Saying Goodbye to Sevva

This stunning dining room will close its doors

Socialite and Sevva hostess with the mostess Bonnae Gokson looked different today. Then I realised she hadn't used eyeliner to accentuate her eyes. Instead she wore sunglasses indoors donning a thin sweater and jeans as she sat inside her restaurant, surveying who walked by her.

At one point she leaned over and whispered, "Do you know who is sitting behind you? She owns Lee Gardens."

One of the best views of the city at Sevva

The top floor restaurant and bar in Prince's Building in Central that has one of the best skyline views of the city is closing on April 17 after 16 years, and many fans of the place have been booking reservations to eat and drink there one last time. 

Gokson says she was forced to close after Hong Kong Land claimed it was looking to freshen up the space with a new food concept. And given the current challenging economic climate, she has decided the time is not right to reopen elsewhere or do something else. 

So now practically everything in the restaurant is for sale, from the cutlery and glasses to the light fixtures and wine. She said people have even asked her if she is selling the wall full of plants is for sale. 

Sevva was the place to see and be seen, with a list of celebrities from Pharrell Williams, Jennifer Lopez to David Beckham, Sting, Bill Clinton and Robert De Niro having visited the restaurant when they came through Hong Kong.

Vik Muniz's artwork graces the dining room

During the 16 years in business, Gokson organised numerous events such as drag queen Courtney Act, and musician Alfredo Rodriguez. She also invited Nikki Yanofsky, a singer from Montreal to perform, and another time chef David Hawksworth from Vancouver to cook.

When I asked Gokson what she would miss most about Sevva, she said the people, meaning her staff. Many of them are loyal employees for years.

Before I left I asked her if I could have a last tour around the place and she obliged. One of my favourite art pieces is the meticulously designed collage by Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, an homage to Edouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere. It will have a new owner.

And that ceiling with so many strands of coloured glass decorated with flowers... Gokson had spent a lot of money and time renovating the place in 2019 to bring back customers, but then the protests disrupted business for many months, then the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gorgeous colourful chandeliers

Yet Gokson persevered, but was eventually stopped by the landlord from continuing to deliver good food, service and a classy ambience for her guests, many of them socialites who are wondering where they can hang out now.

"Jimmy's Kitchen!" she said and laughed.

After Sevva closes on April 17, everything will be taken down and then stripped to bare concrete to hand over to the next tenant. Gokson explained this could only be done at night, which will take three nights and cost millions of dollars.

What a way to go.