The Elements mall at Kowloon Station promises the hard-to-resist combination of high-end shopping and ritzy dining. Its one million sq ft area not only offers fashion and consumer goods, but also more than 30 food and beverage outlets - without a food court in sight. Instead of inexpensive fast food, there's a mix of upmarket eateries run by local restaurateurs and overseas investors.
Located on the third floor roof garden is Megu, a modern Japanese restaurant whose original branch in New York is a favourite of celebrities and tycoons. 'We were deciding between London, Hong Kong and Dubai as our first overseas project,' says managing director Takashi Hayasaka.
'We chose Hong Kong because people here know and enjoy good food and we respect their taste.
'We choose Elements because it's a brand new elegant shopping mall that is directly attached to the ICC [International Commerce Centre] and W Hotel [both opening next year]. It's also the first high-end shopping mall on the Kowloon side that is similar to IFC. And the 'five elements' theme of the mall fits with Megu's philosophy of treasuring all things natural and organic.'
The restaurant's 6,200 sq ft split-level dining room was created by designer Yasumichi Morita, who had a budget of HK$30 million. It's a visually stunning environment that cleverly employs distinctive Japanese craftsmanship such as Edo-Kiriko cut glass and bamboo weaving. The centrepiece is a circular sushi bar adorned with a tree-shaped decoration made from kimono fabrics.
'I believe it's the only 360-degree sushi bar in Hong Kong. The purpose is to allow diners to communicate freely with any of our sushi chefs at the bar,' says Hayasaka.