Catharina Cheung is a seasoned journalist, editor, and translator with over eight years of experience creating multilingual content for various digital and print publications in Hong Kong and the UK. She joined Time Out Hong Kong as the section editor in 2023, where she is responsible for covering art and culture, music and nightlife, wellness, and LGBTQ+ content.

When she’s not roping friends in for all-night karaoke sessions, you’ll most likely find her furtively buying books despite her ever-growing to-be-read list, or poking around local Hong Kong bakeries in search of the slowly disappearing Mexico bun.

Catharina publishes in English, but is also fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin – get in touch with her at catharina.cheung@timeout.com.

Catharina Cheung

Catharina Cheung

Section Editor

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Articles (209)

The most beautiful flower viewing spots to visit in Hong Kong

The most beautiful flower viewing spots to visit in Hong Kong

We may live in a concrete jungle but nature has its way of enlightening us with its pops of colour. From dreamy pink cherry blossoms to fields of sunflowers, we’ve sorted out a list of flowers that bloom during different seasons and the best places to find them. Check them out below. Note: Blooming periods for different flower species may vary depending on external factors such as weather, location, and time of year. RECOMMENDED:  🌅 Lesser-known places to view Hong Kong’s skyline✹ Free things to do in Hong Kong💩 Best hikes in Hong Kong
The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (April 6-12)

The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (April 6-12)

Not sure how to spend your free time this week? We’ve rounded up some of the best happenings across the city – from art exhibitions and food pop-ups to music nights and kid-friendly activities – so you don’t have to go searching. But if all else fails, you can always turn to one of Hong Kong’s best restaurants, or cross things off our ultimate Hong Kong checklist. Whatever you decide, we’ve got you covered for the next seven days. RECOMMENDED:  🎹 Art exhibitions to check out right now📆 December events in Hong KongđŸ„č Free things to do in Hong Kong
The best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend (April 10-12)

The best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend (April 10-12)

Looking to make your weekend worthwhile? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you want to catch some live music, check out a new art exhibit, or just find a casual spot to relax with friends, Hong Kong knows how to keep you busy. Come rain or shine, day or night, here’s everything you need to plan the perfect weekend.  RECOMMENDED:  📆 Hong Kong events in March🎡 Top attractions in Hong KongđŸ›ïžÂ Your ultimate Hong Kong checklist 2025
The best events happening in Hong Kong this April

The best events happening in Hong Kong this April

It’s officially April, which means flowers are blooming, the new year’s resolution you made has gone out the window, and the weather can’t decide if it’s going to drench us or burn us up. But hey, at least the calendar is packed with all sorts of fun stuff for you to experience this month. From ballets and concerts to food pop-ups and art installations, check out all the best events happening across the city this month. RECOMMENDED: 🎡 Hong Kong’s top attractions🏞 The best hiking trails in Hong Kong🎉 Free things to do in Hong Kong  
Hong Kong legend Leslie Cheung’s 8 best movies

Hong Kong legend Leslie Cheung’s 8 best movies

Ask any Hongkonger and they will tell you that Leslie Cheung is one of Hong Kong’s lost gems, with debonair charm and striking presence, heightened by a baby-faced sweetness. This musical and film legend is also a major queer icon and was open about being bisexual in a time when ideals were way more conservative. It’s been over 20 years since the singer-slash-actor passed away, but every year on this anniversary of his death (April 1), fans still leave flowers, placards, and tributes outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central. To pay homage to ‘Gor Gor’ (a loveable nickname often used on Cheung, meaning ‘Elder Brother’ in Cantonese), we’ve gathered a few of the most iconic films he has starred in over the years. RECOMMENDED: Check out our list of the 100 best Hong Kong movies – that’s many, many weekends’ worth of plans sorted!
The top art exhibitions and shows in Hong Kong this month

The top art exhibitions and shows in Hong Kong this month

Whether it’s street photography spots or world-class art galleries, Hong Kong is a city that’s bursting with creativity. To narrow things down and help you be well on your way to true culture vulture status (and level up your Insta-feed along the way), here are some of the best ongoing and upcoming art shows to visit around town. RECOMMENDED: Discover Hong Kong’s coolest hidden art spaces or pay a visit to the city’s top museums.
The 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2025

The 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2025

For the past eight years, we’ve made it our mission to scope out the coolest pockets of the world’s greatest cities in order to create our definitive annual ranking. The places where stuff like nightlife, art, culture, and affordable food and drink can be found on every corner and down every backstreet. Where diversity is championed and independent businesses thrive, from old-school boltholes to the newest avant-garde art space. Put simply, the world’s coolest neighbourhoods are places that represent the soul of our cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play. So, what are the neighbourhoods that fit the bill this year? To find out, we asked our network of writers and editors across a breadth of cities to nominate the vibiest district in their hometown right now. We then ranked every neighbourhood against criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink, street life and that hard-to-define sense of ‘nowness’.  On our list this year, you’ll find everything from homely, village-like enclaves with tight-knit communities to revitalised city-centre hubs and formerly dormant, industrial areas transformed into creative districts. Many are underrated spots that sit in the shadow of their commercialised counterparts; others have become unexpected culinary hotspots or magnets for the city’s artists, writers and activists. What they all have in common is a DIY spirit – and an unshakeable proclivity f
Home Away From Home: Made in Hong Kong, Shared Everywhere

Home Away From Home: Made in Hong Kong, Shared Everywhere

Whether you’re cooking for yourself or preparing a feast for a big occasion with your loved ones, savouring familiar flavours from your country can instantly transport you back home, evoking the nostalgia, pride, and traditions associated with a home-cooked meal. For countless years, several of Hong Kong’s timeless brands, such as Kee Wah, Lee Kum Kee, Maxim’s and Pat Chun, have served as essential staples in kitchens across the globe, helping create classic dishes and joyful memories all associated with the flavours of our city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk)
The 50 best cities in the world in 2026

The 50 best cities in the world in 2026

Right now, it feels like a great time to celebrate our cities. What cities do best is bring people together – everything we love about urban life, from the galleries and bars to the neighbourhood parks, exists thanks to the communities that make it all happen.  That’s why, every year, we raise a toast to the city with our definitive annual ranking, created on the back of a comprehensive survey of city-dwellers worldwide. Our survey asks not only what people love about their cities – the food scene and nightlife, the shops and museums, the parks and people – but also how it feels to live there. We asked you about happiness, affordability and quality of life, among a variety of other criteria. And, in order to dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, this year we expanded our survey to cover aspects like love, romance and community feel. Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel spotlights the destinations that offer the best of both worlds: an endlessly exciting catalogue of reasons to visit, as well as all the good stuff that makes a place feel like home. The 50 cities that made the list this year did so thanks to the insights of more than 24,000 people across 150 cities worldwide. To determine the final Best Cities ranking for 2026, we combined their thousands of responses with the votes of more than 100 Time Out city experts. Then we tapped up our network of local writers to tell us exactly what makes their city worth a visit right now. The result? A rundown of the m
The best indoor activities in Hong Kong

The best indoor activities in Hong Kong

We all know how unpredictable the weather in Hong Kong can be – one minute it’s the perfect beach day, and the next rain is pelting down hard enough to hurt. But don’t let our bipolar weather stop you from having fun in the city. Whether you’re trying to dodge the summer heat or escape a sudden rainstorm, Hong Kong has an incredible lineup of indoor venues and activities that promise just as much excitement as hitting up a hiking trail or exploring a country park. Here are all the best places to go when the weather won’t cooperate, rain or shine. RECOMMENDED: 😍 65 things you need to do at least once in Hong Kong🎉 Free things to do in Hong KongđŸ›ïžÂ Hong Kong shopping mall guide
The best events happening in Hong Kong this March

The best events happening in Hong Kong this March

March is here, and Hong Kong is buzzing with energy as the city kicks off a month jam-packed with events. While Hong Kong Arts Month takes centre stage with all kinds of world-class art fairs and exhibitions, there’s plenty more to explore around the city. From the return of staple events like the Hong Kong Flower Show to the action-packed Hong Kong Sevens, March promises something for everyone. So get out there and soak up all the excitement – enjoy! RECOMMENDED: 🎳 Kai Tak neighbourhood guide💩 Best hiking trails in Hong Kong🎡 Top must-visit attractions
Hong Kong’s best flower shops and florists for beautiful bouquets

Hong Kong’s best flower shops and florists for beautiful bouquets

You don’t need any occasion to show your appreciation for someone with some beautiful blooms, but they sure do make a celebration that much more special. Even if you don’t have a lavish present or a Michelin-starred booking in the works, a beautiful bouquet of flowers can still be a lovely gift to melt someone’s heart. From well-established spots to modern florists with a hipster spin, here are some of our favourite places to pick up blooms. RECOMMENDED:  🕰 The latest Hong Kong shopping news🛍 Places for cheap shopping

Listings and reviews (490)

Socio guest shift at Snack Baby

Socio guest shift at Snack Baby

Central’s beloved gelateria Snack Baby is hosting their first-ever guest shift, starring none other than Socio, Soho’s popular community-focused bar just up the hill nearby. On Thursday, April 9, Suraj Gurung from the Socio team will take over Snack Baby, serving the fermented and infused ingredients that the bar is known for with gelato. Some of the cocktails to look out for include Sencha Tea, made with sencha tea gin, rhubarb vermouth, and watermelon cordial; Gelato, containing ice cream-washed coconut rum, mango, genmaicha gin, Ancho Reyes, and Muyu Chinotto; and Cheese, mixing Mimolette bourbon, black truffle, quince vermouth, and olive oil. This one-night-only guest shift runs from 8-11pm, and Snack Baby is not huge by any means, so get there early!
Mannings BoostUP Fiesta

Mannings BoostUP Fiesta

Take care of your health with the Mannings BoostUP Fiesta, a discovery pop-up at WestK designed as a “wellness buffet” with mind-and-body sessions, interactive experiences, complimentary health assessments, and other activities to improve holistic wellbeing. Over two days, the festival brings together 50 wellness experts and movement leaders across over 40 experiences. Start off with the Health Pod, a cardiovascular and stress monitor, a body composition analysis, and more so you can understand your needs and navigate the rest of the festival with more clarity. There will also be workshops from pilates to sound healing, a marketplace with curated wellness and beauty products, a stage hosting high-energy workouts and mindful breathing to music, and a play zone to let out some energy and connect with the people around you. Early-bird tickets are on sale until April 15 at $100 for a single-day ticket and $180 for a two-day pass. Thereafter, prices will rise to $200 and $360 for single- and two-day entries, respectively, and $300 for single-day tickets at the door.
Magic Room Five-Year Anniversary Celebration

Magic Room Five-Year Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate five years of banging beats with Magic Room’s special March event! Musumeci and Lehar will headline in a special B2B set, blending cinematic energy with melodic house. The duo will be joined by Copenhagen-based DJ and producer Radeckt, alongside Magic Room’s own Nodes Crew, Leon (FR), Mo-Shi, Milam, and Nat Dunn behind the decks. A great way to end the craziness of Hong Kong’s Art Month.
One Night With Lorenzo Antinori & Simone Caporale

One Night With Lorenzo Antinori & Simone Caporale

In celebration of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony happening in Hong Kong, Montana’s co-founders will be hosting a one-night-only shift on March 24. This is a rare chance to catch two extremely sought-after bar personalities behind the stick at the same time – Caporale is busy in Barcelona with Sips, his 2023 World’s Best Bar, while Antinori is often elbows deep in Bar Leone, the most recently crowned winner of World’s 50 Best Bars. Cuban live music will bring the ritmo from 7pm onwards, and Antinori will take the stage with Caporale from 8pm until all drinks are sold out. If you like Cuban cocktail culture, delicious drinks, Latino beats, and stylish Miami vibes from the 70s, come say hi to us at our table!
Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong

Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong

Launched in September of 2025, Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui is the Kimpton brand’s largest property in the world, with 495 rooms and five dining concepts. Its location in Tsim Sha Tsui also affords the building a fantastic view of Victoria Harbour for all of its rooms. On the 50th floor, Swim Club is the Cali-inspired poolside bar which houses a fun secret – the High Dive speakeasy-style bar which only seats eight guests and serves rare spirits in Baccarat crystal glassware for those in the know.
Art Central 2026

Art Central 2026

This cornerstone of Hong Kong Arts Month returns to its home at the Central Harbourfront with its largest edition yet. See works from 117 galleries and over 500 artists from Hong Kong, Asia, and global territories, including a large-scale digital installation by Kaitlyn Hau which maps motion-capture data into a recursive feedback loop that comments on the artist’s compulsive self-regulation in real-time. Black Sheep Restaurants returns as the fair’s F&B partner, bringing dishes from a range of their eateries such as Jean-Pierre, Falcone, Ho Lee Fook, Messina, and more. Soho House is also around to serve up a cocktail menu that includes their world-famous Picante and the newly launched Highball Fifty.
Gold

Gold

Gold by Serakai Studio is a contemporary art salon in Wong Chuk Hang that focuses on experimentation and openess to the unexpected. Housed within a former bank and jewellery shop, it functions as a cultural test lab that is part exhibition space, part concept incubator, and part gathering place for creative exchange.
Art Basel Hong Kong 2026

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026

Art Basel Hong Kong will return to the city this March, taking over the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) once more to present the most exciting programmes, galleries, and artists making waves in the global art world right now. 240 galleries from 42 participating countries and territories will be setting up shop at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026. Special preview days will be held on March 25 and 26, while March 27 to 29 will be open to the public. New to this year’s rundown is the ‘Echoes’ sector, reflecting a focused curation of recent works from up to three artists per booth. Media artist Ellen Pau will make history as the first-ever artist to curate the Film segment of the Art Basel Hong Kong’s Public Program. Seasoned curators will select the installations, sculptures, and performances leading the ‘Encounters’ sector, and there are countless other things to see and do, so mark your calendars for this prestigious fair. You can purchase your tickets to Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 online now, with advance pricing available until March 9. Standard pricing will be effective from March 10 onwards.
Shi Fu Miz 2026

Shi Fu Miz 2026

After a year-long hiatus due to financial difficulties, Shi Fu Miz is returning in March with a new format at a brand-new location! Setting up at Tai Tong Ecopark in Yuen Long’s serene valley of Tai Tong Village, the festival will take place among sprawling fields, abundant lychee forests, and tranquil lakes, bringing a unique experience to festivalgoers. The line-up includes a curated selection of international stars alongside local talents, including Hiroko Yamamura, Minna-no-kimochi, and Feed the Dragon.  Beyond music, Shi Fu Miz 2026 will also feature a programme of creative activities and interactive workshops for visitors of all ages to participate in. Stay tuned for more updates closer to the festival! Shi Fu Miz 2026 will take place from 12pm to 12am on March 21 at Tai Tong Ecopark, Tai Tong Shan Road, Yuen Long. Tickets are priced from $508 per person, with student access available. Children aged under 12 can enter for free. Reserve a ticket at shop.tiks.asia. 
Jimmy O. Yang Finally Home

Jimmy O. Yang Finally Home

From March 20-29, Jimmy O. Yang’s sold-out Hong Kong leg of his 2025 comedy show will be available to watch on the big screens exclusively in Emperor Cinema locations in Causeway Bay Times Square and Tsim Sha Tsui iSquare. Captured in 4K and reengineered for cinema acoustics, viewers can fully immerse themselves in the applause, laughter, and whoops that rang through the Hong Kong Coliseum last summer. Those who have seen O. Yang’s work in movies and TV series such as Silicon Valley, Crazy Rich Asians, and Interior Chinatown will know that his professional comedy is performed in English, but for his Hong Kong show, which he described as a homecoming, O. Yang had especially whipped out his Cantonese skills and worked in local elements as a tribute to Hong Kong comedy culture. Tickets for ‘Jimmy O. Yang Finally Home’ are available for $120, while VIP Cinemer members can enjoy a discounted price of $108. Find out more details (and early-bird ticket gifts) here.
Taschen art book sale

Taschen art book sale

Premium art book publisher Taschen is holding its biannual sale soon, so if you’ve ever wanted one of their beautiful coffee table books, now’s the time to act! From February 5 to 8, Taschen will be offering discounts of up to 75 percent off, both online and in their flagship stores worldwide – and for Hong Kong, this means their location in Tai Kwun. Browse through books exploring a wide range of topics, from art, fashion, photography, and design, to architecture, travel, and even more obscure topics like witchcraft and esoteric teachings. This season we’ve got our eyes on Spirit Worlds from ‘The Library of Esoterica’ series, a relatively new volume released last September exploring art’s relationship with death and other realms; The Gourmand’s Lemon, which deep dives into the literary, linguistic, historic, and gastronomic influence of lemons, and make us salivate the entire time; and the stunning Japan 1900: A Portrait in Colour, capturing the Land of the Rising Sun just as the country opened its doors to the world after two centuries of seclusion. Taschen’s sale runs next week, on February’s first Thursday to Sunday, but in case you’d like to browse the tomes before purchasing, there is an exclusive early shopping day on Wednesday, February 4, held only in stores.
Sai Ying Pun Waterfront Park

Sai Ying Pun Waterfront Park

This park and play area in between the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park and the Western Wholesale Food Market is an absolute dream for little ones. Featuring cloud-shaped bouncing areas, slides, climbing frames, and even sand and water play areas, there is plenty to entertain children with energy to burn off, while others can simply chill at the seating areas and enjoy the city’s unmatched harbour views.

News (463)

Le Le is a stunning new addition to Hong Kong’s Vietnamese restaurant scene

Le Le is a stunning new addition to Hong Kong’s Vietnamese restaurant scene

If your usual choices when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine is typically bĂĄnh mĂŹ and phở, possibly extending to bĂșn bĂČ Huáșż, then we’re sorry but you should expand your palate in Southeast Asian flavours. Luckily, there’s a new kid on the block who can help with just that. Enter Le Le, a brand-new restaurant on Lyndhurst Terrace that describes itself as “progressive Vietnamese enriched by Vietnamese-Chinese heritage”. The founder Elizabeth Chu is of Vietnamese-Chinese heritage herself and grew up in Saigon, so this restaurant is very much a passion project that honours the tastes of her childhood. Since Vietnam and China have had a long history of culture exchange and cross-immigration, it only makes sense that both cuisines are deeply entwined – and Le Le’s menu reflects this cultural context with traditional Vietnamese dishes subtly enhanced by Chinese cooking techniques. Photograph: Catharina Cheung Even from the delicately prepared amuse-bouche of flower clam tart with ram and coriander root juice and oyster with pickled garlic, it is immediately apparent that a careful adherence to classic Vietnamese flavours – despite the fancier concept – is the name of the game here.  As a soup lover, I was blown away by Le Le’s reimagining of the phở gĂ  chicken noodle soup, which is prepared with pork bone and Jinhua ham in a siphon coffee maker. If you’ve been paying attention you might ask after the chicken; the answer is that the “noodles” are actually the meat itself, where chicke
One OK Rock’s May 2026 Hong Kong concerts have been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”

One OK Rock’s May 2026 Hong Kong concerts have been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”

Sometimes, the world works in mysterious ways that seem to suggest a fundamental incompatibility in people or forces. Unfortunately for Hong Kong fans of the Japanese rock band One OK Rock, this seems to ring true for the musical act and our city, as the alt-rock quartet have just announced the cancellation of the Hong Kong leg of their Detox Asia tour. According to organiser Live Nation, there were “unforeseen circumstances that were outside the control of the artist and the organiser” that couldn’t be resolved despite their best efforts. Usually, this vague statement points towards larger sociopolitical reasons, as can be seen in the recent decline in Sino-Japanese relations since Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi took the office – several Japanese artists have since been blocked or boycotted from performing in mainland China as well as its Special Administrative Regions, such as Ayumi Hamasaki’s concert that was supposed to take place in Macau this January. One OK Rock were supposed to perform two nights on May 2 and 3 at the Central Harbourfront, but Live Nation announced on April 9 that the concerts would not be going ahead. Looking back at their supposed string of bad luck with our city, the band have had to cancel their Eye of the Storm concert back in 2020 due to the pandemic, and again in 2023 for their Luxury Disease tour (though the latter event was eventually able to be rescheduled for two months later in December).  It looks like the Detox concert will not b
Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards returns to Macau for 2026 edition

Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards returns to Macau for 2026 edition

Hot on the heels of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards that was hosted in Hong Kong at the end of March, the 50 Best gastronomic leaders are back in our neck of woods once again – this time to crown Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2026. In case you need a refresher on the 2025 list, Bar Leone took home the title of The Best Bar in Asia for the second consecutive year, while Hong Kong was also represented in the rankings by Argo (No. 11), Coa (No. 17), Penicillin (No. 27), The Savory Project (No. 32), and Gokan (No. 33).  Photograph: Courtesy Asia’s 50 Best Bars This year, the awards ceremony returns to Wynn Palace with a Bartenders’ Feast on July 27, the live ranking reveal on July 28, and the 50 Best closing party on July 29. While the ceremony itself will only be open to industry professionals, imbibers among the general public can look forward to the 50 Best Signature Sessions which will showcase one-time-only collaborations between world-class talents among Asia’s bartenders. Last year saw New York-Japanese bar Martiny’s linking up with Sushi Mizumi for a cocktail omakase with accompanying dishes, and Sydney’s Maybe Sammy paired up with the party vibes of Drunken Fish. The list reveal ceremony on Tuesday, July 28, will also be available to watch via livestream. Now that Hong Kong has Asia’s Best Restaurant, the World’s Best Bar, and the World’s Best Hotel, will our city complete the circle by winning Asia’s Best Bar once again? Check back for more details as we find out
Post Malone is bringing his ‘Big Ass World Tour’ to Hong Kong this September

Post Malone is bringing his ‘Big Ass World Tour’ to Hong Kong this September

We can barely hold in our excitement – genre-blending musical chameleon Post Malone has just announced that he is coming to Hong Kong in concert for the first time in three years! After he headlined Coachella last year, the nine-times diamond-certified, Grammy-nominated artist began his ‘Big Ass World Tour’, which will be in our neck of the woods in the last quarter of this year. Post will kick off the Asia leg of his tour in Hong Kong on September 16, taking over the Kai Tak Stadium, before moving on to Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and Tokyo. We are promised a career-spanning setlist of chart-toppers and fan favourite tracks, presented with Posty’s undeniable stage presence and signature large-scale productions. Despite starting off more trap and hip-hop, and then moving on to synth-pop hooks, Post’s sound the last couple of years has leaned heavily into country and pop-rock, as evidenced by his debut country album F-1 Trillion, which topped the Billboard 200 chart. The artist will be joined on this tour by fellow Texan musician Don Toliver, who is known for his ethereal, psychedelic trap, and melodic hip-hop. Since the concert is only for one night, be prepared to fight for tickets. The artist presale begins at 10am on April 24, followed by priority access for HSBC Mastercard holders and Trip.com users from April 27. The Live Nation members presale will then start at 12pm on April 29, and finally, tickets for the general public will be released at 12p
Over 47,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers ready with digital systems as new e-payment rule kicks in on April 1

Over 47,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers ready with digital systems as new e-payment rule kicks in on April 1

As convenient as Hong Kong’s public transport system is, catching taxis in the city can be a somewhat intimidating endeavour, what with sometimes surly and uncommunicative drivers, recklessly high speeds, and vehicles that can reek of old cigarettes. The only thing worse than the above is when you’re fumbling among the random coins and receipts in your wallet to pay the man while he tsk-es or side-eyes you with a hand passive-aggressively outstretched and someone is already lingering outside your open cab door just waiting to jump in.  Well, no more! The day has finally come when we no longer have to deal with cash and loose change when taking taxis – a long-awaited upgrade to the city’s transportation seeing as our contactless Octopus cards payment system has been around since 1997. As of Wednesday, April 1, all taxi drivers in Hong Kong are required to provide at least two e-payment options for passengers. Hong Kong’s new regulations further dictate that out of the digital payment options offered, one must be QR code-based, such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, or BoC Pay, while the other must be a non-scanning option like Octopus, credit cards, or FPS. According to the Transport Department, more than 47,000 registered cab drivers have already set up the commercial Octopus app or installed mobile card readers in their vehicles.  Of course, you might be wondering how this all pans out, seeing as nearly two-thirds of cabbies in Hong Kong are aged 60 or older. The government has al
Hong Kong to expect intense thunderstorms on Monday and bad weather for the rest of the week

Hong Kong to expect intense thunderstorms on Monday and bad weather for the rest of the week

Remember that cute song sequence in Bambi where the rain comes down and all the little forest animals go scurrying for shelter? Well, it looks like we’re getting some rainy weather for several days in a row, and it’s going to be more than just a “drip, drip, drop, little April shower” in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), a trough of low pressure approaching the coast of Guangdong is bringing intense thundery showers over the region. As of 10am on Monday morning, March 30, the weather watchdog has issued the Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal, and released public alerts that widespread heavy rain, violent gusts, and the possibility of flash floods are likely to affect the city. The forecast for today predicts severe squally thunderstorms interspersed with occasional showers, so hopefully you haven’t made plans to go traipsing around for lunch today. The weather will be unsettled tomorrow as well, and while the skies will open to some sunny intervals around midweek, it’s looking to be rainy in general all week for Hong Kong. With a second trough of low pressure sweeping in during the Easter holidays and the Ching Ming Festival, HKO’s nine-day forecast shows that cloudy showers are expected all the way up until Tuesday, April 7. Time to dig out your wellies and keep them by the door all week! 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 is finally introduci
Hong Kong’s The Chairman and Wing are officially the best restaurants in Asia

Hong Kong’s The Chairman and Wing are officially the best restaurants in Asia

Hong Kong has always been lauded as a foodie’s paradise, and we’ve once again proven to be a delight to palates as the city sweeps up one of the food and beverage industry’s most prestigious accolades. For the first time ever, Hong Kong played host to the 14th edition of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, welcoming industry professionals from all over Asia at the Kerry Hotel on March 25. Hong Kong absolutely held its own against the crùme de la crùme of Asian eateries, with six restaurants making it onto the 50 Best list. Though this number is technically one down from the 2025 rankings, our restaurants are technically sitting in higher positions overall this year. In fact, the Best Restaurant in Asia 2026 has just been proclaimed The Chairman, rising up to the top spot from last year’s second position. Hot on its heels in second place on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is yet another Hong Kong restaurant, chef Vicky Cheng’s Wing. Well done to our city’s fantastic restaurateurs for once again proving to the world that we are the top foodie capital of the world! Chef Danny Yip’s renowned Old World Hong Kong dishes have already been the talk of the town for years, and he attributes the restaurant’s success to what he jokingly calls his “vintage team”, since their ages average out to about 52 years old, and most of the staff have been with Yip since the inception of The Chairman 17 years ago. We can only imagine it’ll be even more difficult to get a booking at his r
Everything we know about ‘The Season’, the upcoming Hong Kong drama series

Everything we know about ‘The Season’, the upcoming Hong Kong drama series

As much as TVB drama series were all the rage on television sets all over Asia in the 90s and 00s, it’s been a good long while since Hong Kong has seen significant representation on the small screen. Thankfully, that’s all about to change this summer, as the city’s PCCW Media has joined hands with independent studio SK Global Entertainment to produce a new drama series named The Season, depicting the downward spiral of a bougie bunch right here in Hong Kong. Here’s what we know so far about this series! Photograph: Courtesy PCCW Media What is The Season about? This is a six-episode series set in Hong Kong that follows a group of friends ready to enjoy a summer of boating and partying. As idyllic as lounging around on yachts and swigging expensive bottles sound, the characters’ lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are shattered when things swiftly spiral into deceit and power struggles between the group. The Season drops viewers into the world of Hong Kong’s elite circles. The old-money Hext family is at the heart of this social group – depicting the city’s real-life upper crust dynasties well with power and influence extending from the race tracks to charity galas – but things are thrown into disarray with the arrival of Cola, a newcomer to Hong Kong’s high society with something to hide. Considering that SK Global Entertainment was the powerhouse studio behind Crazy Rich Asians, we can probably expect more of the glittering opulence of that universe, rather than Nicole Kidman’
Iconic rock musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is coming to Hong Kong for the first time

Iconic rock musical ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is coming to Hong Kong for the first time

Hong Kong theatre fans have only waited a few decades but hey, we made it – Jesus Christ Superstar is finally coming to town! This summer, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre will host the legendary rock opera from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber for its long-awaited Hong Kong debut as part of its international tour. Originally released as a concept album before storming the Broadway stage in 1971, this timeless musical retells the biblical tale of Jesus Christ’s final days from the perspective of Judas Iscariot. The story is told entirely through song, with a rock score featuring well-known numbers like Superstar, I Don’t Know How to Love Him, and Gethsemane. Just last August, Cynthia Erivo herself starred as Christ in a three-night-only production of this musical at the Hollywood Bowl, alongside Adam Lambert playing Judas – we won’t be seeing them in Hong Kong unfortunately, but it’s still going to be spectacular. Photograph: Courtesy Evan Zimmerman / Jesus Christ Superstar Directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie, this reimagined production by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre picked up the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in 2017 and the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical in 2016. After selling out in London, touring North America, Australia, and the UK, it’s finally our turn in Hong Kong. Catch Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre from July 8 to August 1, 2026. Showtimes are Tuesday to Friday at 8pm, Sa
Argo’s new menu celebrates Hong Kong craftsmanship and seasonal flavours

Argo’s new menu celebrates Hong Kong craftsmanship and seasonal flavours

Being the unabashed fans of Hong Kong that we are, there’s little else that tickles our fancy more than when we come across things that are clearly created by people who also love and take inspiration from this fantastic city. The newest blatant love letter to Hong Kong on our list comes from Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s bar Argo, which has just released a brand-new menu themed around craftsmanship and seasonal flavours found in the city. Instead of scanning global trends in the bar scene, the Argo team turns the lens closer to home in an exploration of Hong Kong’s artisans, farmers, creatives, and beloved institutions. Led by the hotel’s beverage manager Jonathan Gabbay, Argo’s new offerings consist of 12 distinctly different cocktails split into two sections. Flipping through the menu itself is already a joy, as it is filled with sketches and snapshots of the inspirations and people behind each drink. Photograph: Courtesy Argo The ‘Local Encounters’ section sees Argo’s bartenders collaborating with various Hong Kong creatives and well-known names such as Big JJ Seafood Hotpot, Magnolia Lab’s TCM practitioner James Ting, Tai On Coffee & Tea, tattoo artist Marcus Yuen, agro-food business LoCoFarms, and rising artist Amy Tam. My personal favourite from this section is most definitely the Broth & Soul, an almost Bloody Mary-like concoction created with Big JJ featuring Grey Goose vodka, Amontillado sherry, clarified tomato juice, and hot pot spices, then served with a slice
Hong Kong has been ranked the 15th best city in the world, and the 5th best in Asia

Hong Kong has been ranked the 15th best city in the world, and the 5th best in Asia

There really is no place like Hong Kong. As your resident advocates of cool things to do, see, eat, and more in the city, the Time Out team naturally counts ourselves among Hong Kong’s biggest fans, but even first-time travellers always have positive things to say about our little corner of the world. What makes Hong Kong so appealing is that it is a city of contrasts. We are a very small city in the grand scheme of things, but the sheer amount of things to do and people roaming our streets makes it feel much larger. We are famously a global financial hub filled with gleaming skyscrapers and a Blade Runner-esque cityscape, but rolling mountains, untouched nature, and waters stretching out to the horizon lie within an hour’s easy distance from the city centre. We have a plethora of Michelin-starred and globally acclaimed restaurants and bars (most recently, Bar Leone was proclaimed the best bar in the world by World’s 50 Best, and has just been confirmed to bartend at the 98th Oscars’ after-party!), and yet the streets are still lined with rustic, down-to-earth eateries offering unrivalled flavour profiles. As we like to say, Hong Kong has the best of all worlds. Photograph: Shutterstock Thankfully, it seems like both locals and global citizens worldwide are also huge fans of ours! For a decade now, Time Out has surveyed urbanites all over the world to find out what they love about their respective cities – from food and nightlife to happiness, affordability, and quality of
Australian artist Cj Hendry is bringing a plushie flower market to Hong Kong

Australian artist Cj Hendry is bringing a plushie flower market to Hong Kong

Hongkongers sure love shopping for blooms and blossoms to brighten their homes, whether it’s at the busting perennial Flower Market in Prince Edward or the annual seasonal Lunar New Year Flower Market that takes over the length of Victoria Park. Coming soon to Central Harbourfront this month for Hong Kong Art Month, however, is a whole different kind of flower market – one that gives flora the forever treatment. Henderson Land is teaming up with Pen & Paper and viral Australian artist Cj Hendry to present the ‘Henderson Land x Cj Hendry Flower Market’ from March 19 to 22 at the Central Harbourfront. Hendry – who is famous for her large-scale, hyperrealistic works of everyday objects and luxury items, and recently had a viral pop-up with cute bunny-like collectibles at West Kowloon – has brought her acclaimed immersive exhibition to town as a greenhouse pavilion pop-up at Victoria Harbour, showcasing her collection of 26 plush flower designs with more than 150,000 plush flower pieces on-site! Photograph: Courtesy Pen & Paper Making its Asia debut, the ‘Flower Market’ installation is a signature art concept that first appeared in New York in 2024. From chrysanthemums and narcissi to sunflowers, thistles, and violets, the ‘Flower Market’ will allow visitors to browse through Hendry’s textural creations, including two special commissions: the ‘Henderson Flower’ to celebrate the golden jubilee of Henderson Land, and the ‘Bauhinia’ to commemorate the Hong Kong event. All plush fl