Art maven Adrian Cheng on Ethiopian coffee, imperfect ceramics and the dapper style of Leonard Cohen

My personal style signifier is my limited edition Yeezy Boost 350 V2 trainers. I have pairs in White, Oreo and Zebra. They’re comfortable and chic and I wear them with a suit to meetings, openings and site visits.

The last thing I bought and loved was a painting called Pub 5 by Zhang Enli. When I saw his show at the ICA in 2013, I was overwhelmed. His work, in muted tones, is based on objects and figures from his memories. For me, it’s like experiencing his emotions in a time warp he has created. hauserwirth.com

The thing I’m eyeing next is a 1932 Bergère chair by Kaare Klint – his take on traditional English furniture. It’s not the chair that defined his career, but a remarkable piece nonetheless. The first edition with brass castors and Niger leather is extremely rare, but it would make an excellent addition to my vintage Scandinavian furniture collection.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Tel Aviv, where I met with President Rivlin to talk about innovation in art development, culture and business. Tel Aviv was eye-opening: at every corner you can feel the energy of the city and its rising tech scene; every conversation you hear is about new businesses and the next disruptive ideas.

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is a bottle of 2010 Chairman’s Reserve from Grace Vineyard in Shanxi. This fine vintage is the best red wine in China, but not a lot of people outside the country are aware of it. As a result, the vineyard only makes 3,000 bottles a year. 102 Provincial Road, Taigu Xian Jinzhong Shi, Shanxi (+86354-644 9198; en.grace-vineyard.com)

Next on my travel bucket list is The Brando resort on the private island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. It’s a self‑contained paradise made up of a dozen breathtaking small islands, with reefs cocooning the pristine beaches. I find its commitment to preserving the atoll intriguing: even in a setting like this, it employs a wastewater recycling programme and a seawater air-conditioning system. thebrando.com

The last meal that truly impressed me was at Cobo House, a design-driven restaurant in Sai Ying Pun, in the west end of Hong Kong Island. Janice Wong, twice voted Asia’s best pastry chef, makes the desserts, inspired by art – recently she created chocolate shaped and coloured like Lego – and the Singaporean chef’s savoury dishes are just as inventive. 8/12 South Lane, Hong Kong (+852-2656 3088; cobohouse.com)

My carry-on essentials are a scarf to guard against unpredictable air con, a tablet and a duffel bag of notes; the best time to read up is when you’re on a long haul, undisturbed. I always have lip balm too, as it’s miserable to travel with chapped lips – especially in the winter: currently it’s the mojito flavour balm by Malin+ Goetz. £10 for 10ml; malinandgoetz.co.uk

My fail-safe jet lag cure is usually just working through it; I’m lucky that I don’t need a lot of sleep. But I’m a fan of Fivelements, which came to Hong Kong this year. The treatments, from sports massages to aquatic therapies, never fail to restore and balance my body, physically and spiritually. 81 Tai Chung Hau Road, Hong Kong (+852-3959 0000; fivelements.org)

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose Le Marais in Paris. I buy choux à la crème from Popelini, where the sweet mouthfuls twinkle like coloured diamonds – it’s like walking into Graff. I go to Fleux, a brilliant design store, to discover the latest decor and lifestyle trends and cool gadgets. I also like Sentou, which sells lights by Isamu Noguchi. Fleux, 39 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie (+331-4278 2720; fleux.com). Popelini, 29 Rue Debelleyme (+331-4461 3144; popelini.com). Sentou, 29 Rue François Miron (+331-4278 5060; sentou.fr)

My favourite website is JD Finance’s jd.com, – an idea powerhouse with a Kickstarter-like page, where I get a sense of what young Chinese consumers are interested in.

My style icon is Leonard Cohen, a true gentleman who always looked comfortable with himself. Yes, he was a dapper, suit-wearing musician, but it’s his casual outfits – the rollnecks, shearling jackets and chunky scarves – that I love. And he always wore a hat, which I try to do – although mine is straw rather than felt.

The last music I downloaded was La Traviata by Verdi. I took opera-singing lessons when I was young, and quite seriously too. I think when people say they don’t like opera, they either haven’t seen a live performance or didn’t see a good one.

The best book I’ve read in the past year is The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, who is professor of public policy at the University of Southern California. It provides a wealth of knowledge about the new elite class, their social position and upward mobility – and speaks volumes about the importance of understanding millennials. My team and I are researching Chinese millennials along with Generation Z (those born after 1995) because these groups will have the most spending power in the next 30 years, yet remain a puzzle. They’re global, self-centred and capricious, with no loyalty to particular brands, and a large part of their lives, from shopping to socialising, takes place on their phones.

A recent “find” is Coutume Café in Paris. They’re serious about their coffee. I always make sure I drop by whenever I am in town, which is about every three months. The interior is not flashy or in-your-face, and I like its community feeling. 47 Rue de Babylone, Paris 75007 (+331-4551 5047; coutumecafe.com)

An indulgence I would never forgo is my morning coffee – preferably a simple Americano. Very occasionally, I’ll go for an aged ice-drip with Ethiopian beans.

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a chequered sweater by Korean-born designer Woo Young Mi. For me she’s the only Asian designer who understands the physique of Asian men. Her pieces are simple and chic, and she’s deft at mixing materials. Knitwear from £340; wooyoungmi.com

The grooming staple I’m never without is my fragrance, Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior – a distinctive woody and peppery scent that keeps me calm. £65 for 100ml EDT; dior.com

The best gift I’ve given recently was a set of “imperfect” ceramic art pieces by Julie Proglin and Jesse McLin. The duo have been visiting the village of Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province for many years – for centuries it was home to the most coveted handmade china – learning the history and practice of the local craftsmen. They went through a lot of trial and error, yet they somehow turned mistakes into techniques. Thanks to the country’s middle-class boom and a growing appreciation for bespoke objects among Chinese millennials, the craft is getting a second life. Latitude 22N, +852-2480 1182; latitude22n.com

And the best one I’ve received recently is a silver Veritas key given to me this year by dean Michael Smith of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, my alma mater, as a token of appreciation for the support that I’ve given to nurturing future talent. It symbolises the doors Harvard opened for me. It’s a very sentimental gift and a reminder that you must always give back where you have taken.

In my fridge you’ll always find some organic nibbles. But to be honest, I rarely open it. I’m not a fan of chilled food or drinks, and I have been on a low-sodium diet for many years, so I try to stay away from processed food too.

An object I would never part with is my glasses. I need them because I’m short-sighted, but also I think thick-rimmed glasses go well with any outfit. I have a few pairs that I rotate, but my favourite pair was handmade by a Japanese artisan.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Leonardo da Vinci. I sometimes imagine what it would be like to meet him, but I can’t even picture his face. Unfortunately, his works aren’t really in the hands of private collectors, so they rarely come up for sale.

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a museum director by day and bar singer by night.