit for dessert.

Jeng: We are impressed with the fresh, well-presented selection of sashimi, which includes yellowtail as well as sweet shrimp and salmon tataki. The cedar-smoked, slow-cooked wagyu beef stops conversation — we don’t need much of the shiitake red wine sauce to go with it. Our dining companion claims the gluten-free bread is the best she has ever tasted. The signature Aquatini ($168) at the bar is worth the splurge — it’s a sweet concoction made with Ketel One vodka, fresh lychee, chambord liqueur and flecks of gold leaves.

Not So Jeng: For the price tag, we expect bigger portions for the main courses, although the extensive dessert platter more than makes up for it.

Great For: Romantic dates, showing off Hong Kong to visitors.

FYI: Aqua is run by the Aqua Restaurant Group, which is behind popular joints that span across Hong Kong, Beijing and London — like Hutong just upstairs; Central rooftop bar Armani Prive and restaurant Armani Aqua; and Spanish tapas joint Zafran.

This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.