The Merchants

The first impression at The Merchants is warmth. Located inside Forty-Five at Landmark, the dining room leans into Belle Époque elegance. Think cherrywood banquettes curving beneath embroidered wallpaper stitched by artisans in Wuxi, while the harbour glimmers quietly beyond the windows. Meanwhile, the kitchen draws from the repertoire of Jiangnan cooking but treats it with a lighter, more contemporary hand. A tea-smoked duck egg crowned with caviar offers a playful contrast of smoke and salinity, while braised white cabbage enriched with Jinhua ham and chicken consommé turns a humble vegetable into something unexpectedly luxurious. Across the menu, the wok plays a central role for searing, smoking and coaxing layers of flavour from ingredients that might otherwise seem deceptively simple. 

Tatler Tip

Finish with the glutinous pearls in osmanthus sweet soup with rice wine, a softly floral dessert whose gentle sweetness brings the meal to an elegant close.