Beachside dining

Sunny weather and gentle breezes make a perfect scene for dining out. Donna Mah scouts out some great places for ...

Hong Kong

When it's sunny and the sky is blue, many Hong Kong residents head to the beach and have a great time with friends, families and loved ones. To top it all, nothing beats a fabulous meal.

A fabulous meal is not necessarily a fancy meal. A simple beachside barbecue with good company is a wonderful way to spend the day. Pick up a barbecue set of forks and skewers, a few trays of marinated meats from the supermarket, more vegetables or fruits and maybe a packet of marshmallows, and you are ready to head out to one of the many government beachside barbecue sites.

But if you prefer to let someone else do the cooking, there are many appetizing options available.

Just a short 10-15 minutes from Hong Kong's busy commercial center is Cococabana at Deep Water Bay.

Chef-owner Jean-Paul Gauci says that the restaurant is "the ideal place to relax and enjoy simple Mediterranean cuisine".

Gauci trained in Marseille at Le Petit Nice, which is currently a three-star Michelin restaurant. Cococabana moved from Lamma Island to Deep Water Bay six years ago and has developed a reputation for serving a variety of dishes with the freshest ingredients. The Mediterranean dishes are designed "to tantalize the palate" - bringing a bit of the south of France to Hong Kong.

Enjoy the creamy and delicate Tartare de Saumon au capres et moutard sur coeur de Romaine (fine dice of salmon with capers and mustard dressing with heart of Romaine) as a starter, followed by tender and tasty Filet de Boeuf Rossinis avec Foie Gras en croute (grilled fillet of prime Angus steak, rossini with foie gras on toast) with port-wine sauce, and finish with the rich and refreshing Mousse au Chocolat glace et Sorbet la Framboise (chilled chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sorbet).

It's a feast for both the eyes and palate.

If you fancy an excursion to the Outlying Islands for al fresco beachside experiences, there are even more options.

On Sok Kwa Wan, Lamma Island, there are lots of seafood restaurants by the pier serving the freshest produce.

These restaurants are not actually on a beach, but they are beside the water and are worth a visit for the island atmosphere.

For beachside dining on Lantau Island, visit Cheung Sha Beach to enjoy South African food at The Stoep.

Here you can enjoy the spicy mixed BBQ platter and homemade grain breads with your bottle of South African wine.

On Pui O Beach, also on Lantau Island, you will find Ooh La La!, which serves a simple Mediterranean menu including some seafood and barbecue dishes.

Both are wonderful places to escape the city and just sit and enjoy watching the waves come and go.