From Jennifer Lopez and Courtney Act to princesses and queens, Hong Kong restaurant Sevva’s best moments and most memorable guests, according to its founder
- Lopez requested ‘no photography’, the Princess of Thailand is a New Year’s Eve regular and the Queen of Belgium’s fashion show included a ‘spectacular sight’
- The long-standing Hong Kong restaurant and bar launched by socialite Bonnae Gokson in 2008 will close in May 2024 – ‘the end of an era’, many say
“Whenever royalty visits, stringent security measures are implemented, including thorough searches of the entire building,” says Bonnae Gokson, the founder of Sevva, a restaurant and bar that has been an icon of Hong Kong’s Central business district since 2008.
That’s standard protocol really, when guests coming through might include not only aristocrats but heads of state and high-profile celebrities.
Sevva divides people. It has hosted some of the city’s most glamorous events, from an Andy Warhol-themed party in 2009 to countless soirées headlined by luxury brands and famous faces. But it has also been largely painted as a sanctuary for tai tais (wealthy married women who do not work) and banker’s paradise, a place where no one bats an eyelid at the price of a bottled beer or slice of cake.
Nevertheless, Gokson’s social media post announcing Sevva’s closure in May 2024 was quickly festooned with crying emojis and comments singing a similar tune: “It’s the end of an era!”
Curious, we asked Gokson for her favourite memories of the place over the best part of two decades.
