Celia Lee

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it’s time to start planning your gathering with friends and family before the festive rush hits. If you, like us, have been craving a hearty turkey roast, cinnamon-y pies, and warming hot cocoas with the recent drop in temperature, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of Hong Kong’s best thanksgiving menus for 2025, and pass that cranberry sauce! RECOMMENDED: Book a table at one of these new restaurants in town or enjoy a meal from one of these restaurants with an epic view. Best for large gatherings: Buenos Aires Polo ClubBest for a unique meal: Quiero MásBest for roast lovers: Feather & BoneBest for families: Fini’sBest for Friends-giving: La Paloma

There are many ways to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, such as admiring the full moon, spending time with family and friends, or solving lantern riddles. If you ask us, our favourite way to get into the festive spirit is to stuff our faces with mooncakes. From timeless fillings like lotus seed paste with salted egg yolks to creative flavours like chocolate, tea custard, or cured ham, there are plenty of mooncakes to try. In preparation for the autumnal festival falling on October 6, we’ve gathered some of the best mooncakes you can get your hands on this year.RECOMMENDED: Mark your Mid-Autumn Festival with an indulgent family meal at Hong Kong's best restaurants.

This December, local craft brewery Yardley Brothers will be hosting the inaugural Lamma Island Beer Fest on Power Station Beach! Gathering fine pours from Hong Kong’s top breweries — including Breer, Hong Kong Beer Co., Heroes Beer Co., and more — the two-day festival promises a weekend of friendly conversations and island fun powered by exceptional brews.  Festival-goers can also expect live music delivered by neighbourhood favourites from the Lamma Blues Collective, setting the stage for a chill afternoon with soulful tunes and mellow beats. Not gonna lie; we’re looking forward to a festival with summer vibes where we’re not actually sweating through our outfits! The highlight of the Beer Fest is, of course, the cold pints, and visitors will get one free beer plus a free festival glass to sample over 100 pours on offer with the purchase of a ticket. Additional beer tokens are also available for purchase on-site. Meanwhile, organisers Yardley Brothers will be launching a brand-new Milkshake India Pale Ale at the festival, a refreshing and flavourful creation aptly named Heliogazer.  The Lamma Island Beer Fest will take place between 1 and 4pm and 5 and 8pm on December 13, and between 1 and 4pm on December 14 at Power Station Beach, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island. Tickets are priced at $150 per person, while all-session passes are available for $288 per person, granting full access to all timeslots across both days. Tickets are available at yardleybrothers.hklammafest2025.   St

Acclaimed Korean fine-dining restaurant Mosu is hosting an exclusive four-hands dinner, where head chef Bruno Jeong combines forces with chef Scott Kang from Seoul’s ingredient-forward restaurant, Trid. If you’ve had the pleasure of dining at these restaurants before, you’ll know this is a significant collab worthy of Culinary Class Wars fame. Having honed his culinary skills in the bustling kitchens of Singapore and the vibrant, fast-paced food scenes in Melbourne and Sydney, chef Jeong is a recognisable member of the Mosu team, having been stationed at the restaurant’s Seoul flagship before taking over as head chef in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Since joining the team in Hong Kong, chef Jeong has channelled his wealth of culinary expertise into Mosu’s tasting menu-only operations.  Joining hands with chef Jeong in Mosu’s Michelin-starred kitchen is chef Kang, a former colleague and dear friend of chef Jeong. Over the years of refining his skills and expertise alongside chef Jeong at Mosu Seoul as well as the restaurant Benu in the States, chef Kang is now well-known for his unique interpretation of Korean cuisine that blends French techniques with seasonal, home-grown ingredients.  Their ‘Echoes of Korea’ menu promises to be a harmonious blend of flavours, where seasonal ingredients take centre stage. Chef Jeong will bring Mosu’s signature innovative flair while chef Kang reinterprets traditional recipes with a distinctive contemporary touch.  The Mosu x Trid: Echoe

Hong Kong’s annual winter celebration is about to return to Central Harbourfront this month! AIA Carnival will take place from December 22, 2025 to March 1, 2026, spanning the Christmas, New Year’s, and Lunar New Year holidays. The carnival’s 11th edition pays tribute to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage with performances from local talents, local cuisine, and photo ops inspired by the city’s beloved landmarks and neighbourhoods.  Photograph: Courtesy AIA Carnival As always, thrilling rides, carnival games, and more await along the harbourfront – and there’s good news for fairgoers this year. Organisers are introducing a flexible ride pricing system that offers lower rates on selected off-peak days, as well as a digital token system that conveniently lets you top up your token cards through a secure digital wallet between rides.  After snatching up limited-edition prizes at over 30 different attractions across the carnival, don’t forget to explore the diverse live entertainment programme on offer. A highlight is Gandeys Circus’ brand-new winter-themed show, ‘The Winter World Circus’, a new act that adds a delightfully frozen flair to Gandeys’ signature choreo numbers and acrobatics.   Photograph: Courtesy AIA Carnival When you’re starting to flag, take a breather to dine locally at the food and drinks stalls. Partnering once again with Blue Girl, the AIA Carnival brings back the crowd-favourite Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong, where festivalgoers can feast on authentic dai pai dong di

While the film camera resurgence has seen a dip in recent times, local patisserie Luna Cake is determined to bring this beloved analogue tech back in fashion. The cheesecake specialist has collaborated with Panda Camera to open a film camera-themed café in Causeway Bay!  Photograph: Courtesy Luna Cafe Luna Café promises to be a haven for cheesecake lovers and analogue camera enthusiasts alike, complete with a menu of Luna’s most popular items, specialty drinks, seasonal cakes, as well as retro photo spots at its Hysan Place location. Sporting a one-of-a-kind design, the café rides a fine line between nostalgia and futurism by juxtaposing retro analogue imaging technology with the metallic aesthetics of space travel. In the centre of the café is a giant vintage Fujifilm camera complete with realistic flash and black and green details. Unique to Luna Café is the food printing service, which lets you imprint a treasured image on one of the cheesecakes or drinks on offer.  Photograph: Yuen Cheung During its opening period, visitors can find a series of limited-edition items at the café. Photography enthusiasts will love the collab-exclusive film camera and space-themed polaroid album, available for redemption upon spending $149 at the café. Meanwhile, Luna is launching two exclusive drinks that channel the brand’s signature offerings. Only 100 cups of the creamy cheesecake milkshake and the aromatic hojicha cheesecake cloud cream are both available daily on a first-come-first

In light of the tragedy at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, Buddhist institution Tsz Shan Monastery is increasing its daily visitor quota while hosting special memorial services for victims and their families.  Aligned with the first seven days of mourning in Buddhist traditions, the monastery will set up memorial tablets for the deceased before the statue of Guanyin from now until December 6. Members of the public are encouraged to schedule visits to pray for the swift recovery of the injured, peaceful rest for those departed, and the rescue of those still missing.  Photograph: Tsz Shan Monastery/Facebook For those shaken by the devastating tragedy, Tsz Shan Monastery welcomes visitors of all faiths to find peace and consolation within its serene gardens nestled in the mountains of Tai Po. Professional social workers and volunteers will also be on site to offer emotional and spiritual support at the temporary Spiritual Counselling Centre. Beyond mental and spiritual care, the monastery will offer a prayer zone, sound healing sessions, as well as an expressive arts and crafts workshop for visitors during this period of mourning.  Photograph: Tsz Shan Monastery/Facebook Tsz Shan Monastery is located at 88 Universal Gate Road, Tai Po. Special memorial services will take place from 10am to 4.30pm daily until December 6. Those who wish to attend the services in person can register online at tszshan.org before their visit. Spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis until

Beloved Parisian steakhouse La Vache! has opened its largest Hong Kong location at Exchange Square. While we will all miss the lively and inclusive atmosphere Liberty Exchange offered during its 15 years of operation, Black Sheep Restaurant’s staple bistro promises to provide a sophisticated yet cosy hangout for city dwellers in the area.  Photograph: Courtesy La Vache La Vache!’s latest spot in Central serves the same no-fuss Aujourd’hui menu, where diners are greeted with a basket of freshly baked baguette and a crisp salad upon arrival, followed by servings of USDA prime ribeye and unlimited golden frites.  The Exchange Square branch brings back one of Central’s most popular watering holes: a dedicated bar stretching along La Vache!’s storefront. While you’re sipping on a glass of red with coworkers, friends, or a date, peruse the bar menu for a selection of location-specific hearty snacks. The Burger Maison elevates your normal cheeseburger with fresh brioche, caramelised onions, and melted raclette, while the La Vache! steak sandwich layers USDA aged ribeye with caramelised onions and horseradish crème on a crispy baguette.  Photograph: Courtesy La Vache As the largest La Vache! in Hong Kong, the Exchange Square location is designed for group gatherings that stretch well into the night. Apart from bigger tables in the main dining room, diners can also take their celebrations into one of two private dining rooms for a cosier and merrier time. La Vache! is now open at

Tucked away along the bustling streets of Soho, O’rm has officially opened its doors to eager patrons. This brand-new Korean restaurant is the brainchild of chef-owner Junwoo Choi, beverage director Ted Ko, and marketing and curatorial director Stella Yim. Drawing from the trio’s experience at staple suljib Korean tavern OBP, traditional Korean liquor distributor Kave, and The Stroll Gallery, respectively, O’rm brings an intimate experience of regional Korean cuisine to Hong Kong.  The restaurant takes inspiration from the volcanic mountain peaks – orms – of Jeju Island, where chef Choi’s family resides. Beyond acting as a culinary muse, the mountains also lend the restaurant’s moniker a second meaning: to ‘come up’ and discover the vibrant Soho district.  Photograph: Courtesy O’rm Championing the communal spirit of Korean dining, O’rm serves a distinctive sharing menu. A standout dish is chef Choi’s take on the traditional yuk hoe raw beef, elevated with Wagyu beef and caviar in crispy seaweed cups. Paying homage to Jeju’s unique cuisine, the refreshing kumquat salad features the island’s iconic produce, while the mini crab kimbap transforms the Korean comfort dish with bites of premium Alaskan crab. Other highlights include familiar staples like jjajang tteokbokki, bibim buckwheat noodles, and LA cut chargrilled short ribs served tableside, KBBQ-style.  Of course, your feast at O’rm is not complete without an alcoholic pairing or two. Luckily, diners can choose from a cur

Everyday we inch closer to the futuristic world predicted in Wall-E. For good or for bad, mainland Chinese multinational technology company Baidu Apollo International Limited has commenced its driverless private car trial runs across the Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts from early November, while the Airport Authority has commenced its driverless public light bus trials between 11Skies and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port.  Since 2019, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been gradually integrated into everyday life in the city, starting with the use of automatic operational vehicles at the Hong Kong International Airport. To date, three pilot proprietors have been allowed to operate AVs in specific areas in Hong Kong, including North Lantau, the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Southern District, and at the airport. Photograph: Courtesy Baidu Apollo To minimise disruptions to normal traffic in the city, Baidu Apollo has been cleared by the Transport Department to trial its autonomous cars between 1am to 5am, 10am to 4pm, and 8pm to 11pm from Mondays to Saturdays, and between 8am to 10pm on Sundays. Out of the 10 cars scheduled for trial, no more than three will be allowed to operate on the trial route at the same time.  These driverless cars’ routes will encompass several major streets in the urban districts, including Shing Fung Road, Shing Kai Road, Muk On Street, Kai Shing Street, Concorde Road, and Muk Yuen Street in Kowloon City, and Kai Wah Street, W

If you’re a chilli fan or just want something spicy to warm yourself this winter, then look no further than Hutong! The Chinese restaurant with the famously gorgeous harbour view has recently launched a new menu celebrating the fiery flavours of northern Chinese cuisines. Titled ‘Qian Jiao Bai Wei – The Essence of Heat’, the menu spotlights five dishes elevated with a secret ingredient: Hutong’s housemade chilli sauces. Crafted using five chilli varieties native to Northern China, each sauce brings a distinctive kick to traditional recipes.  Start the meal easy with the crispy eggplant in a nutty almond sauce which only has a hint of spiciness, as well as the king crab with Yunnan pepper and kumquat chilli sauce, an appetising dish that bursts with aromas of the green line chillies of the region and where spice and citrus notes balances the richness of Alaskan King crab meat. Photograph: Courtesy Hutong Our favourite dishes are by far the mains: flaming A5 Japanese Wagyu beef with roasted Sichuan Erjingtiao chilli – a flavourful, smokey creation that spotlights two premium ingredients – as well as the wok-tossed lobster with Guntur chillies and Hutong’s signature chilli oil. The latter is enhanced greatly with umami-laden fermented black beans and crispy garlic bits, making the dish so moreish we almost licked the plate clean. While three of the above sauces are only available to taste while dining in at Hutong with the ‘Qian Jiao Bai Wei’ menu, chilli lovers can take home

The cooler weather means it’s the perfect time of year to go traipsing around outside, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum has the perfect chill activity with its first outdoor exhibition. ‘The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Art Plaza Project at the Hong Kong Palace Museum’ is a multimedia initiative that extends the museum’s cultural and artistic reach into everyday life while celebrating local talents. Beyond the exhibition, the museum will also host a series of talks and workshops that explore the concept behind this inaugural outdoor showcase.  With traditional Chinese garden aesthetics as the main inspiration, the exhibition features installations by five local artists and an architect. Each creative brings a unique contemporary interpretation of traditional zen garden elements to the showcase, where iconic pavilions, flowing water, and aesthetic rock formations are reimagined with materials found in our bustling city, such as bamboo, metal, and fabric.  Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum The most visually-striking piece is acclaimed Hong Kong architect Rocco Yim’s Dancing Bamboo. Crafted with bamboo poles retired from the scaffolding industry, Yim skillfully arranges bamboo poles to create a mock forest in celebration of the material’s strength and adaptability. Another homage to bamboo, artist Inkgo Lam expands her expertise on the material with Arrow – a mesmerising piece inspired by the bamboo arrow that reflects the tension between tradition and modernity

Our city’s talented athletes have once again brought home another shining award at the National Games! Despite coming in bronze at the men’s individual foil event, our boys have turned the tables on their Chinese opponents to emerge victorious in the team event. Made up of Olympic medalist Edgar Cheung Ka-long, world champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin, and rising talents Lawrence Ng Lok-wang and Leung Chin-yu, Hong Kong’s men’s fencing team clinched the gold at the team foil event on November 19, breaking their personal best records while adding to the city’s medal tally.  Photograph: Facebook / govnews.hk Although Choi and Cheung had previously lost to Fujian’s Xu Jie at the individual foil event, the team managed to power through an exhilarating match when pitted against the Fujianese team again at the Kai Tak Arena. Cheered on by an enthusiastic home crowd, Hong Kong led 25-21 in the finale, with Choi securing the win with a 5-2 score against Chen Weiquan. With a decisive 45-34 victory, Hong Kong’s first fencing team foil gold at the National Games cements the world-class status of our athletes.  The last day of competitions in the National Games concluded on November 20, and out of the 28 events that Team Hong Kong participated in, we achieved nine gold medals, two silver, and eight bronze, for a record-breaking total of 19 podium wins. 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: Th

Everyone’s favourite Finnish cartoon Moomin is celebrating its 80th birthday this year! To mark the occasion, an immersive, interactive exhibition is now in town at the Kai Tak Sports Park. ‘The Beginning of The Moomins’ is set to be a wonderland for Moomin lovers, featuring a historical corridor that details Moomin’s evolution since 1945, plus seven themed zones recreated from its origin story, Moomin and the Great Flood, complete with interactive installations and photo spots.  Arrive to find a life-sized recreation of Moominvalley awaiting your discovery. The first recreated scene from the Great Flood is a stark, black-and-white forest that serves as a nostalgic opening to the experience. Similar to the story, visitors will have the chance to seek out the hidden creature Sniff using adorable flower-shaped flashlights. Another highlight is a luminous scene populated with countless Hattifatteners sailing on a red boat, where visitors can experience Moomin’s magical encounter with these mysterious creatures first-hand. Photograph: Courtesy Moomin Characters ™ / Trendic The climax of the experience is the flooding scene. Here, flickering lights stand in for soaring waves and, just as Moomin does in the story, visitors must climb onboard “floating” furniture to retrieve Moominpappa’s message in a bottle. The epilogue of the experience features a screening of a special animation by Finnish creative team NULL plus photo ops with Moomin and its family at the garden and Moominhou