Hullett House, Hong Kong
Hullett House is only a stone’s throw from the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui and is Hong Kong’s newest ‘old’ building, in that it is the redesigned facilities of the former Marine Police Headquarters. It dates back to 1881, which means it is practically ancient in Hong Kong terms.
 
This historical low-rise complex offers five nicely designed restaurants with a combined capacity of 500 people.
The venues range from the casual Mariners’ Rest British- style pub with its own jail cells, to the all-day dining of The Parlour, the casual ambiance of the Stable Grill, great Cantonese fare at Loong Toh Yuen and modern fine dining at St George, the venue’s signature restaurant.
www.hulletthouse.com
 
Crown Complex, Melbourne
Melbourne’s laneways are packed with great venues for small to mid-sized groups, but for larger groups the Crown complex on the south bank of the Yarra River is an easy-to-navigate destination with a mix of more than 40 casual and formal restaurants on offer.
 
The biggest opening of recent times is Gordon Ramsay’s Maze at the new Crown Metropol hotel. Across the road at the original complex the Conservatory buffet is stocked with fresh seafood and has views over the city, Silks offers top-notch Cantonese and Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons serves traditional Italian fare. Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill remains a firm favourite, as does the innovative Japanese at Nobu.
www.crowncasino.com.au
 
Dempsey Hill, Singapore
This cluster of converted heritage buildings reopened in 2009 and has been pulling in crowds ever since. There are almost 30 restaurants and bars with enough variety to satisfy everyone’s taste. Wander through the 20-odd buildings while making your choice – the low-rise buildings, ample surrounding greenery and quiet setting make it hard to believe you are just 10 minutes from both downtown Singapore and Orchard Road.
 
Highlights include Samy’s famed curry house, designer degustation at Tippling Club and The Disgruntled Chef, the much-talked about truffle fries at PS Café, Rakuichi Japanese, Vintage India and well-regarded steakhouse, The Prime Society.
www.dempseyhill.com