Hong Kong Photo Gallery - 2026 Art Exhibitions

After Taste (August)

.
I wasn't expecting an exhibition buried deep in a Cheung Sha Wan industrial building.
Inside the Artellex printing studios is a special exhibition about historic menus, many of them from venerable hotels and restaurants that no longer exist. These items were generously provided by private collectors for this event in August and September 2026.
A century ago, the upper classes would visit restaurants to eat mainly Western food, since they could cook Chinese food at home. As incomes rose and eating out became more affordable to the masses, we can see hand-written banquet menus that brought enormous profit to restaurants.
Nowadays, menus may not even be printed anymore as we scan QR codes on our phones to place orders.

Tak Yu Tea House opened in the 1920s in Yau Ma Tei and was one of Kowloon's oldest tea houses, closing in 2012.

Gaddi's is a high-end French restaurant that opened at the Peninsula Hotel in 1953 and still operates today.

Carnarvon Restaurant opened in the 1930s and was a casual Western restaurant offering affordable options with a local twist, such as red bean ice and curry chicken rice.

Luk Kwok Hotel was a luxury hotel in Wanchai that was made famous by the novel "The World of Suzie Wong". Its dining offering produced top-tier Cantonese cuisine.

The Airport Terminal Buffet operated in the 1960s and 70s. Dairy Farm was an expert in imported chilled ingredients hence the menu includes ice cream.

Sun Lam Yuen Cafe opened in Yuen Long in the 1960s and became a socializing hub for villagers from the area, farmers, and vendors.

Greg's operated in Central from the 1950s at a time when imported European ingredients were hard to find. Offering upscale Western food, it was a favourite for expats, diplomats, and the upper classes. Dairy Farm acquired the company and it became Oliver's, a delicatssen chain that still operates today.

Luk Yu opened in 1933 with traditional Lingnan-style rosewood furniture, stained glass windows, and calligraphy scrolls. It is famous for handcrafted dim sum and was a social hub for politicians, tycoons, and the literary class.

Hung Wan Cafe & Bakery opened in the 1970s and continues to operate today following a brief closure in late 2024. It is a classic Hong Kong-style cafe. Their order sheets list out the menu items, such as milk tea, yin yeung (tea and coffee), lemon tea, BBQ pork with macaroni, egg tart, pineapple bun, and French toast.

Tak Fung opened in the early 1960s in a resettlement area for the lower and working classes, serving desserts.

With the mid-autumn festival around the corner, there is a section dedicated to mooncake adverts, baking moulds, and product tins.

There are also cookbooks and a cooking show being played on the video screen.

In the middle of the room is a long table with all sorts of items related to eating out from fast food trays to food-related magazines.


After Taste (August)
. I wasn't expecting an exhibition buried deep in a Cheung Sha Wan industrial building. Inside the Artellex printing studios is a special exhibition about historic menus, many of them from venerable hotels and restaurants that no longer exist. These items were generously provided by private collectors for this event in August and September 2026. A century ago, the upper classes would visit restaurants to eat mainly Western food, since they could cook Chinese food at home. As incomes rose and eating out became more affordable to the masses, we can see hand-written banquet menus that brought enormous profit to restaurants. Nowadays, menus may not even be printed anymore as we scan QR codes on our phones to place orders. Tak Yu Tea House opened in the 1920s in Yau Ma Tei and was one of Kowloon's oldest tea houses, closing in 2012. Gaddi's is a high-end French restaurant that opened at the Peninsula Hotel in 1953 and still operates today. Carnarvon Restaurant opened in the 1930s and was a casual Western restaurant offering affordable options with a local twist, such as red bean ice and curry chicken rice. Luk Kwok Hotel was a luxury hotel in Wanchai that was made famous by the novel "The World of Suzie Wong". Its dining offering produced top-tier Cantonese cuisine. The Airport Terminal Buffet operated in the 1960s and 70s. Dairy Farm was an expert in imported chilled ingredients hence the menu includes ice cream. Sun Lam Yuen Cafe opened in Yuen Long in the 1960s and became a socializing hub for villagers from the area, farmers, and vendors. Greg's operated in Central from the 1950s at a time when imported European ingredients were hard to find. Offering upscale Western food, it was a favourite for expats, diplomats, and the upper classes. Dairy Farm acquired the company and it became Oliver's, a delicatssen chain that still operates today. Luk Yu opened in 1933 with traditional Lingnan-style rosewood furniture, stained glass windows, and calligraphy scrolls. It is famous for handcrafted dim sum and was a social hub for politicians, tycoons, and the literary class. Hung Wan Cafe & Bakery opened in the 1970s and continues to operate today following a brief closure in late 2024. It is a classic Hong Kong-style cafe. Their order sheets list out the menu items, such as milk tea, yin yeung (tea and coffee), lemon tea, BBQ pork with macaroni, egg tart, pineapple bun, and French toast. Tak Fung opened in the early 1960s in a resettlement area for the lower and working classes, serving desserts. With the mid-autumn festival around the corner, there is a section dedicated to mooncake adverts, baking moulds, and product tins. There are also cookbooks and a cooking show being played on the video screen. In the middle of the room is a long table with all sorts of items related to eating out from fast food trays to food-related magazines.

Hong Kong Photo Gallery | 2024-6 Art Exhibitions