Chef’s Table: The Unmissable Black Pearl Restaurants of Sanya
When a dish transcends taste, it ceases to be mere food—it becomes the breath of the land and an extension of its terroir. In 2025, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide turned its attention for the first time to Sanya—a city celebrated for its mountains and sea, yet also home to the refined culinary code of the South China Sea.
Among the guide’s famously rigorous selections, two restaurants in Sanya have risen to distinction, each awarded One Diamond for their respect for local ingredients and dedication to culinary craftsmanship. This is more than an honor—it marks the moment Sanya’s fine dining scene has truly been seen.
Fresh·Hai Jiao Xuan: A Sunset-Suspended Soirée
If romance had a form, it would look like Fresh·Hai Jiao Xuan. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Coral Bay rather than the bustling city center, it takes just a five-minute drive to transition from urban life into a hidden paradise.
Here, there are no walls—this entirely open-air restaurant immerses guests completely in the embrace of the sea. Designed by renowned firm LTW, the space is artfully woven into the lush landscape envisioned by master designer Bill Bensley.
Known as the premier spot in Coral Bay to watch the sunset, the restaurant glows as dusk turns the sea into liquid gold. Guests may opt for an approachable “Golden Hour Bites” set, savoring light flavors while the evening breeze ushers in the night. Here, dining is not just about taste—it’s a full sensory immersion in light, shadow, and the rhythm of the waves.
📍 Address: Mandarin Oriental, Sanya, Coral Bay
⏰ Hours: Daily 18:00–22:00
Tea House: Hainan’s Terroir in a Jiangnan Courtyard
If Hai Jiao Xuan embodies the open sea, then Tea House reflects the introspective elegance of Jiangnan. As the only Chinese restaurant in Hainan to be listed in the guide’s inaugural year here, it rests within the secluded embrace of Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort, surrounded on three sides by hills and facing the ocean.
Stepping into Tea House feels like entering a Jiangnan garden. It carries the essence of Huizhou architecture—white walls, black tiles, ceramic roofs, and a soaring nine-meter ceiling—creating a solemn yet graceful Eastern aesthetic. Sunlight filters through the courtyard, casting dappled shadows and infining each meal with ceremony.
The philosophy here is “drawing from the best, returning to the local.” Beyond refined Cantonese cuisine and handmade dim sum, the restaurant serves as a living museum of Hainan’s ingredients.
Diners can savor fresh harvests from the hotel’s own “Yue Xiang Yuan” garden. Take, for instance, the iconic Hainan “Revolution Vegetable”—whether simply stir-fried for crisp freshness or enriched with Puning soybean paste, each preparation is a sincere tribute to the land. Consider the “Leisure Tea Time” set for two, where fine teas and delicate bites celebrate the harmony between people and nature.
📍 Address: 1F, Building 7, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort
⏰ Hours: 11:30–21:30
To seek flavor is to seek terroir. From the lingering glow over Coral Bay to the serene courtyards of Sunny Bay, Sanya’s Black Pearl moments are not only about culinary excellence—they are about place, presence, and peace. Come to Sanya, and embark on a refined gastronomic journey born of our own land, between the mountains and the sea.