Best things to do in Hong Kong this December

If you're anything like us, after weeks spent whittling down your gift shopping list and wrapping up all the late-night holiday parties, you're more than ready to just kick back, let go and relax. So during the one season a year where you have every excuse to treat yourself, throw your diet out of the door and head to one of these festive buffets. Whether you're searching for a classic Christmas roast or craving Japanese food, there's something on this list for everyone. RECOMMENDED: Get naughty with these festive cocktails or get in the mood for Christmas with these Christmas songs we all love to hate.

Winter is here, so it’s time to push aside those frosty beers and grab something warm instead. And what better way to get cosy on a chilly day than with a cup of hot chocolate? When you’re not too busy having a twirl on Hong Kong ice-skating rinks or enjoying all the various winter festivities, pop into one of these cafés and grab a steaming scrumptious mug of hot cocoa. So ignore all the calories today and work it off at one of Hong Kong’s best gyms tomorrow. 

Much like the city’s dai pai dong, cha chaan tengs are a cornerstone of Hong Kong culinary culture. Popular for their down-to-earth and affordable menus stuffed with local comfort food, not all CCTs are the same. Some might specialise in one particular dish, while others are good across the board. Read on to discover the best cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong that you absolutely have to try. By Sarah Moran and Josephine LauRECOMMENDED: If you’re after more local cuisine, sample our pick of the best dai pai dongs or the best dim sum in town.

Head through the grand double doors, up the elevators and down a dim corridor somewhere within the walls of the newly-opened Rosewood hotel, and you will find an inconspicuous knob. Flip the panel up, enter the password, and with a resounding whoosh, the wall will open inwards, leading you into Hong Kong’s first ladies-only speakeasy – XX. Named after the chromosomal combination only females possess, the sultry cocktail bar is a haven for girls. Sorry, gents, it’s no man’s land from here! Much like the hotel, XX is furnished luxuriously without an ounce of pretentiousness or contrivance. With the birds-and-bees patterned wallpaper, plush, emerald green couches, and sensual lighting from ornate chandeliers, the hidden bar is an ethereal oasis specifically tailored to ladies’ likings. Among their signature cocktails, we were feeling Sexy. A champagne-based cocktail, the Sexy ($160) is an intoxicating concoction of jasmine, bergamot orange, fizz and London No. 3 Gin. Citrusy and sweet and velvety smooth when it hits the tongue, the fruity bergamot proves a perfect foil for the sharpness of the gin and the effervescence of the champagne. Topped off with a dainty jasmine flower in its tall, slender glass, Sexy is the quintessence of femininity. The BFF ($130), in contrast, is a refreshing, light, easy-on-the-throat highball that pairs Fair vodka with cucumber juice, pine needles, and yuzu vinegar. Combined with a decorative, rolled-up slice of cucumber containing pine needles an

There's never a dull moment in Hong Kong's food and drinks scene, with new restaurants, cafes and bars opening seemingly all the time in one corener of our city or another. Whether a western venture with a heavy focus on meat, a refined Italian eatery of a cheerful waterfront seafood bar, Hong Kong has it all opening all the time. Here is our line-up of the recent foodie openings not to miss.   RECOMMENDED: Hankering for Italian? The look no further than our list of the best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong? Want something a little more spicy? Then maybe try our list of the best Southeast Asian joints in the city.

OCTOBER 2019: As our city’s vibrant restaurant scene continues to evolve at a rapid pace, we’ve made more than a few additions to our list this time around. Most notably, the new-in-town French cuisine maestros at Louise have stormed in to take the coveted top spot, and we’ve also welcomed to the pack visionary French-Japanese fusion eatery à nu retrouvez-vous, laidback Vietnamese spot Chôm Chôm, and down-to-earth noodle paradise, Mak Man Kee, among others. Welcome to the Time Out EAT List, for which we’ve been busy scouring the streets and alleys to bring you the very best restaurants in Hong Kong. As usual, this line-up has been compiled by our ravenous food and drinks editors who aren’t just on the hunt for a delectable bite – although taste certainly doesn’t count for nothing – but also consider the buzziness of the atmosphere, the price (for those on a tight budget, check out our dedicated cheap eats list), and the relevance of the concept in our ever-changing metropolis.  From long-time favourites to newbies, we've sorted everything, from restaurants in some of Hong Kong’s best hotels to the city's most delectable street eats. In short, this is whatever serves the best food in Hong Kong right now. Let’s dig in! Eaten somewhere on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutEatList Looking for more recent openings? Check out our pick of Hong Kong's best new restaurants.

There are so many outstanding Hong Kong bars that it’s hard to decide how and where to allocate your time, money and rapidly diminishing sobriety. Whether you want a fancy cocktail at a speakeasy, a bottle of biodynamic wine, a hazy IPA at a craft beer joint, or something else entirely, there’s something for you in our famously crowded and fast-paced city. We’ve put our livers on the line to deliver you a definitive list of the 51 best Hong Kong bars. Enjoy! Visited somewhere on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDrinkList. You can also find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews bars here.

Escape above the hustle and bustle of the city at these bars with fantastic views and fantastic drinks to match.

As celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme once put it: you don’t need a silver fork to eat good food. In honour of that adage, the Time Out Hong Kong food team has trawled the islands to sniff out the 51 best bites under 50 bucks. This summer, celebrate the noodle vendors, skewer sellers and eggette experts that make Hong Kong such a wonderful place to eat.  RECOMMENDED: Sink your teeth into a spread at some of Hong Kong’s best restaurants.

There are many hidden bars in Hong Kong, did you know? Or are they just so well hidden you had no clue? Well, that’s what Time Out is for. In fact, the whole ‘hidden bar’ thing can sometimes feel like a gimmick or a substitute for actually serving decent drinks. The few establishments like that have given the rest a bad name because some of Hong Kong’s very best bars are ones that are a little secretive and not so easy to find. Read on to discover the best.