The Hari Hong Kong's Weekend Brunch: Italian or Japanese — Why Not Both?

Hong Kong has no shortage of weekend brunch options but most of them ask you to pick a lane. Italian or Japanese. Convivial or intimate. Indoors or alfresco. The Hari Hong Kong has quietly solved that problem by offering all of the above, under one roof, on the same afternoon.

Since January 2026, the Wan Chai hotel has been running two fully separate weekend brunch experiences: the Pranzo Italiano at Lucciola on the ground floor, and a contemporary Japanese spread at Zoku & The Terrace upstairs. Same building, same starting price, completely different mood. This is what both experiences look like up close and how to decide which one is right for your next weekend out.

Italian Sundays at Lucciola: the Pranzo Italiano brunch

Lucciola has always had the feel of a neighbourhood Italian ristorante that happens to sit inside a thirty-storey design hotel. The dining room runs warm amber and green tones, timber details, natural light and the Pranzo Italiano brunch leans directly into that energy. The format is designed for lingering: arrive, settle in, and let the afternoon take its time.

The meal begins at a new dedicated bar table set with a buffet of Italian nibbles, anchored by homemade porchetta roast. From there, the kitchen moves through entrees and mains in a proper sit-down sequence. Sautéed black mussels with parsley and garlic arrive as a starter, followed by mains including roasted Vallespluga chicken, Carnaroli risotto, and handcrafted ravioli. Mediterranean sea bream and rib-eye round out the options for guests who want something heartier.

Dessert doesn't arrive on a plate it arrives on a roaming trolley. Ricotta and pistachio cannoli are a highlight, and Lucciola's signature tiramisu closes the meal on exactly the note it should.

Drinks and pricing at Lucciola

The brunch is priced from HKD 628 per adult and HKD 488 for children aged five to eleven, with free-flow red, white, and sparkling wines included for the full session. For guests who want to upgrade, a two-hour free-flow Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne package is available for an additional HKD 368 per person.

Live music plays throughout service, which runs from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM with last orders at 2:30 PM. All prices are subject to a 10% service charge.

Japanese Afternoons at Zoku & The Terrace

One floor up, the atmosphere shifts entirely. Zoku whose name means "clan" in Japanese is built around leather booths, crimson velvet banquettes, and a striking timber-slatted ceiling designed in origami-like forms. Step out onto The Terrace and you trade that intimate interior for an open-air setting surrounded by greenery. It's a completely different proposition to the warmth of Lucciola, and deliberately so.

The Zoku brunch opens with "Otoshi: The Izakaya Way" a selection of Japanese snacks served in the style of a traditional izakaya welcome. From there, an assorted sashimi platter sets the tone before guests move into mains. Truffle Yaki Soba, A-4 Miyazaki Wagyu steak, lobster tail, and seasonal seafood selections give the menu real range. Japanese-inspired desserts close the meal.

Local musicians accompany the full service at Zoku, adding an extra layer of energy to what is already one of the more distinctive dining settings in Wan Chai.

Drinks and pricing at Zoku

Like Lucciola, Zoku's brunch starts from HKD 628 per adult and HKD 488 per child, with free-flow beverages included. The premium upgrade here adds Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne alongside premium sake specifically Gassan Junmai Houjun Karakuchi for an additional HKD 368 per person. The sake pairing is a genuine differentiator from the Lucciola experience and worth factoring into your decision if you're a fan of Japanese spirits.

Service runs on Saturdays and public holidays from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM, with last orders at 2:30 PM.

What Francesco Gava says about the thinking behind both brunches

Francesco Gava, Director of Food & Beverage at The Hari Hong Kong, has been direct about what the dual-brunch format is designed to do. "Our two new brunch experiences are designed to encourage diners to make the most of their weekend by slowing down and sharing good food in good company," he said at the January 2026 launch.

He has also noted that the two experiences attract noticeably different guests some drawn to the warmth and conviviality of the Italian format, others preferring the contemporary Japanese flavours and sake experience at Zoku. Having both available means the hotel can genuinely serve both without compromise.

About The Hari Hong Kong

The Hari Hong Kong opened in December 2020 as the second property under The Hari brand, following The Hari London in 2016. The hotel is the vision of Dr. Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd., whose family founded the Harilela Group in 1959 a business still wholly owned by the family today.

The thirty-storey hotel at 330 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai was designed by acclaimed British interior designer Tara Bernerd and comprises 210 guest rooms, including three signature rooftop suites with views across Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, The Peak, and Victoria Harbour. Beyond Lucciola and Zoku, the hotel's dining landscape includes The Terrace alfresco bar and The Lounge, an all-day sitting area with a curated collection of books and artworks.

Which brunch should you book?

Both experiences run from HKD 628 per person and share the same format: multi-course dining, free-flow beverages, live music, and a 4.5-hour window to enjoy it all. The decision really comes down to mood and preference.

Choose Lucciola if you want a convivial, family-style Italian afternoon built around shared plates, roaming dessert trolleys, and the kind of warm room that makes two hours feel like the right amount of time. The space suits larger groups and anyone who finds comfort in familiar Italian flavours done properly.

Choose Zoku if you want something more intimate and contemporary a Japanese-led menu with real ingredient depth, sake as part of the drinks experience, and the option to move between an interior designed room and an open-air terrace. The wagyu and sashimi make a strong case on their own.

And if you genuinely can't decide the hotel is at 330 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai. Book one this weekend and the other the next.

The Hari Hong Kong's dual weekend brunch model is one of the more thoughtful dining propositions in the city right now. Rather than splitting the difference between Italian and Japanese into a confused fusion menu, the hotel keeps both experiences completely distinct different floors, different atmospheres, different culinary languages and lets guests choose their own Saturday afternoon.

Menus evolve seasonally at both venues, which gives regulars a reason to return. With Father's Day brunches already confirmed for June 20–21, 2026, the calendar is filling up fast. To make a reservation at Lucciola, contact lucciola@thehari.com or call +852 2129 0333. For Zoku & The Terrace, reach out at zoku@thehari.com or call +852 2129 0338. Have you visited either restaurant? Share your experience in the comments.

Sources: The Hari Hong Kong official website (thehari.com), Hospitalitycareerprofile.com

Read more: Restaurant Technology Trends Reshape Hospitality in 2026

Smart Kitchens Transform Restaurant Operations in 2026