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Festive Menus to Try in Hong Kong in 2025, From Little Bao to Clarence
- CSP Times
- 13 minutes ago
- 5 min read
HONG KONG
As Hong Kong slides into its most glittering days of the year, the city’s dining rooms begin their annual transformation. Tasting menus take on deeper notes, familiar dishes acquire festive flourishes, and chefs reveal once-a-year creations that mirror the season’s sense of generosity. From Nordic precision to bold Chinese flavours, from near-mythical brunch spreads to wine-centred celebrations, these are the standout menus worth booking now.
Little Bao
May Chow’s Little Bao doesn’t do holiday clichés. Instead, the beloved bao specialist unveils a festive menu that rewires tradition with Hong Kong audacity. Her short rib bao, slow-cooked for 24 hours in a red wine–soy braise, is lush and unabashedly celebratory, elevated further with a smoky Sichuan mayo and a zingy onion-lime relish. Lighter notes appear in the daikon salad, a refreshing ribboned medley dressed in plum vinaigrette, while the decadent Okinawa brown sugar ice cream bao (inspired by ma lai go) closes the meal. For groups, the eight-course Festive Set Menu features poached squid in cucumber dashi, melt-in-your-mouth braised tendon, and the headlining fried chicken with crème fraîche and ikura, Little Bao’s all-out answer to holiday turkey.
Clarence
Perched high above Central, Clarence by Olivier Elzer embraces the season with two menus from Chef Ka Kei Wong, whose approach to French dining is grounded in refinement and emotional warmth. The all-December Festive Menu opens with a choice between silken foie gras torchon with quince gel and a winter-bright chestnut–pumpkin velouté. Classics reappear with renewed elegance: a twice-baked comté soufflé perfumed with black truffle, and lamb en crépinette enriched with herbs and sand carrots. Desserts, such as the coconut-lychee sorbet, keep the final notes lively and fresh. For December 24–26 and December 31, the Christmas Menu leans celebratory. Maine lobster with caviar, Brittany scallops, Clarence’s signature Ren Eggs in crispy kadaif, and a showstopping truffle-stuffed quail come together in a progression that reflects the restaurant’s hallmark: French tradition, elevated through Hong Kong’s contemporary gaze.
Dragonfly
Set within Tai Kwun’s atmospheric surrounds, Dragonfly transforms into a bohemian Christmas escape this December with its Festive Afternoon Tea Set, available daily from 6 to 28 December 2025. Priced at HK$388 for two, the tea set blends whimsical Art Nouveau elegance with seasonal indulgence, featuring savoury bites, freshly baked pastries and festive sweets, all served with a choice of fine teas (with prosecco or cocktails available for an additional HK$68). On weekends, guests can elevate the experience with a three-hour free-flow package (HK$288), spanning Bellinis, Bloody Marys, prosecco and more.
For reservations, contact +852 9359 0999
The Astor at Eaton HK
Few places in Hong Kong transform as dramatically for the holidays as The Astor, whose sprawling Christmas Market Buffet feels like a cinematic winter village — complete with food stalls, glowing decorations, and the irresistible scent of roasted chestnuts. The seafood selection alone is worth the reservation: Miso-grilled Maine lobster tail, freshly shucked oysters, snow crab, whelks, and, on peak festive dates, chilled lobster. Carving stations offer traditional roast turkey, M7 Wagyu, roasted porchetta, and the crowd-pleasing Beef Wellington. The experience continues with 55 cm sushi rolls, bubbling raclette, a live pasta bar, and an entire dessert “village,” featuring giant log cakes, churros, and even noodle ice cream. Add mulled wine, hot chocolate, and a dedicated Christmas game zone, and you get one of the city’s most spirited festive feasts — immersive, family-friendly, and endlessly abundant.
Embla
For diners seeking a quieter, more contemplative celebration, Embla offers Nordic gastronomy at its most polished. The restaurant’s Festive Lunch (HK$888) and Festive Dinner (HK$1,688) menus present a study in restrained richness: hot smoked trout, the signature sour milk bread, aged duck and king oyster mushroom. A dessert features smoked ice cream, pu-erh tea and spiced cookie crumbs. And as always, the meal closes with the restaurant’s nod to fika — a final moment of warmth with coffee or tea.
aqua
Perched above Victoria Harbour with panoramic skyline views, aqua is the ultimate festive destination this December. Guests can indulge in a Festive Brunch (25–28 December; HK$588 per person, with optional Champagne free-flow) or a Festive Lunch (22 December–2 January; HK$488), featuring highlights like fresh sushi, sashimi, burrata with figs, grilled edamame, and delicate pan-fried gyoza. Evenings are elevated with a 5-course Festive Dinner (19 December–4 January; HK$1,388, with wine pairings from HK$788), showcasing signature Italian-Japanese dishes such as lobster and sea urchin chawan-mushi with miso bisque, red prawn risotto, and beef tenderloin with winter chestnut and black truffle sauce.
Hutong
This December, Hutong turns up the heat for the holidays with a series of fiery Northern Chinese celebrations. Guests can enjoy a Winter Solstice Dinner (19–21 December; HK$3,888 for four), a Festive Brunch (25–28 December; HK$588 per person), or an indulgent 8-course Christmas Dinner (24–26 December; HK$1,288 per person), all served in the restaurant’s panoramic dining room. Signature dishes include black truffle abalone, seared scallops with termite mushroom, Wagyu beef siu mai, pickled pepper har gau, braised prawn in chilli oil, and Hutong’s spicy fried rice, offering a masterclass in bold, layered aromatics and comforting spice.
La Petite Maison (LPM)
La Petite Maison (LPM) brings a touch of French Riviera elegance to Hong Kong this December with festive lunches and indulgent Christmas dinners. The Festive Lunch Menu offers two options — Le Petit Menu (1 starter + 1 main, HK$398) and Le Grand Menu (2 starters + 1 main, or starter + main + dessert, HK$498) — featuring seasonal interpretations of LPM’s signature Mediterranean cuisine. For groups of eight or more, the Christmas Menu (HK$1,488) is a lavish sharing feast with a Seafood Tower, tuna carpaccio with black truffle, grilled Carabiniero prawns, duck confit with orange and endive, and a hazelnut chocolate tart. Festive cocktails like the nutty, floral La Pistache and spiced mulled wine Le Chalet add a playful, aromatic touch, making LPM a chic and celebratory destination for holiday gatherings.
Ask for Alonzo
Ask for Alonzo invites diners across six Hong Kong locations — Quarry Bay, Tai Hang, Happy Valley, Star Street, Soho, and the brand-new Sha Tin outpost — to celebrate the season with heartwarming Italian fare from 25 November to 31 December 2025. The two-course festive lunch (HK$168 per person, weekdays) and two-course festive dinner (HK$358 per person, daily) feature classic favourites like beef tonnato, octopus risotto in rich lobster bisque, rigatoni amatriciana, and roasted turkey breast with traditional trimmings. Desserts such as tiramisu and espresso panna cotta complete the festive feast, while the daily Happy Hour (from HK$38) offers wines, cocktails, and beers for a relaxed, convivial dining experience.
À Poêle
Nestled in Tai Koo Shing, À Poêle brings the warmth of a Parisian neighbourhood bistro to the festive season with a two-course weekday lunch (HK$158, Mon–Fri) and a three-course Christmas dinner (HK$338, daily) from 25 November to 31 December 2025. Menu highlights include French onion soup, crab blinis, roasted turkey breast, pumpkin risotto, foie gras terrine, duck confit, Surf & Turf with Boston lobster and striploin, and crème brûlée. A daily Happy Hour (3–8 pm) featuring wines, beers, and cocktails adds to the convivial, seasonal atmosphere, making À Poêle perfect for intimate gatherings and festive indulgence.
Qué Pasa Tapas
Qué Pasa brings Spanish flair to Tai Hang this festive season, offering à la carte specials and a two-course weekday lunch (HK$148, Mon–Fri) from 25 November to 31 December 2025. Feast on shareable highlights such as half Boston lobster juicy rice, charcoal-grilled Tomahawk, baby octopus stew, Iberico ham croquettes, and grilled baby squid with majo verde. Finish with sweet Bartolillos Madrileños. The daily La Siesta Hour (3–6 pm) features drinks and tapas for HK$48, adding a lively, communal touch to this festive dining destination.
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