Il Presidente Opens in Central, Bringing Old-School Italian Glamour to Duddell Street

August 12, 2026

Hong Kong’s Italian dining scene has a new address to watch. Il Presidente, a new Italian restaurant and cocktail bar from the founders of Trattoria Felino, has opened in Central, bringing a moodier, more polished expression of Italian dining to one of the city’s most atmospheric urban corners.

Located on the mezzanine level of Baskerville House at 13 Duddell Street, Il Presidente sits by the area’s iconic granite steps — a fitting location for a restaurant that leans into old-school Italian glamour, classic hospitality and recognisable dishes with a contemporary lift.

The opening marks the next chapter for chef Marcello Scognamiglio and Félix de Arriaga Balanzat, the duo behind Trattoria Felino in Wan Chai. After building a following for their Southern Italian cooking on Ship Street, the pair now turn their attention to Central with a concept that feels more cinematic, cocktail-led and dressed for the evening.

From Ship Street to Duddell Street

Il Presidente arrives with a strong pedigree. Its founders first made waves with Trattoria Felino, the Wan Chai restaurant opened by Scognamiglio and De Arriaga Balanzat on Ship Street.

That earlier restaurant was launched against the odds. As reported by the South China Morning Post, the Ship Street site had seen several restaurants come and go, including Rosita, Bibi & Baba and Ham & Sherry. Yet Trattoria Felino managed to carve out its own identity by positioning itself between fast casual and fine dining, offering a concise menu of high-quality, creative dishes at approachable prices.

The restaurant quickly became known for food rooted in Naples and Southern Italy. Time Out described Trattoria Felino as a cosy yet refined modern Italian trattoria serving flavours close to Scognamiglio’s heart, while the MICHELIN Guide praised its Neapolitan spirit, house-made pasta and dishes inspired by the chef’s grandmother’s recipes.

That background matters because Il Presidente is not simply another Italian opening in Central. It is the evolution of a team that has already shown it can create a restaurant with personality, warmth and staying power in a competitive Hong Kong dining market.

A More Glamorous Italian Mood

Where Trattoria Felino channels the warmth of a neighbourhood trattoria, Il Presidente appears to take a more theatrical route.

Time Out describes the new restaurant as an atmospheric Italian restaurant and cocktail bar that pays homage to Italian old-school glamour. The setting, perched above Duddell Street’s granite steps, gives the restaurant a sense of arrival — discreet, urban and slightly cinematic.

The menu focuses on elevated versions of familiar Italian dishes rather than overly abstract fine dining. Highlights include:

Egg tartufato, the restaurant’s signature truffle egg dish
Homemade agnolotti all’ossobuco
Crispy porchetta, served tableside
Costoletta alla valdostana, a breaded veal chop stuffed with Fontina cheese and smoked ham
Mezzi paccheri alla puttanesca di mare
Hamachi crudo

The direction is clear: recognisable Italian comfort, sharpened with technique, premium ingredients and a polished tableside rhythm.

The Trattoria Felino Connection

Il Presidente’s opening is especially interesting because of how it builds on Trattoria Felino’s success.

At Trattoria Felino, Scognamiglio’s Neapolitan roots are central. The MICHELIN Guide highlights dishes such as the carbonara egg, an aerated egg yolk with guanciale and pecorino served in an eggcup, as well as house-made pasta including tagliatelle with Wagyu beef ragout. Time Out has also pointed to dishes such as hamachi carpaccio, smoked artichokes, tray-baked pizzas, Neapolitan pork ragout, seafood ragout and millefoglie al cioccolato.

This gives Il Presidente a foundation of credibility. The new Central restaurant is not relying only on design or location; it is backed by chefs already recognised for strong pasta work, regional Italian references and a balance between comfort and refinement.

If Trattoria Felino is the warm, relaxed Southern Italian sibling, Il Presidente seems to be the sharper-dressed older brother — more urbane, more cocktail-friendly and more suited to Central’s after-dark dining scene.

Cocktails Inspired by Italian History

Il Presidente is not only a restaurant. It is also a cocktail bar, and drinks appear to be a major part of the concept.

The bar offers 12 cocktails, each inspired by key moments in Italian history. Among them is Amores Extranos, a tequila- or mezcal-based Margarita-style cocktail inspired by 1990s pop singer Laura Pausini. Another highlight is Piazza Duomo, a modern take on the Aperol Spritz named after the famous cathedral square.

This cocktail programme gives Il Presidente a broader appeal. It can work as a dinner destination, a late-evening Central drinks spot, or a place for guests who want a more atmospheric Italian bar experience without committing to a full meal.

The opening hours support that positioning: Il Presidente operates from 6pm to 11pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 6pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday.

Why This Opening Matters

Hong Kong has no shortage of Italian restaurants, but Il Presidente arrives at a moment when diners are increasingly drawn to restaurants with a clear identity. The city’s strongest new openings are not just serving good food; they are creating a complete world through design, service, storytelling and drinks.

Il Presidente seems built around that idea. Its Duddell Street location offers heritage atmosphere. Its menu leans on familiar Italian flavours while adding refinement. Its cocktail list brings a narrative element. And its founders bring the credibility earned from Trattoria Felino’s rise in Wan Chai.

The restaurant also reflects the continued confidence of independent operators in Hong Kong’s dining scene. Scognamiglio and De Arriaga Balanzat built Trattoria Felino in a location others had struggled with, then turned it into a MICHELIN-recognised neighbourhood Italian restaurant. Il Presidente now gives them a more central stage.

Details

Il Presidente
Cuisine: Italian
Address: Shop M2, M/F, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday to Thursday and Sunday, 6pm–11pm; Friday to Saturday, 6pm–1am
Best for: Italian dinner, cocktails, date night, group dining, Central after-work drinks

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By F.V. | August 2026