Gelato Messina (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Gelato Messina, a popular gelato brand that originated in Australia, has always been one of my favorites thanks to its high-quality, artisanal gelato. I was so excited to see them open their Hong Kong location in 2021, bringing the brand's renowned flavors and unique creations to the city.

Their gelato is known for its rich, creamy texture and bold flavors. Since I hadn't visited in over a year, I thought I should check them out while I was in Central this afternoon.

Pistachio Praline & 'Cheesecake for a Cause' ($85) – As usual, the texture was perfectly creamy, just the way I like it but I did a poor job of picking out my flavors this afternoon. I thought I could distinguish between the nutty and cheesy flavors, but it turned out I couldn't.

Gelato Messina and Liz & Tori are probably two of my favorite gelateria in Central right now. And speaking of the latter, I think it's about time that I pay them another visit.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F 37-43 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Central

Website: www.gelatomessina.com.hk

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 10:00pm (Mon - Thu), 12:00pm - 11:00apm (Fri - Sun)

LY Bakery Flagship 享樂烘焙 旗艦店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

LY Bakery (享樂烘焙) is a local bakery chain founded by two passionate bakers. They have several locations across Hong Kong but somehow we never crossed path until 2025, when they opened their flagship location at New World Town Hall, right in my neighborhood. That finally got my attention.

A few months following their soft-opening, I decided to come in for a closer look.

It was told that LY is famous for their custard-filled buns and bagels which come in different flavors and fillings. Their sourdough bread were also something to die for.

In addition to their bread and bagel, there's a small counter featuring pastries like tiramisu, chocolate cake, and lemon tarts.

The bakery also includes a cozy dine-in café, which, in my experience, is always bustling with customers. This afternoon, I decided to find out myself if they're as good as advertised. 

Black sesame mille flan ($22) – I thought the entire custard was infused with black sesame but it turned out that only the top layer was. While this was OK, I thought the crust wasn't as flaky as I first hoped. 

Tiramisu ($32) – The price seemed a little steep for a tiny cup of tiramisu like this. I had a hard time spooning it out of the plastic container. Like the mille flan, I thought this was decent. The flavors were all there but the texture was a little too custardy for me. 

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop G03 & 04, G/F, 83 King Lam Street, Lai Chi Kok, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Lai Chi Kok

Tel: +852 2895-2122

Opening Hours: 7:30am - 7:00apm (Mon - Fri), 8:30am - 7:00pm (Sat - Sun) 

Birdsong, Kimpton Hong Kong 香港尖沙咀金普頓酒店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

It’s been a while since Hong Kong welcomed a brand-new high-end hotel, so so when news broke that Kimpton Hong Kong would be soft-opening in September, it immediately piqued my interest. Naturally, I was most curious about the food and beverage options the hotel would offer.

According to the official announcement, a diverse selection of restaurants is set to open within the hotel. However, as of now, only Birdsong — a café and bar located in the lobby has opened its doors. In partnership with Elephant Grounds, Birdsong currently serves a small all-day menu featuring light pastries (think éclairs and cream puffs), salads, sandwiches, alcoholic drinks and beverages.

Being the curious person that I am, I decided to drop by the hotel while I was in Tsim Sha Tsui this afternoon. I took the opportunity to check out the space and ended up sitting down at Birdsong for a quick drink and bite.

Cacao éclair ($52) – The choux pastry came with a hint of sea salt, offering a savory-sweet contrast to go with the light chocolate mousse made from Conspiracy Chocolate. While the mix of flavors was somewhat interesting, the texture was a little underwhelming. The éclair didn’t deliver that rich, buttery goodness I was hoping for, resulting in an overall mouthfeel that was average at best.

Hong Kong milk tea ($50) – This was a bit of a letdown. The tea was on the lighter side and overpowered by the excess of milk, resulting in a lack of balance.

To their credit, the café itself is pretty cozy. It was an inviting space where I could easily spend a couple of hours reading a novel or catching up on work. While the food and drink didn’t blow me away this time, there’s potential here, especially as the rest of the hotel’s dining options will soon come to life.

Food Rating: 5.5/10

Price: $$$

Address: 15/F Kimpton Hotel, 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui / Tsim Sha Tsui

Tel: +852 3919-6888

Website: https://www.kimptonhongkong.com/

Kai Kai Dessert Flagship 佳佳甜品 佐敦總店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Kai Kai Dessert (佳佳甜品) has long been regarded as an institution for traditional Cantonese sweet soups in Hong Kong. Last month, news broke that after 45 years at their iconic Ning Po Street location, they would be relocating their flagship store to nearby Parkes Street (白加士街). Naturally, I thought this was the perfect excuse to check out the new space and see how things are shaping up.

Black sesame sweet soup (芝麻糊) ($30) – Kai Kai is best known for its rich black sesame soup and tong yuen (glutinous rice balls), so it only made sense to enjoy both in one go.

As usual, I am having the glutinous rice balls with my black sesame sweet soup. $8 for three tong yuens. Not a bad deal at all.

The sweet soup itself was just as thick, nutty, and satisfying as I remembered but I thought the tong yuen didn’t quite live up to the usual standard. Kai Kai has always had a reputation for serving some of the thinnest rice ball wrappers in the business, but these felt noticeably thicker, and the filling seemed slightly skimpier than before.

That said, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the kitchen is having an off day fresh off the relocation. I’ll definitely be checking back in a couple of months to see if they’ve found their rhythm again.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: $$$

Address: 113-115 Parkes Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Jordan

Tel: +852 2384-3862

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 1:00am daily

Australia Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I decided to make a nostalgic return to Australia Dairy Company (澳洲牛奶公司), a beloved tourist spot that I used to visit a lot when I was younger.

Just a week before the "National Day Golden Week", the usual tourist crowds haven't shown up yet so I was pleasantly surprised to get a table without any wait.

Their iced milk tea remains as dependable as ever: velvety smooth with just the right amount of milk to balance the richness of the tea.

I wasn’t particularly hungry, so I kept it simple with some buttered toast and scrambled eggs.

The eggs could’ve been a touch runnier but I wasn’t about to complain. Sometimes, it’s not about perfection. It's just the comfort of being back at a familiar place.

Food Rating: 6/10
Price: $$$
Address: G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Jordan
Tel: +852 2730-1356
Working Hours: 7:30am - 11:00pm (Fri - Wed), closed on Thursday

Twinkle Elephant Maritime Square 泰作 青衣城 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Super Typhoon Ragasa (颱風樺加沙) is expected to make its presence felt in Hong Kong within a few hours. With the storm approaching fast, we were all released early from work. After giving it some thoughts, my family had decided that it would be safer to retreat to a secure location rather than ride it out at home.

But first, a quick lunch at Twinkle Elephant (泰作) in Maritime Square (青衣城). The calm before the storm. It was business as usual here.

Thai milk tea – Silky smooth and packed with sweetness.

Pad thai – This was better than I thought. The thin noodles were nicely tossed in the tangy sauce with just the right kick of heat. Not bad.

Of course, this guy doesn't care as long as he has arcade games to play.

We were supposed to get started on our typhoon prep but I still have an online meeting to attend. The chaos can wait (just a little longer).

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 302, 3/F, Maritime Square 1, 31-33 Tsing King Road, Tsing Yi, NT, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Tsing Yi

Tel: +852 3488-8352

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:30pm daily

Restaurant Petrus (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

It’s been a hard-fought couple of weeks at work so I decided to reward myself with a decent lunch at Restaurant Petrus on a Friday afternoon. It’s my second visit to the esteemed French fine-dining institution in 2025 and I recalled my last visit in March as one of the best in recent memory, both in terms of food and service.

Weather wasn’t the best this afternoon but I didn’t get a table by the window anyways.

Scallop carpaccio, yuzu ponzu – This actually arrived ahead of my amuse.

Thick-cut Hokkaido scallop carpaccio (A thick carpaccio, an oxymoron?) was served with yuzu ponzu, puff rice and perilla. The combination of lovely textures was complemented nicely by the burst of acidity. Underneath the scallops were finely diced pickled vegetables and fruits that added a satisfying crunch to each bite. A simple yet incredibly satisfying dish.

At this point in time, my amuse bouche finally arrived. There was the smoked eel tart topped with sour cream, which was packed with smoky flavors. It was accompanied by a flower and herb waffle, flavored with curry.

The waffle was intended to be enjoyed with the herb yoghurt infused with what I thought was coriander oil.

Things started to get busy for me with their homemade brioche (chosen over a French baguette). 

It was served with two types of butter. An unsalted one (left) and a seasoned one with spring onions (right). I have to say, the salted one was pretty addicted.

Oyster velouté, Ostra regal, crouton – Oyster velouté was next, and there was the Ostra regal oyster alongside some crispy croutons.

Once my server finished pouring the oyster velouté, I took a deep breath to inhale the aroma. The creamy soup, made with oysters, fish stock, and lemon zest, was intensely flavorful and rich in oceanic umami but there was also a strong burst of acidity (lemon?) there which I thought was somewhat too dominant.

Three yellow chicken, matsutake, Albufera – Dry-aged and beautifully roasted three yellow chicken with matsutake mushrooms and mushroom purée, and bok choy.

There were two accompanying emulsions for the chicken: first, an Albufera sauce made with chicken and foie gras, which was rich and thick, and then a much lighter chicken foam each delivering a sublime finish to the dish. The mushrooms did a particularly nice job of tying everything together.

Hazelnut, chocolate, smoked vanilla – Dessert was chocolate with smoky vanilla ice-cream, and nutty hazelnut sauce made with Piedmont hazelnut. Nothing fancy, but very comforting and satisfying for the palate.

To round off the meal, some orange peel chocolate strips, chocolate truffle, and French cookie.

During my last two visits, I’ve really sensed that they have upped their game with both their food and service. This is likely the reason for the nice crowd on a Friday afternoon.

Food Rating: 7.7/10

Price: $$$$
Address: 56/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Admiralty
Tel: +852 2820-8590
Website: Link
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:30pm - 11:00pm daily

Bakehouse Bakery & Restaurant Shatin (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

This is really fantastic news for Bakehouse fans that they’ve finally opened a full sit-down restaurant (outside of their Wan Chai flagship) offering a kitchen and, a full food and drink menu, alongside their beloved bakery.

Of course, the takeaway bakery is still very much the heart and soul of Bakehouse.

But the addition of a sit-down dining space with an all-day menu featuring dishes like salads, beef tartare, pork schnitzel, grilled spring chicken, and more? That’s a total game-changer.

Shatin is a bit out of the way for me but I do occasionally come here for business.

Like today, I happened to be in the area so naturally, I had to swing by to pick up a few of our family’s all-time favorites: their amazing sourdough egg tarts. Still just $12.5 each, and still absolutely worth every cent.

Now I just need to come up with a good excuse to visit on a weekend, because this new Bakehouse location is calling my name.

Food Rating: 7/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 247, 2/F, New Town Plaza Phase I, 18-19 Sha Tin Centre Street, Shatin, Hong Kong

Closest Train Station: Shatin

Website: https://www.bakehouse.hk/locations#Shatin

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm (Mon - Thu), 8:00am - 9:30pm (Fri - Sun)

Kwan Hong Bakery 均香餅家 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Kwan Hong Bakery (均香餅家) is a beloved family-run shop in Sham Shui Po (or Shek Kip Mei, depending on how you look at it) with over 40 years of history. It's well-known for blending traditional Chinese pastries with creative, modern flavors.

I first heard about Kwan Hong a few years ago, fresh off the end of the pandemic. What caught my attention back then were their inventive creations especially the double pistachio mooncakes, which were unlike anything I'd seen before.

Last year, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, I tried to hunt down some of their traditional mooncakes but with more than 100 people lined up outside the store, I decided to move on. This year, I was a little more prepared. And since we were already in the area for dinner tonight, I figured we could swing by and finally get our hands on a few of their signature treats.

Banana cake (香蕉糕) – Not many traditional Chinese bakeries make these anymore, which is a shame. This nostalgic snack brought back memories of the good old days — sweet, sticky, and bursting with banana flavor.

Double pistachio mooncake (雙重開心果月餅) – This was the main reason for our visit and it did not disappoint.

Underneath its slightly flaky crust was a layer of crushed American pistachios, surrounding a centre of Italian pistachio cream.

Definitely a pistachio lover's dream.



We also picked up a few of their traditional mooncakes with lotus seed paste. While still enjoyable, I found the filling to be a bit drier and less rich compared to the pistachio version. It just didn’t have the same indulgent mouthfeel.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, 203 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Shek Kip Mei

Tel: +852 2777-0719

Opening Hours: 8:30am - 10:00pm daily