On Wednesday, November 25, 2026, Bar Camillo will open its doors in Hong Kong, bringing together two of the biggest names in international hospitality: Bar Leone and Rosewood Hong Kong. At the heart of the concept are a tableside, made-to-order Negroni and a more relaxed approach to hospitality, designed to bring a sense of warmth and spontaneity to the traditionally formal world of luxury hotel cocktail bars.
The partnership unites two industry heavyweights. Bar Leone topped The World’s 50 Best Bars ranking in both 2025 and 2026, while Rosewood Hong Kong claimed the No. 1 spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list in those same years.
Bar Camillo: An Italian Living Room Abroad
Bar Camillo takes over the space formerly occupied by the speakeasy at Rosewood Hong Kong, which closed at the end of September. The redesign draws inspiration from the nostalgia of the traditional Italian living room, a place where family and friends gather, conversations flow, and hospitality feels effortless.
“We wanted to strip away the formality typically associated with traditional hotel bars. We went back to the fundamentals of what, in my opinion, makes a great bar. Bar Camillo combines the excitement and spontaneity of getting together with close friends with sophisticated cocktails and exceptional service,” explains Lorenzo Antinori, co-founder of Bar Leone. “We want to create an environment where guests can enjoy complex drinks without feeling overwhelmed, where design and outstanding service put the emphasis on a vibrant, convivial atmosphere.”
The interiors reinterpret the classic Italian living room through a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Polished wood, gleaming metals and mirrored walls are complemented by a color palette ranging from cream to gold and alpine green. A long banquette runs alongside the bar, encouraging social interaction, while more secluded seating areas provide space for intimate conversations.
A Bespoke Negroni at Bar Camillo
Alongside the Italian living room concept, the Negroni takes center stage at Bar Camillo. Guests are handed a card inviting them to customize their cocktail, choosing their preferred spirit, garnish and flavor profile. Whether they favor floral notes, a more pronounced savory character or something particularly bold, the possibilities are tailored to individual tastes.
Bartenders then translate these preferences into a personalized Negroni, prepared directly at the table from a dedicated cocktail trolley designed exclusively for the experience.
A Seasonal Cocktail Menu in Three Chapters
Beyond the Negroni, Bar Camillo’s cocktail menu unfolds across three distinct chapters and changes four times a year, following the seasons and drawing inspiration from Italian pop culture.
The first chapter, Aperitivi di Benvenuto (Welcome Aperitifs), features a selection of crisp, refreshing cocktails designed to set the tone for the evening. Next come the Cocktail della Casa (House Cocktails), signature creations rooted in classic mixology and reinterpreted through a seasonal lens. Finally, Playful Party Touches introduces a collection of energetic, playful drinks designed to bring a livelier dimension to the experience.
Each signature cocktail begins with a classic recipe, while original creations emphasize simplicity and impact. Every menu takes inspiration from a specific season and year in Italian pop culture, with the cultural references of that period influencing both the cocktail selection and the rotating artworks displayed throughout the bar.
Meet Camillo, the Host
Every living room needs a host, and at Bar Camillo, that role belongs, naturally, to Camillo. The bar’s mascot embodies what Lorenzo Antinori believes defines a great bartender: the ability to entertain guests and shape the rhythm of an evening.
“The best bartenders are those who know how to entertain their guests. We create an evening that builds toward a crescendo through our warmth, hospitality and the rituals that are part of the Bar Camillo experience,” Antinori explains.
Like Being Welcomed into a Friend’s Home
The collaboration with Rosewood Hong Kong presented Bar Leone, through Lorenzo Antinori and Justin Shun Wah, with the challenge of establishing a distinctive identity within a hotel already home to ten restaurants and bars.
The contribution of several experienced members of the hotel’s leadership team was therefore essential. Among them were Hugo Montanari, Managing Director; Fabian Altabert, Director of Culinary Operations; Juan Serrano, Hotel Manager; and Sandro Brusco, F&B Director.
As Antinori puts it: “Bar Camillo brings the energy and atmosphere of an independent bar into the world’s best hotel. Everything here is deliberately relaxed yet celebratory, evoking the feeling of being welcomed into a close friend’s home, elevated by exceptional service.”
Photos courtesy of Bar Camillo
