AB CONCEPT UNVEILS AKIRA BACK’S NEW RESTAURANT, A THEATRICAL DINING EXPERIENCE IN HONG KONG
October 8, 2025
Hong Kong, October 2025 - Internationally acclaimed architectural and interior design studio AB Concept is proud to announce the unveiling of the latest chapter in the celebrated Akira Back restaurant collection. Designed by AB Concept’s Associate Rex Wang and his team, this immersive dining venue redefines gastronomy as a dramatic multisensory performance, uniting Chef Akira Back’s bold vision with AB Concept’s signature approach to emotive design storytelling.
Nestled within The Henderson in Central Hong Kong, the building designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, this venue is part of a visionary development featuring a striking, sculptural exterior, set to become the next iconic symbol in the city’s skyline.
“For Akira Back's Hong Kong restaurant, this project showcases what AB Concept can achieve when creativity meets storytelling,” says Ed Ng, Co-founder of AB Concept. “With the freedom to push design boundaries, we created a space as bold and innovative as chef Back’s cuisine. More than a restaurant, it stands as a new dining landmark in the heart of Central – where design and culinary artistry merge to deliver an unforgettable experience. This milestone is especially meaningful as it reflects the close collaborative partnership we’ve enjoyed with Henderson Land over many years, and we are proud to have shaped this enchanting destination together.”
Rooted in Chef Akira Back’s cultural background and elevated through the elegance of Japanese artistry, the “Culinary Symphony” concept unfolds as a bold, multisensory journey. The restaurant becomes a theatre of the present day, positioning its guests as protagonists within VIP-inspired settings that exude both refinement and theatrical intensity. The atmosphere strikes a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation, appealing to a diverse clientele, including sophisticated working professionals.
“Designs are inspired by chef Back’s heritage where every detail, from texture to colour tone, complement one other. My goal is to create a space that orchestrates emotion, rhythm, and refinement, elevating the dining experience to new heights. We envision this restaurant as a vibrant hub in Central, where exceptional food and captivating design converge, becoming an enduring fixture in the city's heart” says Rex Wang, Associate of AB Concept
The journey begins with a bold architectural statement: a swirling, hand-forged metal vortex that anchors the entrance, connecting ceiling to floor in a powerful gesture of energy and movement. This sculptural threshold serves as both a visual emblem of Akira Back’s brand and a moment of transformation, blurring the line between space and spectacle.
Inside, the dynamic atmosphere continues, balancing vibrant modernity with refined sophistication. Bold colours and sweeping patterns inject energy, while soft, luxurious fabrics, carved wooden walls, and gold accents infuse the space with warmth and elegance.
Immediately beyond the entrance, the eye is drawn to the Pink Bar, a show-stopping monolith carved from a rare, single block of pink marble with its bold brushstroke veins accentuating the space’s youthful elegance. More than just a cocktail bar, this exquisite monolith sets the tone for the experience to come, serving as a visual overture to the culinary performance that unfolds throughout the restaurant.
A symphony of gold, wood, and metal defines the main dining area, with enclosed tables set in semi-private nooks that strike a balance between intimacy and grandeur. Beneath guests’ feet, a custom-designed marble floor, laid in unique parquet patterns, flows organically across the space, injecting youthful energy and contemporary flair.
Above, pendant lights scattered like a strand of pearls trace a random yet harmonious rhythm across the ceiling, which is further adorned with delicate gold leafing that casts a soft, ethereal glow, amplifying the sense of curated spontaneity and elevating the sensory experience.
Bespoke furniture pieces, defined by their soft curves, mirror the organic contours of the curved walls and ceilings, fostering cohesion throughout the room. Accent fabrics in shades of red, blue, and pink, drawn from classic Japanese palettes and reminiscent of rice wheat milling, offer a dual sensory experience through contrasting tactile qualities inside and out. Together, the dramatic architectural forms, artisanal materials, and carefully curated lighting tell a narrative of cultural fusion and artistic exploration, creating a vibrant yet elegant ambience that resonates with a modern audience.
At the heart of this theatrical setting lies the signature sushi bar, offering a front-row seat to Chef Akira Back’s celebrated artistry. Crafted for intimacy and engagement, the bar invites guests into a personal dialogue with the chef, reinforcing the restaurant’s ethos of performance and participation.
A sleek pink marble counter with bold veins mirrors the entrance bar, while lacquered wood seating and plush fabric accents balance comfort with minimalist elegance. Surrounding this focal point, spoon-carved wooden accents add warmth, texture, and a subtle nod to traditional craftsmanship with a modern twist. Textiles inspired by Japanese rice-milling techniques drape the space in nuanced patterns and muted tones, embedding layers of heritage within a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic.
The private dining room offers a captivating “unboxing” experience, an immersive retreat where creativity, heritage, and elegance converge. Overhead, a sculptural ceiling inspired by the form of a soft, marshmallow-like sphere anchors the space with a sense of playful sophistication. Surrounding guests, vibrant walls come alive with a graffiti-style motif derived from a painting by Chef Akira Back’s mother, continuing the visual dialogue established in the sushi bar, where patterns inspired by her artwork also appear. This emotional tribute transforms the space into an intimate, personal extension of the chef’s heritage.
Thoughtfully curated furnishings, including polished brass chairs, plush gold-toned fabrics, and rich, bold colours, enhance the sense of intimacy and refinement. Bathed in natural light by day, the space glows from within, its striking design visible from Cotton Tree Drive, adding vibrancy and allure to The Henderson.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Akira Back Hong Kong
5/F, The Henderson
2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday
Lunch: 12:00 – 14:30
Afternoon Drinks: 14:30 – 18:00
Dinner: 18:00 – 21:30
ABOUT AB CONCEPT
AB Concept is an architectural and interior design studio founded in 1999 by Ed Ng and Terence Ngan. The studio's unique design approach draws similarities to how a chef develops a recipe, exploring local culture and experimenting with tastes and skills. This approach results in bespoke experiences through narrative-driven interiors with meticulous attention to detail, creating moments that matter in luxury environments across the hospitality, commercial, and residential sectors. AB Concept works on a global scale with offices in Hong Kong, Taipei, Kyoto, London, and Milan, serving clients in 16 countries and over 30 cities, from holiday destinations such as the Algarve and Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat to gateway cities like London, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo. The studio collaborates closely with internationally-renowned hospitality, restaurant, and luxury brands, including Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Rosewood, Waldorf Astoria, and W Hotels. Recent projects include the acclaimed Paper Moon Giardino restaurant in Milan, Lalique's flagship store in Shanghai, the bar Argo at the Hong Kong Four Seasons, named one of the world's top 50 bars and the Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Ultimately, design is about being. In addition to spatial design, the studio continues to develop a portfolio of design products. To date, the studio has worked with Tai Ping on a capsule collection of couture rugs, the Viola Chair for Poltrona Frau and hand-blown Bohemian glass lighting for Lasvit. Furthermore, AB Concept worked with legendary Japanese tableware brand Noritake Design Collection designing the Bangle Collection, a sculptural and highly crafted tableware series. With a reputation for exceptional design projects and a commitment to innovation, AB Concept continues to explore what design can do, not what it looks like.
abconcept.net | @ab_concept
ABOUT AKIRA BACK
Akira Back, the name that is synonymous for cutting cuisine and exquisite taste in the restaurant and hospitality industry. A first-class and world-renowned idealist who is a revered chef and has triumphantly built a global empire over the past two decades spawning 31 cutting edge locations operating around the world with more on the horizon. In addition to his lengthy resume and accolades that continue to mount, Back is persistently on the forefront of innovation and artistry. Born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Aspen, Colorado, Akira Back moved to the rocky mountain state at the age of 15-years-old for his father to pursue the family business. Back picked up snowboarding as a hobby which led him to pursue the professional circuit where he appeared in a handful of extreme sports movies and garnered praise from the sports top trade publications. During this time, Back began working at a local Japanese restaurant to supplement his income. After seven years on the pro-snowboarding circuit, Back realised that he felt the same thrill in the kitchen as he did on his board, shaping his decision to pursue a full-time culinary career. Back attended and completed his cooking education at the International Culinary School at The Art Institute based in Colorado, establishing the framework of his technique and amplifying his knowledge of Asian cooking, allowing him to incorporate his artistic vision and Korean heritage. Combining his passions for adventure, travel and culinary exploration, Chef Back opened his first restaurant in 2008, the world-renowned Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge located inside the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
www.akiraback.com
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