Michelin-starred Chinese Concept Hutong Set to Raise the Bar of Dubai’s Culinary Scene this January

29^th December 2019 - Dubai, UAE: Dubai’s fine dining scene is set to welcome a new international favourite in early 2020 with the arrival of the acclaimed Hutong, a contemporary Northern Chinese restaurant and bar concept. From its home in Hong Kong and award-winning location at the iconic Shard in London, Hutong will bring its fresh take on occasionally fiery Northern Chinese dishes served in an elegant space, with a bespoke interior design inspired by ‘The Four Arts’ of the Qing Dynasty.

With its original location in Hong Kong being one of the first Chinese restaurants to ever be awarded a Michelin star, Hutong is the concept of acclaimed restaurateur David Yeo, founder and CEO of Aqua Restaurant Group. The announcement comes after the reveal of the group’s expansion to the US with the opening of two new Hutong restaurants in New York and Miami in 2019.   

The Dubai venue will be located in an enclosed site on the ground and first floors of Gate Building 6, featuring an indoor restaurant, a lounge bar, a private terrace and two private dining rooms. The design throughout has been inspired by the border provinces of the Silk Road, as depicted through the intricate details of the hand-crafted sandstone wall, embodying the crossover between the Chinese and Islamic worlds of design. A unique element and focal point will be an arresting and traditional Wishing Tree structure positioned in the center of the restaurant; a homage to the famous Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in Hong Kong.

The menu, designed by David Yeo, will feature signature dishes from Hong Kong and London, including the famous Red Lantern; crispy soft-shelled crab with dried chilli, and the Halibut Red Star Noodles, as well as new dishes created exclusively for the Dubai restaurant. A centrepiece of the Hutong experience, the bar will also feature an intriguing selection of cocktails and mocktails incorporating Chinese spices and herbs to deliver complex and elevated flavours. 

Hutong Dubai will be open for lunch and dinner starting in January, on the ground floor of Legatum Plaza, Gate Building 6, DIFC.

About Hutong

Reminiscent of an ancient family courtyard in one of Peking's fast disappearing hutongs (courtyard houses set between narrow lanes); Hutong’s interiors are set against the most breathtaking skylines of Hong Kong. The sense of adventure and sheer avant-garde creativity continues in the innovative cuisine inspired by the culinary Lu School from Shandong province. Originally born in Hong Kong nine years ago, Hutong opened in London in 2013. Hutong is part of Aqua Restaurant Group.

About Aqua Restaurant Group

In 2000, former lawyer David Yeo, launched aqua restaurant with a vision to bring some of the chic restaurant buzz of New York, Tokyo and London to Hong Kong. It proved such a phenomenal success that today Aqua Restaurant Group has grown to a formidable culinary empire of more than 20 ground-breaking outlets in London, New York, Miami, Beijing, Dubai and our home Hong Kong.

Throughout the years, Aqua Restaurant Group’s fundamental philosophy has remained unchanged; to prepare exquisite food using the freshest, highest quality produce and to prepare it in a way where the true flavours shine. This is coupled with service that is approachable and unobtrusive, and always in a jaw-dropping stylish environment that features the very best of innovative Asian-inspired contemporary design, right down to the last small details, which has become the hallmark of the Aqua Restaurant Group.

The Group’s portfolio embraces more than six different cuisines with brands headed by aqua and Hutong (famous for its occasionally fiery Northern Chinese cuisine), extending to The Chinese Library and Statement in Hong Kong’s heritage Tai Kwun and Dim Sum Library and Shiro. The Group goes beyond restaurants and bars, operating Hong Kong’s few remaining red-sail Chinese junk boats aqua luna and extending guests' experience of Hong Kong.