A rundown of the best galleries and eateries at one of Hong Kong’s coolest culture hubs
H Queen’s is a true bastion of the arts in Hong Kong. This 24-storey building was built to promote arts in the city, and it has undoubtedly contributed to Hong Kong’s exciting art scene.
Sleek and shimmering on the outside, H Queen’s is certainly worth an ogle from the outside. But inside is where the real treats for the sense lie, with more than half a dozen art galleries to feast your eyes on, and a string of top-quality restaurants to satiate the taste buds, too. Here’s our guide to the best of what H Queen’s has to offer.
RECOMMENDED: Check out our pick of the best art exhibitons to see this month.
This is the American fine art gallery’s only Asian outpost – having relocated here from Shanghai. Renowned for its extensive contemporary art collection, occupying two whole floors, expect a wide range of international masterpieces all year round. Following a great debut with Michaël Borremans’ solo exhibition, German photographer Wolfgang Tillman takes the spotlight this month. His collection of works juxtapose pictures of intimacy and friendship with views and angles of the world at large.
The second and larger of the two Hong Kong branches of Pace Gallery, this newer location showcases leading international artists of the 20th and 21st century. Spanning 4,800 sq ft space and taking up an entire floor at H Queen’s, the gallery hosted exceptional talents from around the world including the likes of Yoshitomo Nara, Robert Rauschenberg, and Alexander Calder.
Pearl Lam is a high-profile figure in Chinese contemporary art. For more than two decades, she has showcased artists who challenge cultural perceptions and stimulate a creative dialogue between east and west. Along with its sister branch in the Pedder building, Pearl Lam Galleries continues to be the driving force within Asia’s contemporary art scene and to exhibit cutting-edge Asian and Western art and design.
Tang Contemporary Art first opened its doors in Bangkok in 1997. Its gallery in Hong Kong – formerly on On Lan Street until now – was its second international branch. At its current location, Tang remains committed to exhibiting contemporary Chinese art and to sparking dialogues between Chinese artists, international artists, curators, and collectors.
Enjoy art out on the street at H Queen’s! Displayed on the ground floor exterior of the building is a large-scale digital art installation consisting of various video art compiled by the galleries within. The impressive 6.5m-tall and 8m-wide screen is made up of approximately 200 LEDs featuring works from various visual artists. Watching the screen is a unique visual experience to enjoy when you’re out and about in the hustle and bustle of Central.
One of the few galleries in Hong Kong with a central focus on Japanese art, Whitestone Gallery already has a huge presence courtesy of its Hollywood Road location. This second Hong Kong branch takes over two floors at H Queen’s, and with it, the city can expect a lot more Japanese prominent talents being introduced, as well as leading international contemporary artists.
One of the most exciting restaurants in H Queen’s is Arbor, a French fine-dining restaurant with chef Eric Räty at the helm. Serving up innovative dishes in a forest-themed surrounding, Arbor makes for a perfect tranquil getaway in the heart of Central. You can also wind down with a brunch every weekend as well before heading over to the art galleries downstairs.
Following the success of the art-themed restaurant Bibo and award-winning The Ocean by Olivier Bellin, dining group Le Comptoir raised the bar yet again when Ecriture opened at H Queen’s. Named after renowned Korean artist Park Seo-Bo’s ground-breaking abstract expressionist series, this French fine-dining venue attempts to emulate Park through bold colours and designs that rely heavily on shapes and lines. With the restaurant’s open kitchen in the centre and floor-to-ceiling windows, diners can experience stunning views to go with the French culinary art.
One of the restaurants that can lay claim to putting South American cuisine on the map in Hong Kong, Ichu Peru brings a range of excellent, authentic Peruvian food to the mouths of Hongkongers. The restaurant is led by Korean-born chef Sang Jeong, protégé of the previous Peruvian-born head chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz.
With branches all over the world including London, Miami, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, acclaimed restaurant La Petite Maison's first Asian location is this one at H Queen’s. Expect innovated yet simple interpretation of French Mediterranean cuisine with quality dishes and authentic flavours.
Set to be one of the coolest alfresco spaces in town, Piqniq is decked out with comfy seats, beanbags, and even one of Yayoi Kasuma's iconic polka-dot pumpkins. In this fun and whimsical space, guests can enjoy a variety of ‘piqniq’ baskets filled with international fare, as well as a curated list of wines, champagnes, and classic cocktails.
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