The Long Acre restaurant will be located on the former site of Aqua Restaurant Group’s casual Italian restaurant and deli LUCI, which launched in 2023.
The opening will take Aqua Restaurant Group to 25 sites globally and marks the international debut of Dim Sum Library, which first launched in 2016 in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district.
Conceived as an all-day dining destination, Dim Sum Library is designed to “transform throughout the day”, offering everything from casual, quick lunches to leisurely afternoon tea, after-work drinks and dim sum, and pre-theatre dinners.
The menu reimagines dim sum and classic Cantonese dishes through a modern lens, balancing bold flavours, delicate textures and contemporary presentation.
Signature dishes include Wagyu beef puff with black pepper; Dan Dan xiao long bao; and black garlic siu mai. Beyond dim sum, reworked classics include black truffle crispy chicken; steamed Alaskan black cod with Sichuan pepper; and sweet and sour pork. Desserts include oolong crème brûlée and truffle chocolate mochi.
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 entrance offers guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse as they pass the main window.
“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,” says Aqua Restaurant Group founder and CEO David Yeo.
Aqua Restaurant Group currently operates seven restaurants in London. Most of its other venues are in Hong Kong, with additional sites in Paris, New York, Miami and Dubai.
Dim Sum Library launches on 8 December.