If you’re a man of appetites, you’ll want to pay attention. There is a slew of new restaurants and bars opening in Asia in August, and here are our picks of the best places to eat and drink in the month ahead.
Whether your tastes run to refined Japanese omakase experiences, nostalgic American diner meals or Latin American barbecue, you’ll find something to enjoy this August. From innovative holes-in-walls to bold culinary creations from acclaimed chefs, Asia’s gastronomic scene continues to heat up across the region. This month, we’re dining out in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. So book a table, grab your favourite partner(s) in culinary crime, and prepare to feast.
Waiting for Clara
Bangkok
Former Sensi chef Christian Martena helms this cleverly-named pop up in Ruamrudee Grove. Waiting for Clara is a chic palate-teaser designed to fill the time as the city awaits the opening of the chef’s new Italian restaurant, Clara, at the end of 2019. Slip in for a hint of what’s to come – think modern Italian dishes and drinks with an Asian touch.
Zest by Konishi
Hong Kong
Acclaimed Japanese chef Mitsuru Konishi makes an acclaimed return to Hong Kong’s dining scene with a multi-faceted concept that’s perfect for
Mahanakhon Bangkok Skybar
Bangkok
Billed as Bangkok’s highest bar and restaurant, the sky-scraping Mahanakhon Bangkok Skybar is
Honjo
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Pirata Group is on a bit of a roll – Honjo is their second Japanese opening in two months and sits next to their more casual eatery, TMK, in Sheung Wan. In a rather upscale setting inspired by the 1950s, Honjo offers diners an elevated Japanese dining experience that draws from different culinary niches. On the menu, you’ll find everything from refined sushi and sashimi to heftier mains – think sea bass with scallion pesto, sesame oil and a teriyaki dip – and tempura made with high-end ingredients like camembert and lobster.
Restaurant Beurre
Singapore
A humble stick of butter has a lot of uses, and this new restaurant in Singapore certainly puts that to the test. Named after the French word for butter, this indulgent restaurant puts the spread to work in a wide range of its dishes. Escargot smothered in truffles and brown butter sauce to start, 10-day butter-aged Angus ribeye to sate your appetite, and peanut butter tart to finish? You could have a coronary just looking at the menu, but what a way to go.
Tell Camellia
Hong Kong
We usually prefer something a little stronger than tea, but when it comes in the form of cocktails by award-winning bartender Gagan Gurung, we can get behind it. Named for the Camellia Sinensis shrub that produces the tea plant, Tell Camellia is a contemporary cocktail bar that mixes up experimental cocktails that blend tea and alcohol. It’s still all a bit hush-hush, but we do know that tea from all over the world – including Kenya, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan – will be used in the tipples.
Capitol Milk Bar
Singapore
Once upon a time – specifically in the ‘60s – Singapore’s landmark Capitol Building hosted the Magnolia Snack Bar, a wholesome, of-the-era diner. Now, the building has been transformed into the Capitol Kempinski hotel, and the diner has been revived as the Capitol Milk Bar, a nostalgic destination that’s an homage to Americana and the Capitol Theatre that also used to stand here. Burgers are de rigueur here, but given a cinematic twist with names drawn from silver screen icons who have been here – think Douglas Fairbanks and Ava Gardner – but you’ll also find hot dogs, milkshakes and sundaes.
Char Line Asado + Bar
Kuala Lumpur
If you happen to be in Malaysia’s capital and are struck with the need to sate a carnivorous appetite, you’ll want to have this new spot on your radar. Inspired by Uruguay’s barbecuing tradition, Char Line Asado + Bar boasts a menu of firewood-charred meats. Everything from veggies and seafood to chicken and beef gets the grill treatment here, but for the indecisive – and with so many choices, who could blame you? – the tasting platters are a good way to split the difference. The Meat & Poultry Tasting Platter comes with the signature Txogitxu ribeye, lamb rack, spring chicken and duck breast; the seafood taster features fish, tiger prawns, squid, and clam; all you need to do is choose your homemade sauce.
Cook & Tras Social Library
Singapore
Tucked away in the Six Senses Maxwell hotel, this social destination takes its design cues from London’s gentlemen’s clubs in a sophisticated gent-friendly setting created by famed designer Jacques Garcia. In the kitchen, chef Ian
Sushi Zo
Hong Kong
World-famous Japanese chef Keizo Seki has finally brought his celebrated omakase concept to Hong Kong with the opening of Sushi Zo in Tai Kwun. On offer here is a sophisticated, chef’s choice 18-course meal that features a mix of soup, sashimi, nigiri, temaki, and dessert. The seafood here is carefully sourced and prepared, and dishes represent different parts of Japan – think seasonal Kuromutsu sashimi from the Shizuoka; O-toro (fatty tuna) from Nagasaki; and Bafun uni from Hokkaido. There are two sittings every night at
Check out Alpha Men’s Wining & Dining page for the latest F&B in Asia.
