Just in Time for the Festive Season! From Hong Kong to Covent Garden: Aqua Restaurant Group's Dim Sum Library Opens First International Site

For those people who love fine Chinese dining for their Christmas feasting and festivities, Dim Sum Library will be a perfect venue. And for the rest of the year, too.

Designed as an all-day dining destination, it's a space that transforms throughout the day, from casual, quick lunches to leisurely afternoon tea, after-work drinks and dim sum, to pre-theatre dinners.

To mark the occasion, diners will be treated to a special opening-day surprise: a giveaway of 888 dim sums - a triple dose of luck.

Making its highly anticipated UK debut, Dim Sum Library opens its first international outpost as the 25th venue from Aqua Restaurant Group. 

This new London address will honour the artistry, innovation and elegance that have defined the Hong Kong original since its launch in 2016.

 Known for redefining Asian dining through creativity and design, Aqua Restaurant Group now introduces Londoners to a sophisticated interpretation of Hong Kong's contemporary dim sum culture - creative, inventive and unmistakably modern.

In the kitchen, Chef Jian Jia and Aqua Restaurant Group's Dim Sum Master, Chef Leung Kwok Wah, work hand in hand to craft and execute the menu. 

Combining their traditional Hong Kong training with their modern approach they bring a shared vision of authenticity, precision, and innovation to every dish.

The menu reimagines dim sum and classic Cantonese dishes through a modern lens, balancing bold flavours, delicate textures, and impeccable presentation. 

Signature dishes include Wagyu Beef Puff with Black Pepper - a Hong Kong favourite featuring crisp, seaweed-light pastry filled with tender wagyu beef lifted by a subtle peppery heat; the Dan Dan Xiao Long Bao, which infuses the nutty richness of Sichuan Dan Dan broth into a delicate soup dumpling and the Black Garlic Siu Mai - pork & shrimp dumpling.   

The experience extends beyond dim sum, with reimagined classics such as the Black Truffle Crispy Chicken and the Steamed Alaskan Black Cod with Sichuan Pepper and the Sweet and Sour Pork, complemented by refined desserts including Oolong Crème Brûlée and Truffle Chocolate Mochi.

At the heart of the restaurant, a Chinoiserie-inspired cocktail bar offers both timeless classics and tea-infused creations such as the vibrant Chinese Whisper - a creative blend of Fenjiu baijiu, Kalhua, shitake bitters and a blend of 5 Chinese spices. 

The interiors, influenced by Hong Kong's vibrant street-food culture, strike a balance between cosy and refined. Decorative vintage Chinese posters add character, while an immersive dim sum creation station at the restaurant's entrance offers guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse as they pass the main window.

David Yeo, Founder and CEO of the Aqua Restaurant Group told That's Christmas 365: “Dim Sum Library represents the evolution of Hong Kong dining, sophisticated yet welcoming, artistic yet deeply rooted in tradition. London's energy and diversity make it the perfect city to continue this story.” 

Dim Sum Library London will open seven days a week from 12 noon, introducing an all-day dim sum experience that blends authenticity with creativity and the distinctive modernity of the Aqua Restaurant Group.

To learn more and book a table, visit: www.dimsumlibrary.co.uk

However, the restaurant is closed on Christmas Day.

It's at 136 Long Acre, London WC2E 9AD.

You can call them on 020 3953 6820.