Adding to Hong Kong’s growing list of design-worthy gastronomic openings is a new double dining venture from Tony Cheng- founder of restaurant group Drawing Room Concepts. Spread over the sixth and seventh floors of Central’s PMQ - the city’s new cultural quarter - interiors by local architect Joyce Wang feature Isono’s relaxed open plan space with a double-height atrium, silver-grey marble bar festooned with suspended vials that dispense olive oil, and an exposed raw concrete wall that transforms into a film screen at night. The understated burnt orange and caramel palette, seductively comfortable banquettes and Wang’s custom-designed bronzed lighting avoid any obvious Mediterranean design reference as does Michelin-starred Spanish chef Paolo Casagrande’s menu with dishes like meat paella with smoked Iberico chicken and artichoke. Upstairs, fine-dining Vasco comprises private and semi-private dining rooms and two tasting menus with the likes of sea urchins with crustacean mayonnaise or roasted French pigeon with apple cream. Book well ahead for the dramatic private dining eyrie perched atop the bar with a view of the action below.
