The Peninsula Boutique & Café The Peninsula HONG KONG The Peninsula enlists Conran and Partners to design an immersive culinary and lifestyle destination as a casual alternative to its formal afternoon tea. Words: Jenna Campbell • Photography: © Henrik Hui
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or well-heeled travellers, a trip to Hong Kong is not complete without a visit to The Peninsula for a spot of afternoon tea. Served in the lobby, which portrays the
glamour of an era gone with its blend of Eastern and Western hospitality, the Kowloon hotel’s famed culinary experience, with its scones, clotted cream and jam, is testament to the enduring strength of tradition in luxury hospitality. However, as consumer appetites evolve, driving demand for the more experiential – think pop-up dining, graband-go and concept stores blending retail and gastronomy – hotels have had to adapt. In a nod to these changing times, The Peninsula Hong Kong has transformed its basement into an intimate boutique and café, offering a less formal alternative to its famed afternoon tea. Located a level below the lobby, the spacious open-plan emporium houses a central display for showcasing luxury teas, gifts and chocolates, an area for tastings, a cosy café and an Assouline bookstore. Designed by London-based Conran and Partners, the interior combines the history and glamour of the hotel while adding a modern twist. “It was really about thinking of this as an all-encompassing environment because The Peninsula Boutique has been in existence since the late 1980s and the latest iteration was designed by Yabu Pushelberg, so we really were stepping into quite big shoes,”
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