The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (July 21-27)

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the legendary Carmen from French composer George Bizet, one of the world’s best-known operas, The Peninsula Hong Kong is presenting a brand-new adaptation of this 1875 opera – but the catch is that it’s set in a Hong Kong bar in the 60s and 70s instead of 1800s Seville. And where else should Les Amours de Carmen Wong be held but within The Peninsula Hong Kong’s beautiful fine dining spaces?

To make the evenings even more special, each performance will be accompanied by culinary offerings specially created for the occasion. Head to Gaddi’s on July 21 or Felix on September 20 to enjoy the contemporary opera performance as well as special one-off menus. The extremely limited Les Amours de Carmen Wong opera and dinner experience is priced at $4,800 per person, and is available by reservation only. 

The Landmark’s sky terrace and bar Cardinal Point is hosting a range of artists this July to heat up our summer nights. The Summer Sessions have already been going on for a couple of Saturdays, but head over on July 19 to catch Hong Kong’s Beat Friday mixing up golden-era Cantopop future-leaning, bass-heavy beats. On July 26, actor and DJ Tom Price will fuse electro, house, and deep groove in unexpected mashups of anthems that pay tribute to Hong Kong’s musical legacy. The Canto Disco Night on July 19 is priced at $400 at the door, including a glass of Champagne, while July’s grand finale on the 26th is free entry.

For Hong Kong artist Ailsa Wong’s first solo exhibition, she’s created a body of work that melds a 3D video game, moving sculptures, sound installations, a visual novel game, and more – all in a cave-like setting. Made to recall the interior of an ant nest, Wong uses how ant colonies operate as a super-organism to propose a paradigm where all sentient beings – living, mechanical, or otherwise – are part of a single, all-encompassing entity. Learn about the myths and stories they would tell if ants had religions; explore the illusion of choice by wandering down virtual pathways that lead to seemingly different places; examine artwork of embryo images set in clay, and more, all while brass bells strung together by braided hair chime as they swing from the ceiling.

Joan Cornellà’s back in Hong Kong after a four-year break with a solo exhibition at The Fringe Club from July 11 to 27. Humorous, relatable, and kinda creepy, his artworks take a cheeky jab at life’s absurdities. This show’s packing over 100 original drawings on paper, each a satirical swipe at everything from selfie obsession to human hypocrisy. There will also be new limited-edition prints, quirky figures, T-shirts, and a fresh book to snag. 

Chef Cho Kwang-hyo, also known as the Comic Book Chef from hit Netflix cooking reality show Culinary Class Wars, made a flash appearance in Hong Kong the weekend just past for a very limited few meals. He may have left, but thankfully dishes from his four-hands collaboration with Pirata Group’s executive chef Kyle Lee are still available at Honjokko until August 3.

Diners can expect a delicious melding of Asia’s best flavours, presented in chef Cho’s signature experimental takes on cuisine, such as in a Korean take on the Japanese uni hot stone rice, Korean soybean MacJeok seabass, and chef Cho’s signature Dongpo pork complemented with mapo tofu and fried rice done the Korean way. 

Japanese contemporary artist Toyofuku Ryo’s Golden Tearoom is an elegant space filled with over 200 drawings of elements in Hong Kong life. Take your time identifying everything from local dishes to the clown motif for Ocean Park’s Hair Raiser rollercoaster. There is also the Golden Playroom, where visitors are invited to interact and engage with each other through board games and electronic elements. This area is full to the brim with distinctly local items such as Red A plastic lampshades, golden dragon sculptures often seen in banquet restaurants, metal containers for ‘airplane olive’ snacks, and more.

This summer, cool down at this flowery pool installation in the ifc mall. New York-based artist Cj Hendry is known for her hyper-photorealistic drawings and her large-scale installation Public Pool in Las Vegas, and she’s bringing her swimming pool to Asia for the first time. Slip down the pastel-coloured slide into a vibrant pool filled with flowers, check out the photo booth dressed up like a shower room, and grab a refreshing soda at the accompanying bar. This art piece is basically the height of summer, but away from the stifling heat outdoors.

Immerse yourself in the forgotten days of the Kowloon Walled City at this epic movie set exhibition, located on the original site of the infamous Kowloon Walled City. Featuring incredibly detailed recreations of shops and other setups from the award-winning Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, the exhibition will let visitors travel back in time to the Walled City in the 1980s.

From the local cafe to the dental clinic, the attention to detail is truly impressive. There's even a small 'screen room' mimicking the rooftops of old buildings back in the day, where visitors can sit and watch the neighbourhood turn from day to night, and listen to the roaring sound of low-flying airplanes over the Walled City area.

Check out our guide for everything you need to know about the exhibition, from dates and opening hours to highlights not to be missed.

The annual SummerFest is back at Central Harbourfront and Wan Chai for its ninth year, bringing with it a whole bunch of free programmes like bamboo art, open-air concerts, sports competitions, outdoor markets, and much more – one of the programmes will even try to break a world record! Running from now to August 3, this is a great event to check out if you're looking for some weekend plans.

Find out more about SummerFest 2025 in our guide

Local artist Chang (formerly referred to as Ernest Chang) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his gallery, The Stallery, with an exhibition exploring the conflicts between time, technology, and life. Chinese scholar’s rocks are typically prized for their natural resemblance to things – ‘Artifice’ overlays the heresy of modern-day symbols onto the purity of natural rock forms, and asks if this strips away its artistic value. To match these rocks, the gallery has been transformed into a Zen garden with pebbles on the floor, artificial grass, and even a traditional Chinese bridge. This exhibition is running until August 31.

British designer Anya Hindmarch opens Hong Kong's first Anya Life pop-up at Lane Crawford in IFC. Open from now to July 30, the time-limited shop showcases a fun lifestyle collection featuring everything from ceramic items and travel accessories to candles, homeware, and other home essentials. Take home a set of cute linen pyjamas embossed with the beloved nylon 'eyes'; have a whiff of a soy sauce or ketchup candle; and get accessorising with cereal pouches, Fruit Pastilles keychain, and more. Products will be available online after a two-week exclusive in-store period.

Sweettooths are in for a treat as Japanese dessert brand Mr. Cheesecake is hosting a time-limited pop-up at IFC Mall from now to August 21. Apart from its signature Mr. Cheesecake classic box, known for its melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavours, customers will also be able to try this season's newly launched Basque cheesecake, along with two Hong Kong-exclusive takes on the classic: Matcha, made with Yame Matcha from Yame City (Fukuoka prefecture, and milk tea, a combination of Uva tea and Yunnan tea. Be sure not to miss other hot-sellers like the Mr. Cheescake cream brew coffee, silky chocolate white tonka and black cacao, snowball vanilla tonka, and more. Online pre-orders are available for easy pick-up at the IFC pop-up on selected dates. 

Where: Kiosk LA15, Podium Level 1, IFC Mall

From now until August 3, basketball fans can immerse themselves in the world of the NBA as Cityplaza's 'Live The Game!' event brings player-inspired installations and interactive experiences that capture the excitement of the sport from every angle.

The first phase (June 6-23) kicks off with six must-visit photo spots, including a dazzling display of over 100 official NBA basketballs at the entrance and a replica locker room of this year's Finals contenders, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Relive iconic NBA moments on the giant LED screen, which will also broadcast live Finals games, or test your skills at the Basketball Hoop Challenge and Connect Four for a chance to win exclusive merch. Don't miss the NBA Exhibition Hall, where you can see rare memorabilia up close, including the legendary Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Phase two (June 28-August 3) turns up the energy with a mini basketball court and interactive carnival games. Cityplaza's Live+ members can also redeem limited-edition NBA basketball charms and shopping vouchers during the promotion. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just looking for some summer fun, this is your chance to experience the NBA like never before. 

From now to July 31, Rosewood Hong Kong's Butterfly Patisserie is bringing its highly sought-after Hokkaido custard flans to a limited-time pop-up at Lane Crawford in IFC. Made with premium Hokkaido milk, vanilla, and a deep amber caramel, the Hokkaido custard flan is available in two flavours: the original classic flavour ($98) and a new exclusive taro flavour ($108). Only 150 flans are available each day (100 taro and 50 classic), and each customer is limited to purchasing a maximum of two pieces. We heard the flans sold out in less than half an hour after opening, so get there early if you're looking to try one.

The second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) returns to Hong Kong this summer with over 280 performing arts programmes, film screenings, exhibitions, and other events. 

Running from April 16 through to September 28, keep an eye on the schedule of upcoming CCF performances and events here. Tickets will open for sale from April 15, and prices will differ depending on the specific events, but there will be a limited-time discount of up to 30-percent off until April 30.

One of Hong Kong’s most unforgettable and unique creatives, local first-generation performance artist Frog King has an intriguing exhibition at Mercury Recalls. This Causeway Bay bar is housing a range of two-dimensional ink art as well as some dizzying multi-dimensional new media art, inspired by the Akashic records – believed by the Theosophical religious group to contain all universal events and thoughts that have and will occur. Swirls, lights, and shapes reflect the intangible concept of collective subconsciousness, and since it’s being hosted in a bar, there will also be a special range of cocktails to accompany the art. To gain access, guests at Mercury Recalls must show a token to unlock the speakeasy-style space Corsican Stars hidden inside, where Frog King’s works lie in wait.

Hong Kong's first large-scale Crayon Shinchan interactive exhibition is now open. Spanning over 10,000 square feet, this playful experience welcomes all to join Shinchan and the 'Kasukabe Defence Force' on a thrilling time-travelling rescue mission. The exhibition features nine immersive zones, alongside a special museum section dedicated to 35 years of Crayon Shinchan history with original artwork and movie memorabilia. Of course, no Hong Kong exhibition is completely without a pop-up shop, so be sure to check it out before you leave to browse through more than 200 themed merch.

Whether you’re a casual Instagram user or a photography fanatic, you’ve likely come across a post by Accidentally Wes Anderson (or AWA for short), a platform known for showcasing moments in daily life that replicate the American filmmaker’s signature symmetrical style. This internationally acclaimed art project has held exhibitions in cities such as London, Tokyo, Seoul, and Los Angeles, and this July, it’ll be arriving in Hong Kong for the first time at The Mills and Airside simultaneously. Find more information about these exhibitions here.