Architecture usually speaks from the outside, but inside a soaring skyscraper in Central, it whispers through fine dining.
The annual Prix Versailles 2026 World Selection recently unveiled its list of the world’s most beautiful restaurants. Without any numerical hierarchy, sixteen global culinary spaces were crowned as equals.
Remarkably, three of those sixteen sit inside a single building: Zaha Hadid Architects’ futuristic masterwork, The Henderson.
These spaces do not rely on standard luxury tropes. Instead, they treat interior design as an extension of the culinary narrative, creating three entirely distinct universes.
Akira Back: Energetic Fluidity
At Akira Back, the atmosphere mirrors the high-velocity energy of the city below.
The space relies heavily on structural movement, utilizing rounded architectural lines and dramatic timber posts that draw the eyes upward toward a deeply sculptural ceiling. Refined, warm accent lighting softens the bold geometry, while intimate dining nooks break up the grand scale.
What truly sets this venue apart is its emotional core—the walls feature vivid art inspired by the chef’s mother, transforming a polished, structural room into an intimate, layered memory palace.
📍 Address: 5/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
🍽️ Cuisine: Refined Japanese-Korean fusion with contemporary global influences
📞 Contact: +852 9733 8988 | info@akirabackhk.com
🌐 Website: akirabackhk.com
📱 Social: Instagram | Facebook
Hana no Kumo: The Kyoto Refuge
Stepping into Hana no Kumo feels like an escape from Hong Kong’s vertical rush into a quiet sanctuary.
With only twenty-four seats, this kappou-style restaurant centers around an open kitchen where the chef’s movements feel like a theatrical performance. The design team crafted a soft, poetic landscape using pale timber, textured washi paper, and raw stone.
Overhead hangs a breathtaking, sculptural “flower cloud” canopy, which gently transitions from crisp white to delicate pink light to mimic a shifting spring season. At the entrance, a crystal-like resin ice sculpture glows silently, welcoming guests into a cloud of stillness.
📍 Address: Summit 38, 38/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
🍽️ Cuisine: Premium Japanese Kappou & Kaiseki seasonal dining
📞 Contact: +852 9722 8688 | info@hananokumohk.com
🌐 Website: hananokumohk.com
📱 Social: Instagram | Facebook
Peridot: Natural Futurism
Perched high on the 38th floor, Peridot takes a sharp turn into the surreal.
The cocktail lounge is a masterclass in theatrical design, wrapping guests in a deep, signature green palette. The walls and ceilings are upholstered in plush mohair, paired with mirrored chrome accents and frosted glass pillars. The undeniable centerpiece is an overhead canopy glowing with more than 20,000 hand-crafted lights.
Reflecting against a grand piano and the city skyline outside, the venue feels less like a traditional bar and more like a glowing spaceship floating over Hong Kong.
📍 Address: Summit 38, 38/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
🍽️ Cuisine: Terroir-inspired craft cocktails and pioneering plant-based fine dining
📞 Contact: +852 9722 8388 | info@peridothk.com
🌐 Website: peridothk.com
📱 Social: Instagram | Facebook
Ultimately, there is no single crown jewel among this trio. By being named to the Prix Versailles World Selection, all three venues have been honored equally as global masterpieces of architectural storytelling.
Later this year, the World Jury will convene at UNESCO to decide which specific design takes home the final World Titles—but for now, Hong Kong design lovers can celebrate knowing that three of the most visually stunning spaces on Earth are waiting to be experienced under one spectacular roof.
Header Image Credit: Akira Back | Hana no Kumo | Peridot