Home tour: Inside Bar Leone boss Lorenzo Antinori's new Hong Kong home
The layout is unusual—'basically a massive living room', as he describes it—with plenty of space to host friends. 'For the first time, I can have a communal dining table [at home] and invite friends over; the space definitely has this very liveable sort of vibe,' he says.
Everywhere you turn, there are treasures to be spotted. Posters of Wong Kar-wai's seminal 2000 film In the Mood For Love ('my favourite Hong Kong movie') and the 1968 sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey ('Stanley Kubrick is one of my favourite directors') are part of a collection of framed prints in the living area. A shelf acts as a divider between the space and the bedroom. It houses both books—one volume is an Italian translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, the Chinese military text dating back to the 5th century BC that Antinori says offers advice applicable for modern-day business—and paintings by family members; several relatives on his mother's side of the family are artists. By his bed are photos of his parents and a frame depicting a religious icon, a gift from his mother, who's a devout Catholic. 'I'm very close to my family—wherever I have lived, in Hong Kong or South Korea, I always have [these items].'
Don't miss: Home tour: Inside an Italian farmhouse-inspired retreat in Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Above Antinori with 'The Savoy Cocktail Book'—he worked at the famed London hotel's American Bar—and 'The South American Gentleman's Companion', a cocktail guide originally published in 1951
(Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Above A close-up of knick-knacks in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Antinori wanted to give the home what he calls a vintage, nostalgic edge. Some of his favourite things—art, film, music—come from the Seventies. His favourite movie, the 1997 indie flick Boogie Nights, is set in the era, and its aesthetics strongly inspired his decorating choices. 'I love the Seventies—they were a cool time because pop culture was extremely loud and visually impactful,' he says. 'There are a lot of elements from that period that I tried to bring into this space.' That influence is evident in the palette: think burnt orange, forest green and acrylic accents.
Above Lorenzo Antinori (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Above A view of the coffee in the dining room (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
A neon sign that reads 'Bar Leone' lights up the space with a bright tangerine hue; the sofas are in the same shade; a Tiffany-style stained glass lamp, an emulation of the prized originals produced by the American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with green, orange and yellow glass, glows softly in the corner.
Now read: Step inside 3 Hong Kong chefs' and restaurateurs' kitchens at home
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
Above A close-up of books in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Antinori has applied the same design philosophy behind his bar to his home. 'We wanted Bar Leone to be a nostalgic space, almost like a trip back to a time in the past. We got a lot of references from the Seventies and Eighties. That's why some people feel like it has been there for a while. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea.'
He wanted the home to feel 'a little bit chaotic', he adds, 'almost like it's coming out of a movie by [ Boogie Nights ' director] Paul Thomas Anderson or Wes Anderson.' To bring this vision to life, he enlisted Tiffany Kwan, founder of the interior design firm Studio TK, who also worked with him on Bar Leone.
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
We wanted Bar Leone to be almost like a trip back to a time in the past. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea
- Lorenzo Antinori -
Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong
After finally settling in, there are still 'a few other pieces that I need to put up'. A home is a place where one never stands still, he says. 'It's almost a dynamic place. I will always think of new elements that I want to introduce.'
Much like the bar, the home has become a reflection of Antinori's personality. 'Bar Leone is a very personal project. I managed to fill it with things that I love, the things that remind me of home, the things that are connected to my roots. It's the same here; there are certain pieces that I have had in my apartment in Rome with my family, like the religious icon by my bed, the books, frames and prints.
'I think it's important to preserve this element of heritage that showcases our background and who we are. Otherwise, we just live in an empty box.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tatler Asia
4 days ago
- Tatler Asia
All jokes aside, Atsuko Okatsuka gets serious about navigating cultural identities and the comedy industry
Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) For instance, while she doesn't claim to be a diversity champion, she never shies away from serious, heavy topics such as racial stereotyping. And despite her iconic bowl cut hairstyle being a nod to the often-mocked hairstyle stereotypically associated with Asian kids, she wears it proudly. She calls it her 'brand', and tells Tatler , 'I'll have to sell all the T-shirts that have my bowl cut on it first, and then I can grow it out.' Not that she intends to go all Rapunzel. 'You gotta keep growing as an artist,' she says cheekily, 'so that could mean a bigger bowl cut. Maybe it's two or three times the size; maybe it's a different colour.' Her jokes are also celebrated for wittily and blithely pointing out the absurdity of social phenomena. In Father , she ridicules her teenage experience as a cheerleader, a role that's widely considered glamorous or desirable but one which she considers somewhat pointless. 'We're just there providing vibes, trying desperately not to get found out that we could easily be replaced with nothing at all, because cheerleading is the only sport where you're supporting another sport,' she says in the show. In case you missed it: How Hong Kong's first all-femme comedian group turns laughter into empowerment Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) While she's obviously found success in her career, she boldly points out that the goal 'is not to get any [cheap] laughs. People get confused about the art of stand-up comedy. It's very important to think about why people laugh at your jokes,' she says. 'If you go on stage and you keep farting, people will eventually laugh. But why are they laughing? Is it because they're uncomfortable and they don't know how else to react? If you say something racist onstage and people laugh, is it because they're scared and they're weirded out? That doesn't mean you've succeeded. I wish this [approach would] change in the industry, because then that's just chasing cheap laughs. These are not well-crafted laughs.' Okatsuka got into comedy about 15 years ago, when a friend from church, who thought she had a sense of humour, gave her a DVD of Cho's stand-up show. She didn't necessarily relate to the jokes, which focused on second- or third-generation Asian American experiences and stereotypes, such as the classic Asian parents' dream for their children to be doctors and lawyers. But because of the hurdles they faced when they first arrived in the US, Okatsuka says, 'My mum's and grandma's priority was not, 'Hey, study and be a doctor.' My grandma was like, 'I'm just happy you're alive, OK?' The standards were lower because the circumstances were so wild. Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) 'But I loved that I was watching a fellow Asian American woman performing. I had never seen stand-up comedy before. I did not know that was a job, in which you could stand up there alone and tell stories and jokes, and people would watch you the whole time and laugh and relate to you. You're not a band, a dancer or a whole movie with production. It's very simple but it's the most interesting art form to me.' Career success aside, comedy has also helped Okatsuka work through personal hardship. 'It helps me process what's happening in real life and then spin it into a positive thing—not just for me but for my audiences too,' she says. 'Just even talking about my mum's mental illness, for example—instead of being helpless and letting it get me down, when my mum says something funny or silly, I'll be like, 'Oh, let me write that down.' Or I think of solutions: how do I make schizophrenia sound not so scary? Maybe we name it after rides at Disneyland. It helps normalise mental illness, like I say in my jokes. It's the only way I know how to cope with things. It's not necessarily a healthy thing, but making sad things funny is what I'm good at.' Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) In September 2023, she accepted Glass's invitation and recorded an episode of The American Life —which turned out to be the perfect chance for her to clear up her early life story. Around the time of the podcast, her father, still living in Japan, was recuperating from a stroke. 'It was kind of a wake-up call,' she says in the Glass interview. 'Am I really gonna never ask what happened with my move to the US?' She went on a deep dive, even hiring translators for herself and her Mandarin-speaking grandmother, who lives 20 minutes away from her home in LA, and her Japanese-speaking father, whom she travelled to Japan to meet in a Tokyo hotel—she speaks only conversational Mandarin and Japanese. For the first time, through honest, lengthy, partly confrontational, partly joking conversations, she learnt how her parents met, lived together and divorced, and how her father and grandmother made tough decisions in her best interest. Above Atsuko Okatsuka (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong) Looking back, she feels it is stand-up comedy that leads her back to her roots, opens up difficult conversations for her and helps her cope with the repercussions of a complicated past. She hopes, through her craft, she can do the same for her audiences. 'Through my stand-up specials or live shows, I want to constantly be able to entertain people,' she says. '[But also,] I care about how other people feel. Being a stand-up comedian means that if I'm talking about something sad, I want to make sure the audience isn't sad for too long and that I save them from it quickly. They pay to come to a comedy show to escape; I want to take care of them. 'The world is very small. If something [sad or traumatic] has happened to you, most likely it could have happened to someone else too. At the heart of it, my message is you're not alone in this. Being an adult is hard, so you might as well have fun while [being one] and have a laugh at it, too.' Credits Photography: Kiu Ka Yee Styling: SK Tang
Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Tatler Asia
The best bars for first dates, from the Tatler Best Asia 100 list 2024
Bangkok Photo 1 of 2 The signature spirit-forward Vesper martini (Photo: Vesper) Photo 2 of 2 A candlelit room with European-inspired decor makes up the vibe at Vesper, Bangkok (Photo: Vesper) Awards 2025 Tatler Best Bars Thailand 2024 Tatler Best Bars 2024 Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Modern Vesper Classic Vesper Negroni Vesper was established at the dawn of Bangkok's new cocktail culture era, that is, as people realised there needed to be better places for proper cocktails than just stuffy hotel lobby bars. Taking its name from the variation on a classic martini, Vesper initially set out to be a traditional cocktail venue serving mainly those drinks and other timeless classics amid vintage European decor, simple bar snacks and a relaxing atmosphere. But as the scene rapidly developed, so did the bar. Over the past decade, under a range of talented bar managers, it has become known for pushing creative boundaries, playfulness, refreshing reinterpretations and paying innovative homage to the classics. Each launch of a new signature menu is one of the most highly anticipated events in the city's bar scene. Tatler Tip: Candlelit room, European-inspired decor, and spirit-forward tipples. If this particular combination excites both of you, Vesper makes the perfect grounds to test your chemistry. If all else fails, you've got a world-class Vesper cocktail to fall back on. Duxton Photo 1 of 2 Meow Now Brown Cow is Cat Bite Club's irreverent crowd pleaser (Photo: Cat Bite Club) Photo 2 of 2 Cat Bite Club is an agave and rice spirits-focused speakeasy in Singapore (Photo: Cat Bite Club) Awards 2024 Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Cat Bite Margarita Soju Sprint Little Italy Agave and rice spirits take centre stage at this speakeasy, where you can savour cocktails celebrating the craftsmanship and tradition of these Mexican and Asian beverages. Founded by Gabriel Lowe and Jesse Vida, the club is easy to miss, its presence indicated by a glowing red sign with a mischievous Cheshire cat's grin. The Cat Bite Margarita—perhaps the best margarita in Singapore—is an epic celebration of agave made with Código 1530 blanco tequila, Siete Misterios espadín mezcal, Cointreau, a fresh citrus blend, sherry and agave nectar. It is the perfect balance of floral, citrus and tangy flavours to wake the appetite. Or go with the Soju Sprint, a tribute to rice spirits made with Tokki soju, peach, honey, mint, a fresh citrus blend, sherry, absinthe and soda. Tatler Tip: Sweeten up your date with the irreverent crowd pleaser, Meow Now Brown Cow. This sure-fire liquid icebreaker is recently updated, treating all to indulgent flavours of banana, coffee and vanilla. Taipei Photo 1 of 2 The Saketini is perfect for slow sipping and inspired chats (Photo: Chiu Xiang Sake Bar) Photo 2 of 2 Chiu Xiang Sake Bar blends the warmth of a home, the creativity of an art gallery and the comfort of a café (Photo: Chiu Xiang Sake Bar) Awards 2024 Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Special sake cocktails Saketini Bloody Mary crafted with sake Chiu Xiang Sake Bar blends the warmth of a home, the creativity of an art gallery and the comfort of a café. Created by former art world professional Mengmeng and bartender Xiao Qiu, it was born from the former's love of sake; after discovering the drink, she was captivated by its sweetness and drinkability, and decided to immerse herself in studying it. The space reflects this, filled with sake from different moments, books and keepsakes from travels. The bar offers 20 to 30 unique sakes, handpicked by the owners, as well as sake-based cocktails. Tatler Tip: The drink menu is tucked inside a poetry book. Take time to admire the curated artworks and ask the bartender for a classic cocktail with a sake twist. Think Saketini, perfect for slow sipping and inspired chats. In case you missed it: The best restaurants in Asia for the wine-obsessed, according to the Tatler Best Asia 100 list 2024 Chiu Xiang Sake Bar Address: 132 Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da'an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 Map Call Hours FB IG Bukit Damansara Photo 1 of 2 Reka:Bar distils mixology into an art form as well as a science (Photo: Reka:Bar) Photo 2 of 2 Watermelon sugar high combines sake with watermelon shrub and tarragon (Photo: Reka:Bar) Awards 2025 Tatler Best Malaysia: Best Design 2025 Tatler Best 20 2024 Tater Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Liquid Ambra Nost Stirred Dusun 2.0 Reka:Bar distils mixology into an art form as well as a science. Since its debut in 2021, the bar has consistently championed the use of local produce and offbeat combinations in a thoughtfully developed drinks programme. Its Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat menu celebrates four foundations integral to the creation of an exceptional dish. A signature from this menu is the Pistapple Passion, crafted with pistachio distillate, brandy and clarified coconut. The Domino Effect V2 menu showcases the versatility of Asian flavours, combining sake with watermelon shrub and tarragon in its Watermelon Sugar High and infusing bourbon and rum with salted caramel and oolong milk tea in its Cloud & Clear. Tatler Tip: The playful drinks are sure to set the scene for the ideal first encounter. Park yourselves at the bar counter that offers just the right amount of privacy, complemented by unintrusive hospitality. Reka:Bar Address: 67M, Jalan Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur Map Call Email Hours FB IG $ $ $ $ | Makati Photo 1 of 2 Lounge by the intimate, dimly lit bar with cheeky, meticulously crafted cocktails (Photo: The Curator) Photo 2 of 2 The Curator is known to host highly anticipated guest shifts throughout the year (Photo: The Curator) Awards 2025 Tatler Best 20 Philippines 2024 Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Salu salo Pandesal Gypsy Fizz This intimate, dimly lit bar's many regulars have come to expect cheeky, meticulously crafted cocktails, complete with flavour diagrams to help them navigate the menu. On the off-chance it's not one of your friendly Curator mixologists tending the bar, you'll likely find a seasoned veteran from another prestigious bar, as this haunt is known to host highly anticipated guest shifts throughout the year. Before nightfall, this neighbourhood favourite also functions as a café, specialising in expertly made coffee beverages and, more recently, matcha sourced from Japan. Tatler Tip: When in doubt, always choose the espresso martini; The Curator's cheeky version is a riff on Pandesal (a staple soft roll in the Philippines), promising rich creamy textures and accents of nutmeg. And if your date turns out to be a bore, trust the extremely hospitable staff to strike up a conversation. The Curator Coffee & Cocktails Address: UG/F Legazpi Parkview Condominium, 134 Legazpi Street, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Map Call Email Web FB IG Macau Photo 1 of 2 The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge exudes a dark, moody charm that's instantly warmed by the presence of a fireplace (Photo: The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge) Photo 2 of 2 For something interactive, consider a flight of finest vintages where couples get to unravel different Macallan expressions (Photo: The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge) Awards 2024 Tatler Best Asia 100 Bars Must Try Macallan Expressions Through Time Smooth 'Stache Crystal Island The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge exudes a dark, moody charm that's instantly warmed by the presence of a fireplace and the soulful sounds of a live band. Blending the essence of a traditional Scottish public house with refined elegance, the space features oak floors, leather sofas and beautifully patterned rugs. Stag antlers and a crystal chandelier add a touch of grandeur, while more than 400 malt whiskies, including rare selections from the Macallan distillery, are displayed proudly. Beyond whisky, guests can enjoy a curated selection of champagne, wine and cocktails. Whether settling in for a quiet evening or soaking up the live music, the inviting ambience and attention to detail make it a perfect destination for a refined yet relaxed night out. Tatler Tip: Cosy up at the fireplace and let the gentle crackle warm up the amorous evening over a dram of vintage Scotch whisky. For something interactive, consider a flight of finest vintages where couples get to unravel different Macallan expressions. The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge Address: 203, 2/F, Galaxy Hotel, Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, Macau, China Map Call Book Hours Web IG
Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Tatler Asia
Home tour: Inside Bar Leone boss Lorenzo Antinori's new Hong Kong home
The layout is unusual—'basically a massive living room', as he describes it—with plenty of space to host friends. 'For the first time, I can have a communal dining table [at home] and invite friends over; the space definitely has this very liveable sort of vibe,' he says. Everywhere you turn, there are treasures to be spotted. Posters of Wong Kar-wai's seminal 2000 film In the Mood For Love ('my favourite Hong Kong movie') and the 1968 sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey ('Stanley Kubrick is one of my favourite directors') are part of a collection of framed prints in the living area. A shelf acts as a divider between the space and the bedroom. It houses both books—one volume is an Italian translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, the Chinese military text dating back to the 5th century BC that Antinori says offers advice applicable for modern-day business—and paintings by family members; several relatives on his mother's side of the family are artists. By his bed are photos of his parents and a frame depicting a religious icon, a gift from his mother, who's a devout Catholic. 'I'm very close to my family—wherever I have lived, in Hong Kong or South Korea, I always have [these items].' Don't miss: Home tour: Inside an Italian farmhouse-inspired retreat in Happy Valley, Hong Kong Above Antinori with 'The Savoy Cocktail Book'—he worked at the famed London hotel's American Bar—and 'The South American Gentleman's Companion', a cocktail guide originally published in 1951 (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong) Above A close-up of knick-knacks in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong) Antinori wanted to give the home what he calls a vintage, nostalgic edge. Some of his favourite things—art, film, music—come from the Seventies. His favourite movie, the 1997 indie flick Boogie Nights, is set in the era, and its aesthetics strongly inspired his decorating choices. 'I love the Seventies—they were a cool time because pop culture was extremely loud and visually impactful,' he says. 'There are a lot of elements from that period that I tried to bring into this space.' That influence is evident in the palette: think burnt orange, forest green and acrylic accents. Above Lorenzo Antinori (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong) Above A view of the coffee in the dining room (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong) A neon sign that reads 'Bar Leone' lights up the space with a bright tangerine hue; the sofas are in the same shade; a Tiffany-style stained glass lamp, an emulation of the prized originals produced by the American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with green, orange and yellow glass, glows softly in the corner. Now read: Step inside 3 Hong Kong chefs' and restaurateurs' kitchens at home Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong Above A close-up of books in the home (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong) Antinori has applied the same design philosophy behind his bar to his home. 'We wanted Bar Leone to be a nostalgic space, almost like a trip back to a time in the past. We got a lot of references from the Seventies and Eighties. That's why some people feel like it has been there for a while. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea.' He wanted the home to feel 'a little bit chaotic', he adds, 'almost like it's coming out of a movie by [ Boogie Nights ' director] Paul Thomas Anderson or Wes Anderson.' To bring this vision to life, he enlisted Tiffany Kwan, founder of the interior design firm Studio TK, who also worked with him on Bar Leone. Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong We wanted Bar Leone to be almost like a trip back to a time in the past. When I was thinking about this space, it was the same idea - Lorenzo Antinori - Above Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong After finally settling in, there are still 'a few other pieces that I need to put up'. A home is a place where one never stands still, he says. 'It's almost a dynamic place. I will always think of new elements that I want to introduce.' Much like the bar, the home has become a reflection of Antinori's personality. 'Bar Leone is a very personal project. I managed to fill it with things that I love, the things that remind me of home, the things that are connected to my roots. It's the same here; there are certain pieces that I have had in my apartment in Rome with my family, like the religious icon by my bed, the books, frames and prints. 'I think it's important to preserve this element of heritage that showcases our background and who we are. Otherwise, we just live in an empty box.'
