Cafe Too Island Shangri-La Buffet
Complete Booking Guide
One of Hong Kong's most renowned five-star hotel buffets, featuring 6 open-kitchen stations, over 100 dishes, and Victoria Harbour views. Book from HK$ 458 via Klook — save 10% versus walk-in, with free cancellation.
Quick Reference
| Restaurant | Cafe Too · Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, 6th Floor |
|---|---|
| Address | Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong |
| Lunch | From HK$ 458 (Mon–Fri 12:00–14:30) |
| Dinner | From HK$ 688 (Daily 18:30–21:30) |
| Weekend Brunch | From HK$ 588 (Sat–Sun 11:30–15:00) |
| Holiday Dinner | HK$ 888–988 (Christmas / New Year / Valentine's) |
| Dress Code | Smart Casual (no flip-flops / tank tops) |
| Transport | MTR Admiralty Station Exit F → Pacific Place → 6th Floor |
1. About Cafe Too
Island Shangri-La Hong Kong is one of Asia's most prestigious five-star hotels, located at Pacific Place in the heart of Admiralty — Hong Kong Island's core business district. Cafe Too, the hotel's signature restaurant, has been ranked among Hong Kong's "best buffets" since its 1991 opening. It's not popular for being expensive — it's popular for delivering genuine five-star buffet standards:
- Open kitchens: all dishes are cooked fresh to order in front of you, not pre-prepared and sitting under heat lamps.
- 6 premium food stations: from Japanese sashimi to Western grills, Chinese dim sum to Southeast Asian curries — truly global range.
- Ingredient quality: five-star sourcing means the salmon, wagyu, and lobster are a different league from casual buffet chains.
- Ambiance: high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, some seats with Victoria Harbour views.
2. Six Food Stations Explained
Cafe Too's flagship feature is the "marketplace concept" — open-kitchen stations, each with a dedicated chef and live cooking you can watch start to finish.
1. Seafood Bar
The first stop for most guests. Lunch features fresh prawns, mussels, crab claws, and 2–3 oyster varieties; dinner upgrades to Boston lobster halves, Alaskan king crab legs, and 4–5 oyster varieties. A full condiment station next to the seafood provides cocktail sauce, Japanese ponzu, and more. Weekend brunch seafood matches dinner's premium lineup.
2. Japanese Station
Staffed by Japanese chefs. Fresh nigiri sushi and sashimi — salmon, yellowfin tuna, sweet shrimp, scallop — plus seasonal offerings like sea urchin and snapper. Hand-rolled nigiri made to order is rare in buffets. Tempura and miso soup round out the offering.
3. Grill & Western
The star attraction — Angus beef steaks, lamb racks, pork ribs cooked over live flame, seasoned to your preference. Premium weekend cuts may include wagyu. Sides include jacket potatoes, grilled seasonal vegetables, and mushroom sauce. Expect the longest queue here; arrive early or go straight after seating.
4. Asian Kitchen
Cantonese dim sum (har gow shrimp dumplings, siu mai pork dumplings, char siu bao) plus Singapore laksa, Thai curry, and Indian naan. Dim sum is steamed fresh every 15 minutes in rotation. The char siu (honey roasted pork) rivals specialist barbecue shops.
5. Salad & Appetizers
Fresh salads, charcuterie platters, smoked salmon, foie gras mousse. Often overlooked but the smoked salmon and foie gras quality is exceptional — worth your attention.
6. Dessert Station
Supervised by the hotel's French pastry chef — mille-feuille, crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, macarons, cheesecake, plus ice cream and sorbets scooped on demand. Dinner and weekend service adds molten chocolate cake and freshly cooked crepes. The dessert section alone offers 30–40 choices — many say it's the "most value" part of the meal.
3. Lunch vs. Dinner vs. Weekend Brunch
| Service | Time | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday lunch | Mon–Fri 12:00–14:30 | HK$ 458 | Best value-for-money; quieter, minimal queues |
| Weekday dinner | Daily 18:30–21:30 | HK$ 688 | Premium seafood (lobster, more oysters); 30% more desserts |
| Weekend brunch | Sat–Sun 11:30–15:00 | HK$ 588 | 3.5-hour seating; sparkling wine included; seafood equals dinner quality |
| Holiday dinner | Christmas / New Year / Valentine's | HK$ 888–988 | Black truffle, foie gras, special desserts added |
Recommendation: On a budget, weekday lunch delivers excellent execution at 65% of dinner pricing. For the complete experience, weekend brunch offers the longest seating (3.5 hours), included sparkling wine, premium seafood equal to dinner, yet costs HK$ 100 less.
4. Dress Code
Cafe Too enforces Smart Casual — no business suit required, but clear restrictions apply:
- Not permitted: flip-flops, tank tops, beachwear, athletic shorts.
- For men: collared polo/shirt + trousers + leather shoes or clean sneakers.
- For women: dress or blouse + skirt or trousers, neat footwear.
Hotel staff do a visual check at the entrance; overly casual attire may result in polite refusal. In practice, enforcement is moderate — avoid obvious beachwear and flip-flops and you're fine.
5. Cafe Too vs. Other Hong Kong Hotel Buffets
| Restaurant | Hotel | Lunch Price | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Too | Island Shangri-La | HK$ 458 | 6 open-kitchen stations; premium ingredients |
| The Market | Hotel ICON | HK$ 398 | Best budget option; fewer dishes |
| Cafe Kool | Kowloon Shangri-La | HK$ 428 | Same chain but smaller scale |
| Lounge & Bar | Ritz-Carlton | HK$ 688 | 118th-floor views; food is average |
| The Lobby | The Peninsula | HK$ 588 | Most iconic ambiance; afternoon tea superior to buffet |
| Clipper Lounge | Mandarin Oriental | HK$ 528 | Afternoon tea standout; buffet secondary |
Cafe Too's edge is the combination of food quality, variety, and price — neither cheapest nor most expensive, but the most consistent ingredient standards and widest range in its price band. Seafood and desserts especially outrank most competitors.
6. Booking & Visit Tips
How to Get There
- MTR Admiralty Station Exit F — you emerge at Pacific Place mall.
- Walk through the mall towards Island Shangri-La Hotel Lobby (Level 3 signs point the way).
- Take the elevator to 6th Floor; Cafe Too entrance is immediately visible.
- Total walk time ~5 minutes, fully air-conditioned indoors.
Booking Tips
- Weekday lunch: 1–2 days advance usually gets a table.
- Weekend brunch / dinner: book 5–7 days ahead; window seats fill faster.
- Public holidays: 2+ weeks ahead. Christmas and New Year require 3+ weeks.
- Window seating: note "window seat preferred" in the booking remarks — not guaranteed, but more likely if you arrive early.
- Birthdays / anniversaries: mention in remarks; the hotel provides a complimentary cake and card.
Dining Tips
- Seafood first: freshest and most selection at the start; choices thin as service progresses.
- Grill early: the grill station queue is longest — order steak right after seating, then continue elsewhere.
- Skip salad first: salad fills you up quickly; save room for seafood and hot dishes.
- Pace dessert: Cafe Too's desserts are the highlight — don't arrive too full.
- Beverages: note tea and coffee are complimentary; soft drinks and alcohol are extra (weekend brunch includes sparkling wine).
7. Why Book Through Klook
- Price advantage: Klook reservations are typically 10%–15% cheaper than direct hotel booking or walk-in.
- Instant confirmation: receive email confirmation and e-voucher immediately; show on arrival.
- Free cancellation: most packages allow free cancellation up to 24–48 hours prior, so your plans stay flexible.
- Package options: Klook has exclusive lunch + wine pairing bundles not available direct from the hotel.
- Transparent reviews: nearly 3,000 real guest reviews with photos and details help you decide beforehand.
- Multi-currency: supports HK$, CNY, JPY, and other currencies with transparent rates.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much more is dinner than lunch?
Lunch from HK$ 458, dinner from HK$ 688 — roughly 50% more. Dinner adds Boston lobster, more oyster types, and extra desserts. On a budget, lunch is excellent value; for the full experience, dinner is worth the upgrade.
Q: What's the dress code?
Smart casual. No flip-flops, tank tops, or beachwear. Neat collared shirt or blouse with trousers/skirt and clean shoes works fine.
Q: How do I get to Cafe Too?
MTR Admiralty Exit F → walk through Pacific Place mall → Island Shangri-La hotel lobby → elevator to 6th floor. All indoors, ~5 minutes walk.
Q: How far ahead should I book?
Weekdays 1–2 days; weekends 5–7 days; holidays 2–3 weeks. Klook gives instant confirmation.
Q: Are children charged?
Under 3 is free; ages 3–11 typically half-price. Check Klook's page for current rates. High chairs and children's tableware available on-site.
9. Who Should Visit
- International visitors wanting an authentic Hong Kong five-star hotel dining experience;
- Families — huge variety means both adults and children find favorites;
- Business entertaining — smart location (Admiralty core), upscale setting;
- Birthday / anniversary celebrations — hotel surprises included;
- Seafood lovers — unlimited lobster, oysters, crab.
Less suitable for: ultra-budget backpackers (Hong Kong dim sum costs under HK$ 50 elsewhere), travelers in a hurry (buffet needs 1.5–2 hours minimum).
10. Nearby After-Dining
Cafe Too is in Pacific Place, Admiralty — after your meal, combine with nearby attractions:
- Pacific Place shopping: Harvey Nichols, Lane Crawford, luxury brands.
- Hong Kong Park: 3-minute walk, with bird sanctuary and tea-ware museum (free entry).
- Admiralty / Central walk: easy stroll to either neighborhood.
- Victoria Peak Tram: 10-minute taxi ride; dinner then sunset views is a classic combo.