Besides the views and outdoor pursuits, it's worth going to South Lantau just to eat, for the villages offer fine cosmopolitan fare

If you come over the mountains from Tung Chung in good weather, on wheels or on foot, you're given a wide-open view of Lantau's coast, the South China Sea and mysterious islands near and far. But besides the views and outdoor pursuits, you might come to this part of Hong Kong just to eat, for the villages linked by the South Lantau Road are home to some fine restaurants of cosmopolitan character.

26 Tong Fuk Village, tel. 2980 2582, closed Tuesdays

In a city where restaurants sometimes close their doors before their menus have had time to get splashed with condiments, The Gallery must have been doing a lot of things right, as it has been serving big portions to hungry hikers and South Lantau residents for 20 years and more.

Tables are either indoors or out on a terrace which overlooks the quiet road. Besides pastas, pizzas and steaks, there's a Mediterranean flavour to the menu with items like falafel kebabs and Greek salads.

Blackboards detail the day's seafood specials. If the cold snap returns later this month, then warm yourself up with the home-baked beef and Guinness pie with gravy and winter vegetables, or the white bean, kale and chorizo soup with toasted Turkish bread.