The Pawn reopens with Tom Aikens

One of Hong Kong’s favourite restaurants, The Pawn on Johnston Road, has reopened after renovation and is now over-seen by British chef Tom Aikens.

The famous Wan Chai venue was closed from July until late October while it was renovated, the menu redesigned and the layout changed.

The new menu, according to Aikens, is “a strong mix of casual and high-end cooking. Our intention is to serve dishes that not only appeal to local diners, but also travellers and foodies. Above all, we want to create a fun dining experience and a relaxed, informal environment. Building on The Pawn’s long-standing reputation, we offer guests a dining experience unlike anything else in Wan Chai.”

Spread over three floors, The Pawn originally covered a bar on the first floor, a restaurant on the second and a private dining area on the roof.

This layout has not entirely changed with the “Botanicals Bar” now occupying the first floor alongside “Bar 1908” with the latter following The Pawn’s original “pub” concept and the former offering cocktails.

The second floor restaurant also remains but the roof has now been turned into a “farm” where herbs and other plants will be grown for use in the kitchen and in some of the cocktails.

“Our vision is to provide a platform for people from different creative disciplines to contribute,” said Press Room Group co-founder, Alan Lo. “We have Tom Aikens overseeing the kitchen, his team cultivating the rooftop farm, bespoke tailors Gieves & Hawkes designing the managers’ uniforms, resident bar manager Liam Baer creating unique cocktails and Stanley Wong returning to create The Pawn’s art programme.

“At a time when Hong Kong developers have stripped away the soul and character of many original neighbourhoods, The Pawn will focus on the Wan Chai community, becoming a creative hub for local and international creative talents.”