Intriguing confluence of authentic Cantonese cuisine, fine wine & vintage cocktails, and sophisticated art gallery.

September 30th, 2013

December 2013 Update- Duddell’s has been awarded their first star in the Michelin 2014 Hong Kong guide.

ABOUT
An admirable collaboration between three of Hong Kong’s leading restaurant and hospitality entrepreneurs, each with a shared passion for enhancing the creative movement within Hong Kong, inspired the concept behind the creation of Duddell’s. Co-founders of The Press Room Group of restaurants- Alan Lo and Paulo Pong, joined with Yenn Wong- the entrepreneur behind the JIA boutique hotels and fashionable restaurants including 22 Ships, 208 Duecento Otto, and its recently opened next door neighbour, ChaChaWan- to create the impressive Duddell’s that opened in June 2013. The tantalisingly inviting space was created by acclaimed London-based interior designer Ilse Crawford- artfully recreating the essence of a private art collector’s luxurious residence. Duddell’s entices visitors with a uniquely immersive experience that encompasses fine Cantonese cuisine, exquisite vintage cocktails, and relaxed socialising- set against a backdrop of art exhibitions and cultural engagement.

Duddell’s occupies an expansive space set across two levels of the prestigious Shanghai Tang Mansion– home to the three story flagship store of the renowned home-grown luxury fashion and lifestyle brand- conveniently adjacent to the heart of Hong Kong’s Central business district. Open Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm, lunch and dinner are served in the Duddell’s Dining Room, and all-day snacks complement the beverages and cocktails in the upper level Salon & Garden Terrace. A Saturday Salon Brunch has been recently introduced- including the option of free-flow Perrier Jouet Champagne.

Duddell’s Members enjoy added benefits including the private Library space, monthly programs of Salon Discussions, film screenings, and other social events. For membership inquiries, contact the reception at Duddell’s directly.

DUDDELL’S CANTONESE RESTAURANT
Ensuring a truly authentic and finely executed Cantonese cuisine, the kitchen team at Duddell’s is headed by Executive Chef Siu Hin Chi, widely respected from his time at the venerable T’ang Court, a Michelin-starred local Cantonese restaurant. An extensive a la carte menu features a panoply of Cantonese favourites, uniformly exceptional, and with stand out signature dishes such as Fried fresh lobster, scallion and shallots; Pan-fried fresh crab claw with caviar; Fried beef cube with wasabi and soy sauce; Crispy salted chicken; and Sautéed asparagus, water chestnut and macadamia nut in taro nest. While the cuisine is firmly grounded in traditional Cantonese ingredients, flavour combinations and cooking techniques, presentation embraces an attractive, contemporary aesthetic.

In addition to the a la carte menu, at lunch Duddell’s also serves a sumptuous selection of over twenty varieties of classic Cantonese dim sum. Guests upstairs at the Salon, Garden Terrace and Library can also order, throughout the day, selections of dim sum, and rice and noodle dishes.

SALON MIXOLOGY & CLASSIC WINES
The beverage program is distinguished by the exceptional wine list personally curated by Duddell’s co-founder Paulo Pong. Focusing on a comprehensive representation of First Growth Bordeaux wines, and other classic “Old World” wines of drinkable vintages, the list also features Chateau Mouton Rothschild wines with labels dedicated to art- important international artists including Picasso, Andy Warhol, Chagall, as well as Chinese artists Xu Lei and Gu Gan, were commissioned by the esteemed winery to create the labels.

And at the Salon bar, a collection of vintage-referenced cocktails have been especially created for Duddell’s by locally-based French mixologist Alexandre Chatté. Each of the ten Chinese-inflected cocktails feature well-balanced combinations of local herbs, spices and ingredients to create a distinctive interpretation of classic vintage cocktails. Exemplifying the concept are drinks such as Special Administrative Sazerac House– a blend of Cognac and rye whisky aged in bamboo flavored with Szechuan peppercorn and hibiscus; Pearl River Cobbler– with sherry, lychee, passion fruit, orange vermouth; and Imperial Spitz– Pimm’s, tea liquor, old barrel bitter, Prosecco.

DUDDELL’S ART PROGRAM
Duddell’s monthly art program hosts world class exhibitions curated by prominent art personalities, supplemented by a series of panel discussions, performances, film screenings and other events led by Hong Kong’s cultural innovators. Upcoming events are posted on Duddell’s Facebook Page, and in a monthly printed chronicle.

Open reception and staircase atrium- connecting the lower Restaurant level with the upper level Salon and Garden Terrace.  Exquisite premium quality “vein-cut” travertine is utilised extensively on both wall and floor surfaces. Significant artworks are displayed throughout the various spaces of Duddell’s.

Duddell’s Cantonese Restaurant 

The generously proportioned dining room is a gorgeous space exuding a refined but relaxed elegance. A palette of muted natural tones combine with white linen table cloths and an uncluttered contemporary decor to create a comfortable yet vibrant environment for convivial dining.

Looking across the dining room from the entrance- two (of three) private dining rooms are set into the back section of the space.

Artworks from curated exhibitions are unobtrusively showcased on the restaurant walls.

Elegant dining setting in one of the private rooms.

Authentic Cantonese cuisine

Pan-fried Fresh Crab Claw with Caviar (HK$220)

Deep-Fried Prawn and Sauteed Prawn with Asparagus (HK$320) . Signature dish.

Duddell’s upper level- Salon & Garden Terrace- Library

The contemporary decor of the Salon space on the upper level evokes the laid-back feel of a luxurious private residence. Sliding glass doors open onto the open-air Garden Terrace.

The expansive outdoor Garden Terrace offers a verdant green oasis in the heart of the city ideal for relaxed conversations and drinks on a balmy evening. 

Looking across the main Salon floor space. In the far corner adjacent to the stairwell- discretely accessed through a curtained doorway- The Library is a private “Members only” room.

Vivid orange-red sofa settings stretch across the back wall in a separate zone within the Salon.

Inside The Library- a members-zone for quiet conversations or reading. Significant art works are featured on the walls.

Further view inside The Library- looking back towards the entrance and stairwell. Sheer curtains across the entrance provide separation from the main Salon area. 

The lustrous Salon bar is set behind a cut-out section of the travertine- faced wall at the far end of the upper level space.

Vintage Cocktail highlights

Hong Konger- Smoked bourbon, plum wine, lemon juice, sugar
“Taken from the New Yorker cocktail, it was time to refresh it and give it a bit of the fragrant harbour.”

5 Spice Margarita- Cinnamon and vanilla tequila, fennel seed, clove, grapefruit juice.
“Classic margarita with Asian influences added.”

Gong Bi Mary- Home-made Bloody Mary mix, lemon juice, pepper vodka, bell pepper, tomato juice.
“Gong Bi, meaning meticulous, is an old Chinese painting technique. The idea was to be as meticulous and precise in this recipe as was the ancient painting style.”

NEW- Saturday Salon Brunch

Duddell’s- Restaurant & Salon- Hong Kong

Address: Levels 3 & 4, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central. Hong Kong
MTR:  Central- Exit G
Reservations: +852. 2525 9191
Website:    www.duddells.co/ 
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/Duddells
Opening hours: 
Monday to Thursday 12:00 pm ~ 12:00 am  
Friday & Saturday: 12:00 pm ~ 01:00 am
Saturday Salon Brunch– unlimited selection of delicious dishes + FREE-FLOW Perrier Jouet Champagne, red & white wine and soft beverages  HK$580+ per person or HK$480+ per person with free-flow fresh juices and soft drinks.
Attire:  Smart casual