Bayta: Sustainable Organic Mediterranean Food and a Healthy Happy Hour

Editor Note: Bayta is now permanently closed.

Homemade bread, fresh produce, and organic wine…

District: Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean (with meat-free, gluten-free and carb-free options)
How much: From $120 for sharing starters, $150 for mains, and $90 for desserts
The Best For: A healthy happy hour alternative, or a casual date night
Must Order: Any of the natural/organic wines and the fish of the day

Bayta puts a contemporary spin on its dishes by using only the finest, sustainable, traceable or organic ingredients, all prepared on the day. To take it up a notch, it only stocks natural and organic wines, and all the bread and pasta is made fresh, right in the kitchen! Whether you’re looking for a treat-yourself lunch set ($140 per head – with no service charge) or a healthy date night spot, this beloved Mediterranean eatery and bar is worth checking out.

Created by the Executive Chef Pauline Steiner (a vegetarian herself!), the colourful dishes are full of flavour and pair perfectly with a wide array of wine. Though I’ve always been more of a red wine drinker, the Sylvaner (2014, Mouton Bleu) was a white wine I’d definitely order again (and again for good measure…).

Whilst you’re sipping away, order a sharing mezze platter to get you started. We couldn’t get enough of the Burned Eggplant Caviar. With chopped pistachio crumbled generously over the top and a warming charcoal fragrance, it was an ideal blend of textures and tastes. Next up was the Beetroot Hummus. As someone who’s not (yet!) a beetroot fan, I was pleasantly surprised to find this rich, velvety dish a table hit!

For mains, I’d recommend checking out the fish of the day. Bayta prides itself in offering only non-farmed, ethically caught fish. The red mullet had a particularly fresh (almost prawn-like) taste, complemented by a creamy mushroom and almond sauce, fregola sarda risotto, and topped with crispy Parmesan flakes. If you’re going for a vegetarian option, the carb-free veg couscous (made from finely chopped celery) is packed with a summery, tangy flavour.

We couldn’t leave without sampling the homemade Lemon tart with avocado ice cream. The sharp citrus taste was balanced with a buttery, crumbly base. As a dessert with a low glycemic index, it offered a healthy alternative for those who crave something sweet at the end of each meal (yes, I am talking about myself).

Sassy Mama Tip: Make the most of it and head over for the buy-one-get-one-free happy hour offer from 5pm to 7pm every Monday through Friday. Bayta offers red, white and sparkling wines recommended by the in-house sommelier every week, and glasses start at $80. You read that right: it evens out to a happy hour full of $40 glasses of natural, organic wine! We’re more than ready to cheers to that!

 Bayta, 252 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, www.bayta.hk