Aire I Photo by Tatum Ancheta
Causeway Bay has turned into a hotspot for new dining openings in Hong Kong, thanks to its spacious venues that allow restaurants to expand and cater to tourists, locals, and office workers passing through the area. One of the recent additions to the district is Epicurean Group’s (proprietor of Spanish venues like Pica Pica and BÀRBAR) new Spanish restaurant, Aire. Aire opened its doors in the posh and expansive Lee Garden One and is part of a wave of popular F&B spots emerging in the area.
Watch the video for a sneak preview:
The restaurant aims to transport diners straight to the culinary heart of Barcelona or Valencia. With seating for 80, the venue boasts a spacious, casual design while still offering an upscale dining experience, complete with an al fresco terrace perfect for large gatherings.
Recommended stories:
Asia’s Top Chefs to Serve Signature Dishes in Seoul Ahead of the 50 Best Restaurants Awards
Savor “Brews of Love” with Baccarat at The Aubrey in Hong Kong
Maggie Choo’s in Hong Kong Unveils New Series of Shows and Cocktails
The culinary team is led by Edgard Sanuy Barahona, head of the Spanish division at Epicurean Group, alongside Catalonia-native executive chef Pere Moreno Germès. The open kitchen showcases Spanish flavors centered on Basque grill cuisine, featuring premium seafood and meats sourced directly from Spain, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean.
The venue is perfect for lunch, happy hours, or dinner, where guests can enjoy solo plate tapas as well as larger dishes ideal for sharing. For HKD200 per person, each diner can savor a hearty meal featuring premium ingredients. Guests can order from a selection of vegetable, seafood, and meat tapas with standouts like Oyster Daniele Sorlut (HKD$74/pc) topped with an Ibérico pork jowl slice and olive oil, smoked with applewood and served in a paper bag to retain the flavor and opened straight to your table. Must-tries also include the tasty melt-in-your-mouth eggplant “escalibada” with romesco, topped with almond and spring onion (HKD67) and Galician octopus served over smoked potato (HKD143).
From their Basque parilla, meat lovers can opt for the frilled Castile-La Mancha 600-gram milk-fed lamb shoulder (HKD680) or the Galician dry aged 150-gram sirloin beef (HKD270) served with piquillo peppers.
One of the best dishes that you have to get for sharing would be the Basque-style fish, Spanish whole seabass (HKD560). The fish is grilled and drizzled with hot “Donostiarra” sauce, made with olive oil, garlic, chili, pepper, and cherry vinegar, adding an aromatic finish. It’s delicate, with just the right balance of sourness and garlic taste, while showcasing the true, nuanced flavors of the seabass. For a filling dish, opt for the paellas with selections of seafood fideuà (HKD$185) with squid, prawn, and tomato, topped with an all-i-oli sauce or the seafood black rice with squid ink and all-i-oli (HKD245).
The venue also offers a great selection of drinks to elevate your meal. Choose from various Spanish wines, including Cava, rosé, reds, and whites, available by the glass or bottle. For those seeking something stronger, there’s a selection of Spanish gins, including Nordes Atlantic Galician Gin, Gin Xoriguer from Mahón-Minorca, or Gin Raw from Barcelona (HKD88 to HKD128 per serving).
If you’re out for a happy hour with friends, opt for red, rosé, or white sangria, available by the jug (HKD388) or the glass (HKD98). Their cocktail menu features Wake Me Up (HKD118), a coffee-infused rum-based cocktail with Etxeko Patxarana, a Spanish pacharán liqueur flavored with sloe berries, as well as punchy options like the spicy Paloma twist, Colonial Times (HKD128)—this one is really spicy, so if you can’t handle the heat, consider other refreshing sips. For those abstaining from alcohol, the non-alcoholic beverage Fruits of the Forest (HKD98) is made with Seedlip, a blend of various berry juices and a sweet and sour mix.
Aire is located at Shop No. 301B-302, 3/F, Lee Garden One, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, and is open from Monday to Sunday, 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10pm. For more info, visit epicurean.com.hk or follow them on Instagram at aire.hk.
Follow DrinkCollectiv on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more drink news and all the latest sips and tips!
