Kushiro’s Japanese garden-inspired interiors takes multi-sensory dining experience to new heights.
High-end Japanese omakase restaurants are popping up all over Hong Kong. The newest kid on the block is Kushiro, tucked away on the basement floor of The Peninsula. At a hotel synonymous with refinement and decadence, it’s fitting that the restaurant decor is just every bit as enticing as the omakase meals it serves up.
Curated by Kenwin Chan, of KS Studio Ltd., the interior is based on a moon-themed zen garden setting that shares Japan’s minimalist psyche, seamlessly flowing from the entrance to the main dining area. “Each section of the restaurant is inspired by different moon phases and depicts beautiful scenes on a lovely day,” Chan explains.
Upon the entrance, the autumn gold ginkgo and full golden moon against the wall reflect off swathes of light, imbuing the space with a romantic tranquility. As guests walk down a corridor, they find, standing out against the dark surrounds, a main dining room that contains a sushi bar. “This is where patrons can witness the culinary masters at work against a striking wall illustrating a half moon, with luminous gold accents.”
It certainly doesn’t look so that the 1,300-sq.ft. restaurant is in fact located in a basement and has a low ceiling, nor does it feel cramped and small. “We make use of different materials and features to trick the eyes,” says Chan. “Note the subtle mirrors and reflective surfaces that work to expand the sense of space.”
There’s also another smaller sushi bar and a private room for celebrations and parties. Chan’s attention to detail is on full display there: Japanese shikki, lacquer art elements, cherry blossom petals that look as if flowing with the breeze dot across the space. The restaurant has been conceived in a sensual oneiric space that evocatively complements the gastronomical delights of omakase.
