Cover Photo courtesy of Posso

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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2024 Michelin 3 Stars

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2023 Michelin 3 Stars

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2014 Tatler Dining 20

Must Try

  • 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, 2/F, Alexandra House, 16-20 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 Tatler 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, Lan Kwai Fong Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Lan Kwai Fong, 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/F & 1/F, Club Lusitano Building, 16 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong


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, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   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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2024 Tatler Best Pastry Chef

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2024 Michelin 1 Star

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2024 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

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


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2024 Michelin 2 Stars

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2023 Michelin 2 Stars

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, One Chinachem Central, 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


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Central
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2024 Tatler Dining 20

Must Try

  • Fried honeycomb beef tripe and rosemary
  • Pig’s head terrine with salsa verde
  • Tagliatelle with duck ragu

At Testina, the adventurous trattoria spirit is reimagined for Hong Kong, celebrating the unpretentious yet bold flavours of nose-to-tail dining, a philosophy that has become synonymous with Trippa in Milan. Oft-overlooked cuts of meat are showcased on the menu including deep-fried tripe, veal tongue tonnata and pig's head with salsa verde while classics such as the homemade tagliatelle with duck ragu and hazelnut cake with a velvety Piedmont hazelnut zabaione are executed with a finesse that speaks to the restaurant's commitment to quality. The dining experience is complemented by an array of predominantly Italian wines and refreshing cocktails which pair well with the dishes.


Testina

Address: 3/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Sheung Wan
Tatler Asia

Born from an online handmade pasta shop during the pandemic, Posso seamlessly transitioned into a physical restaurant led by Hong Kong native Max Wong, and has done so with aplomb, winning over diners with precisely executed dishes that don’t break the bank. The menu, inspired by Venetian "cicchetti" sharing plates, encapsulates lively Italian-influenced flavours in approachable and moreish dishes like chickpea panisse, the decadent agnolotti and charcoal-grilled M9 Wagyu, but the culinary lineup often changes with the seasons thanks to the use of premium, locally-sourced ingredients.


Posso

Address: G/F, 12 Kau U Fong, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Tsim Sha Tsui
Tatler Asia

Awards

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2024 Michelin 1 Star

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2023 Michelin 1 Star

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, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Tsim Sha Tsui
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Baked fillet of sea bass Sabatini-style
  • Charocal-grilled lamb chops
  • Linguine with scampi, clams and mussels

Sabatini at The Royal Garden hotel offers a unique fine dining experience complete with a glamourous old-school vibe, transporting diners to the heritage restaurant in Rome that opened back in 1954. Known as the establishment's first and only overseas outpost, this trattoria is home to great pasta, grilled meats and desserts. It has a vast menu featuring classic Italian food perfected with quality ingredients and perfect flavour combinations, where diners are sure to leave satisfied with all the soul-soothing dishes. Here, charcoal grilled lamb chops with thyme and lemon; linguine with Sicilian red prawns with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil; and risotto with porcini mushrooms are standout dishes. 


Sabatini

Address: 3/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong


Italian   |   $ $ $ $   |   Tsim Sha Tsui
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Truffle
  • Carabinero
  • Degustation menu

Simply follow your nose to the right place: chef Umberto Bombana, also known as the "King of Truffles," is the mastermind behind Tuber, where the prized fungus takes centre stage across the à la carte and degustation menus. Each dish is meticulously curated by resident chef Roland Schuller and executive chef Keith Yam Ka-Lok, featuring standout ingredients such as shima-aji sashimi, Brittany blue lobster, and carabineros red prawn. Oenophiles are well-catered to, thanks to a wine list that offers prestigious vintages from across various regions across Italy.


Tuber

Address: Shop 113A, Level 1, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong