We were invited for lunch at the China Club, a members only Shanghai-style club and restaurant located at the top 3 floors of the old Bank of China building in Central, Hong Kong.


I loved the elevator which was covered with prints of popular Chinese cartoon, Old Master Q (老夫子; Lǎo Fū Zi). My dad used to buy me these comic books when I was a kid. Not that I understood what was written but I enjoyed looking at the humorous pictures.






We got off at the 13th floor and had to walk up to the 15th floor where we were going to eat lunch. All the walls were covered with old retro Chinese art. It was incredible. I felt like I was in a modern art museum.


Here are some of the art works on the walls.





Andy Warhol's Mao and Whitney Houston









Check out the giant shoes!


This was the famous Long March bar.


The library which houses several thousands of books is also a venue for small parties.


My favorite was this outdoor lounge area.


You get a view of Central's financial district. This must be a popular venue for drinks a night.


We finally get to the function room which had two tables for our big group.






Even the glass was retro.




The food was served to us in small plates. Overall the food was just satisfactory. It was good but it wasn't outstanding.

dim sum combination


roasted suckling pig w/ barbecued pork




clear chicken broth w/ seafood


sauteed prawns in sze chuan sauce


roasted Peking duck


sauteed pea shoot w/ garlic


yeung chow fried rice




egg custard tartlet


fresh fruit platter

I was shocked to find a bathtub in the bathroom of our function room. I later found out that the room used to be where the manager of the old Bank of China lived.







my assistant photographer

After lunch we toured the 13th floor where the main dining room was.













China Club owner, Sir David Tang and Princess Diana



Dining at China Club was a visual feast more than anything else. One goes there to soak in the atmosphere of old Shanghai, enjoy the artwork and the decor. Food was only secondary. If you have the chance to go to the China Club do so. It's worth the experience.

The China Club
12/F, The Old Bank of China Building,
Bank Street, Central, Hong Kong,
telephone +852 25218888