Hawk & Aster Grand Café is an all-day dining restaurant on the level one of the Pacific Place shopping mall at Admiralty on Hong Kong Island. Open seven days a week, it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as brunch on weekends. It features a Mediterranean-inspired menu, with what it calls a “Green Kitchen” concept.
In This Post
The Back Story
I had walked past Hawk & Aster Grand Café on countless occasions, since it is strategically located near the basement entrance of Pacific Place, which links the stylish shopping mall to the Admiralty MTR station.
But for some reason I had never eaten there. In the mood for a something special, I decided to peruse the set menu and see if there was anything that looked appetizing.
There was! A set dinner that included poached salmon, one of my favorite dishes, and asparagus, which I think is the perfect accompaniment to salmon!
Hawk & Aster – Restaurant Overview
I was curious about the restaurant’s seemingly poetic name – Hawk & Aster, and this is what I turned up.
It was suggested by MAG Design Studio, the Hong Kong-based design firm that developed the restaurant’s interior.
Known for their narrative-driven approach to spatial design, MAG paired the hawk, a symbol of strength and precision, with the aster, a delicate flower representing elegance and calm. This duality sets the tone for the entire space.
Their concept centers on the graceful moment a hawk lands on an aster bloom—a metaphor for balance between boldness and serenity. As MAG describes it:
“The space captures the delicate moment of a hawk landing on an aster—strength meeting serenity in a setting that feels both grounded and ethereal.”
This vision comes to life through flowing ceiling curves reminiscent of petals, a soft color palette, and an atmosphere that invites diners to slow down and savor their meal.
Hawk & Aster –The Menu
Hawk & Aster Café has a Mediterranean-inspired kitchen, with a focus on sustainability.
The breakfast, lunch, all-day, and weekend brunch menus are well-curated rather than encyclopaedic in scope, offering both prix fixe and à la carte options.
Dishes showcase inventive pairings that blend classic brasserie fare with global influences, reflecting the kitchen’s creative spirit.
The Three Course Prix Fixe Menu
The three course prix fixe menu at Hawk & Aster Cafe offered a well-balanced progression of starters, entrées, and desserts, with choices that leaned toward the classic, but which included a few indulgent twists.
For starters, there were daily soup, foie gras glazed terrine, and baked escargot.
For entrees, there were slow poached salmon fillet, bavette steak (which was pricier than the other options), and grilled chicken.
For desserts, there were two options: crème brûlée and wild berries and vanilla ice cream.
My First Course
For my first course, I chose the Foie Gras Glazed Terrine, which came with toast and red onion jam.
It was absolutely divine—rich, indulgent, and beautifully balanced. Unfortunately, it was a bit confusing as to how you were supposed to eat it.
The foie gras was a bit crumbly, so you couldn’t simply break off a piece of toast and spread some on it with your knife.
Where is William Hanson when you need him? I noticed a diner at another table slicing off a chunk and sandwiching it between two pieces of toast.
Oh, well. It was delicious, which is all that counts.
My Main Course
My main course was a no brainer. This is what I saw on the menu outside that is what attracted me in the first place: the Slow Poached Salmon Fillet.
It turned out to be a perfectly poached salmon filet, whose tissue paper skin had been skilfully cooked and artistically placed atop the fillet.
The salmon was paired with a mouth-watering Grilled Avocado & Mango Salsa, which brought a vibrant contrast to the richness of the salmon.
The accompaniment was asparagus, which went perfectly with the salmon. I often wed asparagus with salmon at home. I think of them as a marriage made in culinary heaven.
My Dessert
The only difficult choice, really, was my dessert.
Both options sounded irresistible, so I finally asked for the waitress’s opinion, and she recommended the Crème Brûlée.
OMG! The caramelized top was perfectly crisp, giving way to the rich, velvety vanilla custard beneath.
Each spoonful was pure indulgence. A textbook execution of a classic, and the ideal sweet note to end a perfect meal.
My Beverages
I ordered a 2022 Astrolabe, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a light-bodied, crispy wine with a hint of citrus from New Zealand.
It paired perfectly with the foie gras and salmon, complementing their richness with refreshing clarity.
My only disappointment is that my second glass of wine arrived after I had finished my main course and started my dessert. I wasn’t expecting it to take that long.
I know that coffee is supposed to follow dessert. But with Crème Brûlée, I would have preferred to wash it down with coffee rather than wine.
Not to worry. It was a generous cup, so I shouldn’t complain!
Hawk & Aster – Green Kitchen Concept
The Hawk & Aster Grand Café isn’t just about Mediterranean flavors and stylish interiors—it’s also committed to sustainability.
As part of Swire Properties’ Green Kitchen initiative, the restaurant incorporates eco-conscious practices like food waste recycling, water usage management, and energy-saving solutions.
It’s a thoughtful layer that complements the café’s fresh, ingredient-driven menu and adds substance to its style.
The Service and Ambiance
Hawk & Aster Grand Café exudes a contemporary tropical vibe, with lots of greenery.
The abundant use of palm fronds gives the space an almost resort-like feel.
Opening onto the mall, it has a relaxed and spacious ambiance, and the seating is comfortable.
While the staff were friendly, I would have liked it if I my second glass of wine had arrived faster, and I was asked if I wanted my coffee with or after dessert.
Total Damage (including 10% service charge): HK$616 (US$77; 2,540 baht).
The Verdict
Despite the minor lapses in service (which, to be honest are pretty common in Hong Kong), the food was delicious and beautifully plated, the ambiance was relaxed, and the staff were friendly.
I would have to give Hawk & Grand Café an enthusiastic two thumbs up, and I do plan on eating there again.
The Location
The Hawk & Aster Grand Café – Shop 008, LG1, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Pacific Place
Located at One Queen’s Road East in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island, Pacific Place opened in 1988.
The four-level shopping mall has more than 160 shops, boutiques, food-and-beverage outlets, a department store, a movie theater, and a large supermarket.
In addition, there are five office towers, three five-star hotels, a boutique hotel, three office towers, and 270 serviced apartments. Escalators link Pacific Place to Hong Kong Park.
