Café Gray Deluxe is the restaurant at The Upper House, a Swire group hotel. Located in Pacific Place in the heart of Hong Kong Island, this hotel was relatively low-key in the past few years, but its entire interior design was designed by Fu Houmin, the grandson of the late gambling king Fu Lao Rong. The designer, who was named a "rising star" by Wallpaper, uses natural wood and light carpets to make the hotel bright and cozy. The Upper House was named one of the top 25 hotels in China by Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice 2016 in 2016.
If there is a place where you can see both the sea and the mountains, then Café Gray Deluxe for afternoon tea is the best choice. Café Gray Deluxe is located on the 49th floor of the hotel, in the same location as the hotel's bar, Café Gray Bar. The restaurant has a wide view of the whole restaurant, and the transparent glass curtain wall offers a panoramic view of the blue sea and blue sky of Victoria Harbour and the lush greenery of Mid-Levels. Even the restrooms in the restaurant have a 270-degree view mode.
The chef of the restaurant is also a well-known figure. Chef Gray Kunz was the Executive Chef of Plume, the French restaurant at the InterContinental Hotel, before opening his own restaurant, Café Gray, in New York, which was awarded a Michelin star in its first year. This culinary base makes Café Gray Deluxe's afternoon tea dishes varied, the color combination is very appetizing, and the portion is just right for afternoon tea. Café Gray Deluxe also features NIKKO's custom-made tableware, which is not as elaborate as The Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental, but it doesn't compromise the taste of the tea. The sugar cube for the coffee does not use Swire's own products, but the French brand Le Perruche.
But the good bit waits for no one. If you want to take a textured photo at Café Gray Deluxe's exclusive window with sea and mountain views, it's not an exaggeration to position yourself two weeks in advance. If you want to try your luck on a temporary basis, during holidays or peak periods, you may only be able to stay in the atrium. Café Gray Deluxe prioritises the best locations for guests who live in The Upper House or have already booked. And compared to other hotel restaurants, Café Gray Deluxe's afternoon tea is served later, starting at 3:30 p.m. However, there is only an afternoon tea set in the menu, there is no à la carte, and there is only English, there is no corresponding Chinese translation, and the service details are not as good as Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental.
Café Gray Deluxe Afternoon Tea is HK$265 per person and HK$460 for two, if there are more than two people, you can order a set menu for two and choose other drinks separately.
