This curvaceous downtown skyscraper mingles art, commerce, and high-profile cuisine.

*Left to right:* The main dining room at Akira Back Hong Kong; The Henderson’s west facade. (All photos courtesy of The Henderson)

Ever since Henderson Land, one of Hong Kong’s largest developers, paid a record US$3 billion in 2017 for a small but coveted site in Central, locals have speculated about the building to come. Nearby are some of the most famed high-rises in a city swarming with skyscrapers, including I.M. Pei’s iconic, 367-meter Bank of China Tower.

But bigger isn’t always better. Instead, Zaha Hadid Architects was tapped to produce a sinuous 190-meter glass tower packed with art and innovation. Named The Henderson, the 36-story structure—with an organic, flowing form inspired by the bud of a bauhinia flower, Hong Kong’s floral emblem—features column-free interiors with 3.5-meter ceilings and vast open floors that quickly attracted A-list tenants such as Audemars Piguet and Christie’s Asian headquarters.

In September, the public flocked to the debut of Akira Back, the first of three planned dining and entertainment venues. Named for the American-Korean chef behind two dozen restaurants from Las Vegas to London, it unfolds within a curving nest of gold, yellow, and bronze designed by local studio AB Concept. Standout dishes include Back’s signature 48-hour wagyu short ribs, a refined take on Korean classic galbi jjim.

The Henderson’s exceptional art is headlined by Balloon Swan, a bright-red stainless-steel work by Jeff Koons. Set in front of soaring picture windows in the third-floor lobby, it overlooks an art park dotted with other sculptures and installations.

Crowning it all is Cloud 39, with a huge all-glass ballroom and terrace that overlook Victoria Harbour. And there’s more to come: the floor below will soon offer Japanese kappo cuisine, terroir-driven cocktails, and elevated (in every sense) plant-based cuisine.

Overlooking Victoria Harbour from Cloud 39’s terrace.

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2025 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Leveling Up”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

A New Landmark for Hong Kong’s Central District

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