Mott 32

Mott 32 is a contemporary Chinese restaurant in the basement of the Standard Chartered Bank Building on Des Voeux Road Central. It describes itself as one of the most awarded Chinese restaurant brands in the world, and the Hong Kong restaurant holds One Diamond in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. The menu draws on the cooking of Canton, Shanghai and Beijing rather than a single regional style.

Much of the appeal is the setting. The interior, which has won design awards, blends New York industrial style with traditional Chinese elements, and the basement location gives it a sense of occasion from the moment you walk down. It works well for a celebration, a business dinner or a first night in the city.

The dish to order is the Peking duck, roasted over applewood after a 42-day preparation, and it is the plate most associated with the restaurant. The Iberico pluma char siu is the other signature, a richer take on Cantonese barbecue pork. The wider menu includes crispy triple-cooked wagyu short rib, Kung Pao lobster, Hong Kong lobster fried rice and dim sum such as the almond chocolate oolong tea xiao long bao, which shows the kitchen's playful side. Japanese Kobe beef is also offered for a bigger splurge.

Mott 32 is open every day for lunch from 11.30am to 2.30pm and dinner from 5.30pm to midnight. Book online through the restaurant's reservation system, by phone or by email, especially for dinner and at weekends. Prices are at the upper end of the market, so lunch can be a lower-cost way to see the room. On Saturdays the restaurant also hosts a weekly party night, which changes the atmosphere later in the evening.

The restaurant suits couples, groups and anyone who wants a stylish night out with Chinese food at its centre. Dishes are made for sharing, so a group of four or more can order a good spread including the duck. Central's bars and restaurants are close at hand for a drink before or after, and the Star Ferry and the harbourfront are a short walk north if you want to see the skyline lit up after dinner.