4. La Taverna: Italian Social Club
La Taverna was the the city’s very first Italian restaurant, established in 1969. Founded by the sons of a merchant trader as a meeting space for the then-loosely connected Italian community, La Taverna became an institution in not just Hong Kong, but it also expanded to 19 locations including Singapore, the Philippines and Bali at the height of its success. Their Tsim Sha Tsui location has been largely untouched: Their exterior is reminiscent of a Milanese streetside cafe, the walls are adorned with copper pans and maritime art and it’s still the coziest little corner of the city to enjoy classic Italian family favorites.