Fashion Brand Opens Hotel Bar

Italian luxury fashion brand Aquazzura (Florence) and the Hotel de Russie in Rome have partnered to create the first-ever Aquazzura Bar, marking the brand’s debut in the hospitality sector. This collaboration “brings together Aquazzura’s distinctive aesthetics and the timeless elegance of the hotel that this year celebrates its 25th anniversary,” project participants said in a news release.

The concept, inspired by Aquazzura’s Casa Secret Garden tableware collection, is housed in Rocco Forte Hotels’ Valadier Garden, with its botanical-inspired design reminiscent of 18th-century illustrations, enriched with birds and butterflies in lush, verdant tones.

The space is framed by dual-patterned custom awnings that juxtapose the distinct signature Aquazzura motifs—black and white stripes face the exterior, while the interior bears the Secret Garden pattern. Custom Portuguese tiles, hand-painted with lemon motifs, adorn the bar, paying homage to Italy’s colorful citrus groves.

Conceived by design studio Casa do Passadiço, the bar also features metal outdoor furniture with tufted chairs and sofas. Its perimeter is lined with green trelliswork and lemon trees in striped planters.

“[Aquzzura Founder and Creative Director] Edgardo Osorio and I dreamed up Aquazzura Bar amid holiday’s ease – relaxed, laughing, surrounded by friends – and aimed to bottle that vibe,” Lydia Forte, Group Director of Food & Beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels. “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.”

Said Osorio, whose brand is available at more than 300 retailers worldwide and also operates 20 flagship locales in the U.S., South America, Europe and the Middle East: “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.”