The place is actually huge and kind of recreates the feel of a French village with a retail counter, a bakery, a pastry counter (pastries which I haven’t try yet even though I’ve been drooling on the “Flan” and the “Éclair au Chocolat”) and a restaurant serving all day brunch (Salads, Soup, Risotto, Pasta, Meat and Fish). Oh and in between two bites of buttery happiness, I even got to catch a few words from Gontran himself! 
 

Hey Gontran! So nice to finally see you here in Hong Kong! There are many French people in town (it’s actually the biggest western expat community in town, even bigger than the Brits), many French restaurants in the 852 too but surprisingly only a very few good bakeries around … 
Coming to Hong Kong has been in the pipe for quite a few years now and I set-up an office here 3-4 years ago. The only reason why we didn’t come before is that we couldn’t find the right space. You must know better than me that real estate can be tricky here in Hong Kong and that rents are kind of a challenge. We eventually were given this great opportunity to open here in K11 Musea thanks to my business partner.
 

In how many countries can we find Gontran Cherrier today?
Quite a lot actually, ranging from Australia to Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, China … I’m also opening my first shop in Saudi Arabi next month, Argentina the month after and the US early 2020. The next few months are definitely going to be busy! We are also currently discussing other opportunities here and there but nothing 100% confirmed yet. 
 

So, you have quite a number of shops across different countries in Asia. Do you think that being French makes the brand more appealing to local consumers? Is having a strong French brand identity an asset for the brand?
For sure. We do definitively emphasis our French identity. My name is so French, there’s really nothing I can do about it … I’m very French and so is my brand. Look at how we have organized our space here in K11 Musea, doesn’t It remind you of a small French village? 

It’s the first time ever we are launching such a concept, but we are planning on even further developing it in the future and be even more French than we already are. 

I just love the concept! 
And yes, being French definitely is an asset because customers trust us to deliver an authentic gourmet taste. Which we do! We only use the best ingredients such as French flour and French butter and whether you eat your croissant in Paris or in here the taste is the same. This part is very important to me. Only if the country has very strict restrictions on ingredients, such as Japan, do I agree to work with other products.
 

You are quite a “star” in the world of bakery and pastry, you’ve been on different TV shows and many people can associate your face to the name of your brand. Is it important for you to be the face of the brand?

Yes. I really try and be there as much as possible so that people can see me, see that Gontran is a real person and not just some kind of storytelling. The only problem is that we now have 60 shops around the world … I can’t possibly be everywhere. But I never miss a new market opening. 
 

Is this first shop in K11 Musea a test to then maybe further expand and open other shops in Hong Kong? 
Why not! What I love about K11 Musea is that the place is quite unique, I’ve never seen that before. But yes. We might be interested also exploring other neighborhood at some point, on Hong Kong Island maybe. And why not Stanley for example? The idea being to be able and bring our products to different customers. But yes, to be continued … 
 


Gontran Cherrier
B2, B205-207 – K11 Musea (TST East)

Traveling to K11 by MTR, the signature Venetian blue of Atelier Cologne’s shops is the very first thing I spotted when existing the station and entering the mall. Loving the “Hong  Kong” mosaic tile art on the store front, echoed by the artistic citrus mosaic wall located inside the store.
I have been a huge fan of the brand for a few years now, loving their elegant family of fragrances dedicated to citruses and always find their stores to be beautiful and welcoming with nice pop of colors. 
 
B121 (Basement 1) 
 
 
 
Fortnum & Mason 

Well, Fortnum & Mason at K11 Musea isn’t exactly opened yet but I just can’t wait to the 312-year-old British brand to open this shop and restaurant! Already planning on stocking on some of the brand’s most famous products such as the timeless classic Royal Blend black tea, created in 1902 at the request of King Edward VII, or the brand’s biscuits and marmalades and indulge on some freshly baked in-store biscuit (a first for the brand).
 
Also, can’t wait to discover Fortnum’s 181, the set to be gorgeous dining room and bar on 1/F with beautiful views across the harbor. Fortnum’s most famous Afternoon Tea will be served each day accompanied by a live pianist
 
Exclusive to the K11 Musea shop: The Musea Blend, a mix of Keemun (Chinese black tea) and Yunnan Golden Buds (black tea) presented in a tea caddy designed by Chinese contemporary artist Zhang Enli. 
 
 
 
Kapok

My fav concept-store in town continues to expand and I have to say I am highly obsessed with their K11 Musea flagship designed by the architects at Collective. The shop houses different brands such as O.N.S, a menswear brand from NYC, Maison Kitsuné, Veja, Maison Labiche or Alexa Chung and just like in the recently opened Wan Chai’s  flagship, you’ll find a perfect mix of clothes, accessories, beauty products and candles (I can never have too many candles). You definitely wanna check Future Classics, Kapok’s own womenswear brand and a collaboration between Paris and Hong Kong. 
 
Exclusive to the K11 Musea shop: the Astier de Villatte shop-in-shop greeting you on the left of the shop entrance. 

How beautiful is this corner dedicated to the iconic French lifestyle brand? 
 
Shop 205, 2/F
 
 
 
MoMA Design Store

I was looking forward to the opening of this one-of-a-king gift shop, an extension of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and the biggest MoMA in Asia (there are only two others MoMA Design Stores across Asia, both located in Japan). You’ll, of course, find some gifts and souvenirs inspired by famous artists ranging from Monet to Andy Warhol (couldn’t help but buying the “Where is Warhol” version of “Where is Waldo”) but the shop is also filled with, highly desirable, design objects.
 
Exclusive to the K11 Musea shop: design objects and gifts exclusively created for Hong Kong will be showcased in the store and artists who have made their marks on the local art scene will be featured. 
 
 
Shop 135, 1/F 
 
 
 
Penhaligon

If you cannot wait for the opening of Fortnum & Mason for a fix of all-things very British, you should definitely check-out the Penhaligon shop, a perfume house holding two long-standing Royal Warrants. I am fascinated by the Portraits collection, a family of characters each represented by a perfume and each with their own story to tell. 
 
Shop B125 (Basement 1)