The best Italian restaurant in Hong Kong, and other dining tips from a wine importer who’s called the city home for 20 years

Frenchman Hervé Leroux sees the inside of many restaurants as an importer of European wine, and for him one Italian chef-restaurateur stands out in Hong Kong

He likes Han Ah Rum for Korean barbecue, misses the seafood platters at La Coupole in Paris and tips Ristorante Emilia in Ancona, Italy, and its ‘crazy owner’

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Aqua in Tsim Sha Tsui is the best place to take first-time visitors to Hong Kong for dinner in the opinion of French wine importer Hervé Leroux. Photo: Aqua Group

Published: 5:15pm, 29 Dec 2021Updated: 11:31am, 30 Dec 2021

Frenchman Hervé Leroux has been in Hong Kong since 2000. His company, Sino Vantage Asia, imports wine and spirits to East Asian markets, mainly from France and Italy.

When I was a kid, my parents had a garden with vegetables and fruits. My priorities have always been quality and freshness.

As I import many Italian wines, I get many chances to eat Italian, and nothing compares to Umberto Bombana’s places. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Shop 202, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Central, tel: 2537 8859) is my all-time top. I also like Tosca di Angelo (102/F, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, ICC, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2263 2270).

For less formal, Divino Patio (Shop 11, Brim 28, Causeway Centre, 28 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2877 3552) has a nice, relaxing terrace next to my office. Also, Crust Italian (Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, 60-66 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2191 0278), the Campania restaurant, is nice too.

8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana’s home-made roasted mushroom, herbs and mushroom tagliatelle. Photo: Rubison Marketing

As I used to live in Seoul, I like to eat Korean. Arirang (3/F, W Square, 314-324 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2506 3298) is very traditional and their Korean dishes are well done. For barbecue, I like Han Ah Rum (6/F, Causeway Bay Plaza 1, 489 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2866 6927).

For first time visitors, Aqua (17/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3427 2288) is the best spot for dinner. For breakfast or lunch, then it’s China Club (13/F-14/F, Old Bank of China Building, Bank Street, Central, tel: 2521 8888).