A Little Piece of Rome

Bar Leone is the brainchild of mixologist Lorenzo Antinori, who left his role as beverage manager at the Four Seasons Hong Kong earlier this year. Located on Bridges Street in Soho, it's inspired by Antinori's hometown of Rome. He tells us how the bar showcases his signature sense of humour and celebrates the beauty of simplicity

-  Tara Sobti

Were you nervous about opening your first independent venue?

Yes, terrified. Mainly because I left a very safe job and an extremely structured organisation. Even the most confident of people would have their minds filled with question marks after taking such a big step. My fear has quickly been replaced with excitement, and now, I'm very happy and comfortable with the direction I took. There is a feeling of freedom, yes, but there's definitely more responsibility. There's no time for procrastination. I am much more productive, since it's all down to me.

What inspired you to take the leap?

The realisation that great opportunities don't come along very often. I met [the people who would eventually become] my business partners and we immediately had the same vision for what type of business we wanted to set up. I also felt the need to start something which is totally me. Aside from Bar Leone, I also set up a food and beverage consulting company, Lorenzo Antinori Studio, which focuses on helping operators and brands find creative solutions to their questions.

How is Bar Leone inspired by your hometown?