Aquazzura has a new brand extension: a bar

Edgardo’s got a brand-new bar. Aquazzura, the very happening footwear marque, has a fresh product extension: a cocktail bar in Rome.

Located inside the iconic Hotel de Russie, the bar is a new debut by Aquazzura, marking the brand’s first steps into the world of hospitality. It blends Aquazzura’s unique, upbeat aesthetic with the timeless elegance of the Rocco Forte-owned hotel, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

A secret garden in the heart of another secret garden, the Aquazzura bar sublimates the spirit of la dolce vita in the hidden courtyard of the Hotel de Russie. Built in the early 19th century, the hotel attracted members of the Russian Imperial House, famed romantic painters, and, in the 20th century, the likes of Diaghilev, Picasso, and Stravinsky.

The secret garden, like the hotel itself, was designed by Giuseppe Valadier, the architect who redeveloped the neighboring Piazza del Popolo.

“I’ve always been passionate about interiors and the art of entertaining. For me, hosting is a true act of love: you create an experience for your guests, whether through the music, food or the way the table is set,” said Aquazzura founder Edgardo Osorio.

A new bar decorated with bespoke canopies with a double motif juxtaposes Aquazzura’s signatures. Custom Portuguese tiles, hand-painted with delicate lemon motifs, adorn the bar in homage to Italy’s colorful citrus groves. Designed by the Casa do Passadiço design studio, the bar boasts metal outdoor furniture, plush chairs and comfortable sofas. Green trellises and lemon trees in striped planters frame the space, harmonizing with the Hotel de Russie’s magnificent courtyard gardens.

“Edgardo and I envisioned Aquazzura Bar as a place that embodies the lightness of vacation—relaxed, laughing, surrounded by friends… Our real mission, at heart, is to make people happy, welcoming each guest and enhancing their mood, as if by magic,” said family member Lydia Forte.

The cocktail menu, designed by Federico Pavan and created by Matteo Capezzuoli, reflects Osorio’s well-known passion for tequila. Cocktails include an Iced Margarita, made with the finest tequila, fresh lime and seasonal fruit, and the Agave Nero-Osorio, a tequila-based reinterpretation of the Espresso Martini. Guests can also enjoy refined tapas created by Chef Fulvio Pierangelini, served in the Aquazzura Casa porcelain collection.

Founded in 1996, the Rocco Forte hotel group today boasts 15 top-ranked hotels spread across major European cities. Aquazzura was founded in 2012 by Colombian-born Osorio and is one of the hottest footwear labels today, worn by the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Kendall Jenner, Amber Valletta and Cindy Crawford—or royals such as the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, Queen Rania of Jordan and Queen Letizia of Spain.