In the mood for authentic Italian fine dining, or simply a taste of everyday life from the streets of Milan? If you haven’t already, you might want to get along to Rosewood Hong Kong’s Italian dining and drinking hub BluHouse.

Bluhouse is helmed by Italian chef Giovanni Galeota, who came from multi-Michelin-starred Don Alfonso in Naples and San Sebastien’s Arzak before his role as chef de cuisine at Casa Don Alfonso at Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macau. The new waterfront property features two dining concepts—the titular BluHouse, a casual hybrid of a restaurant, bar, café, and deli and The Dining Room by BluHouse, a dressier Italian fine dining experience.

Located on the ground floor of Rosewood Hong Kong, next to the Avenue of Stars, BluHouse boasts panoramic views of the Victoria Harbour skyline with a sun-drenched dining room. It takes its name from the Chinese translation of the former Holt’s Wharf (“Blue Funnel Wharf”) as a tribute to the history of its Victoria Dockside locale.

Designed by London-based Afroditi, the interiors reflect classic Italian and Mediterranean style. The main space of BluHouse features statement white marble and blue lava stone counters, while the mosaic floor and undulating ceiling encapsulates that Mediterranean look. Architectural interventions of glazed partitions and screens seen across the restaurant are inspired by traditional Italian craftsmanship and millwork. 

The design makes for a laid-back atmosphere, but it’s the food you’re here for, and there’s a selection of food counters showcasing the diversity of authentic Italian cuisine. Drop by the barista corner for coffee and aperitivo, or go to the La Gastronomia deli counter for a choice of authentic Italian starters. La Rosticceria, the rotisserie counter, offers casual bites and hearty main courses such as the signature free-range yellow chicken Pollo Allo Spiedo and the Ariccia-style Roasted Pork, plus a variety of house-made pasta.

Eight types of Roman-style pizzas by the slice can be found at the Pizza Al Taglio station, where pizzas are made with a special lighter dough so you can save some space for the pasticceria and gelato counter. Italian wines? Si! Get them from the restaurant’s dedicated wine cellar and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco’s kiosk.

The must-try drink, though, is Amaro, an Italian herbal liqueur inspired by Italian traditions but infused with locally foraged ingredients such as pomelo leaf, Cuban oregano, citron leaf, and mandarin peel. Classic Italian aperitivi are also on the beverage menu, such as the Garibaldi, Bellini Campari Shakerato, and the iconic Campari Soda served as they’ve been doing since 1915 in Milan’s Camparino. Other featured drinks include classic spritzes and an intriguing Clay-Pot Negroni.

Tucked away within BluHouse is The Dining Room, offering elevated Italian with an extensive wine cellar and a six-course set menu offering delicacies such as milk-fed veal tartare, Sardinian-style gnocchi with red prawns and sea urchin emulsion, and Australian Wagyu served in two ways.

An à la carte menu is also available, with signature plates including Burrata
“D’Andria” with stuffed baby bell peppers, raisins, pine nuts and Tasmanian black truffle; milk-fed veal tartare with buffalo ricotta; and La Fiorentina, a 1.3-kilogram dry-aged Scottoma T-bone.

Wine is of course a feature and a standout, with an Italian-focused wine list of more than 500 labels from regions across Italy, though with a focus on Tuscany, Piedmont and Southern Italy. Highlights include the Museum Collection of back vintages, or wines with at least 15 years of bottle ageing, as well as wines from Rosewood Hong Kong’s Tuscan sister property Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

Additionally, the cocktail menu, designed by the in-house team of Rosewood Hong Kong’s DarkSide Bar, presents the BluHouse Spritz created with BluHouse Amaro, Prosecco, and Cedrata, as well as a selection of classic bottled Italian aperitivos that date back to the 1980s.

The Dining Room by BluHouse is open for dinner between Tuesday and Sunday, with two private dining rooms seating up to 10 guests each. 

Notably, the restaurant will pledge one per cent of its revenue towards its commitment to co-creating neighbourhood resilience in Tsim Sha Tsui, including offering employment opportunities to underserved groups in partnership with several non-profit organisations. 

All images courtesy of BluHouse and The Dining Room by BluHouse

BluHouse and The Dining Room by BluHouse
G/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
+852 3891 8732