Bar Leone by Studio TK

Tucked into a quiet street in Sheung Wan, Bar Leone captures the understated charm of a classic Roman neighbourhood bar, reinterpreted through a considered layering of textures, tones, and proportions. Studio TK approached the project as an exercise in distilling the character of Italian bar culture into a compact urban footprint, with a focus on atmosphere, materiality, and subtle storytelling.

The interior palette establishes a mood that feels both timeless and transportive. Neutral, warm-painted walls form a soft backdrop to the dark wood beaded-panel wainscoting that anchors the perimeter. The surfaces are punctuated by hand-aged mirrors, their softly clouded reflections adding a sense of depth and history. A Rosso Verona marble countertop forms the centrepiece of the bar, its warm red veining offset by the glow of low lighting. The effect is one of quiet craftsmanship, eschewing replication in favor of authentic patina and an interplay of light and shadow that shifts with the passing hours.

The layout works within the narrow dimensions of the site to create an intimate yet varied interior. Upon entry, the bar extends along the right-hand side, establishing a natural delineation between the service area and guest seating. Opposite, the left-hand wall opens to window-side counters, a series of standing tables, and a collection of built-in booths. This arrangement allows guests to experience the venue in different ways, whether leaning casually at the bar, settling into the privacy of a booth, or pausing by the window with a drink.

Ambient lighting is kept deliberately low, lending a cinematic quality to the space. The warm glow is complemented by a curated soundtrack, shaping a setting that invites lingering. Rather than encouraging rapid turnover, the design nurtures a slow, immersive experience where textures, tones, and subtle detailing unfold gradually over the course of an evening.

Through the careful selection of materials and the calibrated balance between openness and intimacy, Studio TK has created an environment that feels both familiar and transporting, a corner of Rome seamlessly transplanted into the heart of Hong Kong.

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