Consistently one of the most engaging dining experiences in Hong Kong, Amber is a wonderful dining option any time of the year and Richard Ekkebus and his team aren’t taking it easy for the holidays. They have curated festive lunch and dinner menus with intriguing new seasonal flavours such as blue lobster, fermented uni miso and Legras Blanc de Noirs Champagne, among others.

Festive dinner sets for eight courses are available on December 24 and 31 for HK$4,498, and on December 25 for HK$3,398. A four-course (HK$2,398) or six-course (HK$2,698) lunch is available on December 25 and January 1, and these menus are also available with a line-up of Amber’s timeless signatures.

7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 15 Queen’s Road Central. IG: @mo_landmarkhk

Andaz Kitchen

Still in pristine condition having newly opened in September, the Andaz Macau was one of the most anticipated hotel openings in the city this year. To celebrate its first Christmas, Andaz Kitchen, the hotel’s all-day neighbourhood dining destination, is helping guests to savour the holiday spirit with a festive buffet showcasing seafood appetizers, enticing carving stations and signature Portuguese dishes. Special festive hampers are available for anyone wanting to spread joy this Christmas, plus there’s a New Year’s Countdown Party with champagne and canapés for those looking to ring in 2024 in style.

6/F, Andaz Macau, North Tower, Galaxy Macau integrated resort, Macau

Ankôma

Chef de Cuisine Frankie Wong has crafted a festive nine-course tasting menu (HK$1,880) at Ankôma for hungry guests this Christmas. Available from 20 December until New Year’s Eve, the menu is home to a smorgasbord of culinary treats. Highlights include Zuwaigani, a snow crab tartlet with sherry vinegar sheet and battera kombu floss; an unagi course that showcases smoked eel with foie gras mousse on brioche French toast; and Japanese oyster accompanied by Dom Petroff Amursky caviar, sake beurre-blanc, and dill oil (pictured). Hefter courses feature a “lava stone” grilled lobster tail and a chicken course featuring Three Yellow Chicken preparations served four different ways – roasted chicken breast; stuffed chicken wing with ankimo; tsukune yakitori skewer; and dried sakura-ebi chicken rice with vin jaune sauce.

5/F, Kam Lung Commercial Centre, 2 Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @ankoma_hk

Asaya Kitchen

Chef Fabio Nompleggio’s pescatarian Mediterranean concept might be lacking the traditional turkey but it is not short of other flavourful options. A trio of enticing nibbles top the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus (HK$1,388 per person) – comte choux, Kristal caviar and quinoa tacos – before things ramp up with Canadian scallop and winter truffle and a Morel mushroom consommé. Centrepieces include a blue lobster tagliolini served with Bouillabaisse, rosemary and juniper; and a Chilean sea bass enlivened by a Jerusalem artichoke, pickled blueberries and radicchio tardivo. 6/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @asayakitchenhk

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Bedu

Spice things up this season with delectable Middle Eastern offerings courtesy of Bedu’s new head chef Ali Ahmadpour. Believing “the more the merrier”, Ahmadpour has conjured a Christmas tasting menu (HK$580) inspired by traditional family feasts from across the region. The festivities begin with an assortment of cold meze sharing dishes served along with Bedu’s much loved home-made flatbread. Things heat up then thanks to honey-baked feta with crispy potato, and dolmeh. Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a bird, which comes in the form of a turkey ballotine served with onion jam, chorizo and arugula salad on the side.

40 Gough Street, Central. IG: @bedu_hk

Chaat

Following up its hugely popular Diwali set menu, the Rosewood’s famously hard-to-book Indian restaurant has prepared special Christmas Eve dinner (HK$1,588) and Christmas Day lunch (HK$988) menus. Both feature as their stand-out dishes an Awadhi turkey korma, spiced with cardamom, cloves and fennel, and a Christmas pudding kulfi, that are perfect for the festive season. The dinner set also includes, among other dishes, tandoori Wagyu beef cheek and a black truffle biryani to ensure you leave with a proper Santa-esque paunch.

5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @chaathongkong

Chesa

Few places in Hong Kong stoke the festive spirit as well as The Peninsula. And of all its many top quality restaurants, none is cosier come winter than Chesa, the hotel’s Alpine-style Swiss restaurant. Diners have three options to choose from: an early Christmas Eve dinner (HK$1,588), a Christmas Eve gala dinner (HK$2,288) or a set lunch on the 25th (HK$788). Main course options for dinner include grilled A5 Kagoshima beef striploin or a perfectly traditional low-roasted young turkey with chestnut stuffing. All three menus conclude with a sumptuous traditional Christmas pudding with Cognac sauce and Tahitian vanilla ice cream.

1/F, The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @peninsulahongkong

Cornerstone

Shane Osborn’s casual Australian bistro concept has cooked up a Christmas menu (HK$888) that marries traditional holiday favourites with modern culinary techniques. Guests can start with an elegant canapé selection, featuring oyster mousse and Gougère, before delving into shared starters such as Japanese egg custard with Oscietra caviar, and a vibrant beetroot salad fired up with green curry purée. For mains there is a choice from dishes such as poached half of yellow chicken and aubergine katsu. The festivities conclude with a memorable finale in the shape of a delectable spiced chocolate cake.

49 Hollywood Road, Central. IG: @cornerstonehongkong

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Cucina

Chef de cuisine Andrea Delzanno has crafted a memorable Italian set dinner for December 24 and 25 (price TBC). The festivities begin with scampi carpaccio, avocado sauce, lemon oil and oscietra caviar followed by smoked beef consommé, tortellini stuffed with Parma ham and black truffles. The stars of the show, however, are the two FOMO-inducing main courses: fettuccine with wild mushrooms, slow-cooked pigeon breast and pumpkin, and baked fillet of halibut with sun-dried tomatoes and almond pesto, mussels and a Romanesco purée. For those with a sweet tooth, the little Santa Claus dessert promises to be a treat.

6/F, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, 3 Canton Road, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @cucinahk

Felix

As at sister restaurant Chesa, the Christmas dining options are varied at Felix. The Peninsula’s outstanding contemporary European restaurant is serving up classic dishes like Patagonian toothfish with cabbage and Parma ham and a sobrasada sauce, and grilled A4 Kagoshima tenderloin served alongside pumpkin gnocchi with black truffle jus. Pre-Christmas festive menus are available throughout December as well as an extra special Christmas Eve gala dinner set (HK$3,328) and Christmas Day dinner set menu (HK$2,288).

28/F, The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @peninsulahongkong

Flint

The JW’s grill restaurant, Flint, is cooking up special set menus for lunch (HK$988) and dinner (HK$1,288) across the 24th and 25th. Highlights from both menus include lobster bisque, enhanced by cognac cream, and for mains, rosemary apple brined turkey (served with Brussels sprouts, stuffing and giblet gravy for full authenticity), or beef Wellington or baked lobster mac and cheese. If you still have room at the end of your multi-course meal, round things off with Flint’s special Christmas Bell pudding crafted from a delightfully sweet mix of apple cremeux, apple confit, cinnamon caramel cremeux and vanilla biscuit.

5/F, JW Marriott, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. IG: @flinthongkong

Henry

This Christmas, the wood-fired ovens and charcoal grill at Henry are being pressed into service for a selection of festive dishes. Available as part of the Christmas Eve dinner set menu (HK$1,688) and available à la carte on the 25th and 26th are herb roasted turkey with cranberry relish and turkey gravy (HK$658) and smoked prime rib with confit shallot, horseradish crème fraîche and veal jus (HK$998). Other dishes available all three days are the onion soup (HK$198) – elevated with black winter truffles – crab Louie (HK$298) and molten chocolate cake (HK$138) for dessert.

5/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @henrygrillhk

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Lobster Bar & Grill

If you’re looking for fine dining cuisine but in a more relaxed setting, Island Shangri-La’s Lobster Bar and Grill has you covered. Various dining options are available for seasonal celebrations. The Christmas set dinner – four courses for HK$1,488 or six courses for HK$1,688 – tantalises with options like scallop tartare with mandarins and fennel, king crab tart with caviar, and beef Wellington. A three-course set dinner for children is also available, priced at HK$588. Add-on options like a two-hour free-flow are available to up the merriment over the festive period.

6/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty. IG: @lobsterbarhk

Lucciola

There’s more to an Italian Christmas celebration than just panettone – as The Hari’s stand-out Italian restaurant, Lucciola, makes clear. The festive feast begins with sharing plates that include fresh oysters, Alaska king crab leg, scampi and Oscietra caviar (visit The Hari website for a full list of seatings and prices). Antipasto comes in the shape of Il Vitello Tonnato, a traditional festive dish from Piedmont. Entrées such as the 36-egg yolk home-made tagliatelle with aged Grana Padano cheese and seasonal black truffle pave the way for comforting mains like cotechino e lenticchie (stuffed pork sausage with mashed potatoes), prime US rib-eye steak or Chilean sea bass fillet.

1/F, The Hari, 330 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. IG: @lucciola.hk

Man Ho

If a traditional Western Christmas dinner seems a tired exercise this year, Michelin-starred Man Ho is serving an eight-course banquet (HK$1,688) tailored to the season and with each course featuring suitably luxurious ingredients. The meal commences with Man Ho’s signature barbecued pork loin with honey sauce, alongside marinated abalone in black vinegar. Further stand-outs include sautéed lobster fillet with truffle in pumpkin soup, braised Kanto sea cucumber in sour sauce, and deep-fried Australian Wagyu beef cheek served with stir-fried glutinous rice with morel mushrooms. End on a suitably sweet note with a baked mashed chestnut pastry paired with a chilled matcha and red bean dumpling.

3/F, JW Marriott, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. IG: @manhochineserestaurant

Moxie

Christmas may be a time of overindulgence but even over the festive period Moxie remains committed to its central ethos of delivering sustainable and health-conscious dining options that don’t skimp on flavour. The four-course Christmas menu (HK$598) here gets under way with starters such as a black tiger prawn cocktail with an avocado mango twist and a richly flavoured porcini and black truffle soup. The steamed salmon bass with cauliflower cream represents a main course highlight, alongside a balsamic glazed onion tarte paired with braised nori and mustard greens. Sweet endings come in the form of a traditional festive fruit cake and a cinnamon palmier.

Shop 203, 2/F, Alexandra House, Landmark, Central. IG: @moxie_hk

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Paper Moon

Give you and your loved ones an extra special present this year by way of a fantastic festive Italian meal with one of the best views in town. Located on the third floor of Ocean Terminal, Paper Moon has a picture perfect view of Central and landmarks like the Bank of China Tower and IFC. The food is no slouch either. Four-course dinners (HK$1,188) are available on the 23 and 25, while a five-course offering (HK$1,388) can be booked on Christmas Eve. For mains, guests can select either a delectable pan-fried Italian turbot fillet and lobster medallion with Chanterelle mushroom and seafood bisque, or a succulent slow-cooked Italian veal tenderloin with Brussels sprouts, celery root puree and alba white truffle sauce.

Shop OTE 301, 3/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui. IG: @papermoon.hk

The Peak Lookout

Housed in a grade II-listed historical landmark, The Peak Lookout is one of the most scenic spots in Hong Kong to celebrate Christmas. A towering Christmas tree fills the space with Christmas cheer while the set menus (lunch, HK$458, for three courses; dinner, HK$758, for four courses with kids getting two courses for HK$458) fill the stomach. All the classics are here including roasted US turkey roulade or grilled Australian Black Angus sirloin as a choice of main, and a traditional Christmas pudding complete with brandy custard for dessert.

121 Peak Road, The Peak. IG: @thepeaklookouthk

Pirata

One of the best value Christmas offerings in town, Pirata’s festive menu (HK$480, available December 23-26, 30-31, and January 1) has been designed to be shared with friends and family. Seasonal exclusives include the Festive Affettati with the chef’s favourite selection of Italian cold cuts, and beef tenderloin Rossini with foie gras sauce, truffle mashed potatoes and broccolini. For a special seasonal treat, enjoy a festive turkey roll for two: crispy baked turkey thigh stuffed with Italian sausage, with broccolini on the side and a mushroom sauce. Those more into surf than turf will relish the Champagne and Amalfi lemon risotto king prawn combining Carnaroli rice, king prawn, lemon zest and mascarpone. End the night with the home-made clementine sorbet or a panettone della tradizione served with vanilla ice cream.

29/F-30/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. IG: @piratahk

Restaurant Petrus

One of the finest French restaurants in the city, Restaurant Petrus makes for an ideal location for a special Christmas meal. Executive chef Uwe Opocensky has prepared a feast for the Christmas Day set lunch (HK$1,488) and dinner (HK$2,388). Must-try dishes include the Hokkaido potatoes adorned with salmon roe, seaweed and Kristal caviar, and the decadent truffle baba.

56/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty. IG: @restaurant_petrus

Smoke & Barrel

A festive menu isn’t just for Christmas. Popular American barbecue joint Smoke & Barrel is offering its Christmas menu (HK$548) for the entirety of December. Starters include roasted tomato and honey corn salad with crispy pumpkin and Parmesan cheese, and barbecue chicken drumsticks glazed with the restaurant’s signature barbecue sauce and served with jalapeno for some extra kick. Options for mains include a turkey plate or a smoked meat platter with a selection of different cuts. Round things off with a Santa’s Sack Sundae or an All-American Cheesecake.

For anyone thinking ahead to New Year’s Eve, look out for Smoke & Barrel’s Bourbon Street NYE party (HK$988). This year’s theme is a black and white masquerade ball, and will be hosted from 7pm until late. Expect plenty of bites and free-flow drinks.

1/F-2/F, Wyndham Mansion, 32 Wyndham Street, Central. IG: @smokeandbarrelhk

TokyoLima

If a staidly traditional dinner is your idea of a nightmare before Christmas, consider TokyoLima’s festive offerings. At the buzzing Nikkei-style izakaya, culinary director Arturo Melendez has prepared a tantalising array of dishes for his restaurant’s brunch menu (HK$580, available December 23-26, 30-31, and January 1). Tuck into ceviche and other signatures like the kimochi fried chicken, and hamachi and maguro roll. Seasonal mains include the Christmas platter with roasted pork, chicken, grilled picanha and a tantalising selection of fruits and gravy; and the One Night Only, a grilled beef tournedo and cod accompanied by a miso demi-glace sauce. Don’t forget to save room for desserts, including the Santa’s Elves’ Sweets Table dessert station and the Sweet End featuring Christmas fruit cake with cream cheese frosting.

G/F, Car Po Commercial Building, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. IG: @tokyolimahk