Italian luxury fashion brand Aquazzura and the iconic Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, have partnered to create the first-ever Aquazzura Bar, marking the brand’s debut in the hospitality sector. This exclusive collaboration brings together Aquazzura’s distinctive aesthetics and the timeless elegance of the hotel that this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.
A secret garden nestled within a secret garden – the Aquazzura Bar enhances the essence of La Dolce Vita in the historic Hotel de Russie’s hidden courtyard. Once inside the hotel’s majestic entrance, guests are led to an enchanting, flourishing oasis that unfolds like the pages of an exciting storybook, invisible from the street yet captivating in its refined beauty.
The concept, inspired by Aquazzura Casa Secret Garden tableware collection, perfectly complements the hidden, magical Valadier Garden, with its botanical-inspired design reminiscent of 18th-century illustrations, enriched with birds and butterflies in lush, verdant tones.
The space is elegantly framed by dual-patterned custom awnings that juxtapose the distinct signature Aquazzura motifs—iconic black and white stripes face the exterior, while the interior unveils the whimsical Secret Garden pattern, creating an ever-changing visual narrative.
Bespoke Portuguese tiles, hand-painted with delicate lemon motifs, adorn the bar, paying homage to Italy’s colorful citrus groves. Conceived by design studio Casa do Passadiço, the bar features elegant metal outdoor furniture with tufted chairs and comfortable sofas. Green trelliswork and lemon trees in striped planters frame the area, creating an enchanting garden atmosphere that complements the Hotel de Russie’s famous courtyard gardens rising dramatically behind the bar.
The cocktail menu created by Federico Pavan and executed by Matteo Capezzuoli, reflects Edgardo Osorio’s well-known passion for tequila and features signature drinks artfully prepared with precision and a touch of magic.
Standout offerings include a monthly rotating frozen Margarita made with the finest tequila, fresh lime, and seasonal fruits, alongside the Agave Nero—Osorio’s tequila-based interpretation of an Espresso Martini. Guests will savour the refined selection of tapas created by Chef Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Food Director of Rocco Forte Hotels, served on the exquisite Aquazzura Casa porcelain collection for a new gastronomic experience.
Each detail, from the bespoke cocktail presentation to the carefully selected table setting, has been thoughtfully curated to enhance the magical atmosphere of this hidden Roman gem, where Rocco Forte Hotels’ unparalleled hospitality meets Aquazzura’s playful modern elegance and vibrant style – creating the perfect alchemy where beauty, style and hospitality come together effortlessly.
“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.” Lydia Forte
“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.” Edgardo Osorio
Hotel de Russie, Rome | Hotel de Russie is the legendary Roman jewel of the Rocco Forte Hotel group, situated along the elegant Via del Babuino between two of Rome’s most famous piazzas, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo. At the foot of the Pincio hill and mere steps from the picturesque Via Margutta, Hotel de Russie boasts an incomparably central position both for visiting the city’s most important sites and for shopping. The history of Hotel de Russie dates back to the beginning of the 19th century when the project for its construction was entrusted to the architect Giuseppe Valadier. Then an aristocratic palace, it featured an Italian-style garden divided into terraces, which is now frequented as the hotel’s famous Secret Garden. Regular visits by representatives of the Russian Imperial Household, as well as numerous Russian intellectuals and Romantic painters, gave the Hotel de Russie its name. Over time, the hotel consolidated its reputation on the international artistic and cultural scene, hosting such exponents as the painter Giacomo Frey; the sculptor John Gibson, a pupil of Canova; Sergei Diaghilev; Vaslav Nijinsky; Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso. In 2000, the renovation of the interior of the historic building was entrusted to architect Tommaso Ziffer and carried out in collaboration with Olga Polizzi, Design Director of Rocco Forte Hotels. The result is an eclectic interior that uniquely fuses the historic and the modern, where contemporary style blends perfectly with the building’s classic architecture.
About Rocco Forte Hotels
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a collection of 15 individual hotels, resorts, residences and villas. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas. Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Rocco Forte House, Milan; Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie and Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte Private Villas and Villa Igiea, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown’s Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg and Rocco Forte House, Milan. Future openings: The Carlton, Milan in 2025; Costa Smeralda, Sardinia and Palazzo Castelluccio, Noto in 2026; Palazzo Sirignano, Naples in 2027.
Aquazzura | Exuding a modern, alluring elegance, Aquazzura’s footwear collections have become instantly iconic since their debut in 2012. Exquisitely handmade in Italy with a particular focus on comfort and wearability, Edgardo Osorio’s creations combine luxury and craftsmanship with an innovative design and vibrant colour palettes. The first decade of extraordinary successes and international recognition marks the launch of two new product lines affirming the transformation of Aquazzura into a true lifestyle brand. The Casa Collection, declined in four tableware lines, presented in 2022, is inspired by Osorio’s passion for interior design and art de la table. This year sees the launch of the Aquazzura handbag line, a modern and versatile collection featuring an array of sophisticated and feminine day-to-night styles imagined for every occasion. Creative Director and Founder Edgardo Osorio – a life spent living between Colombia, Miami and London working for prestigious fashion houses – decided to establish his own brand in Florence, heart of Italian art and capital of the best shoemakers and artisans. Edgardo’s dream business idea came to life inside the spectacular setting of Palazzo Corsini, Aquazzura’s headquarters, starting a ten-year journey of pure creativity and love for Italian savoir-faire, through the combination of traditional techniques and luxurious materials. From the signature seasonal collections to exclusive collaborations and bespoke creations, Aquazzura’s styles have been worn by the likes of Hollywood stars such as Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Angelina Jolie, Selena Gomez among many others, fashion icons such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Kendall Jenner, Amber Valletta and Cindy Crawford, and royalties including HRH the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Mary of Denmark, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Aquazzura’s shoes have been recently showcased in major movie productions, such as the popular TV series And Just Like That… starring Sarah Jessica Parker (sequel of the iconic Sex & The City series), in the James Bond movie No Time to Die with Ana de Armas, and worn by Lady Gaga in House of Gucci, directed by Ridley Scott. Aquazzura’s collections are available at over 300 top retailers in 58 countries, online at aquazzura.com, and at flagship boutiques in Florence, London, New York, Miami, Doha, Dubai, Milan, São Paulo, Capri, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Taipei, St. Tropez, Manama (Bahrain), Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah and New Delhi.
