Chic Italian dining at Il Presidente

• The stylish new restaurant has opened on Hong Kong's historic Duddell Street

• The menu features regional Italian dishes created with fresh seasonal ingredients

• Start your evening with aperitivos shaken at the intimate cocktail bar

Il Presidente opens on Duddell Street this autumn

If you’re looking for a glam night out, keep your eye on Hong Kong’s latest restaurant in which to be seen, Il Presidente. 

Now open, the charismatic Italian dining spot promises delicious dining and a classy cocktail bar in Central.

International design studio Dix Design has created a sophisticated dining room accessed via the historic granite steps on Duddell Street. The casual ‘sprezzatura’ setting features rosewood, soft British leathers and Belgian velvet, deep pile carpets and soft accent lighting.

Helming the kitchen is executive chef and co-founder Marcello Scognamiglio with a ‘new classic’ food philosophy focusing on elevating Italian classics with top notch ingredients.

According to Scognamiglio, Il Presidente is inspired by traditional dishes, honouring the rich history of regional Italian cooking. “The kitchen anchors itself in time-tested, foundational recipes, the very dishes that define Italian comfort for generations,” he said. “We use only the best ingredients in each dish; perfectly raised meats, aged cheeses, premium olive oils and the freshest seasonal produce.”

Plates to try include ‘stuzzichini’ small plates like anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea and egg tartufato, a velvety potato and truffle foam served in an egg shell.

The starter menu features wagyu beef carpaccio served tableside, hamachi crudo with smoked aubergine and an enticing range of pasta options - recommended is the homemade agnolotti all’ossobucco with parmesan cheese fondue and the giant cannellone with ricotta and spinach. 

Meaty mains run from breaded veal chops stuffed with fontina cheese and smoked ham to baby pig porchetta carved tableside.

Finish with Italian layered cakes, tiramisu and panna cottas, or the theatrical ‘Gelato al Tavolo’ with freshly churned gelato whipped tableside.

Il Presidente, Shop M2, 13 Duddell Street, Central; open for dinner now and for lunch from mid-September, 2026.