Hidden in the winding lanes of Hong Kong’s lively Soho district, where old-world charm meets modern city life, lies a quiet treasure for food lovers. Just off the busy Hollywood Road, in a small alley, sits Neighborhood—a cozy French-Italian restaurant that’s become one of Asia’s best-kept secrets. There’s no big sign or flashy presence online. Instead, Neighborhood lets its food do the talking. With warm service and incredible dishes, it has quietly won the hearts of those lucky enough to find it.
The journey begins as you turn away from the neon-lit thoroughfare, stepping into a quieter world where the restaurant reveals itself not with grand fanfare, but with subtle sophistication.
The Culinary Maestro
Neighborhood gives off a soft, welcoming glow that catches your eye. Inside, the gentle lighting and white tables create a calm, cozy space where Chef David Lai prepares food that’s both tasty and comforting.
A Hong Kong native whose talent has carried him across oceans, Lai returned to his homeland after honing his craft on America’s West Coast. His prestigious background, including helping to open Spoon by Alain Ducasse, is a prologue to the masterpiece that is Neighborhood. Within these walls, his creativity flows unrestrained, manifesting in dishes that honor European traditions while embracing inventive nuances.
Neighborhood’s creative food has earned it big praise. It was named one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. The Michelin Guide also gave it a star every year from 2023 to 2025, recognizing his skill and passion.
A Canvas of Seasonal Flavors
The menu, a weekly changing canvas, reflects Chef Lai’s commitment to seasonal inspiration. Every plate reflects his respect for tradition, reinvented with modern creativity. Among the notable offerings that have earned acclaim are the garganelli pasta with wild boar, escargot-style pigeon eggs, and bouillabaisse featuring monkfish and lobster. These signature dishes exemplify the chef’s approach to French and Italian cuisine, presenting familiar traditions through his unique culinary lens.
As seasons shift and ingredients transform, so does Neighborhood’s menu, requiring patrons to approach each visit with renewed curiosity. This transience adds another layer of poetry to the experience – the knowledge that each dish exists in a fleeting moment, never to be recreated in precisely the same way again.
A Philosophy of Dining
To step into Neighborhood Hong Kong is to embrace a particular philosophy of dining, one that values quality over quantity, authenticity over pretension. Chef Lai’s approach deliberately avoids culinary theatrics in favor of honest expressions of flavor, allowing ingredients to speak their truth through techniques that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
The restaurant’s physical space mirrors this philosophy – unpretentious yet refined, intimate yet welcoming. Away from the cacophony of Central’s main streets, this culinary haven offers respite and revelation in equal measure. Here, amidst the gentle clink of glasses and murmured appreciation, diners find themselves transported through taste to rustic French countryside and sun-kissed Italian coastlines.
A Final Invitation to Neighbourhood, Hong Kong
For those seeking authentic culinary poetry in Hong Kong’s vibrant landscape, Neighborhood offers verses of flavor composed with passion and precision. Behind its humble entrance lies a world where French and Italian culinary traditions are not merely preserved but reimagined through the visionary lens of Chef Lai.
As the city’s skyline sparkles at night, this quiet bistro on Hollywood Road keeps creating unforgettable meals. It welcomes curious diners to explore a hidden alley, where Neighborhood’s charm blends fine dining with a relaxed, unpretentious feel.
