Aquazzura debuts its first bar at Hotel de Russie, blending fashion, flavour, and La Dolce Vita in Rome’s most enchanting hidden garden.
In a city where history drapes every corner and elegance is a way of life, a new chapter of luxury has quietly unfolded in the heart of Rome. Aquazzura, the celebrated Italian fashion house renowned for its sophisticated footwear and flamboyant flair, has taken its first bold step into hospitality.
Partnering with the illustrious Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Aquazzura has unveiled its very first bar , a hidden gem nestled within the hotel’s legendary courtyard, just steps from the Spanish Steps.
This imaginative foray marks a milestone for the brand, and an homage to the eternal charm of La Dolce Vita. As Hotel de Russie celebrates its 25th anniversary, this partnership symbolises a confluence of creative vision and timeless elegance, merging two brands synonymous with refined Italian living.
The Allure of the Hidden Courtyard
Described as “a secret garden within a secret garden,” the Aquazzura Bar is more than a new address on Rome’s social map , it is an experience carefully composed, like a cinematic scene waiting to be lived. Guests arrive through the hotel’s grand entrance and are guided into a verdant haven, invisible from the bustling Via del Babuino. Here, the Valadier Garden unfolds into an immersive storybook of scents, colours, and textures, where botanical artistry meets design brilliance.
The bar’s aesthetic is directly inspired by Aquazzura Casa’s Secret Garden tableware collection. The design echoes 18th-century botanical illustrations, reimagined through a whimsical lens with fluttering birds, butterflies, and deep forest tones. These motifs extend throughout the space, creating a dialogue between nature and design.
A Visual Dialogue in Fabric and Form
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Aquazzura Bar lies in its visual contrasts. The outer canopy greets guests with Aquazzura’s iconic black-and-white stripes , a motif that has become a signature of the brand’s playful sophistication. Inside, however, the scene shifts: whimsical Secret Garden prints wrap the interiors in vibrant narrative, creating an ever-changing tableau.
Custom-designed Portuguese tiles hand-painted with delicate lemon patterns , a nod to Italy’s sun-soaked citrus groves , adorn the bar. These are offset by elegant outdoor furnishings from design studio Casa do Passadiço: plush tufted chairs, green trelliswork, and striped planters housing fragrant lemon trees. Every detail whispers indulgence, from the warm glint of metal finishes to the curated greenery.
Framed by the hotel’s majestic garden, which ascends dramatically in terraces behind the bar, this al fresco hideaway offers an intimacy rare even in Rome. It is, in essence, a garden within a garden , an architectural matryoshka that invites exploration.
Cocktails as Couture: The Menu
True to the Aquazzura ethos of artistry and refinement, the bar’s cocktail offering is anything but conventional. Conceptualised by renowned mixologist Federico Pavan and brought to life by Matteo Capezzuoli, the drinks menu pays homage to founder Edgardo Osorio’s passion for tequila. Each libation is executed with precision and presented as a visual treat.
Signature highlights include the rotating monthly frozen Margarita, crafted from premium tequila, fresh lime, and a medley of seasonal fruits. The Agave Nero , Osorio’s tequila-infused twist on the classic Espresso Martini , delivers depth and complexity while maintaining the brand’s playful edge.
Accompanying the cocktails is a curated selection of refined tapas by Fulvio Pierangelini, Rocco Forte Hotels’ Creative Food Director. Each dish is served on Aquazzura Casa porcelain, merging culinary excellence with artful presentation. It’s a sensorial experience that seduces on multiple levels.
Hospitality as High Art
The partnership between Aquazzura and Hotel de Russie speaks to a broader evolution within the luxury landscape: the blurring of boundaries between fashion, design, and lifestyle. In this space, every detail , from the flicker of candlelight on porcelain to the sound of clinking ice in sculptural glassware , is deliberate and evocative.
Lydia Forte, Group Director of Food & Beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels, captures the essence of this vision: “Edgardo and I dreamed up Aquazzura Bar amid holiday’s ease,relaxed, laughing, surrounded by friends,and aimed to bottle that vibe. Our job, at its heart, is to make people happy, embracing each guest and magically uplifting their mood.
It’s in the details: the bartender’s friendly nod, the glass’s delicate line, the ice’s clink, the cocktail’s balanced flavour profile, the sounds and scents of the garden. Yet, what lingers is a feeling and finally…a memory of that feeling.”
This sentiment underscores the project’s true ambition: not simply to serve, but to elevate. The Aquazzura Bar offers guests more than food or drink , it offers a moment suspended in beauty, where style and substance converge.
A Designer’s Dream Realised
For Edgardo Osorio, Aquazzura’s founder and Creative Director, the launch of the bar realises a long-held passion: “I have always been passionate about interiors and hosting. To me, hosting is an act of love , you create an experience for your guests, from the music to the food, to how the table is set. It has always been a dream of mine to translate the world of Aquazzura into a hospitality space.”
This venture into hospitality is more than a brand extension. It is a testament to Osorio’s vision of beauty as a lifestyle , immersive, generous, and unforgettable. Just as his shoes have become a global emblem of joy and elegance, the Aquazzura Bar promises to become a new icon in Roman social life.
Where Worlds Collide: The Future of Luxury
The Aquazzura Bar is not just a first for the fashion house , it is emblematic of a wider trend in luxury: the pursuit of holistic experience. As fashion brands venture into realms of architecture, gastronomy, and wellness, they invite their audiences to live within their vision, not just wear it.
This immersive approach is redefining what it means to be a luxury brand in the 21st century. In merging its unmistakable aesthetic with the impeccable service of Rocco Forte Hotels, Aquazzura has created a space that is at once fashionable and timeless, personal and universal.
Nestled in the lush serenity of Hotel de Russie’s Valadier Garden, the Aquazzura Bar is a celebration of joy, beauty, and the art of living well. It is, above all, a place to pause , to sip, to savour, and to be swept away.
