The Peninsula Boutique & Café

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

For 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,”

Designated counters offer a variety of Peninsula-branded retail experiences, while display units showcase chcolates, pastries and seasonal delicacies

reflects Tina Norden, Partner at Conran and Partners. “Part of our brief was incorporating contemporary tastes and adding more of a café element into it because that wasn’t so expressed before. It was also about creating something that is bold and colourful, yet still very luxurious and immersive.”

Marking a departure from the Neoclassical style of the hotel whilst staying true to The Peninsula’s meticulous brand codes – a rich, classic palette, elegant lines, luxury materials and artisanal touches – the space boasts a cinematic quality with its bold palette of emerald marble, slate, leather and lacquer in the distinctive Peninsula green, offset by champagne metal and soft blush tones. “The modern aspects of this are really expressed through the use of colour on the floor and ceilings and keeping the detailing very minimal, while adding a few bold and unexpected touches that send out a new message,” notes Norden.

Commissioned photographic collages by experiential artist Ido Garini of Studio Appétit furthers this endeavour, providing splashes of colour and drama, fusing art, food and community. Garini’s vivid murals are composed of decorative objects from his own collection, created in his studio workshop or found in flea markets and antique shops in Europe and Asia, meticulously layered and arranged. “We wanted it to be reflective of the space, intricate yet beautiful – as a result, we suggested very large pieces, all part of the same family that would become part of the immersive environment,” says Norden. “Ido’s work is always based on and executed with food, but has a beautiful stylised often monochromatic appearance.”

The customer journey through the space has also been carefully considered, boasting an intuitive open feel and subtle layering of signage, ensuring a subtle transition between the retail and hospitality elements. “It was very much part of the conversation from the beginning, and the way we achieved this was by creating different zones; some are partially glazed, while others curve around the banquettes to soften the space,” explains Norden.

In the centrally-located retail space, designated counters offer a variety of Peninsula-branded retail experiences, while a semi-enclosed area has been designed to highlight and enhance the hotel’s extensive collection of premium teas. A matching pair of white

marble-topped counters in a Peninsula green ribbedlacquer finish are flanked by smaller oval display units in glass with brass edging for items such as chocolates, while plinths in green and coral showcase seasonal delicacies. “The elegant, curved-end detail of our counters creates a softer appearance within the overall space, avoiding the notion of classic sales counters where the customer is on one side and staff on the other,” shares Norden. “I really love the table displays as all of the chocolates are set individually into little trays. You select the size and they put it in the tray for you, there’s a sense of ceremony to it, making it a special experience to buy for someone.”

Stepping into the café, banquettes upholstered in green leather, timber-legged armchairs and soft pink velvet stools create an warm and inviting ambience. Here, baristas craft coffees adorned with latte art, while the aforementioned teas can be enjoyed tableside or over at the tea tasting counter.

Appealing to a younger, Instagram-savvy audience, the hotel’s Afternoon Indulgence tea sets feature ceramic Peninsula bears holding sweet treats and 3D printed chocolate alongside its famed scones and Deutz Champagne. Guests can also mix-and-match a variety of delicacies ranging from mango pudding and millefeuille to parfaits with fresh fruit and vegan ice cream. And for those looking for on-the-go bites, patisserie and finger sandwiches can also be found on the menu. On the Boutique side, The Peninsula’s team of expert chefs, highly trained pâtissiers and chocolatiers have created artisanal chocolates and signature mooncakes for purchase, which sit alongside speciality products including XO chilli sauces, tea blends and condiments. The Boutique also features a collection of books on travel and design from French publisher Assouline.

While the Hong Kong flagship is the first to feature the new design concept, Conran and Partners have also overseen the brand manual for its future rollout to other Peninsula hotels, including its new London property set to open in 2022. Designed to offer maximum flexibility in design and experience, Peninsula’s forward-thinking culinary-meets-retail concept not only signifies a bold new chapter for the brand, but illustrates that with the right vision and partners, respecting heritage and embracing change are entirely possible. IN A BITE Owner / Operator: Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Interior Design: Conran and Partners Art Consultant: Studio Appétit General Manager: Guy Riddell Boutique Manager: Eli Cheung www.peninsula.com