Tony Paese, co-founder and managing director of Sophia Loren Hong Kong on bringing Neapolitan glamour to Wan Chai
Sophia Loren Hong Kong marks the first international footprint for the dining and entertainment concept founded by the iconic actress; there are four restaurants in Italy, in Milan, Florence, Bari and Rome. Opened in April, the Hong Kong outpost—which takes up the historic Wan Chai building that once housed Woo Cheong Tea House—is styled by Italian architect and designer Ivo Maria Redaelli, who also designed the four Sophia Loren restaurants in Italy.
Tony Paese, Sophia Loren Hong Kong’s co-founder and managing director, says Loren has always had an affinity for Hong Kong, from as early as the 1960s, when she starred in Charlie Chaplin’s film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967). Here, he talks to Tatler about revamping the location into a glamorous Italian hotspot.
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Congratulations on the launch. What made this historic building the ideal spot for Sophia Loren Hong Kong?We really wanted to have something unique and special for Hong Kong. The outdoor space was perfect for us to create alfresco dining, which is very popular in Naples and the Amalfi Coast. This type of building can be seen in Italy, with its finishing and history. Sophia Loren Hong Kong could not have been anywhere else.
Tell us more about the four concepts within Sophia Loren Hong Kong: Sophia Loren Pizzeria, Casa Sophia Loren, Stage and Pellicola Rooftop.We started renovations in November 2023. The 17,000 sq ft space underwent a huge transformation over five months. All four floors have a totally different design and set-up. It’s a unique space, where you can go from the ground floor pizzeria, which has a very modern Italian design, to the next floor, which is Casa Sophia Loren—a cosy and refined Italian seafood restaurant very reminiscent of the interior of her house. It embodies the dolce vita style, with Mediterranean whites and blues. Above this, you have Stage, which is linked to her world of acting and performing. It’s a glamorous, 1970s-inspired club with live performances, a dancefloor and an atmosphere charged with nostalgia. And finally, you have the Pellicola Rooftop. It overlooks the tramway and Johnston Road and has a beautiful olive tree in the middle. It’s a very interesting and fun place to be a guest.
Tony Paese, co-founder and managing director of Sophia Loren Hong Kong (Photo: Zed Leets/ Tatler Hong Kong)
Of all the places to expand internationally, why Hong Kong?I met Sophia in Geneva in 2022. The Cimmino family is the major driving force for this whole operation [Sophia Loren Hong Kong is a collaboration with Neapolitan entrepreneur and politician Luciano Cimmino]. From there, we started the idea of creating our own brand. It expanded very quickly in Italy, and Hong Kong is our first step into the international world. Sophia has been to Hong Kong and she did A Countess from Hong Kong; she loves Hong Kong and its history. The Cimmino family used to travel here a lot, too. It was an easy decision to make and it came with a lot of blessings from both sides.
What is your earliest memory of Sophia?I am blushing. I am Neapolitan, and for us, Sophia Loren is a big thing. When I was a kid, I would always watch her movies. I always thought my mum and Sophia had certain similarities, so I would ask my mum if that was her on TV. I always thought Sophia Loren was my mum [laughs].
Neapolitan people have a lot of passion for our history. Sophia Loren is a god in Naples. In September, Sophia turns 90 and the city of Naples has a fantastic celebration planned for her. If you ever have a moment, study Sophia Loren. She has always been elegant and authentic. I still have goosebumps every time I walk into the restaurant.
What is Sophia like and how involved is she in the project? She is involved with final approvals on layouts and designs, but she is most involved in our pizza. You can’t play around with that [laughs]. The pizzeria was a non-negotiable for her—she was very particular that the concept would be a no-go without the pizzeria. She is completely in love with our pizza recipe.
What do you hope people will feel when they come to Sophia Loren Hong Kong?I really hope people feel the elegance and style of Italy—from the kitchen to the design to the way we approach our guests.
Do you have any plans to expand further?There are big expansion plans for Sophia Loren in Hong Kong itself—perhaps in Kowloon. We are forging ahead with expansion plans in Japan and we are looking into Europe as well.
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