Fill up on freshly made pasta and food made with love at these outstanding Italian restaurants in Hong Kong
While we love French cuisine and we go mad for dim sum, there’s really nothing more comforting than carb-loading on pasta and pizza just like mamma used to make. Add a glass, nay, a bottle, of vino, an order of tiramisu, and there’s our idea of a perfect meal. We’re easy to please like that. From rustic trattorias to Michelin-starred luxury restaurants, Italian restaurants in Hong Kong don’t get any better than these. So… in no particular order, here they are.
Italian restaurants in Hong Kong that float our boat
1. FINI’S
From pioneering restaurant company Red Sauce Hospitality, FINI’s is bringing Italian-American favourites to Hong Kong. Serving scrumptious New York-style pizzas, homemade pasta dishes as well as classic Italian inspired cocktails and wines, guests are guaranteed a joyful dining experience. (Oh, and we love their homemade burrata!)
FINI’s has branches in SoHo and Wan Chai.
2. Franks
Looking for tasty Italian restaurants in Hong Kong that double as a great place to hang with friends? Franks is a red sauce bar, restaurant, and music joint. From classic orecchiette with sausage to fettuccine with chicken offal ragu and chicken parm, Franks is definitely making Italian food more impressive and indulgent than we imagined.
Franks, G/F & 1/F, Harilela House, 79 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2320 0858, 中環雲咸街79號夏利里拉行地下及1樓
3. LucAle
One of the most exciting new restaurants to open in Hong Kong in 2020, LucAle means business when it comes to serving hearty Italian food with a twist. A passion project from Chefs Alessandro Angelini, previously of Shangri-La’s Angelini, and Luca De Berardinis of Conrad fame, expect thoughtfully prepared dishes made with a lot of love. Kick things off with a cured meat platter, enjoy Italian wine and then get down to the nitty-gritty with pasta dishes such as Cappelletti Di Bolognese Bianca, filled with white bolognese sauce and premium Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 24 months. Word on the street is that the Tiramisu is the best in town too.
LucAle, Shop A, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, p. 3611 1842
4. Lucciola
Helmed by Piedmont-born chef Francesco Gava, Lucciola delivers impeccable, beloved classics with a modern twist, using the finest produce from Italy. The jazzy tiles and green walls with plush seating create a comfortable dining experience that works on any occasion. Fill your table with some homemade tagliatelle pasta with frog leg ragout and tarragon or the cavatelli pasta with Alaskan king crab dressed in butter sauce, Amalfi lemon, and saffron. Patrons shouldn’t leave Lucciola without a tipple (or two!), so spoil yourself with the extensive drinks menu that includes house cocktails, premium Italian wine, bubbles, and more.
Lucciola, 1/F, The Hari, 330 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2129 0333
5. Carbone
From the Big Apple to the 852, Carbone is New York-Italian restaurant that has fast become one of Hong Kong’s top spots. The space exudes old-school Manhattan vibes with dark plush leather seats, wooden paneling, white tablecloths, classic chandeliers and tuxedoed waiters to complete. Even the food comes in larger-than-life American sizing, with classic Italian-American dishes like Caesar alla ZZ, Mario’s Meatballs, tiramisu and spicy vodka rigatoni really hitting the spot. Do not even think about leaving before having a bite of their famous NY Lemon Cheesecake – one of the best cheesecakes in town.
Find out why Carbone made it to our list of ultimate design restaurants in Hong Kong.
Carbone, 9/F, Lan Kwai Fong Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2593 2593, 中環蘭桂坊雲咸街33號LKF Tower 9樓
6. Pici
If you’re at Pici, you’re there for the pasta. The casual pasta bar serves delicacies from all around Italy, with pastas handmade fresh on-site. Dishes are designed to share, so make a date with your best foodie friends, and sample them all. In fact, if you don’t feel like choosing just one, go for broke and order Pici’s famous Pasta Tasting Menu, a fabulous deal where you get four portions of pasta for HKD280 a head. Must tries include their Tagliolini with white truffle pasta and shaved black truffle; Orecchiette with Italian sausage, spicy ’nduja and cherry tomatoes; and Ravioli carbonara. Word of advice: the restaurant does not take bookings, so if you’re heading there with a large group best come off-peak hours.
Read our full review of Pici.
Pici has branches across Hong Kong.
7. SPIGA
It takes one look at SPIGA’s trendy industrial interiors to quickly see that this is not your mamma’s traditional trattoria. A buzzing Hong Kong hot spot, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Enrico Bartolini, SPIGA serves fine Italian fare with a contemporary twist. Bartolini reinterprets classic Italian food and puts his own outstanding spin on dishes like his famous Osso Bucco and Vitello Tonnato. SPIGA’s beetroot risotto with gorgonzola cheese sauce is also one for the books.
SPIGA, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2871 0055, 中環皇后大道中31號陸海通大廈3樓
8. Osteria Marzia
You don’t need to travel far to experience a Southern Italian holiday. Just mosey on over to Osteria Marzia at The Fleming for a slice of the seaside coast. The contemporary Italian restaurant specializes in modern seafood dishes from Campania, Amalfi, Puglia and Southern Sicily. There, graze on plates of baby squid fritti with green chilli, and Hamachi with cherry tomatoes to start, then move on to pasta offerings like Chitarra with Boston Lobster. If you aren’t feeling carbs, main dishes like swordfish Palermo and Branzino Acqua Pazza are a treat. Linger over desserts like the crostata di frutta and gianduja. A complimentary limoncello will round things off.
Find out why we are so in love with The Fleming.
Osteria Marzia, G/F, The Fleming, 41 Fleming Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 3607 2253, 灣仔菲林明道41號地舖
9. 81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
When fine Italian food is this incredible, it’s worth the wait. We’re talking about a months-long waitlist to get in, as Otto e Mezzo Bombana is not only one of the best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong, it’s one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong period. This is not the spot you can casually pop in to, the three-Michelin-starred 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana by chef Umberto Bombana is even more impressive considering it is the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to get the coveted 3 stars. The upscale establishment is a true truffle-lovers paradise as everything is covered in truffles here, from black truffle risotto to fassone veal terderloine with black winter truffle, and even, yes, a black truffle gelato.
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Shop 202, Landmark Alexandra, 18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2537 8859, 中環德輔道中5-17號歷山大廈2樓202號舖
10. 208 Duecento Otto
Set in a converted old meat warehouse, 208 Duecento Otto is a stylish Italian restaurant that sets the bar for excellent modern Italian cuisine. The food is traditional but refined – think wagyu bresaola, bone marrow with salsa verde, prosciutto e rucola pizza and papardalle wagyu Bolognese. Got a sweet tooth? It’s worth sticking around for desserts as dishes like Nutella calzone and milk ice cream, salted pear and frangipane tart, and Italian trifle are there to tempt your senses. Weekend warriors will be pleased to know that 208 does a mean brunch buffet as well.
Of course 208 Duecento Otto is on our guide to Sheung Wan.
208 Duecento Otto, 208 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2549 0208, 上環荷李活道208號地舖
11. Ciacoe
Ciacoe is a literal little corner of Italy in the heart of Wan Chai. With a name that is slang for ‘gossip’ in Venetian, the cosy wine bar imagines their customers catching up with one another whilst perched by the bar, enjoying glass upon glass of prosecco, and nibbling on prosciutto and parmigiana. The food offerings may be limited to casual bites, but it’s the fine wine and great company that keeps patrons coming back for more. If you’re visiting in the afternoon, Ciacoe even offers free appetizers to go with your drinks. This is one of the top Italian restaurants in Hong Kong, and it’s always patronised by Italians themselves.
Ciacoe, 1 Moon St, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 5126 0155, 灣仔月街1號
12. Grissini
Having had a facelift and menu upgrade in 2019, Grissini is one of our favourite places to sample beautiful Italian cuisine. From the moment you walk in, dining at Grissini is a real experience thanks to the views of the harbour, the exceptional service and the giant Amalfi lemons waiting at your table. Chef de Cuisine Marcello Scognamiglio has prepared an array of delights here including signature dishes: vitello tonnato (veal in tuna sauce), and spaghettini with grey mullet bottarga. Don’t miss the wonderful tiramisu served tableside for a bit of interactive fun.
Grissini, 2nd Floor, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2584 7722
13. Crust Italian
Taking a prime location on Johnston Road, Crust is a breath of fresh air. The soft blue hues of hand-painted tiles and fragrant lemon trees are an ode to the Amalfi Coast that can make you forget you’re in the heart of Wan Chai. Crust celebrates the Southern Italian tradition of an all-day dining neighbourhood spot, offering pastries, coffee, and main courses. While you’re there, don’t forget to try the authentic barista-made Italian caffe sospeso – meaning suspended coffee – which must be drunk standing up at the bar, Napoli style.
Crust Italian, The Heritage Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, G/F 60A-66 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2191 0278
14. Aria
From the modern glass windows that lavishly show off Hong Kong’s skyline to the plush velvet chairs and marble tabletops, dining at Aria is one hell of an experience. Aria’s contemporary take on classic Italian fare is innovative and the minimal plating focuses all your attention on the food itself. You can opt for a-la-carte options or make it a set of either five, seven, or ten courses. Pamper yourself with rich pasta, savoury pizzas, and juicy steaks. Don’t stop there, though – sip on some house cocktails or premium spirits. here’s free flow wine during the weekend and happy hour is from 5-7 pm on Mondays to Thursdays for buy-one get-one-free drinks.
Aria, 24/F, California Tower, 30-36 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2804 1116
La Piola (CLOSED)
Set in a colonial building in Wan Chai, La Piola is a rustic and homey Italian restaurant that feels just like one might stumble upon in the Piedmont region of Italy. The trattoria knows a thing or two about authentic Northern Italian food, dishing up quality plates of prosciutto, fresh burrata and traditional Piedmont pasta made fresh in their pasta lab. If you’re having Piemonte food, springing for a bottle of Barolo is a must, and make sure you leave room for their signature cannolo langarolo. This is one of our favourite Italian restaurants in Hong Kong, and we just love the heritage building setting in Wan Chai.
La Piola, 62 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2806 1028, 灣仔莊士敦道62號
