The Merchants, named after the trading houses of old Canton that once bridged China with the rest of the world, is the first restaurant to open its doors at Forty-Five in LANDMARK, Central with a total floor size of 4500 sq ft that seats up to 100 guests with 4 private dining rooms. Created by Leading Nation Hospitality Group’s Gerald Li and Kevin Poon, The Merchants brings a refined and contemporary taste of Shanghai to Hong Kong’s trendiest new arts and lifestyle destination.
From magic hour cocktails on a dazzling Sky Terrace that boasts 360-degree views of the iconic cityscape at Cardinal Point, to a one-of-a-kind encounter between the most decorated female chef in the world with a total of 10 MICHELIN stars across her restaurants, Anne-Sophie Pic’s first French fine-dining restaurant, The Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic in Hong Kong together with luxury house Baccarat, the unique space celebrates Asia’s most brilliant contemporary artists, global creators, and designers. Under the same roof, one will also find refined traditional Shanghainese dining, The Merchants, a world-renowned teppanyaki experience, Kaen Teppanyaki, and a private members’ arts club, The Gloucester Arts Club for entrepreneurs and creatives.
“The Merchants” were the leading figures in the companies who were given licenses to deal with foreign trade in the Guangzhou area during the Qing era where the Canton System was under operation. During this period, foreign trades were also only allowed to take place in the Thirteen Factories (also referred to as 十三行), the designated trading posts and warehouses run by the Merchants. Under this monopoly, the Merchants became the most powerful and influential and wealthiest businesses in the world. Helmed by award-winning Executive Chef Chen Tian Long, The Merchants serves classical dishes with a touch of modernity from Shanghai and her surrounding provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Located high above the city atop Gloucester Tower with sweeping views of the iconic Hong Kong skyline, The Merchants offers an exquisite dining experience amongst interiors that are reminiscent of belle époque Shanghai.
Traditional Shanghainese Dining with Modern Flair
Savour the intricacies of authentic Shanghainese cuisine at The Merchants, where the menu with over 100 varieties of dishes and dim sum highlights seasonal ingredients with flavours developed under the influences of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces – two of the eight great cuisines of China.
Signature dishes by Chef Chen include Jasmine Tea-Smoked Duck (HK$328 for half portion, HK$628 for full portion), a dish that follows a meticulous multi-step process of first marinating the duck in salt and green onions overnight, then smoking with a combination of jasmine tea leaves and camphor leaves. The duck is then steamed and fried to achieve the perfect combination of crispy, golden-brown skin and juicy meat.
Osmanthus Honey Glazed Jinhua Ham with Crispy Bean Curd Sheet (HK$78 per piece) is Chef Chen’s delectable take on the famous cured ham delicacy from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, featuring 36-months-aged Jinhua ham terrine marinated in honeyed Osmanthus sauce that is folded into house-made steamed mantou along with a sheet of crispy bean curd. The result is a sticky-fingered delight that resonates in both flavours and fun, contrasting textures.
Another must-try signature dish at The Merchants is the Stir-fried Shredded Mandarin Fish (HK$788), which showcases an age-old Huaiyang recipe that requires masterful technique to execute properly. Mandarin fish is first peeled and then shredded with precise knifework into fine threads, rinsed until milky-white, then stir-fried in warm oil. The dish is deemed successful if the flesh of the fish is clearly visible on each strip after frying, otherwise a fragmented shape will result.
The Merchants serves an a la carte menu for lunch + dinner (including dim sum) + set menu for lunch only.