Last Updated on January 5, 2025

Lucciola – exceptional Italian dining at The Hari Hong Kong

The Hari Hong Kong a luxury five-star hotel in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island is an oasis of calm and comfort in this bustling city. Take time out and enjoy a delicious lunch at Lucciola, the hotel’s Italian restaurant.

Owned by the Harilela Group, this elegant hotel opened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed by the renowned architect Tara Bernerd from Tara Bernerd and Partners, a London-based design and architecture company that also worked on The Hari Hotel in London. The ethos is to create a luxury space for guests and locals to meet, dine, and stay while experiencing outstanding hospitality.

I was invited to lunch at Lucciola during my stopover in Hong Kong on the way back to the UK.  It was great to have a relaxing, leisurely lunch after some serious sightseeing in the hubbub of Hong Kong. 

The entrance hall to The Hari is a warm and welcoming room with seating and bright lighting. I took the lift to the first floor where the reception, the Lounge and Lucciola Restaurant are located. The reception is incorporated into the lounge with friendly staff available to answer any questions, seating in the Lounge is cosy, with alcove areas and inviting sofas and chairs. The atmosphere is warm and friendly as if you have been welcomed into a home, in keeping with the idea behind the hotel.

The bar draws you into the Lucciola restaurant, a light and spacious room with lovely artwork on the walls. It takes its name from the firefly, Lucciola in Italian, as the hotel is in an area that was a red-light district in the past.

The menu is authentically Italian with an excellent choice of dishes. There is a set lunch available at a reasonable price with a choice of two or three courses.

As it was a warm and humid day I chose a glass of Rosé wine, Aumerade Style Côtes de Provence, France 2022, it was just what I needed. To accompany my wine were some nibbles, warm flatbread and crispy crackers with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a little pot of olives and a dip of soft Italian cow’s cheese. a very tasty start to my lunch.

Having decided on the a la carte menu I plumped for the roasted scallops with Jerusalem artichoke and smoked herring Caviar. The scallops were perfectly cooked and succulent with a silky artichoke puree and a topping of juicy caviar.

To follow there is an option from a selection of delicious-sounding pasta and risotto dishes. I decided to go straight to a main course as the dessert menu looked very enticing with several desserts, I was keen to try. I asked my waitress for her recommendation, always a good fallback, for the best dish to have, as all the dishes looked tempting, and I was struggling to decide. Following her suggestion I chose the U.S. prime beef ribeye steak with wild rocket leaf, aged Parmigiano Reggiano and Modena balsamic vinegar. The steak came beautifully presented on a wooden platter, the seasoning was spot on and the meat meltingly soft. Small roasted potatoes came as a side accompaniment.

I am a big fan of Italian desserts an almond lemon cake with Mascarpone and white chocolate was a perfect way to end my lunch. The cake was light, moist and tasty. 

I was offered a quick tour of the hotel accommodation which I accepted as I was intrigued to see more of the hotel. The rooms looked very welcoming with high-quality luxury furnishings made of natural materials. Sustainability is important to the Harilela group, this is reflected in the choice of toiletries and extras, fresh milk is provided in small glass bottles which can be reused. I would love to stay at The Hari Hong Kong on a future visit to the city.

To round off my lunch I was offered a cocktail in The Terrace Bar, a typhoon was heading into the city, so I was in no hurry to leave. Doors from the bar open out onto an open-air space with comfortable seating around tables and a screen of beautiful greenery, you can forget you are in the midst of a lively city. The Bar leads on from the Zoku, the acclaimed Japanese restaurant with its stunning origami-inspired ceiling. 

The Hari has its own gin brand, based on London Dry, so a cocktail with this as a key ingredient was the natural choice for me. I decided on the Hari 75 made from Hari Gin with Perrier Jouet Grand Champagne, cane sugar and Amalfi lemon. It was light and refreshing with an aromatic taste.

If you are looking for an exceptional hospitality experience in Hong Kong then The Hari Hotel fits the bill, why not dine in the Lucciola Restaurant or relax with a refreshing cocktail in the Terrace Bar? I know I will be back when I next visit Hong Kong.

The  Hari Hong Kong, 330 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Telephone +852 2129 0388.

For more information on The Hari Hong Kong