Sunday Brunch @ Clipper Lounge, Hong Kong

A couple of years ago, I read the book China Rich Girlfriend (sequel to Crazy Rich Asians) by Kevin Kwan, and one of the characters was first introduced waiting in the Clipper Lounge of the Mandarin for her clients for afternoon tea. This particular character was portrayed as a "special consultant for social climbers", and this is how she describes the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to her "new money clients who are looking to integrate into the billionaire class": "The Peninsula gets too many tourists, and the Four Seasons is where all the new people go. The Mandarin is where proper Hong Kong families have been coming to tea for generations... You must also leave out the 'Oriental'– we locals simply call it 'the Mandarin'." Well, I didn't know that! Of course, I knew that the Mandarin is one of the top five star hotels in Hong Kong, having had the opportunity to stay there for five days in 2010 a few months prior to our move to HK. The standard of quality of everything during our short stay - from the service (our family was personally escorted to our room by one of the staff!) to the decor - was exceptional. And we were fortunate enough to enjoy these at hubby's company's expense, because the Mandarin is not exactly the cheapest option.

Our table peered down into the hotel's lobby. Look at the massive crystal chandeliers:

The book was my first introduction to the Clipper Lounge, and I was happy when we were invited by hubby's relatives out to brunch at The Clipper Lounge. We catch up with hubby's aunt and her husband every few months, and we're always guaranteed a good feed whenever we meet up. Buffet is always a good choice with picky kids, and the Sunday Brunch at the Clipper Lounge offered a decent variety of good quality dishes. There were abundant seafood, sushi and sashimi, a roast carvery area, and cute little bamboo steamers filled single servings of various dim sum. The dessert spread of pastries, cakes, macarons, creams, puddings etc was beautifully presented in the center of the buffet area. We were asked if we wanted oysters, to which we said yes please, and a dozen fresh oysters were brought to our table!

Understated elegance:

Lobsters!

Various sushi:

Mini bamboo steamers holding single servings of various dim sum:

Hubby's first helping:

His second plate was a bit less full than his first:

A dozen delicious fresh raw oysters:

Pastries:

Various cup desserts:

Various cakes (and glass bottles of fresh milk - great for my baby!):

Hubby's choice of desserts:

I hear the afternoon tea at Clipper Lounge is excellent, and I hope to try it one day!

Clipper Lounge
5 Connaught Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
Tel. +852 2825 4007