Hongkongers love to hate their hectic lifestyles, so it's curious that there aren't more little bars or eateries like the new Stazione Novella that accommodate our non-stop, day-to-night schedules. "Stazione Novella is a neighbourhood bar in the Italian sense of the tradition; it's a local hang-out that services the bustling SoHo community throughout the day. We took cues from the busy bars found around the Florence train station [Santa Maria Novella] — you can pop in for a coffee, grab a panino and a glass of wine or settle in for cocktails after a long day," says Christopher Mark, co-founder and culinary director at Black Sheep Restaurants. In true Italian style, the bar also offers an all-day menu of snacks; the kitchen doesn't shut until the bar closes. The bread, made in-house and requiring 48 hours to prove, features heavily. Mark says: "Our bruschetta menu features a range of toppings served on toasted bread. My top choice is the gorgonzola with fig," adding if it's that time of day, he would pair it with a glass of Tasca d'Almerita Lamuri Nero d'Avola from Sicily. Another favourite of his is the soppressata, fontina and arugula panino. Mark says: "We get our soppressata from Calabria where food is a little spicier than in Tuscany." He suggests washing down it with an Aperol spritz. Stazione Novella, 52-56 Staunton Street, SoHo, tel: 2559 0559. Open: 9am until late
