When you meet Tania Mohan there is an undeniable sense of warmth about her and, whether it’s a result of her naturally hospitable nature or her desire to meet and engage with new people, Mohan defies any initial reservations one may have of a barrister-turned-businesswomen.

Her store, Tabla, is a reflection of her personality, with an abundance of colour, a variety of styles, and intricate fine details found in every corner. As Mohan talks me through the collections whilst arranging a rack of clothes, she even helps tend to a customer – and with two members of staff present, you can’t accuse her of not being hands-on.

We speak to the entrepreneur about her life in Hong Kong, her love for the city, and why sometimes curling up in bed with a set of DVDs and a cup of tea (or glass of wine) is simply the best:

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Personally, I absolutely love living and working in Hong Kong mainly because my family and friends live here. I adore the lifestyle that the place offers from boating, hiking, to the buzz of the city, plus great dining, and glamour.

From a professional point of view, I think Hong Kong has treated me well and given me many fantastic opportunities, the ‘can do’ mentality of the people is a driving force that’s unrivalled anywhere else.

I’m not a fan of coffee, but I do love tea. My favourite cup of tea is the first one in the morning in bed at home.

I tend to avoid cocktails, as I prefer to drink wine. Some of my favourite places in the city would have to be 121BC or Caprice Bar at the Four Seasons.

I like to keep fit and when I need to break a sweat I always head to XYZ, I love it there. Alternatively, I love to hike the Twin Peaks too.

I can’t even begin to tell you where I like to indulge when I’m in the mood to splurge. For starters, I love Hermès stationery and crockery, different pens from Mont Blanc, adding to my collection of Jo Malone candles, discovering different pieces of Kundan jewellery, indulging in five-star hotel treatments and naturally in trying different  - and sometimes expensive wines.

When I need to escape the buzz of the city and get away from it all, I usually head to Kamalaya in Koh Samui - I love it there, it’s extremely peaceful and so relaxing.

My guilty pleasures include marathon sessions of watching different box sets of DVDs or losing myself in a great book – usually it’s trashy fiction. It doesn’t hurt to have some salami and cheese baguettes with white wine on the side.

If I need to get primped and pampered, I can always rely on Roland Boutin at

Brune Blonde for a good colour, cut, and blowout.

There are so many restaurants that I love in Hong Kong and we are truly spoiled for choice. Chinese cuisine is my favourite, and I love places like Island Tang, Man Wah, and Peking Garden

If I’ve been away from Hong Kong for a while, my first stop upon my return is a trip to Tabla – the store I opened in Princes Building seventeen years ago.

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Photography by Edgar Tapan