Cover The Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic is the fourth venue to open in Forty Five (Photo credit: K. Koven)
The Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic is the fourth venue to open in Forty Five (Photo credit: K. Koven)
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The 20,000-square-foot space in Central will launch its fourth venue this autumn
Hong Kong-based hospitality group Leading Nation, founded by entrepreneurs Gerald Li and Kevin Poon, has created some of the city's most popular restaurants, bars and cafes including Elephant Grounds, La Rambla, Wagyumafia, and The Diplomat, among others. Now, the group is launching another exciting concept which aims to blend art, lifestyle and dining in a huge 20,000-square-foot space at the top of Landmark's Gloucester Tower and will open in stages from April 2023 onwards.
The multi-concept venue, named Forty-Five, is located from the 43rd to 45th floors of the tower which will be home to five different concepts including Japanese steakhouse Kaen Teppanyaki; international restaurant and cocktail bar Cardinal Point; The Cristal Room, a French fine dining restaurant by celebrated French chef Anne-Sophie Pic in collaboration with luxury crystal house Baccarat; private members-only social club Gloucester Arts Club which will host events and experiences; and the first opening inside the venue: Shanghainese restaurant The Merchants.
The Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic
Above Anne-Sophie Pic (Photo credit: Emmanuelle Thion)
Above A rendering of the Chandelier box
Anne-Sophie Pic (Photo credit: Emmanuelle Thion)
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Transformed by the Parisian studio Gilles et Boissier, the designers behind the Baccarat Hotel in New York, The Cristal Room will likely be an elegant affair, thanks in part to its collaboration with French fine crystal brand Baccarat. Setting the tone for highly decorated French chef Anne-Sophie Pic's cuisine, the design is said to capture the spirit of Baccarat, exemplified by an entrance with a chandelier that embodies the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. Slated to open in mid-November, The Cristal Room will reside on the 44th floor of Forty-Five.
Pic, who has garnered 10 Michelin stars across her restaurants including one-Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic in Singapore, will draw from her storied lineage and decades of culinary innovation to introduce dishes that interpret Asian ingredients for a top-class French fine-dining experience. She adds, “I will continue my exploration of the Asian continent so dear to me”.
Watch this space for more updates about the opening of The Cristal Room.
Kaen Teppanyaki
Chef Yoshiyuki Sato
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The Japanese steakhouse Kaen Teppanyaki is now soft-open with chef Yoshiyuki Sato at the helm. The establishment, offers teppan and binchotan grill cooking in an open setting with a view of the Hong Kong skyline in sleek Sean Dix-designed interiors that were inspired by a shrine in Tokyo's Ueno neighbourhood.
The menu of Kaen—referring to the Japanese word for flame or blaze—showcases a variety of Wagyu, with all cuts traceable to their origin. Seasonal seafood and vegetables are flown in daily from Japan and Europe, as Sato employs traditional and contemporary techniques to create his dishes. Executive lunch courses range from HK$480 to HK$680, while teppanyaki experiences at lunch start at HK$780 per guest.
For dinner, two tasting menus are offered: the seafood-focused Matsu (HK$1,680 per guest) and the meat-centric Ta-Ke (HK$1,980 per guest), which features an array of premium Japanese beef options. Guests can choose from rare Wagyu cuts, including Kumamoto Akaushi, Kyoto Princess Wagyu, and Furano Wagyu, prepared in yakishabu or steak style. The dining experience concludes with desserts like the Japanese Mont-Blanc and siphon coffee in the lounge area.
Cardinal Point
Golden hour at
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Perched at the top of Gloucester Tower, Cardinal Point is a rooftop restaurant, bar lounge and sky terrace that overlooks the city and offers views of Victoria Harbour, along with live music by a resident DJ. The drinks programme, developed by Leading Nation's beverage director John Nugent, is inspired by the notion of travel—as indicated by its name which refers to the four main points of the compass. From “Sexy Tropical” cocktails such as the Boujie Banana (HK$150) with Jameson Irish whiskey, allspice, banana, and kakigori ice to “New Wave” cocktails including the Chips & Dip (HK$160), made with tequila blanco, dry vermouth, poblano, melon, citrus and cheese nachos.
Food-wise, the menu offers an international selection designed by Leading Nations’s Culinary Director, Rafael Gil. Expect lighter bites such as lamb koftas for HK$160 with spiced minced lamb and yoghurt dressing, and Cardinal pork tacos for HK$180 as well as entrées including a lobster roll for HK$240 with celery and mayonnaise on homemade brioche, USDA prime filet mignon, priced at HK$380 for 180g, with herb butter and baby carrots, among others.
The space can host up to 350 guests and offers both indoor and al fresco dining. Here, both food and drinks will be made using ingredients from around the world with dishes inspired by Asia and beyond.
Cocktails on the terrace
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The Merchants
Above The Merchants is Forty-Five's new Shanghainese restaurant
The Merchants is Forty-Five's new Shanghainese restaurant
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The Merchants is named after the merchant guild that handled trade between China and the rest of the world during the Qing dynasty. Sometimes referred to as the Thirteen Factories, this was the only site in which foreign trade was permitted in China when the Canton System was under operation. Inspired by these merchants and the expansion of trade, the restaurant hopes to bring a taste of Shanghai to Hong Kong, along with flavours from neighbouring regions such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Helmed by head chef Chen Tian-long—formerly of Jardin de Jade—who hopes to bring his expertise in Shanghainese fare and creative ideas to the forefront, The Merchants will offer classic Shanghainese cuisine with a touch of modernity including a variety of dishes such as jasmine tea-smoked duck; steamed herring with sliced Jinhua ham in aged Shaoxing wine; noodles with dried shrimps and scallion soy sauce; and crispy shredded Mandarin fish that is based on a traditional Huaiyang recipe, among many others. A variety of dim sum, along with a set menu for lunch and dinner, is also available at The Merchants.
The Merchants serves modern Shanghainese cuisine with flavours from Jiangsu and Zhejiang
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The Shanghainese restaurant, located on the 43rd floor, is set within a 4,000 sq ft space which can seat up to 100 guests and houses four private dining rooms with views overlooking Hong Kong's cityscape. The Merchants' design is a partnership between Dix Design + Architecture and Victoria Tang-Owen of the multi-disciplinary studio Thirty30 Creative. Fitted out with custom cherrywood banquettes, jade onyx details, and embroidered wallpaper by artisans in Wuxi, the interior is a stylish reflection of belle époque Shanghai.
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Art, design and lifestyle
Above Rendering of the reception at Forty-Five
Rendering of the reception at Forty-Five
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When guests come up to Forty-Five, they will first be greeted at the reception where Leading Nation’s loyalty and VIP platform Alfred’s will help direct the way to the various restaurants, bars and clubs.
Inside, a rotating collection of art curated by Poon will line the walls, featuring a diverse mix of Asian and Western artists such as Cai Guo-Qiang, Ayako Rokkaku, George Condo, Scott Kahn, and Brian Calvin to name a few.
The Merchants, Kaen Teppanyaki and Cardinal Point as well as the common areas of Forty-Five have been designed by Sean Dix of Dix Design + Architecture who is also behind the likes of Mora, Basehall 02, Yardbird and many more. Meanwhile, the Gloucester Arts Club was designed by LC Studio which transformed the spaces for Bianco & Rosso and The Old Man too.
Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong; +852 2155 4141
