Finesse Patisserie (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Finesse Patisserie is a highly regarded local dessert shop known for its elegant, handcrafted French pastries with a touch of local flair. It blends high-end techniques from Michelin-starred kitchens (like L’Envol) with innovative flavors. First launched in 2022, the brand has evolved from an online concept to a physical boutique on hilly St. Francis Street in May 2025.

While I fully expected to see some of the usual suspects such as Mont Blanc and mille-feuille here, I was pleasantly surprised to find desserts driven by seasonal ingredients like fig and pink pomelo this afternoon.

Finesse Patisserie doesn’t offer a wide variety of items, but what it lacks in range, it more than makes up for in its focus on high-quality ingredients, meticulous craftsmanship, and the balance between classic French tradition and modern innovation.

Pecan Speculoos ($78) – I was looking for something different, perhaps more towards the nutty variety than the usual fruity options, and this creation, with pecan praline, speculoos crémeux, and vanilla, fit the bill perfectly.

French desserts made with pecans don’t exactly grow on trees, so I decided to jump all over this one.

It was truly a nut lover’s dream. A crisp speculoos sablé base topped with layers of pecan nut cream and velvety speculoos crémeux. But what really tied everything together was the sea salt pecan praline with a surprisingly savory-sweet twist that cut through the richness of the dessert seamlessly.

Judging by the design and execution of this small dessert, you can really see the masterful craftsmanship behind the team. This one is definitely worth a return trip.

Food Rating: 7.2/10

Price: $$$$

Address: Shop B2, G/F, 9-11, St Francis Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Wanchai

Website: https://finesse-patisserie.com/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 7:00pm (Wed - Sat), 12:00pm - 6:00pm (Sun)

Bakehouse Wanchai (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

It's been a while since I spoiled my little nugget with Bakehouse's sourdough egg tarts.

I was trying to see if they have any new creations, including a BBQ pork pie I saw Greg demonstrated on the social media. It’s obviously not a regular menu item — more like an off-menu special.

Sourdough Egg Tart ($12.5) – Still the best in the business, despite all the competitors trying to replicate the recipe.

The pastry was incredibly flaky and had a slight chewiness (in a good way), perfectly complementing the smooth and rich egg custard on top.

Food Rating: 7/10
Price: $$$
Address: G14 Tai Wong Street East, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Wanchai
Website: https://bakehouse.hk/

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

Santorini Greek Taverna QRE Plaza (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Work has kept me busy lately, so I really haven't had the chance to enjoy a full lunch for weeks. But today was the exception. With an important meeting in the afternoon (though no presentation from me), I finally had the chance to meet up with a good colleague of mine at QRE Plaza in Wanchai for a 1.5-hour lunch.

Santorini Greek Taverna is a name I'm familiar with thanks to my strolls in Soho, but I didn’t realize they had a branch in Wanchai as well.

Yes, I could definitely use a big salad like this. The garden leaves were nice and crisp, while the cherry tomatoes added a lovely acidity to the mix. The feta cheese on top was a nice touch, too.

This was even better than the salad, a nice bowl of penne tossed in a creamy sauce with chicken and mushrooms. A simple and hearty dish, done right.

I have to admit, I’m no fan of chocolate brownie cake. A little too rich and heavy for lunch, I’m afraid.



Still, it was nice to have a relaxing lunch for a change. I really don’t mind my solo meals at cha chaan tengs, but this was a refreshing change of pace for a Friday afternoon.

Food Rating: 5.8/10

Price: $$$

Address: 5/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai , Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Wanchai

Tel: +852 2887-8700

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:00pm - 12:00am (Tue - Sun)