Charme Restaurant | Lee Hsuheng

People who have been to Hong Kong know that Cha Chaan Teng (literally: 'tea restaurant'), which is a Hong Kong-style diner, can be found commonly in the locality. Because of the eclectic and affordable menus and high-efficiency service, the trend took off and Cha Chaan Teng becomes an indispensable part of locals’ lives. It bears a heavy resemblance to the local culture. Charme Restaurant is a chain Hong Kong-style restaurant which has had many branches in Beijing and Shanghai already. In the design of Charme Restaurant, the designer, Golucci International, believes that a neat and clean interior decoration style will coincide with the Cha Chaan Teng culture.

From the layout, the restaurant is semi-open to the shopping mall. As an extension of the shopping mall’s public space, the seats in the entrance is just enclosed by low railings, ensuring the independence of the dining area and at the same time, allowing visitors have a glance at the restaurant.

Dark metal grilles are used to separate the space into different area and embellish the restaurant, enhancing the privacy of dining area but still maintaining the openness and transparency of the space at the same time. Dark metal grilles are also applied to the ceiling of the central area of the restaurant, responding to the grilles on the elevation and hence maintaining the integrity of the central area.

Besides the booths in the centre，there are some booths with higher privacy on one side. Outdoor elements such as blue awning, shelves to store goods are introduced into the restaurant to create a bustling atmosphere of a busy street and market. Old-fashioned leather sofas and tables with marble table top are telling the stories of Pearl of the Orient. The painting on the wall which shows a scene of a busy street is also selected by the designer, enhancing the fast-paced and vibrant atmosphere of Hong Kong. Vivid colors of the pictures also provide a lively feeling to guests.