Louise

PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong

Entering into designer-architect André Fu’s vision of Louise at

PMQ, you become part of a story that unravels seductively, layer by layer. The visual identity of the restaurant is rich with lush greenery tactile textures and eclectic artworks—mostly curated by art aficionado Alan Lo, Yenn’s husband—all working together to create the sense of a lived-in, glamorous boudoir—home of the fictional Louise, a character conceived by the team and named for Julien’s paternal grandmother, Jean-Louise. We appreciate the details that serve to differentiate the ground floor and upstairs dining room; the former is all terrazzo tables, terracotta flooring and a tropical mural surprising guests at the back, while the upstairs dining room is aglow with warm golden tones, painterly details and a dramatic open kitchen that evokes a theatre. What’s astounding is that the visual identity of the restaurant came together in less than half a year, a feat that restaurateur Yenn Wong attributes to the creative synergy of the team.

RUNNER UP

Adam D. Tihany was the original designer behind Amber’s iconic look—who could forget those dramatic copper rods hanging from the ceiling? And so it was apt that Tihany would be drafted to take the restaurant into a new era, and what a change: Amber is lighter, fresher, with a new glossy sheen that isn’t overtly ostentatious. Just like the new cuisine.