Why Everyone’s Twirling Pasta Again in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has always had a soft spot for good pasta. But lately, that affection has turned into full-blown devotion; the kind that’s handmade, hand-rolled, and steeped in soul. Across the city, a new wave of pasta bars and trattorias are reimagining what Italian cooking can be: playful, personal, and profoundly creative. From Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, chefs are crafting noodles with a story and it’s not just about Italy anymore.

Below, three of the city’s most exciting pasta destinations, Alma, Twist Pasta Bar, and Zozzona, show us how Hong Kong’s pasta scene has never looked (or tasted) better.

Alma &

At Alma &, pasta comes with a heartbeat. The name, which means “soul and more” in Spanish, sets the tone for everything inside: warm, intimate, and deeply personal. Opened by Chef Ives Abel and Yoyo Cheung, Alma & feels like a dinner party that never ends, a place where Spanish passion meets Italian comfort in dishes that feel both familiar and new.

Alma &’s menu dances between tapas and handmade pasta, it’s food that’s rooted in tradition but speaks a modern dialect: soulful, vibrant, and a little unpredictable. The space itself mirrors that energy, intimate but never too serious. There’s laughter spilling from the bar, clinking glasses over candlelight, and the hum of conversation bouncing off tiled walls. Whether you’re here for a casual dinner or a lively night out with friends, Alma feels alive — the kind of spot that turns a meal into a memory.

What makes Alma shine isn’t just its craftsmanship; it’s the generosity that runs through every plate. Every swirl of pasta, every drizzle of olive oil, every sip of Spanish wine feels like a celebration of the good things in life; made to be shared, savoured, and remembered.

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Address: 51 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong

Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, & Sunday: 12pm - 3:30 | 6pm - 10:30pm; Thursday to Saturday: 12pm - 3:30 | 6pm - 11:30pm

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Twist Pasta Bar

Twist Pasta Bar doesn’t just serve pasta; it reinvents it. From the team behind Honky Tonks Tavern and Bourke’s, this new venture brings the same cheeky charm and rebellious spirit that’s made their other spots local favourites. But here, the focus is on pasta and how to twist it into something entirely new.

As the name suggests, everything at Twist comes with a little spin. The restaurant was born from a love of pasta — its comfort, its creativity, its global soul. But instead of strict Italian tradition, Twist infuses each dish with Hong Kong’s eclectic personality. Think handmade pasta tossed with local ingredients, nostalgic flavours, and the kind of seasoning that feels both global and personal. Chef-driven yet effortlessly cool, Twist is the type of place that encourages connection. The open layout, glowing bar, and curated lighting make it easy to stay awhile.

In a city where fusion has often meant flashy, Twist feels refreshingly thoughtful, a restaurant that remembers pasta’s heart while letting it evolve. Whether you’re here for a quiet lunch or an evening that turns into another round of wine, Twist offers a reminder: the best meals are the ones that bring people together.

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Address: 17 Bridges Street, Central, Hong Kong

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 5pm - late

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Zozzona

Then there’s Zozzona, a name that’s quickly becoming synonymous with creativity. Tucked into the lively streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, this casual pasta bar is rewriting the rules — not by reinventing Italian food, but by honouring it through a Japanese lens.

Helmed by Chef Takayuki Kumai, who spent six years as Carbone Hong Kong’s pasta chef, Zozzona brings together two culinary philosophies built on the same foundation: respect for simplicity, precision, and quality. His approach, Itameshi, or Japanese-style Italian cuisine, takes the comfort of pasta and layers it with subtle, umami-rich depth. The result? Dishes that feel both familiar and entirely fresh. Each one is delicate but deliberate, crafted with the quiet confidence of a chef who understands restraint as much as he does flavour.

Zozzona isn’t just another pasta bar; it’s a story of reinvention. The restaurant’s mission to revive the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood comes alive through its design and energy, sleek, modern, and pulsing with that Tokyo-meets-Hong Kong rhythm. There’s a moment at Zozzona, maybe as you twirl your pasta or sip your wine, when you realise this is what Hong Kong dining does best. It takes influences from everywhere, distills them through creativity and craft, and makes something new that still feels like home.

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Address: 29-31 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 5pm - 10pm

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Together, Alma, Twist, and Zozzona capture something bigger than a trend — they mark a movement. A shift toward pasta that isn’t bound by geography but guided by passion. These restaurants remind us that craftsmanship doesn’t always have to whisper; it can hum, laugh, and sing. From Alma’s soulful Spanish-Italian warmth to Twist’s modern Hong Kong energy and Zozzona’s East-meets-West finesse, artisan pasta has found its groove in Hong Kong.

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Note: The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.