THE WORLD’S BEST OYSTER BARS
Oyster and Wine Bar, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, 20 Nathan Rd, Tsm Sha Tsui, Hong Kong +852 2369 1111
Perched atop one of many high rises in Kowloon, this oyster bar stays true to the city’s hedonistic feel with its dim lighting and slick surfaces. They serve over 800 oysters a day, with no less than 25 varieties. The experienced sommeliers will take the reigns to ensure your liquid accompaniments are just right.
Elliot’s Oyster House, 1201 Alaskan Way, Seattle +1 206 623 4340
Not just about grunge music, Seattle does pretty great oysters too. Perch yourself somewhere along the 21 foot bar and sample the rare Olympia oyster. The dollar-sized morsel is a rare gem found only in the Pacific Northwest, but Elliot’s has them in steady supply.
Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, 89 East 42nd Street, New York +1 212 490 6650
A New York oyster bar exactly how you might have always pictured it. Vaulted in the chambers of Grand Central Station, they serve over 2 million bivalves each year. The menu changes daily, but choose the oysters with the fun names such as Naked Cowboy, Duckabush or sample something from the “Today’s Catch” menu which has over 30 options on any given day.
Pier Restaurant, 595 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, Sydney +61 9327 6561
Stop and forget the recent riff raff over chef’s hats; Greg Doyle still serves some of the best oysters you’ll ever eat. Always carefully selected and immaculately shucked. The sleek, waterfront restaurant is just right for enjoying stunning Sydney days too.
Bofinger, 5-7 Rue de la Bastille, Paris +33 42 72 87 82
The Belle Epoque style of this restaurant gives a wonderfully decadent feel and the troughs of oysters on the footpath out front make it easy to see how fresh the catch of the day is. This is a great Paris night out and should be experienced at least once!
Barilla Bay Oyster Farm, 1388 Tasman Highway, Cambridge, Tasmania +61 3 6248 5458
Any restaurant with an on-site oyster farm and the promise that their world “is your oyster” is a must visit. The Tasmanian region is known for their great oysters and Barilla Bay will let you sample the best of the bunch, which are served on a platter and described as “shucking awesome”.
Caviar House Oyster Bar, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London +44 2 7225 6789
Sampling Pink, Kumamoto or Portland Princess oysters whilst sipping champagne is a great way to spend an afternoon. It’s made even greater by doing so at Harrods Department Store. So much more than a food court, we guarantee you’ll leave feeling just a bit more posh.
Maison Premiere, 298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn +1 347 335 0446
A relative newcomer, this oyster house and cocktail den has a distinctively Parisian feel but an undeniably Brooklyn crowd. Come from 4 until 7pm, Monday to Friday and sample some of the 30 strong oyster selection for only $1 each. Oh, and there’s an absinthe menu too!
Rodney’s Oyster House, 469 King St West, Toronto +1 416 363 8105; 1228 Hamilton Street #405, Vancouver +1 604 609 0080
Presenting a great variety of 9 to 26 oysters that are shucked to order, Rodney’s places emphasis on seasonal species. Most are sourced form their very own oyster bed too. The restaurant is cosy and woody and everything you would expect for a lakeside restaurant in Canada.
B & G Oysters, 550 Tremont Street, Boston +1 617 423 0550
A daily selection of more than 12 East and West coast oysters are on offer at B&G. To heighten your oyster experience, have them matched with wine from one of the restaurant’s Wine Programs. But be sure to save it for a warm day so you can dine outside on the patio – nothing spells summer better than oysters, crisp white wine and sunshine.
By Carla Seeto
