Sunday Lunch in Style: With Special Guests Dennis & Grace Lu

The couple are effortlessly stylish, both in their demeanour and their wardrobe choices. Dennis arrives in a Fendi sweatshirt and matching bag, while Grace is equally chic in a khaki Ferragamo coat and Prada bag — most of the pieces from Pacific Place. ‘We always agree on buying things we can use together,’ says Dennis . ‘Even in clothing — Grace often prefers something like a men’s T-shirt or jacket, rather than a feminine dress, so we can mix and match.’

The couple moved into Starstreet Precinct a little over a year ago while renovating their Mid-Levels apartment — a temporary arrangement that soon became something more. ‘We were looking for a convenient spot during the renovation,’ Dennis explains. ‘As soon as we walked into the flat in Starstreet Precinct, we loved it. It’s close to the MTR and the mall, and it’s just so easy to invite friends over.’ That short-term plan has turned into a deep appreciation for the area’s charm and community feel.

‘I’d definitely show any visitor where we live,’ says Dennis, mentioning an upcoming visitor from Sydney. ‘The cafés and independent shops in the area feel very similar to neighbourhoods in Australia — friendly and local. Outside of Starstreet, I don’t really see that vibe much in Hong Kong.’

Indeed, the couple has fully embraced the lifestyle. Dennis, who previously worked as an architect, shifted his focus to wellness more than a decade ago. ‘I went from doing no sport at all to two personal training sessions, two boxing sessions and multiple group classes a week,’ he says. ‘I also earned yoga and personal trainer certifications — not to teach professionally, but to better understand my own practice.’ Many of his sessions are at Pure Yoga in Starstreet Precinct or Pacific Place.

Weekends often start with a morning of movement, followed by a relaxed lunch — sometimes Chinese at Ye Shanghai or Peking Garden, other times just coffee at Fuel or Blue Bottle. ‘We often stop into store events at Pacific Place too,’ says Dennis. ‘It might begin as a quick visit, but it usually turns into an afternoon of chatting with other shoppers over champagne.’

A big part of that experience is thanks to their above Black membership. ‘The service at the Lounge is exceptional,’ says Dennis. ‘The staff remember your name and your preferences. You feel truly looked after.’ With the contemporary menus and a well-stocked bar, it’s a space they frequent. The food and beverage, fittingly presented by The Upper House, offers a creative twist on familiar favourites, with highlights including Imitation Shark Fin Soup, Gua Bao and a selection of local- and Western-inspired sweets and savouries. The luxury hotel also collaborates closely with their bar team to craft seasonal, bespoke cocktails and mocktails designed to surprise and delight, plus there’s a selection of wine, beer, liquor and hot beverages.

Other perks include a dedicated VIP hotline, complimentary valet parking, unlimited access to the above Lounge, invitations to private events, double rewards points on your birthday and more — from wine tastings and chocolate pairings to design talks and exclusive previews. ‘One standout event was a chocolate and cognac pairing, with chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat,’ recalls Dennis. ‘There was also a Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery workshop that talked about the history of the Maison’s classic pieces, with part of the workshop taking place in the store at Pacific Place and part at jewellery school L’ÉCOLE. Tomorrow evening we’re heading to a sake pairing workshop, and we wouldn’t miss this opportunity, because we can taste a little of everything and then buy later knowing what we’ll get. We love to try different things — coffee, wine, chocolate.’ Grace agrees: ‘There’s always something interesting happening,’ she says.

As for shopping, Pacific Place is the couple’s go-to. ‘We’ve definitely shopped more since moving here,’ Dennis laughs. ‘The staff at a lot of the stores know us. They invite us in when new pieces arrive and offer champagne. It becomes more like a friendship than a retail interaction.’ One standout purchase? A statement raffia and jacquard crab charm from Fendi that Dennis had specially ordered in.

‘The area is incredibly central, but peaceful,’ Dennis concludes. ‘Even though we’re right by Queen’s Road East, we don’t hear any traffic. Everything’s walkable — the MTR, shops, the cinema, the gym. We used to drive everywhere. Now we hardly need to. There’s something special about this neighbourhood.’