Estro

What to Expect at Estro

Estro opened in 2021 on the second floor of 1 Duddell Street in Central; a building that has become one of Hong Kong's more reliable addresses for fine dining. Chef Antimo Maria Merone, a Naples native who has worked in Hong Kong since 2012, runs a kitchen built around the logic of Neapolitan tradition without the sentimentality that usually comes with it. The cooking here is precise and ingredient-driven: think handmade bottoni pasta stuffed with parmesan emulsion and finished with saffron glaze, or red prawn panna cotta topped with caviar. These are not crowd-pleasing fusion moves, they are technically demanding plates that ask the kitchen to be exact and ask the diner to pay attention.

For first-timers, the choice of menu format matters. Estro offers both a six-course and an eight-course tasting menu. If this is your first visit and you want the full picture of what Merone's kitchen can do, the eight-course is the stronger call. If you are more wine-focused and want to pace the evening differently, the six-course leaves room. The restaurant is also positioned as a wine bar alongside its restaurant identity, so the list will reward attention, though specific selections are best confirmed when you book.

The chef's table option is worth knowing about for anyone who wants a more direct read on the kitchen. It offers a closer vantage point on the cooking and, if timing works, some interaction with Merone himself. This is a practical tip for first-timers who want more than a passive tasting experience: request it when you make your reservation, not as an afterthought on the night.

Late Dining at Estro

One thing that works in Estro's favor for a Hong Kong evening is the kitchen schedule. Tuesday through Saturday, service runs until 11 PM, with last dinner seatings at 6:30 PM. That means if you are coming from another part of the city, or want to take a drink at one of the Duddell Street bars first, you have flexibility in how you structure the night. Estro is closed Monday and Sunday, so those are nights to redirect to other options. For late dining in the $$$$ bracket in Central, the 11 PM kitchen close puts Estro among the more generous windows in the neighbourhood. Compared to some of its peers, which close the kitchen closer to 10 PM, the extra hour matters if you want to eat well without rushing.

The Duddell Street address also helps with pre- or post-dinner logistics. Central is walkable to a number of wine bars and cocktail venues, so the evening can be extended without a taxi. For visitors staying in Central or Admiralty, this is a low-friction dinner option in terms of geography. For those coming from further afield, say, Kowloon or the west side of the island, factor in travel time when booking the later seating.

Awards and Track Record

Estro's recognition has accelerated quickly since opening. The Opinionated About Dining Asia ranking moved from number 143 in 2023 to number 67 in 2025, the La Liste score sits at 84 points for 2026. The World's 50 Best Asia placement at number 32 in 2025 is the headline credential for first-timers weighing whether this is a serious room or a well-marketed one. It is serious. For context, that ranking puts Estro alongside restaurants that have been operating for a decade or more, Merone's kitchen reached this tier in roughly three years.

If you have eaten at comparably awarded Italian restaurants elsewhere, 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong or Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo as reference points for the European fine dining register, Estro operates in the same register of technical seriousness, with a narrower, more personal culinary focus. If you have been to Le Bernardin in New York or Alinea in Chicago and want to apply that standard to Hong Kong Italian, Estro is the answer.

Practical Details

Address: 2/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, lunch 12 PM to 3 PM, dinner 6:30 PM to 11 PM. Closed Monday and Sunday. Price range: $$$$. Booking difficulty: near-impossible without advance planning, secure your reservation before you land. The chef's table is available for those who want a closer experience; request it at the time of booking. For more on where to eat, drink, stay around this part of the city, see our full Hong Kong restaurants guide, our full Hong Kong bars guide, and our full Hong Kong hotels guide.