Cover Photo: Osteria Marzia

Where to go for a slice of la dolce vita in the city

Italian cuisine is beloved the world over for its hearty flavours, comforting aromas, and diverse range of dishes. In Hong Kong, the top Italian restaurants offer a wide variety of regional specialties, from the hearty, meat-heavy dishes of Tuscany to the light and refreshing seafood of Sicily. Whether you're in the mood for a classic carbonara or something more adventurous, the city's Italian restaurants have something to satisfy every craving. So, without further ado, let's explore the top Italian restaurants in Hong Kong and indulge in the flavours of Italy.

See also: Where to Find the Best Pizzas in Hong Kong

Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2014 Tatler Dining 20

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2014 Tatler Dining 20

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2013 Tatler Dining 20

Must Try

  • Veal and mushroom agnolotti
  • Roasted blue lobster and mushroom
  • Marinated shima aji
  • Veal and mushroom agnolotti
  • Roasted blue lobster and mushroom
  • Marinated shima aji

There’s no doubt that 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana is a stalwart on Hong Kong’s Italian dining scene, thanks to the exquisite and consistently well-executed dishes created by owner-chef Umberto Bombana. The menu occasionally changes to bring diners the freshest recipes and seasonal ingredients, but you can be sure to find staples including pasta, risotto and gelato.

Highlights of a recent menu include Mancini's trenette pasta with sea urchin, red prawn chitarra spaghetti, confit abalone carpaccio and more. With Bombana (known as the “King of White Truffles”) at the helm, it goes without saying that this is the spot to go to when white truffle season rolls around.


Otto e Mezzo (Hong Kong)

Address: Shop 202, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Wan Chai
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Bistecca alla fiorentina
  • Garganelli omaggio a trattoria camillo
  • Pollo al burro omaggio a sostanza

If it’s hearty Italian classics and quality meat you’re after, head to Associazione Chianti. Bringing a slice of Tuscan decadence and hospitality to Wan Chai, this restaurant is loved for the huge Bistecca alla Fiorentina cut from grass-fed Black Angus. Chianti also serves up a selection of astonishingly good homemade pasta for sharing (or not), such as rigatoni with pecorino and black pepper, pasta with beef ragu and parmesan cheese inspired by Florence’s Trattoria Camillo and more. Be sure to save room for the dessert too, their tiramisu and pavlova are must-tries.


Associazione Chianti

Address: Shop 2, 15 Ship Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2016 Tatler Dining 20

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2015 Best Front of the House

Must Try

  • Spicy rigatoni vodka
  • Veal parmesan
  • Mario's meatballs

Carbone is all about delivering a fun dining experience with top-notch Italian fare, a warm atmosphere and excellent service. Each dish at the American-Italian restaurant delivers on flavour and while the menu may overwhelm you with choice, we recommend starting with classic baked clams and beef carpaccio followed by one of the steaks and the signature spicy rigatoni vodka. Complete the meal with something from the dessert cart and leave to go home truly satisfied.


Carbone

Address: 9/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Dry-aged veal round with Piedmontese burrata cheese
  • Brittany blue lobster bottoni
  • Ravioli, castelmagno, aged egg yolk and white truffle

From its new location in Central, Castellana benefits from a chic new interior designed by JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio. The restaurant, however, continues to dish out cuisine dedicated to Northern Italy’s Piedmont region with set menus for lunch and a tasting menu for dinner—allowing diners to sample the best of the season. Recent highlights include a seasoned round of dry-aged veal, whole Cantabrian anchovies with acidic butter and green parsley sauce, and blue lobster-filled Bottoni ravioli.


Castellana

Address: UG & 1/F, Club Lusitano, 16 Ice House St, Central


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Sicilian red prawns fettuccine
  • Tartufo nero pizza

Trendy yet inviting, Ciak is ideal for any occasion thanks to its comfortable environment and delectable cuisine. The menu is filled with dishes made for sharing, allowing diners to try a bit of everything in each meal. Homemade pasta, including mezze maniche pasta with sausage, mushroom and Pecorino cheese cream sauce, and classic carbonara with black truffle is excellent, but the crisp pizzas shouldn’t be overlooked. The extensive list of options ranges from Margherita to Estiva topped with mozzarella, Parma ham and shaved parmesan cheese—all of which are made with dough fermented for more than 36 hours.


Ciak

Address: Shop 327-333, 3/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen's Road Central


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Set within an opulent, chandelier-lit space, private members' club Cipriani offers a stylish setting for customers to experience fine Italian dining. Start the meal with beef carpaccio before feasting on the baked tagliolini with ham and cheese, followed by tempting desserts such as the classic vanilla meringue cake, tiramisu, or mango cheesecake.


Cipriani

Address: 12/F, Bank of China Building, 2A Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong


$ $ $ $   |   Tsim Sha Tsui
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Crispy amadai with potatoes and romanesco
  • Duo of Australian Wagyu beef cheek and tenderloin
  • Baba Napoletano

Tucked away inside the rustic Italian restaurant, bar, café and deli BluHouse, The Dining Room presents an elevated Italian dining experience by chef Giovanni Galeota. There are tasting menus available, showcasing seasonal ingredients and fine gastronomy, but for those opting for a la carte, the Piedmont milk-fed veal tartare; braised octopus with Barolo, garlic, and parsley crumble pasta; t-bone Scottona 30 days dry-aged beef with traditional Tuscan anchovy dip are sure-fire wins. 


The Dining Room

Address: Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2023 Tatler Dining 20

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2022 Best Interior Design

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2022 Tatler Dining 20

Must Try

  • Mussels Gemmina
  • Bottoni
  • Pistachio gelato

Meaning inspiration in Italian, Estro is—as the name suggests—an inspired cuisine which prides itself on delivering a truly unique Italian dining experience with dishes that pay homage to chef Antimo Maria Merone’s Neapolitan roots. Aside from the carefully curated lunch and dinner menus featuring delicacies such as red prawn panna cotta topped with Kristal Caviar and bottoni| with saffron and gold, the restaurant also offers a fashionable environment that your camera will love, with interiors designed by André Fu Studio.


Estro

Address: 2/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Wan Chai
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Ravioli filled with caciotta cheese
  • Cuttletfish ink risotto with lime and cuttletfish crudo
  • Braised pork ribs, sausage, veal braciola in tomato sauce

Located on the second floor of Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Grissini is known for its limitless oven-fresh namesake breadsticks which come to the table as soon as you sit down but save space for the other items on the menu. Here, classic Italian dishes get a modern twist in appetisers such as yellowtail carpaccio and main dishes including homemade saffron pappardelle with wild boar ragout, and baked chicken. Save room for the signature tiramisu though, you're welcome.


Grissini

Address: 2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Happy Valley
Tatler Asia

Beloved neighbourhood haunt Locanda dell’Angelo has made a name for itself with its excellent Italian fare and attentive service. The menu features home-style dishes that capture the authentic flavours of Italy including red prawn linguine and Mancini spaghetti with clams. Other main dishes such as Ping Yuen chicken are also worth trying, as is the sweet cappuccino dessert.


Locanda Dell'Angelo

Address: G/F, 12 Yuen Yuen Street, Happy Valley, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Spanish red prawn linguini
  • Blue lobster, avocado, uni and egg yolk
  • Turbot on the bone, lardo colonnata and cipolla piatta di cannara

Opened by Bombana of Otto e Mezzo, this tastefully designed fine dining restaurant is dotted with a myriad of unique artworks and filled with natural light courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows that give this space a contemporary vibe yet somewhat cosy ambience. The menu by chefs Bjoern Alexander and Roland Schuller changes frequently, but dishes are always prepared with quality ingredients, taking on traditional Italian flavours with modernity. Recent highlights include Hokkaido abalone with white truffle, smoked Spanish red prawn, and Omi beef with pumpkin and comté.


Octavium

Address: 8/F, 22 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Wan Chai
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Tartare di mazzancolle
  • Chitarra
  • Branzino acqua pazza

Taking cues from Italy’s seaside regions, Osteria Marzia is a restaurant that celebrates the ocean. Here, seasonal seafood makes up most of the menu by chef Luca Marinelli with zesty crudos, handmade pasta, and whole fish to try. Plus, the restaurant's maritime-inspired interiors and jaunty playlist make for a great Italian escape in the heart of Wan Chai. Enjoy the light and bright cuisine but remember to save room for the freshly churned gelato. Don't say I didn't tell you so.


Osteria Marzia

Address: G/F, The Fleming, 41 Fleming Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong


Permanently closed   |   Sheung Wan
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Beef carpaccio with rocket salad, parmesan and balsamic pearls
  • Spaghetti Ramato
  • Baked whole sea bass “acqua pazza”

With a menu designed by chefs Antimo Maria Merone of Estro and Ramato's head chef Matteo Caripoli, this restaurant benefits from some excellent southern Italian fare. The relaxed and warm atmosphere of the space, complete with Sicilian lemons on the wallpaper, adds to the family-style charm. Choose from set lunches, the chef's recommended menu, or free-style with the a la carte. Italian comforts come in the form of hearty dishes such as lasagne, homemade fettuccine with lobster, and the latest Calamaro Ripieno, a dish that reminds Caripoli of his nonna and features potato-stuffed calamari on smoked eggplant and tomato sauce. 

Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kowloon City
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Blue Lobster with “Lorenzini” Melon, Confit Cherry Tomatoes and Kaluga Caviar
  • Mezzi Paccheri “Mancini” with Sicilian Red Shrimp and Basil Pesto Sauce
  • Red Star Grouper in Matalotta Fish Soup with Olives, Tomatoes and Capers from Salina

Perched on the 102nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Tosca presents sweeping views of Victoria Harbour alongside the delectable Italian cuisine designed by chef Angelo Agliano. The menu, which is mainly inspired by Agliano's hometown of Sicily, is packed with fresh seafood and house-made pasta crafted with high-quality ingredients and meticulous seasoning methods. Enjoy a sky-high dining experience with the tasting menu options or order a la carte with an array of dishes including Brittany blue lobster with “Lorenzini” melon, cucumber and Kaluga caviar; risotto “Acquerello” with Hokkaido sea urchin and broccoli rabe; Mediterranean Dover sole with marinara broth and much more.


Tosca di Angelo

Address: 102/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong