Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong

If you’ve always wanted to visit Cappadocia in Turkey to witness their famous hot air balloons filling the sky, here’s your chance to experience a slice of the same magic right here on home turf. The AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest Hong Kong (HABFest) is our city’s first international-scale hot air balloon event, and it’s bound to be a blast. From Albuquerque’s balloon fiesta in New Mexico and the balloons that float over Luxor to offer great views of Egypt’s ancient temples and the Nile, to Asia’s largest balloon festival in Saga, Japan, hot air balloons have always held a special place in adventurous hearts worldwide. Hong Kong’s HABFest will feature distinctive balloons from all over the world, including Canada, the UK, Germany, and Japan. There will be six large balloons measuring up to 20 metres in height, as well as over 10 smaller ones around 11 metres tall – and even a tailor-made panda-shaped balloon created specially for our city. Depending on the weather, there might also be rides on a large tethered hot air balloon! Photograph: Courtesy Grand Events Asia After seeing these balloons filling the sky against our iconic cityscape, stick around for the Hot Air Balloon Night Glow Show, which features live music performances by a star-studded lineup of some of Hong Kong’s beloved musicians, including Joey Yung, Leo Ku, Kay Tse, Louis Cheung, Gin Lee, ToNick, Kenny Kwan, LMF, and more. The festival will also be set up like a carnival, with game booths, food stalls, and retail outlets. In addition, sporty participants can join the AIA Balloon Run, a charity fun run on September 6 along the coastline with hot air balloons framing the harbour view – all proceeds will be donated to Outward Bound Hong Kong to support youth development initiatives. The HABFest will run from September 4 to 7 at the Central Harbourfront Event Space. Tickets are now on sale, ranging from $150 to $1,480, with concessions available along with family package discounts. A limited amount of early-bird tickets will be available until August 10. Check out the official website for more details. 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 reading: The best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend (July 11-13) The Metropol Restaurant in Admiralty will close down in September Tropical Cyclone Danas brings torrential rain to Hong Kong over the weekend

Hong Kong’s notoriously expensive rents, paired with a faltering economy and locals preferring to head across the border to Shenzhen for cheaper leisure activities, have meant a slew of closures in our restaurants, shops, and businesses this year. Unfortunately, here’s another one to add to the list: the Metropol Restaurant. Sitting on the fourth floor of United Centre, right across from exit D of Admiralty MTR station, Metropol Restaurant has fed Hong Kong’s diners for 35 years since opening in 1990. It is one of the few remaining restaurants in the city that serve dim sum out of traditional trolleys. Metropol also features a semi-buffet-style group of counters in the middle of the dining room, where customers can choose their own dishes to bring back to their tables. Having to take your table’s card out to get stamped for each dish is a nostalgic dining experience that’s almost extinct by now, especially in today’s age of ordering via QR codes. Metropol’s final day of operations will be on September 27. It is currently run by catering group Heichinrou, which opened a Chinese restaurant in Yokohama, Japan, back in 1884. During the pandemic years, the company closed the 138-year-old restaurant in Japan and also filed for bankruptcy in Tokyo’s court in May this year. Currently, Heichinrou also operates two other eponymous restaurants, in Diamond Hill and Kwun Tong, though it is not certain if these will also face closure. Citing unnamed sources, TVB reported earlier this week that the property occupied by Metropol Restaurant will be put up for sale. Go and visit for dim sum with a side of nostalgia before yet another beloved Chinese restaurant shutters for good! 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 reading: Tropical Cyclone Danas brings torrential rain to Hong Kong over the weekend Tickets for Epik High’s Hong Kong concert drop this month Japan’s Chiikawa Ramen Buta is set to open in Hong Kong this August

Hong Kong woke up to night-like dark skies, rolling thunder, and an absolute deluge this morning. Under the influence of Tropical Cyclone Danas moving southwest across eastern Guangdong today, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has issued a Red Rainstorm Warning signal at 9.36am, later downgrading it slightly to an Amber Rainstorm Warning at 10.40am. According to the weather watchdog, it looks like heavy downpours will persist into the weekend. With the remnant of Danas and an active southwest monsoon, there will be heavy showers and squally thunderstorms over the territories at least for the next couple of days. The forecast for both today, July 10, and Friday indicate thunderstorms and heavy downpours, with temperatures reaching a high of 30 degrees Celsius. There will still be showers on Saturday, and as the rain eases off moving into early next week, temperatures are set to get very hot, reaching a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius next Tuesday, July 15. As there is both torrential rain and a relatively strong southwest monsoon at play, the HKO has warned that the weather over these two days will be relatively severe, with intense gusts affecting the city. As of 9.50am, gusts measuring approximately 75km per hour were recorded at Waglan Island. Members of the public should seek safe shelter if outdoors, stay away from watercourses, and be wary of flash floods. Keep an eye on the weather at the HKO website. 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 reading: General ticket sakes for Epik High’s Hong Kong concert open soon Japan’s Chiikawa Ramen Buta is set to open in Hong Kong this August Hong Kong government to change the name of ‘space oil’ drug to make it less appealing  

Hong Kong’s High Skools have something to really look forward to, as Epik High has confirmed the Hong Kong leg of their 2025 Asia tour. This will be the first time that the South Korean hip-hop group has performed on our shores in six long years – they went to Macau in 2024 and 2023 – so we’re most definitely hyped for it. Epik High released their first mixtape Pump in June last year – a jazz-leaning melodic project that took the three members back to basics and experimenting after over 20 years of making chart-topping bangers – and then went on a tour of North America, but now they’re bringing their undeniable artistry, heartfelt lyrics, and strong stage presence to Asia. Mark your calendars for September 14, when Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz will take the stage at AXA Dreamland. Tickets run from $880 to $1,680, with VIP and SVIP ticket holders receiving early entry, holographic photo cards, Hong Kong-exclusive commemorative tickets, the chance to win autographed posters by raffle, and access to a group photo session with Epik High.  Priority pre-sale begins on Wednesday, July 9 at 6pm exclusively on Off Grid, while general sales go live on July 23 at 12 noon on Klook. Concertgoers who have purchased their tickets before September 5 can participate in a lucky draw for special benefits, so keep an eye on their social media for winner announcements. 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 reading: Hong Kong government to change the name of ‘space oil’ drug to make it less appealing 5 new Hong Kong restaurants that you need to try this July The top art exhibitions and shows in Hong Kong this month

In case you’ve been living under a rock, the little critters from Chiikawa are arguably the most popular animated characters of the moment, due to their adorable looks and quirky personalities. From their large-scale exhibition set to open in August to their collaboration with McDonald’s, these animated characters have taken the city by storm. Ever experienced that surge of cute aggression where you just want to bite something because it’s so adorable? Well, you’ll soon be able to do just that, because Chiikawa have just announced on Instagram that they’re bringing Japan’s massively popular Chiikawa Ramen Buta – a Chiikawa-themed ramen restaurant – to Hong Kong. Photograph: Instagram/@chiikawaramen The Japanese animated series has teamed up with local hospitality group Flames Concepts and is set to unveil the Hong Kong location by mid-August. While there aren’t many details yet about what will be available at our city’s outpost, Hongkongers will likely get to slurp up bowls of Chiikawa-themed ramen in a restaurant fully decked out with these adorable characters. Photograph: Instagram/@chiikawaramen Based on what we’ve seen on social media, diners can order bowls of tonkotsu broth ramen, which come in three different sizes and have their corresponding characters – mini (Chiikawa), small (Hachiware), and large (Usagi). Each ramen order comes topped with chashu, garlic, and a character-shaped piece of fish cake. Plus, diners will receive a sticker of the character based on their bowl size.Stay tuned to our page as we find out more details about this ridiculously adorable ramen restaurant closer to August. 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 reading: Epik High returns to Hong Kong on their Asia tour this year Hong Kong government to change the name of ‘space oil’ drug to make it less appealing 5 new Hong Kong restaurants that you need to try this July

In an anti-drug event over the weekend just past, Hong Kong’s security chief Chris Tang said that the government plans to rename the drug currently known as ‘space oil’ to reduce its appeal. Space oil is the street term for a narcotic substance containing etomidate, which is a short-term anaesthetic. It is usually inhaled through vaping and has been getting increasingly popular, especially among younger Hongkongers, because it is cheap and convenient to consume, becoming our city’s third most commonly used drug by people under 21. The government has been trying to clamp down hard on space oil since it gained popularity in 2023, including it in Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in February alongside cocaine and ketamine. The issue had previously been brought up at a Legislative Council meeting last month that the name space oil had ‘unnecessarily romanticised’ the drug, and earlier this February, the government had already started referring to the narcotic as ‘space oil drug’ officially, instead of just space oil.  It now looks like space oil is going through another rebranding, as the security chief confirms that the government will be announcing its new name soon. Nothing has been set in stone yet, but Tang had also compared the appearance of space oil users to ‘zombies’ before and suggested changing the drug’s moniker to ‘zombie oil’ instead. If the goal is to make drugs sound less fun, perhaps they shouldn’t name them after anything you can theme Halloween costumes around. Watch this space for updates on what we should call space oil next. 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 reading: 5 new Hong Kong restaurants that you need to try this July G-Dragon has added an extra Hong Kong concert to his Übermensch tour Temperatures in Hong Kong to reach 33 degrees Celsius or above this week

We’re a week into July, and with exciting events like international artist Joan Cornellà returning to Hong Kong for a large-scale art exhibition, the Hong Kong Book Fair, and an exclusive pop-up from British designer Anya Hindmarch, this month is shaping up to be a fun-filled one. But if you need a break from the sweltering heat, why not take shelter while grabbing a bite at some of the city’s new dining venues? Here are five new must-try restaurants in Hong Kong you need to check out. Photograph: Courtesy Shoo Loong Kan  1. Shoo Loong Kan  Eating hot and spicy food can help cool you down in hot weather. It sounds counterintuitive, but when you work up a sweat while eating, it cools you down as it evaporates. With that in mind, Sichuan-based fiery hotpot chain Shoo Loong Kan has opened its first Hong Kong branch in Lee Theatre Plaza. They’ve got a supreme beef tallow spicy broth made with blended chillies and spices that’ll tantalise your taste buds, but the signature Tianfu yeast preserved soup base is a milder option if you’d prefer something more mellow instead. As for hot pot add-ins, the restaurant offers a wide selection of premium beef cuts, fresh seafood items such as fish heads and prawns, as well as a variety of fresh veggies. Photograph: Joshua Lin  2. Pineapple Bakery Ok, so they’re not technically a restaurant, but we think Pineapple Bakery in Sheung Wan definitely deserves to be on your radar. Like their name suggests, this bakery specialises in pineapple buns, one of Hong Kong’s most beloved staple baked goods, but they’ve jazzed them up by using premium ingredients like free-range Ping Yuen chicken eggs and French AOP butter. Since opening for business this month, Pineapple Bakery has been the talk of the town amongst local foodies, and their pineapple buns are selling out like hotcakes. Only 88 of their coveted buns are sold daily, so refer to their Instagram to see when the baps come fresh out of the oven. Don’t forget to try their other offerings like classic and pandan-flavoured cocktail buns or pork floss bun filled with bacon and scallion cream cheese, and pair it all with their nitrogen-brewed silk stocking milk tea (which also comes with a cute mini pineapple bun). Photograph: Joshua Lin  3. Thai Pai Dong (Central)Since opening in September 2024, Thai Pai Dong has become one of the hottest spots in town for authentic Thai fare, and has recently opened a brand-spanking-new branch on Staunton Street, which means you won’t have to commute to Jordan for their scrumptious Thai plates. Expect to chow down on Wagyu beef boat noodles, pad kee mao (drunken noodles), crab meat omelette, and more. Unlike its flagship venue in Jordan, Thai Pai Dong’s Central branch offers Thai-inspired cocktails after 9.30pm, and we reckon this outpost will be popular for those unwinding after a long day. Photograph: Courtesy Moodle by the Grand 4. Moodle by the GrandMoodle by the Grand is the place to be if you find yourself craving a big bowl of noodles. This restaurant in Wan Chai’s Hopewell Centre specialises in regional noodle dishes from all across China, so you won’t find any rice dishes on their menu. Whether you like Beijing’s savoury zha zhang mian (black bean sauce noodles), Shaanxi’s youpo biangbiang noodles tossed in oil, or Cantonese braised beef shank and tripe noodles, they’ve got it all. Don’t forget to pair your dishes with Moodle by the Grand’s curated tea set inspired by the five elements, or opt for delectable Chinese desserts like osmanthus jelly cake with bird’s nest. Photograph: Courtesy Peng Leng Jeng 5. Peng Leng Jeng Chef Archan Chan and teammate Johnathan Leung of Ho Lee Fook have joined forces to open Peng Leng Jeng, a pop-up dai pai dong in the heart of Central. This joint venture gets its name from a popular Cantonese slang that directly translates to ‘cheap, beautiful, and great’, which represents the dining experience here. On their menu, you’ll find all sorts of plates like crispy oyster omelette, Hong Kong-style mala chicken in a sizzling clay pot, crispy pork ribs tossed in mayonnaise, and plenty more. Be sure to pair your sizzling hot dishes with an ice-cold bottle of Blue Girl, or ask the restaurant’s staff for their wine list if you’d prefer something classier. This neon-drenched venue will only be around until August 31, so you’d better book your tables fast if you want to experience this quintessential Cantonese dining experience.  Click here for even more new restaurant openings in Hong Kong, and more information about these dining venues. 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 reading: G-Dragon Hong Kong concert 2025: Tickets, prices, dates, and more Hong Kong proposes recognising same-sex partnerships – but with a caveat The M+ façade is showing magical Hong Kong moments from analogue photos

Finally, the King of K-pop G-Dragon (GD) is making his way to Hong Kong! The multitalented rapper, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and global fashion icon announced in March 2025 the Asia leg of his Übermensch solo world tour, just shortly after releasing his third studio album ‘Übermensch’ in February after 12 long years since his second studio album.  The K-pop star kicked off the tour on March 29 and 30 in South Korea at Goyang Stadium. He then continued the tour in May, hitting up locations such as Japan, the Philippines, Macau, Taiwan, and Indonesia, before rounding things off in Hong Kong. When and where is G-Dragon’s Hong Kong concert? K-pop fans couldn’t be more excited to see Hong Kong on the list of concert locations for G-Dragon’s Übermensch tour. The K-pop star was originally scheduled to perform in Hong Kong for two nights on August 9 and 10. But due to overwhelming demand for tickets, he has now added another date to the Hong Kong leg, so we can see him on August 8, 9, and 10, 2025, at the AsiaWorld-Expo. How to get tickets to GD’s Hong Kong concert? G-Dragon’s official membership presale and the HSBC presale have already closed towards the end of June, as have the general sales for August 9 and 10 – as you may imagine, all tickets have long sold out. But with the added concert date on August 8, GD’s official members can enter a new presale on Tuesday, July 8, which opens at 4pm. Fans who have previously already signed up for the Hong Kong survey will be able to access this presale for the additional show. Sales for the general public for August 8 will then begin on Wednesday, July 9, at 12 noon. Visit g-dragontour.com for more ticketing information. Ticket prices for G-Dragon’s 2025 Hong Kong concert Tickets to GD’s Hong Kong concerts range from $799 to $2,399. Here’s a full breakdown and seating map below: E reserved (yellow): $799 D reserved (pink): $1,099 C reserved (green): $1,399 B reserved (orange): $1,699 Wheelchair/minder: $1,699 A reserved (blue): $1,899 Free standing (beige): $1,899 VIP: $2,199  VVIP: $2,399 VIP tickets will get you a VIP pass and lanyard, access to the soundcheck, and an exclusive photocard, while VVIP will give you all that plus priority entry for the soundcheck and a send off event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AEG Presents Asia (@aegpresentsasia)   Full list of dates and locations for G-Dragon’s Übermensch world tour 2025 May 10-11, 2025: Tokyo, Tokyo Dome  May 17, 2025: Bulacan, Philippine Arena  May 25-26, 2025: Osaka, Kyocera Dome  June 7-8, 2025: Macau, Galaxy Arena  July 12-13, 2025: Taipei, Taipei Arena  July 19-20, 2025: Kuala Lumpur, Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil  July 26, 2025: Jakarta, Indonesia Arena  August 8-10, 2025: Hong Kong, AsiaWorld-Expo  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 reading:   Temperatures in Hong Kong to reach 33 degrees Celsius or above this week Hong Kong proposes recognising same-sex partnerships – but with a caveat The M+ façade is showing magical Hong Kong moments from analogue photos

You know summer is well and truly underway in Hong Kong when the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has to post a Very Hot Weather Warning several days in a row. Temperatures in the territories are expected to hit 33 degrees Celsius or above for most days this week. According to the weather watchdog, the severe tropical storm Danas is moving away from us today and tomorrow, and is expected to make landfall around Zhejiang and Fujian on July 8. Combined with a southwesterly airstream, this means that the area around us will be extremely hot with sunny periods and isolated showers, as well as heavy thunderstorms expected in the middle and latter parts of the week. The maximum temperature today in urban areas of Hong Kong today, July 7, is expected to be around 35 degrees. According to HKO’s regional temperature tracker as of 2.20pm however, the mercury has reached 36.4 degrees Celsius in Tai Mei Tuk, 35.7 in Tseung Kwan O, and 34.3 in Happy Valley. As of 1.50pm today, the Labour Department has issued the Amber Heat Stress at Work Warning on top of the Very Hot Weather Warning – the latter has been in force continuously since July 3. Under the influence of extremely hot weather and prolonged heat, the HKO urges the public to stay hydrated and be aware of heatstroke symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, or confusion. If possible, stay out of the sun and avoid outdoor activities, or take regular rests in the shade. Even when indoors, citizens should stay hydrated and maintain adequate ventilation in rooms. Keep an eye on weather updates on the HKO website. 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 reading: Hong Kong proposes recognising same-sex partnerships – with a caveat The M+ façade is showing magical Hong Kong moments from analogue photos The Comic Book Chef from ‘Culinary Class Wars’ brings time-limited menu to Honjokko

Last week, the Hong Kong government proposed a system that would finally allow same-sex partnerships to be legally recognised in the city, which would grant queer couples more rights that are simply a given for heterosexual marriages and partnerships. The catch is that Hong Kong will still not be offering the option for same-sex partnerships to be officiated here – queer couples will have to get married, form civil partnerships or civil unions overseas first. According to a document submitted to the legislature by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the union of adult same-sex couples needs to be performed in a jurisdiction where they are legally recognised, and at least one of the pair has to be a Hong Kong resident for our government to recognise their partnership back in the city. After being registered, couples can enjoy rights such as making medical decisions for their partners with consent and handling their affairs in the event of death, such as claiming their bodies and deciding what to do with their remains. This proposal comes as our government’s response to being ordered back in September 2023 to set up a legal framework working towards recognising the rights of homosexual couples in the city. While this is a step in the right direction, the proposal is definitely not without its setbacks. Not all rights that heterosexual couples enjoy are granted to same-sex couples yet, such as equal prison visiting rights. Activist Jimmy Sham, who fought a long legal battle over the recognition of same-sex marriages and was instrumental in the 2023 ruling, questioned why Hong Kong’s homosexual couples had to register their union overseas to get recognition locally, when heterosexual couples don’t have to do so. This also means that there’s a financial barrier to travelling overseas and registering for foreign legal documents, when heterosexual Hongkongers have never had to jump through these hoops. The government is expected to table a bill at a later date, and hopefully there will be more details and amendments that address obvious inequalities for the LGBTQIA+ community and reflect our society’s rising acceptance of queer people. 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 reading: The M+ façade is showing magical Hong Kong moments from analogue photos The Comic Book Chef from ‘Culinary Class Wars’ brings a limited-time menu to Honjokko 3 Hong Kong bars named in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 51-100 list  

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! 

Free on Tuesdays? Head over to Hugo's in TST for their unlimited steak and frites night, which also come with Caesar salad, a dessert, and plenty of tipples – just remember to wear loose pants.

G'day foodies! Renowned chef Shane Osborn has just opened a laidback Aussie-style cafe inspired by Australian pit stops. Perfect for a casual meal when in Central.

This arts month, don't miss Hong Kong's first ASMR exhibition that will give you all kinds of tingles.

This ‘Picasso for Asia’ exhibition is the first time that masterpieces from the Musée national Picasso-Paris are being shown alongside works from an Asian museum collection. Find out what makes the Spanish master of Cubism so influential – you have until mid-July!

These cool (and just a tad creepy) faceless sculptures are here for the whole of Hong Kong Arts Month, so make time in your diary to visit this month

What is villain hitting and why are old ladies beating paper with a shoe for $50? Of all the weird and wonderful traditions we have in Hong Kong, this one is definitely up there.