Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong

If, like us, you’re one of those people who read The Little Prince when you were a child and since then has always carried a little beautiful melancholy in you, boy, do we have an event that will excite you. The University of Hong Kong has partnered with Alliance Française de Hong Kong to launch ‘The Little Prince and the Pilot’ exhibition. Hosted in the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), this exhibition commemorates the 80th anniversary of The Little Prince’s first publication in France, and presents a thematic journey through the life of Le Petit Prince’s author, aviator, and artist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Through rare photographs, personal letters, sketches, and more, visitors can explore Saint-Exupéry’s early years and his career as an aviator and wartime pilot – it’s easy to see where his first-person narrator got his sense of adventure and piloting skills from. Photograph: Courtesy University Museum and Art GalleryThe Little Prince sketch Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The showcase, of course, culminates in the creation of Saint-Exupéry’s most seminal work, featuring original manuscripts, drawings, first editions, and multilingual translations that all trace the evolution and popularity of The Little Prince. Additionally, eight Hong Kong-exclusive, life-sized coloured sculptures inspired by the book will be on display and available for pre-order, so if you’d like to collect a piece of this masterful legacy, here’s your chance. What makes things even more special is that the great-great-nephew of Saint-Exupéry and representative of the Saint-Exupéry–d’Agay family estate, Adrien Guiraud, will even travel to Hong Kong to mark the opening of this cultural event. ‘The Little Prince and the Pilot’ exhibition will run from June 26 to October 18, at UMAG, 1/F, T. T. Tsui Building, University of Hong Kong. Entry is free, and access is via the ground floor of the Fung Ping Shan Building. Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong will soon have its first 24-hour robot-operated convenience store Baby Namagaki brings a giant indoor beach summer camp to MOSTown Charlie Puth’s Hong Kong concert has been postponed to April 2027

In yet another push into the future, Hong Kong is about to launch the city’s first convenience store that’s run fully by a robot. This will be Beijing-based robotics firm Galbot’s first venture outside of mainland China, after already establishing a robot retail space in the Chinese capital. The approximately 97-sqft capsule store will be located along the Hung Hom waterfront, and managed by a 173-cm-tall G1 robot named ‘Xiao Gai’. Featuring a vaguely humanoid upper body, the robot also has a 190-cm arm span and is designed to stock shelves, pick inventory items, and handle customer checkouts. It can also understand voice commands, with the Hong Kong robot offering multilingual interaction as is befitting of our international crowd. Photograph: Courtesy GalbotGalbot G1 robot Backed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, this robot store manager marks a major step in efforts to embed more of AI in everyday life, allowing people to interact with the technology in more tangible ways. Just don’t fall in love with the G1 or somehow make it decide that humans need to be eradicated! Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Baby Namagaki brings a giant indoor beach summer camp to MOSTown Charlie Puth’s Hong Kong concert has been postponed to April 2027 N+ Burger teams up with Doritos for a new summer-limited Angus burger

Everyone’s favourite squishy oysters Baby Namagaki is back in town! This time, it’s teaming up with MOSTown to bring an adorable indoor beach to Ma On Shan so you can soak up the summer vibes without being at the mercy of Hong Kong’s unpredictable weather. From July 4 to August 23, the mall’s atrium will be covered by a 3,000-sqft canopy of blue ocean waves. Beneath this artificial sky lies a nearly 1,000-sqft emerald beach populated by 30 Namagaki and Friends characters – 11 of which will be flaunting their brand-new beach party looks for the very first time. Photograph: Courtesy MOSTownBaby Namagaki MOST-Vibrant Summer Beach Exploration The main attraction of this air-conditioned coastline is a 6.5-metre-tall Rainbow Waterfall Light Tower, standing alongside a two-metre-tall oyster inflatable lounging on the sand. There’s also a mini sand pit where you can dig for buried treasure and get the chance to walk away with a cute tattoo sticker. The rest of the space features plenty of interactive photo spots, including the Summer Camp Gathering Ground, a giant Baby Namagaki gashapon machine loaded with plush toy prizes, and a Chic & Chill Oyster Party dress-up zone where you can customise your own plushie for free. Photograph: Courtesy MOSTownBaby Namagaki MOST-Vibrant Summer Beach Exploration If you want to do some shopping, the summer pop-up store has over 20 new MOSTown-exclusive items and more than 20 limited-edition collectables from Japan filling the shelves, including plush keychains, stationery, home essentials, venue-exclusive items, and a bunch of limited-edition collectables imported straight from Japan. Baby Namagaki has also taken over PHI Coffee & Pancake at MOSTown to serve exclusive themed menus featuring Japanese soufflé pancakes, Italian mains, and specialty coffee. To wrap things up, H Coins members can score exclusive rewards like a limited-edition folding umbrella or a foldable travel bag by collecting digital stamps via electronic payments at the mall, so get spending. Whether you’re there to shop, snap photos, or just escape the heat, make sure to catch these cute oysters before they pack up on August 23! Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Charlie Puth’s Hong Kong concert has been postponed to April 2027 N+ Burger teams up with Doritos for a new summer-limited Angus burger Supermarket chain Wellcome revamps two more Hong Kong stores with retro themes

Update June 15, 2026: Puthinators, we have bad news: Charlie Puth has rescheduled his Hong Kong concert to April 2027 when it was supposed to be held on October 21 this year. According to the organisers, Puth’s Hong Kong leg of the ‘Whatever’s Clever! World Tour’ has been pushed back “due to production and logistical challenges”. Since six months is a long time to keep a date free in the calendar, all tickets purchased via HK Ticketing and Damai will be eligible for an automatic refund, including the customer service fee and delivery fee, if applicable – fans need not worry about taking further action to get their money back.  If you had tickets for the original October show, you will also be given first dibs access to an exclusive presale for the rescheduled April concert, so at least you won’t have to stress over snatching tickets once again! Additional information will be released at a later date. Photograph: Courtesy Live NationCharlie Puth If you missed seeing Charlie Puth live at the AsiaWorld-Arena back in 2023, or more recently at Macau’s Venetian Arena in late 2024, your chance has happily come around once again,  as the American singer-songwriter has just announced he is bringing his ‘Whatever’s Clever! World Tour’ to Hong Kong this year! Catch the Grammy-nominated singer and producer at Kai Tak Stadium on October 21, where Puth will be performing his timeless hits as well as some highly anticipated new tracks from his Whatever’s Clever album which was just released earlier in March. His new 80s-inspired soft rock sound also features interesting collaborations with the likes of Utada Hikaru, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Kenny G, and even Jeff Goldblum. We’re keeping our fingers crossed Puth will perform ‘Home’ in Hong Kong, because imagine if he surprised us by pulling the iconic queen Utada on stage. Photograph: Courtesy Live NationCharlie Puth Whatever's Clever Kai Tak Stadium seating chart Tickets run from $599 to $4,499 for all seated entry. The top ticketing tier’s Professor Puth VIP Experience includes a ticket in the stage zone, a pre-show viewing of Professor Puth, an exclusive merchandise package curated by Puth himself, a VIP laminate and lanyard, and priority access to merch. The next tier down ($3,699) will get access to a pre-show Q&A session instead of the Professor Puth experience, as well as the other VIP perks. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: N+ Burger teams up with Doritos for a new summer-limited Angus burger Supermarket chain Wellcome revamps two more Hong Kong stores with retro themes Central pasta bar The Spoon just opened a new sister concept dedicated to Italian flatbread

There are certain food combos that just make sense. Putting tortilla chips into a beef burger, however, is probably not a pairing that has crossed your mind, or your plate. If you’re feeling adventurous, the folks at N+ Burger have teamed up with Doritos this summer to launch a limited-time Doritos Mexican Fiesta series, bringing a satisfying crunch straight between the buns. Dedicated to creating and experimenting with different burger flavours, N+ Burger is the city’s first burger joint to own and operate their very own pasture in Australia, sourcing hormone-free Angus black cattle that are fed a diet of grain and honey to enhance the natural sweetness and flavour of beef. Their patties are seared at high heat to lock in juices, while their signature sourdough buns are crafted by none other than Bakehouse. Photograph: Courtesy N+ BurgerDoritos Mexican Crunch Angus burger On this collab menu is the all-new Doritos Mexican Crunch Angus burger ($80), where a juicy beef patty is layered with American cheese, sweet and tangy pineapple, shredded lettuce, a smoky barbecue sauce, and a generous handful of Doritos nacho cheese tortilla chips stuffed directly beneath the top bun. If you want to get your fingers messy, there’s also the Doritos nachos with guacamole ($40), featuring the same cheesy chips with a freshly made guac. Anyone looking to try both items can bundle the meal and order a set that includes the burger, nachos, and a drink together from $120. The Doritos Mexican Fiesta menu is now available across all N+ Burger locations and delivery apps for a limited summer run, so get stuck in before the season ends! Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Supermarket chain Wellcome revamps two more Hong Kong stores with retro themes Central pasta bar The Spoon just opened a new sister concept dedicated to Italian flatbread BigBang reunites for a world tour, including three concert dates in Hong Kong

A hidden hut in the mountains where villagers secretly ate meat to evade religious prohibitions sounds like a rather complicated backstory for a dinner date – but also a pretty intriguing one. Tucked away inside Cubus in Causeway Bay, Yakiniku Yama Oku is an intimate 12-seat yakiniku kappo restaurant inspired by the secret culinary culture of Japan’s pre-Meiji Shogunate era. Back then, Buddhist prohibitions meant that eating livestock was strictly forbidden, forcing villagers to gather in remote huts to grill their forbidden meats under various disguises. Photograph: Courtesy Yakiniku Yama OkuYakiniku Yama Oku Translating directly to ‘barbecue in the heart of the mountains’, the new venue brings that spirit of seclusion to a contemporary, cave-like 400-sqft space. Guests are seated at the counter, where they’ll get to savour an immersive barbecue experience as chefs perform traditional kappo ‘cut-and-cook’ theatre. Leading the kitchen are two talented chefs from Fukuoka: chef Koji Takazono and chef Koichi Kuga. Together, they handle the counter-side hotplates to bring exceptional flavours through curated menus that focus on the finest Wagyu and even seasonal game such as venison and wild boar. Photograph: Courtesy Yakiniku Yama OkuYakiniku Yama Oku For those looking for a lighter commitment, there are two set menus – Kan ($480 per person) and Ji ($780 per person) – available during lunchtime. Both options include a daily selection of Wagyu cuts, alongside appetisers, Korean-style salad, steamed egg custard, miso soup, and dessert. Opting for the Ji menu will get you an extra 14 days dry-aged loin shabu-shabu simmered in a 72-hour beef bone and oxtail stock, as well as 7 days-aged lean meat roasted over straw. Photograph: Courtesy Yakiniku Yama OkuYakiniku Yama Oku Come evening, the focus shifts to three multi-course omakase menus. The Roku menu ($880 per person) features 14-day dry-aged rump, grilled oxtail, and seven-day-aged lean meat grilled over straw, while the Sui menu ($1,180 per person) introduces smoked cheek meat, aged tongue with a lemon koji salad, selected lean meat with salted kelp, grilled 7 days-aged chateaubriand, Yamaoku-Yaki, and premium Wagyu with artisanal soy sauce crafted by a century-old brewery. Photograph: Courtesy Yakiniku Yama OkuYakiniku Yama Oku For the flagship choice, the Yakiniku Rei menu ($1,480 per person) offers premium dishes like sea urchin with Wagyu aitchbone tartare, Wagyu tenderloin shabu shabu, and a seven-day-aged chateaubriand draped in a foie gras truffle sauce. If beef is not your preferred choice, a dedicated chicken and pork evening menu is also available for either $880 or $1,180, showcasing delicacies like Itoshima pork pâté de campagne and Mitsuse chicken thigh tataki. To make it all go down smoother, the beverage programme revolves around classic whisky highballs specifically tailored to pair with the meats, including four distinct expressions of Kanosuke single malt from Kagoshima mixed with a selection of artisanal sodas. Seasonal sake pairings are also available, along with ginger ale, ginger beer, and a yuzu tonic featuring refreshing notes of grapefruit, lemon, and mandarin. You can find Yakiniku Yama Oku on 3/F, CUBUS, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay. Bookings can be made online or via a quick WhatsApp message to 4497 5412. Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Supermarket chain Wellcome revamps two more Hong Kong stores with retro themes Central pasta bar The Spoon just opened a new sister concept dedicated to Italian flatbread BigBang reunites for a world tour, including three concert dates in Hong Kong

Grocery shopping is rarely what you would call a cultural experience, but supermarket chain Wellcome is determined to turn your weekly run for toilet roll into a trip down memory lane. Following the success of its first retro concept store in Yau Ma Tei earlier this year, the brand has given two more of its locations a vintage facelift. Photograph: Courtesy WellcomeWellcome retro supermarket Kennedy Town Down at Victoria Road in Kennedy Town, the aisles have been given the full ding-ding treatment. Shoppers can steer their trolleys along printed tram tracks on the floor, surrounded by a palette of yellow and green. There’s also a 1990s tram stop replica right next to the produce section, an installation wall of stacked Coca-Cola crates and neon signs, a vintage mobile ice cream cart, a ‘Yes!’ card photo booth, and a wall dedicated to Hong Kong’s iconic bakery brand Garden. For those who want to take the time-travelling experience beyond the checkout counter, Wellcome is also running a specially themed tram – decked out in vintage colours and classic Wellcome motifs – along Hong Kong Island from now until July 11, inviting daily commuters to step aboard a moving time capsule. Photograph: Courtesy WellcomeWellcome retro supermarket Sim City Meanwhile, the Sim City store in Mong Kok takes its cues from the city’s wonderfully chaotic street food culture. The staircase walls are covered with photographs of Nathan Road after dark in the 80s and 90s, classic mailboxes, a convex mirror for selfies, and vintage signs that will lead you to the basement store. Inside, the setup replicates the energy of an open-air dai pai dong and a traditional cha chaan teng, complete with neon signage, old milk tea kettles, oil lamps, and other retro props like the ping-pong spring-pull machine that customers can play for free with any purchase. Photograph: Courtesy WellcomeWellcome lightbox magnet If you’re actually there for a grocery run, both locations are stocking old-school Hong Kong treats like Wah Yuen “sate” beef cubes, Koon Wah aeroplane olives, White Rabbit candy, and even a stir-fried beef ho fun flavoured popcorn. Those who spend $100 or more can also take home some exclusive merch for just $28, including a mini Wellcome lightbox magnet (available at Victoria Road location only) or a magnetic phone holder (available at Sim City location only). Kennedy Town retro concept store Address: Shop 3-7, Block 2, Centenary Mansion, 1 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town Opening hours: 8am-10pm Mong Kok retro concept store Address: G/F, Chung Kiu Commercial Building, Sim City, 47-51 San Tung Street, Mong KokOpening hours: 8.30am-11pm Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Central pasta bar The Spoon just opened a new sister concept dedicated to Italian flatbread BigBang reunites for a world tour, including three concert dates in Hong Kong Wellcome just released World Cup-themed shopping bags that double as football jerseys

Hong Kong’s restaurant scene moves at a breakneck pace, but launching an entirely new sister concept just six months after your initial debut is a seriously impressive flex. Well, that’s exactly what Central’s wildly popular pasta bar The Spoon has just done. The new spot, called The Spoon Focaccia, pivots away from rolling out pasta dough and turns its attention to Italian flatbreads, offering inventive focaccia creations alongside a selection of meat and seafood dishes shaped by chef Dylan’s Malaysian roots. Photograph: Courtesy The Spoon FocacciaThe Spoon Focaccia Traditional focaccia is usually pretty dense and heavy on the olive oil, but the kitchen here has lightened things up with modern baking techniques that use a high-hydration, low-oil recipe and extended fermentation. The result is a light and airy base that pairs beautifully with a variety of toppings such as parma ham and coppa di testa. Photograph: Cherry Chan(L) Honey butter focaccia dome, (R) Salami pan-seared focaccia The real showstoppers, however, are the more unconventional options. One of the restaurant’s signature creations is a honey butter focaccia dome, which comes stuffed with smooth ricotta cream and topped with savoury slices of guanciale. For a taste of home – and a side of extra calories – there’s also a Hong Kong-style French toast focaccia served with banana and mascarpone cream. While the original Gough Street site opts for a classy green aesthetic, this new outpost features a bold red palette designed to mirror the vibrant energy of the food. The space also keeps the flagship’s open-kitchen layout with a chef’s counter, giving guests a front-row view to watch the kitchen team do their magic. The Spoon Focaccia is currently operating as an all-day bistro, so you can pop in for breakfast, lunch, or a late dinner. Alongside the bread, they’re also slinging sharing plates like seasonal seafood platters and other mains such as parmesan dry-aged chicken breast prepared sous vide, grilled octopus with truffle finger potato, and pan-seared seasonal fish with sambal sauce. The Spoon Focaccia Address: Shop 1, G/F, Kar Ho Building, 35-39 Graham Street, Central Opening hours: 9.30am to 10.00pm daily Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: BigBang reunites for a world tour, including three concert dates in Hong Kong Wellcome just released World Cup-themed shopping bags that double as football jerseys Play Stuff Fest returns to PMQ with a retro toy fast-food joint

Even if you weren’t that into Korean music, as long as you were alive in the 2000s, there’s simply no way you could have escaped the phenomenon that was BigBang. The original five-member group moulded entire generations of K-pop artists and was arguably responsible for initiating South Korean entertainment into the eyes of global pop culture, and VIPs will be glad to know that the K-pop heavyweights are about to go on a new world tour, with Hong Kong on the docket! Following a massive set at Coachella, G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung will begin their global run from August until next February, with 31 concerts scheduled across Asia, North America, the UK, Europe, and Australia. Hong Kong is getting three nights with the group – they will be playing Kai Tak Stadium on November 13 to 15. This new world tour also serves to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary, made especially memorable since the last time they went on a global tour was a decade ago, before any of the members even went on hiatus for South Korea’s mandatory military conscription. Though BigBang’s lineup is now officially short of TOP and Seungri from the original five, we’re sure the reunited band remains a force to be reckoned with (thankfully, the vocal line is still intact). Who else is holding out hope that they’ll perform a career-spanning selection of their classic bangers like Haru Haru, Lie, Last Farewell, and Fantastic Baby? Ticketing details including prices, releases, and VIP packages have yet to be announced, so keep an eye on this space! Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Wellcome just released World Cup-themed shopping bags that double as football jerseys Play Stuff Fest returns to PMQ with a retro toy fast-food joint Hong Kong is officially the world’s 16th best city for food in 2026

With the World Cup madness kicking off this month, Wellcome is getting into the sporting spirit by launching a range of shopping bags that double as football jerseys. Yes, really. The eight-piece collection transforms different national team kits like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Croatia into dual-purpose bags. Aside from hauling your groceries, these spacious totes feature a U-shaped zip that lets you open up the sides and throw them straight over your head. Photograph: Courtesy WellcomeFIFA World Cup 2026 From June 5 to 11, Yuu members can get ahead of the game by pre-ordering a random shopping bag blind box via the app for 8,000 points. Alternatively, spending any amount on Wellcome’s online shop between June 12 and July 9 lets you add a blind box for $30 – or you can just buy the whole eight-piece set for $238 to avoid the gamble. Those shopping at designated brick-and-mortar Wellcome stores can also pick up a blind box for $30 upon spending $88. Supplies are limited, so expect people to scramble for them. The supermarket chain will also roll out rotating weekly discounts throughout the tournament, meaning you can stock up on cheap match-day snacks while trying to figure out how to wear a shopping bag. Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Play Stuff Fest returns to PMQ with a retro toy fast-food joint Hong Kong is officially the world’s 16th best city for food in 2026 JD.com to open its first physical JD Mall in Hong Kong this month

It’s no secret that we love this city and all it has to offer, and we’re always proud to call ourselves Hongkongers. But if there’s one gripe we have – a bone to pick, if you will – it is that Hong Kong is not exactly the most pet-friendly place in the world. We have the bustling city, the teeming nightlife, the lush greenery, and so much amazing food, but when we look at other cities all around the world, Hong Kong pet owners can’t help but think about how we can’t simply stroll into malls or places of entertainment with our furry companions, or even ride on the subway with them. Luckily, things are taking a turn for the better, with the Hong Kong government recently announcing the introduction of a special permit that will allow selected restaurants to welcome dogs indoors. Targeted for approval by mid-2026, between 500 and 1,000 permits will be issued to restaurants which apply for them. This means that we could see a sudden influx of restaurants that actively embrace patrons dining alongside their pets within this year – an absolute dream for dog owners who are tired of being relegated to outdoor seating with no air conditioning. View this post on Instagram A post shared by April & Artie (@aprilandartie) To address some of these queries: restaurants granted the pet permit will be allowed to determine the extent of their participation, and the policy does indeed cover air-conditioned areas in restaurants. Pet owners will be required to keep their dogs under control at all times with a leash no longer than 1.5 metres or secured to a fixed object. Dogs will also not be allowed on dining tables or to come in contact with food and tableware. It remains to be seen whether there’s a limit on how many dogs each pet owner can bring into eateries, and secretary for environment and ecology Tse Chin-wan also said on February 10 that dog diapers will most likely not be made mandatory as it may cause discomfort to dogs who don’t need them. High-risk venues like hotpot or barbecue restaurants will not be granted pet permits.  When asked which restaurants they would want to see welcome their pets in the near future, Hong Kong’s pet owners are not picky – they’re just happy that the option to do so is happening in the first place. Stephanie Lown, who works at the SPCA Hong Kong and is the founder of the outdoor adventure group Exploring Dogs, is just “thrilled to have any options open up to dogs at all!” Her rescue dog Lola is an energetic, active adventurer of the great outdoors, so Lown can think of “nothing better than ending a hike with your dog and being able to stop at a café or restaurant for a nice refreshing drink or meal”. Cho would love to see Korean restaurants and dim sum places adopt a pet-friendly attitude, while Dorathy wants to see their dining options expand to include cha chaan tengs or fast-food joints. We don’t know if Maxim’s Palace in City Hall or your local Café de Coral will soon embrace hungry pups, but it sure is a nice thought! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life in Hong Kong with Lola (@livin_da_vida_lola) Promoting pet-friendly eateries is a great step in making Hong Kong a more inclusive city for animals. Considering that the local pet economy is a multi-billion dollar market driven by mostly younger citizens with the financial means and the inclination to provide the best for their animals, there is plenty more that can be done to make people happy while tapping into this sizable income pocket. Hong Kong is already trying out having pets on public transport, with select bus routes accommodating animals on certain days of the week and the Light Rail in the New Territories allowing pets on the weekends. Pet owners are now eagerly waiting for expanded transportation options, as well as regulations that don’t require their pets being placed in carriers – it’s easy to put a Pomeranian in a bag, but try doing the same with a Bernese Mountain Dog.  “Right now, I am always on foot or taking cabs everywhere whenever I travel with my dogs,” Cho muses. “I hope one day dogs will be allowed on either the MTR or on buses.” Dorathy concurs, saying that as a medium-sized dog owner, “it would be fantastic to bring my dogs on the MTR and buses”, adding that she wouldn’t mind putting her Samoyeds in diapers to ensure hygiene if needed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Exploring Dogs (@exploringdogs) Cho also adds that there are not enough dog-friendly parks and beaches in Hong Kong – dogs are currently banned from most parks and public beaches, with only a handful open to dog owners and their pups. “We usually end up on unregulated beaches that are filled with plastic, broken glass, and trash, which is so dangerous for dogs. Hopefully we’ll see more dog-friendly places so our fur babies can enjoy nature too.” Lown looks even further ahead, hoping to see more housing options open up to pet owners as well. “The last couple of years have definitely shown promise with ferries, KMB buses, and the MTR welcoming dogs for SPCA’s Dogathon, but we still have some ways to go. Other countries have had these pet-inclusive policies for years, if not decades!” Lastly, she hopes that with this recent wave of pet-friendly sentiment, the Hong Kong government might review the city’s animal cruelty laws, which she laments have not been updated in 90 years. “It would be good to see the government finally implementing a ‘Duty of Care’ policy which would help improve animal rights and welfare in Hong Kong.” Hear, hear! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong’s recent food poisoning outbreak linked to raw oysters Calbee opens a limited-time Chinese New Year pop-up at Citygate Outlets for snack fans Macau is the most active region in Asia when it comes to love and sex, according to Time Out

Ever wanted to go back in time and shop at a supermarket from the 1950s? It might come off as a rather specific fancy, but for those who harbour such a dream, you’re in luck: Hong Kong’s homegrown supermarket giant, Wellcome, is hopping aboard the nostalgia train with the launch of a retro-inspired concept store in Yau Ma Tei. Designed as a tribute to Hong Kong’s extensive retail history, Wellcome has repurposed its Prosperous Garden branch in Yau Ma Tei as an exhibition destination to celebrate the supermarket’s 80-year-plus legacy. Founded in 1945, Wellcome has been a constant in the lives of local families, serving the needs of generations of Hongkongers. As the city evolved, Wellcome evolved with it, but this branded concept shop preserves a slice of the supermarket as shoppers might have seen it back in the 1950s to the 1970s, complete with vintage character, photogenic interiors, and time-limited collectibles. Each aisle, stocked with a curated selection of products, doubles as a fetching backdrop oozing charm and colour, so no doubt this location will quickly become a popular attraction! Photograph: Courtesy Wellcome Snap photos of the LED-emblazoned shopfront, which takes its cues from Hong Kong’s famous urban landscape of neon lights; discover classic interior design elements such as the vintage silver-and-green turnstile, a sea of red plastic lamps popularised in wet markets, and patterned floor tiles; and admire nostalgic grocery setups and heritage exhibits that showcase the allure and shared memories of Hong Kong’s past.  As part of the concept store activation, Wellcome is also launching special deals and brand collaborations to commemorate the occasion, including a reusable Wellcome Retro Eco Bag for $28 with a single transaction of $100 – it’s reminiscent of Wellcome’s old-school red-and-yellow carrier, making for a keepsake that’s both practical and sentimental. Additionally, Wellcome will team up with tech equipment manufacturer Smeg to offer a limited-edition Lifebox ($88 with any purchase of $100 or more) from February 6 to 19, and Hong Kong’s own lifestyle brand G.O.D. for a Lunar New Year-themed game set ($68). Photograph: Courtesy Wellcome Wait, there’s more! While the weather’s still below 20 degrees Celsius, pop over to Prosperous Garden to sip warmed Vitasoy soy milk from glass bottles – a Hong Kong childhood memory that many will dwell on fondly. You can also take your chance at a Lee Kum Kee capsule machine from now until March 31, which will dispense a surprise miniature magnet depicting one of the condiment maker’s signature products. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Harbourside Swing Fest returns for its 2026 edition in late April Shiro brings its signature ‘crystal sushi’ to its second location in Tai Kwun Everything you need to know about Japan’s official cherry blossom forecast 2026

Love dim sum and surreal imagery? You’re in good company. Hong Kong street artist Lousy, best known for his bold graphics resembling glyphs and pictorial shapes, is collaborating with viral food photographer-artist David Leung – also known as Davidgoodtime, who specialises in capturing reflected food images highlighting pareidolia – for a dynamic exhibition about dim sum and the ritual of yum cha.  Hosted at JPS Gallery, ‘Double Umami’ is an artistic ode to Hong Kong cuisine, reimagined through the unique lenses of two distinctly different creators, who shaped their love of dumplings and morning teas into a visual celebration of Hong Kong’s DNA.  Photograph: Courtesy JPS Gallery In the exhibition space, visitors will encounter a customised dim sum cart installation, decorated by David and Lousy, in addition to photographs depicting beloved dim sum dishes in Leung’s signature mirrored style, mounted inside bamboo steamers crafted by master artisan Lui Ming of Ming Sang Steel Bamboo Receptacle. ‘Crab’s Kid Burn & Sell’ shows siu mai in a different light, appearing almost like the face of a crustacean, while ‘Char Siu Cat No. 2’ draws parallels between char siu bao and felines. We also particularly liked the birdcage installation which houses real emu eggs and plastic cards from dim sum carts inscribed with the Chinese onomatopoeia for bird chirps. Photograph: Courtesy JPS Gallery Branching out from photography onto canvas and installation work for the first time, Leung is also presenting the ‘Sauce’ series, applying the same mirrored techniques to create patterns reminiscent of Rorschach inkblot tests. Inspired by traditional Fu Lu Shou statues representing fortune, prosperity, and longevity, Leung uses foldable boards loaded with pigment to ‘find’ faces hidden in the paint. In contrast, Lousy – rather than focusing on the food aspect of dim sum – aims to capture the feeling of community and chaos experienced during a yum cha get-together. He paints and draws on top of old dim sum order sheets to give graphic form to the hustle and bustle of a Cantonese restaurant, depicting figures sat at a table, abstract interpretations of food, hands pouring tea, and more. Photograph: Courtesy JPS Gallery David and Lousy’s collaborations don’t end there. Lousy has teamed up with Wendy’s Wok World for a ‘Special Collab Soy Sauce’. 22 bottles of Tiu Yuen small-batch soy sauce are covered in custom packaging artwork created by Lousy. Meanwhile, Leung worked with chef May Chow of Little Bao to wrap 50 bottles of her handcrafted Fook Jiang chilli sauce in original ‘chilli sauce’ Rorschach artworks, bringing the food-focused project one degree closer to the art of Chinese cooking. ‘Double Umami’ is on exhibition at JPS Gallery from January 30 to March 7. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Art book publisher Taschen is having a huge sale in early February Starbucks opens at the Hong Kong Palace Museum with Hong Kong’s first Chinese calligraphy shop sign and exclusive products Fujifilm releases a camcorder-instant camera hybrid in the instax mini Evo Cinema

Listen, we love a good beat drop or screaming chart-toppers like any other nighttime reveller in the city, but in this era of EDM and throwback pop-heavy party scene, it would be nice to enjoy something authentic that sounds different for once. Well, it looks like we got our wish, because a vinyl record-based bar has just announced they’ll be opening in Lan Kwai Fong. The brainchild of longtime friends Brian and Ah Hei, the 8055 vinyl bar has had previous iterations based in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, which grew in popularity to welcome even local celebrities and creatives like Eason Chan and Tyson Yoshi as patrons. The pandemic eventually saw the shuttering of the bar – but not for good. Photograph: Courtesy 8055 Building on their seven-year brand identity as a hotspot for authentic vinyl DJ-ing, graffiti art, and Japanese chill drinking culture, 8055 is now back in the game with a new home in the heart of Hong Kong’s nightlife district, Lan Kwai Fong. Expect the warmth and pops of analogue sound being played all night, with a focus on Japanese hip-hop, jazz, funk, and city pop – a sound that’s pretty unique within our nightlife scene and, frankly, a breath of fresh air from all the other clubs around. To pair with the music, 8055’s drinks turn the focus on premium Japanese whiskies and umeshu plum wine. Their signature tipple is an elegant, simple umeshu soda, but you can also truly do things the Japanese way by leaving the choice up to the bartender, omakase-style. Staying true to the brand’s history, 8055’s new venue will also allow guests to freely draw, scribble, and unleash creativity all over the walls with graffiti markers, so if you’ve ever left your mark in bars like Not2Sweet, you’ll want to do the same here as well. Photograph: Courtesy 8055 Check things out at 8055’s grand opening party on January 24, when they’ll be hosting a 10-hour DJ relay from 8pm onwards. The lineup will include Andrew Bull, better known as DJ El Toro or the ‘Father of Hong Kong DJs’, who is famous for initiating the city’s first disco in The Peninsula hotel as well as the iconic Canton Disco. Sounds like a party and a half! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Kodak Apparel opens a time-limited concept store in Hong Kong New brasserie Chouchou brings French comfort food to an elevated setting in Wan Chai Sai Ying Pun’s historic steakhouse Sammy’s Kitchen announces closure this month

The popular Japanese mascot series Namagaki is taking over Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong with a themed installation! Since Namagaki characters began popping up inside claw machines and arcades across town, so many hearts have been captured by their simple yet lovable designs and adorably blank expressions. The Namagaki Festival features a series of installations and exhibits for fans to take pictures with, as well as a charming merch pop-up with exclusive items for sale. Photograph: Courtesy Yell / Festival Walk At the centre of the installation is a four-metre-tall giant oyster can, where Namagaki characters spill out alongside rainbow-coloured sweets. Right next door is the pastel-coloured Namagaki Washoku House, where cute oyster characters act as chef and waiter at this makeshift traditional Japanese eatery. See if you can spot the pink pumpkins dotted around the space – it’s the installation’s discreet nod to the upcoming spooky season.  Beyond photo ops, fans will definitely delight in browsing through the themed pop-up store housing over 100 exclusive Namagaki products, including 80 first launches in Hong Kong that span everything from stationery to t-shirts and tote bags. Don’t forget to stop by the Namagaki claw machine and the collectible trading card capsule machine for an adorable surprise!  Photograph: Courtesy Festival Walk In the spirit of Halloween, Festival Walk is inviting visitors to trick or treat around designated stores in the mall. Exclusive to My Festival members, take part in this seasonal activity by purchasing a $1,000 gift card to receive a limited-edition Baby Namagaki birthstone bag charm and candy can clutch – where you can store your hard-earned sweets.  Namagaki Festival will be at Festival Walk from October 24 to November 13. See footage of the Namagaki Festival pop-up here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk) Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: 18 hotels in Hong Kong and Macau have been awarded 2025 Michelin Keys OneRepublic is coming back to Hong Kong in February 2026 The best Halloween parties in Hong Kong this year

Remember when we all saw a giant Doraemon sitting unexpectedly at the dockyard along Tsing Yi last week? Well, the news is out and it’s not that a robotic cat is invading Hong Kong – instead, a fleet of floating inflatable sculptures will be making their appearance along Victoria Harbour next month. AllRightsReserved, the local creative brand behind last year’s thousands of panda sculptures and the recent Chiikawa exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui, is putting on the Water Parade, where a set of four giant, floating inflatable figures will be making a debut at sea. In the lineup is Doraemon, perched on his favourite dorayaki snack; Elmo from the Kaws & Sesame Street collaboration; McDonalds’ purple blob-shaped mascot Grimace; and Labubu, the globally viral Nordic-inspired monster by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. After a trial run in the waters of Tsing Yi on September 20, these four figures will be set afloat along Victoria Harbour on October 25, and will be shown in brand-new poses. Visit them just off of Tamar Park in Admiralty and snap plenty of photos, because when else are you going to see such universally recognised and different cartoon characters all sitting together? Photograph: Courtesy AllRightsReserved On November 1, the floating sculptures will be taken on a water parade between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, sailing along both sides of Victoria Harbour, before departing from our waters on the evening of the same day. For the entire duration of the sculpture display, there will also be a Water Parade Market at the promenade near Tamar Park. Aside from pop-up stores, F&B stands, game booths, photo spots, and a capsule toy zone, the market will also feature other internationally popular IPs from KPop Demon Hunters, season five of Stranger Things, Squid Games, Snoopy and the Peanuts, as well as Hong Kong’s classic TOLO Founding Duck, which is marking its 40th anniversary. Early-bird tickets to the festivities will be available at $50 for adults, starting at 12 noon on September 26. Walk-in tickets can also be purchased on site, subject to availability. All tickets include a $20 merchandise voucher, which can be redeemed cumulatively on purchases of every $200. Attendees can also buy a viewing platform special ticket at $150, which includes entry to the Water Parade Market. See some footage of the Water Parade here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk) Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: The best Oktoberfest events happening in Hong Kong this year The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (September 22-28) Super Typhoon Ragasa: Hong Kong braces for the strongest typhoon of the year as it approaches the city

Do you remember an exhibition last summer that displayed miniature scenes of the Central and Western districts in Pacific Place? In case you missed it, the Joyful Miniature Association (JMA) is back once again, this time with more incredibly detailed dioramas of life in Hong Kong, including seven brand-new miniatures that have never been seen before. The 24 art pieces will highlight some of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks, cultural customs, and unique lifestyles. Peek into painstaking recreations of Sunday dim sum at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, chaotic nighttime revelry along Lan Kwai Fong, the customs of worship and pin wheel buying at Man Mo Temple and Wong Tai Sin Temple, a moving model of the fifth generation of the Peak Tram funicular railway, views of Victoria Harbour complete with boats sailing and fireworks, and more.  Photograph: Courtesy Joyful Miniature Association The new miniatures at this show include the Kai Tak Sports Park, the legendary old Kowloon Walled City, night scenes of Temple Street, horse racing, aquatic animals on sale at one of the many shops along Goldfish Street, the cable car at Ngong Ping 360, and Hong Kong’s transhipment history at the Insta-famous Western District Pier. The JMA brings together over 100 Hong Kong artists who collectively integrate the traditionally European craft of miniatures with our distinctly local culture using cutting-edge technology. If there’s one way to stroll through the most iconic sights and experiences of Hong Kong in just a few steps, this exhibition is definitely it. ‘Hong Kong: Through the Looking Glass Miniature Exhibition’ will be on display at The Peak Tower from April 25 to June 23 – JMA’s longest exhibition in the city. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong ranked as the 10th most walkable city in the world; 1st in East Asia Hong Kong Airport Express proposes fare increase of 9.4 percent The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is hosting a carnival this Sunday

We sit down with artist and designer Joe Foti before his new exhibition in Hong Kong

March in Hong Kong is not complete without a trip to the Wanchai Convention Centre to spend a day or two at Art Basel. This year’s fair gathers 240 global galleries, with large-scale installations, paintings, sculptures, digital art, live performances, video works, and more to see!

From a world without colours to her love of big city metros, we caught up with British artist Monster Chetwynd for a round of quick-fire questions while she's in town for her new installation at Pacific Place!