If you want more than just a buffet brunch on the weekend, then book in for the nine-course offering from Olé, and enjoy amazing food, service and wonderful music
Yes. We love a brunch as much as the next person, but we have pretty high standards when it comes to free-flow brunches in Hong Kong. We love a brunch with atmosphere (like the wonderful brunch at Red Sugar) and of course the food has to be on point too (case and point: Champagne Brunch on the Eighth), and if you’re looking for somewhere that pulls all of this together and adds live music and great drinks for good measure, then you definitely need to try the new 20th anniversary brunch at Olé.
Why is brunch at Olé so special?
Firstly, any restaurant that has survived in Hong Kong for 20 years deserves a medal in my opinion. I’d walked past Olé so many times and thought: “I must go there one night,” but I’d never gotten around to it, so when I stepped through the wooden door to try the new nine-course brunch at Olé, I was so excited to see how authentic the interior was. It’s like being transported to Spain, with patterned finishings, lush fabrics and beautiful art pieces across all of the walls. Honestly, my dining partner and I forgot that we were in Hong Kong, especially when the two men on guitars fired up and started playing everything from traditional Spanish songs to Despacito. This is not your average brunch. It’s better.
So what can you eat?
Nine glorious courses of amazingness! The team has selected 20 all-time favourite dishes to coincide with the 20th Anniversary, and you simply couldn’t ask for more, especially at the $380 price point. I love trying lots of different little things, and this is exactly what happens at the brunch at Olé.
From the wonderful padron peppers and juicy Spanish olives that are served as the welcome couvert to the seven starters that include delights such as Gambas al Ajillo (sizzling garlic prawns), Iberico ham with tomato bread and the best gazpacho I’ve had outside of Spain, this is food made with love, and you’ll definitely want to add on $150 for free-flow sangria and cava.
But the brunch at Olé doesn’t stop there, as you’re then able to choose a main to enjoy too – how civilised in a town that is obsessed with buffets! I went for the sinfully good vegetarian option: eggplant stuffed with mushroom and vegetable mousseline. A creation from executive chef Jesus Pascual, the dish is said to embody the style of southern Spanish cuisine and sees and aubergine halved and stuffed before being slow cooked in a white wine and tomato sauce for two hours. Just add cheese to make one of the best vegetarian dishes I’ve eaten in Hong Kong all year.
My refined dining companion opted for a dish originating from Basque country: codfish in green sauce with shrimp and clam. This light and refreshing celebration of the sea was the perfect choice considering how much we had already tucked into throughout the meal, but there was still more to come… dessert!
There are four desserts to choose from when finishing off your meal, and of course churros can be found. Instead, we opted for the delightful orange flambeed Catalan cream, that had the perfect amount of crackle and snap, and the Leche Frita (fried milk with a toffee reduction) – so good!
What made dessert even sweeter was the fact that the musicians moved from table to table serenading the groups of families and couples like us with songs of our choosing. After much deliberation, we went for Sweet Caroline, a fitting way to end an absolutely amazing brunch affair.
I’m already planning another outing to brunch at Olé because it’s such a treat. I’m just going to have to come up with some song requests in the mean time.
Olé, 1/F, Shun Ho Tower, 24-30 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2523 8624, 中環雪廠街24-30號順豪商業大廈1樓
Booked in for brunch at Olé but looking for other Hong Kong hot-spots? Be sure to try newly-opened Yat Tung Heen, relax and get some work done in peace at the study or enjoy vegan and vegetarian Korean treats at Bobsang.
