A compendium of food: One-third of a trilogy of new openings by Aqua Restaurant Group, The Chinese Library is an old-world-inspired concept dishing up a wealth of flavorful dishes drawing on the best regional Chinese cuisine.

Look & Feel: Set in the arts hub of Tai Kwun, in a former colonial-style building that was once the Central Police Headquarters, The Chinese Library has heritage and style in spades. And pays tribute to the building’s law-enforcing past. Aesthetics are an intriguing blend of colonial and Oriental, and retain a sense of timeless modernity. Ascend an original iron balustrade staircase. Check out backlit police badges at the reception. Then mosey into the grand dining room that features jade-colored walls, ornate mirrors, onyx screens, and black-and-white marble tabletops.

On the Menu: Regional Chinese cuisine is the focus here, so the menu features a plethora of Sichuan, Shanghainese, Cantonese and Chiu Chow dishes. The signature is the apple-roasted 45-day imperial Peking duck. But you’ll also find chrysanthemum ‘thousand cut’ silken tofu in chicken broth, BBQ pork loin in New Zealand manukau honey, and Sichuan garoupa in chili broth with glass noodles. Of course dim sum is available, albeit in elevated style. Expect black truffle har gao, siu mai with black garlic, and xiao long Bao with a spicy laksa soup.

Great For: Experiencing the breath and depth of Chinese cuisine in fine style.

FYI: The Chinese Library is part of a three-concept space that also includes a chic cocktail bar called The Dispensary, and a modern British eatery called Statement.

Check out Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars here.

This writeup is a news piece and was not based on a restaurant visit. The Loop HK will update this post once we’ve visited in person.