Being born and raised in Hong Kong, it’s easy for me to say that it’s the best city in the world. Luckily for me, we’ve got the goods to back that up.
On November 25, Bar Camillo will open inside Rosewood Hong Kong, bringing together two very different kinds of No. 1 energy: the hotel has just retained the top spot on The 50 Best Hotels list for 2026, while Bar Leone has done the same on The 50 Best Bars list.
In the ultimate matchmaking move, Hong Kong has put its two hospitality heavyweights in the same room to see what happens.
The brains behind the collaboration are Justin Shun Wah and are Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, alongside Rosewood Hong Kong’s hospitality team. And if Bar Leone’s rise is anything to go by, the result probably won’t feel like your standard, fancy five-star hotel bar. Opened in 2023, the Italian-inspired neighborhood joint became the first Asian bar to take the global No. 1 spot in 2025—then somehow did it again in 2026. Its secret sauce? “Cocktail popolari,” or cocktails for the people: serious drinks without taking yourself too seriously.
Bar Camillo is taking that philosophy upstairs, metaphorically speaking, and giving it a salotto—the Italian living room where friends gather, gossip, drink, and inevitably stay much later than planned.
Expect mid-century interiors, alpine green and gold, a terrace, seasonal cocktails, and a build-your-own Negroni served from a bespoke trolley. There’s even Camillo, a cheeky bartender mascot whose energy apparently ramps up as the night does—a familiar feeling, if I must say so myself.
The approach here is more of a house-party energy, which is where Bar Camillo could really hit its stride in a city like Hong Kong. In addition to the laid-back atmosphere, its menu will change four times a year, with each edition tapping into the pop culture of its moment—from Italian chart-toppers to rotating artwork and seasonal cocktails. Then there’s the Negroni trolley, letting guests pick their spirit, garnish, and flavor profile before the drink is stirred tableside. It’s all very deliberate, but never feels overly precious—exactly the kind of place where “just one drink” can become the entire night (of many more drinks).
All images via COMPANION.
