
Like its eponymous counterparts in London and New York, Hong Kong’s SoHo neighbourhood is a hub of culture and entertainment. The steep, meandering Elgin Street sits at the heart of the district, and is known for its eclectic selection of stalls, bars and restaurants. Here, a tall and sumptuously textured teal façade announces the Italian Club Seafood Wine Bar.

Designed by Turin-based Pininfarina Architecture (a sister company of the storied automotive design studio) in collaboration with Hong Kong-based Stefano Tordiglione, the intimate restaurant is encountered from the sidewalk through a filigree screen that covers the window, offering a peek into the tastefully pared down interior. Inside, the small dining room is a minimal space where every hue, texture and form stands out as a highlight.

While the plush teal upholstery on the dining chairs picks up on the exterior motif, a warm beige tone unifies the subtly textured walls and ceiling. Set against this simple palette, the brushed copper tones that accent the dining chair frames and the light fixtures become another focal point, while the eye is also drawn to the custom ceiling installation — a crisp white centrepiece of flowing fabric that evokes the movement of Mediterranean waves. Adding to the subtle interplay of tones and textures, the marble tabletops make for a luxuriously understated place setting.

The bathroom ups the ante. An immersive, dramatic space, the private loo evokes an underwater dive. Teal and azure walls are decorated with graphic oxidized metal panels (applied with a copper film), which feature a kinetic design inspired by swells and currents.

And although the space is a more dramatic counterpoint to the dining room, the bathroom’s aesthetic brings together the same design elements to maintain a cohesive language. The copper-finish faucets, the Carrara marble countertop and the billowy ceiling meet the blue-green tones to recreate a Mediterranean in miniature at the Italian Club Seafood Wine Bar.

A Hong Kong Wine Bar with Mediterranean Flavour
Turin-based designers Pininfarina bring a major dose of aquatic inspiration to the Italian Club Seafood Wine Bar.