With a manifesto aimed at welcoming guests with an appreciation of the arts, its hard not to feel completely inspired at the impeccably impressive Duddell’s. Taking the concept of an art gallery and museum and fusing it with a restaurant, bar and garden terrace to become a new “social and cultural destination”, Duddell’s aims to create a space for encouraging new conversations and inspiring new creativity.

Newly-renovated by designer Andre Fu, the one Michelin-starred restaurant presents a new interior for a refined dining experience that pairs the arts with warm-toned furnishings in a forest green and deep red palette. Traditional Chinese window brackets and lighting designed by Fu add to the classic interior. Yet some original details of the former restaurant remain — such as the characteristic stone flooring. Fu’s new interior for Duddell’s sees tones and textures heightened further with exceptional art intertwined within the space. Throughout the interior and across the hallway areas, find curated art and photo exhibitions amongst the restaurant and gallery walls from the owner’s very own private collection. 

At Duddell’s, it is where culture meets cuisine. Their Signature Course Menu covers their iconic highlights, starting with delectable bites: Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling with Australian Scallop and fish roe; Roasted Goose pie with Plum Sauce; Deep-fried Spicy Malt Lobster Spring Roll.

Stand-out dishes included Marinated Wild-Caught Fresh Squid, where each piece was melt-in-your-mouth sumptuous. The iconic Deep-fried Egg Custard with Scallop and Caviar takes guests back to a classic Cantonese street food, followed by a plate of perfectly-grilled Barbecued pork selections.

Executive Chef Chan Yau Leung brings his utmost culinary excellence to Duddell’s. His signature dish, Duddell’s Crispy Local Fried Chicken is unforgettable. Marinated with a special sauce recipe, the meat and skin is then dried for 10 hours. It doesn’t go through the usual deep-frying process, but is rather coated with hot oil scoop by scoop, allowing the chicken to remain juicy inside and crispy on the outside, creating a perfectly-balanced glazing creates a slightly crisp outer and tender body. The chicken was sourced nearby in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Albeit Hong Kong’s diverse culinary landscape, it is still an island and when dining, it always remains a delightful surprise to dine with locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients in the cosmopolitan city.

Other dishes not to miss on the Signature Course Menu: Poached Geoduck with Fresh Fish Rice Broth (elegant with depth), Braised Chinese Spinach with Crab Meat and finally, Fried Rice with Minced A4 Miyazaki Wagyu beef.

For dessert, the Chilled Mango Sago Cream and Walnut Cookie, reflects a perfect finale. Refreshing, pop-in-your-mouth textures that pair well with one of Duddell’s Chinese Teas: Yunnan Age Unknown Pu-er served in a traditional white and red-adorned porcelain teapot. Simply divine.

Duddell’s cocktail menu is inventive and utterly genius. Their theme of Nine Cocktails of Energy and Intention presents cocktails inspired by the ancient Feng Shui map of life’s energies, as each of the nine cocktails reflects one of the nine sectors of the Ba Gua. A stand-out was FIRE, comprised of Ketel One vodka, ginger liqueur, ginseng honey, lemon and egg white. Simply delicious — creamy yet delightfully refreshing.

For non-alcoholic options, discover their Premium Teas such as Fook Ming Tong x Duddell’s Exclusive Blend (Traditional Nanyan Tie Guan Yin with Jasmine Silver Tips) to a rare 2006 Yi Wu Pu Er Disc (Ripe). As they hold one of the most unique selections of Chinese teas on offer, it is a reflection of their creative philosophy “Tea, at the heart of Chinese culture, exemplifies the artistic temperament of the Middle Kingdom as well as modern days, where we wish to continue this practice…”

From the attentive and knowledgable staff to Andre Fu’s new interior across the restaurant and upper bar and lounge floor, Duddell’s remains one of Hong Kong’s most iconic dining destinations.

DUDDELL’S
Level 3, Shanghai Tang Mansion,
1 Duddell Street, Central
Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong
Editor: Joanna Kawecki
Images: Courtesy Duddell’s and The Forks & Spoons