With mild, breezy weather picking up as we approach the year’s end, Hong Kong’s great outdoors has never been more appealing. The opportunities are nearly endless, from hiking along lesser-known trails to picnics in the park with a twist to camping on an outlying island.
But if city living is more your thing, there’s still plenty going on. The changing seasons usher in new culinary offerings, plus the return of some of Hong Kong’s favourite festivals, albeit with modifications for the COVID-19 era. As ever this year, keep an eye on the latest regulations, as events and indoor dining policies are subject to change.
Feast on Treats
Anglo-Indian restaurant Rajasthan Rifles is offering Picnics on the Peak hampers filled with treats such as a chicken tikka club sandwich, samosas and chocolate brownies. Hampers come complete with blankets, crockery and a flask, and are designed to be enjoyed in Victoria Peak Garden, a short uphill stroll from the restaurant.
Those with a penchant for baked goods will be delighted to learn that Grégoire Michaud’s Bakehouse opens its second location – a vibrant Soho spot with extended opening hours – this month, offering fan favourites (sourdough egg tarts; walnut and fig bread; pain au chocolat) as well as a special list of made-to-order items.
The Cakery also debuts a new selection of vegan tarts, bread and pastries, including special occasion bakes and sweet treats for holidays, such as American-style pies for Thanksgiving. And Smoke & Barrel gets into the holiday spirit with Thanksgiving dinner and brunch menus (26-29 November), as well as a smoked turkey takeaway package including festive trappings like cranberry sauce, roasted pumpkin and pecan pie.
This is also your fleeting chance to enjoy seasonal hairy crab specialities at many restaurants around town.
If you prefer staying cosy at home, Date by Tate will bring the fine-dining experience to you. Recreate Tate Dining Room’s Michelin-starred Chinese French fusion menu with pre-prepared dishes packaged in reusable containers.
Drink in New Cocktails
As sweater weather draws ever closer, it’s about time to swap your summer spritz for a winter warmer. Duddell’s latest cocktail menu, designed by mixologist Mario Calderone, features warming infusions and garnishes like plum bitters and caramelised pears. There’s also a new daily happy hour, perfect for an evening spent on Duddell’s veranda.
Continue on to Penicillin, the latest offering from the team behind award-winning stalwart, The Old Man. It’s the first Hong Kong bar to operate on a closed-loop model, sourcing sustainable ingredients and playing its part to reduce the industry’s carbon emissions and wastage.
Get Cultured at Art and Music Events
The West Kowloon Harbourfront plays host to the Freespace JazzFest, with a range of indoor and outdoor live music performances taking place from 6 to 8 November. The line-up includes legends Eugene Pao and Ted Lo, as well as several free outdoor performances taking place in the Art Park.
Over in Tsim Sha Tsui, The Hong Kong Museum of Art hosts Botticelli and His Times – Masterworks from the Uffizi – a collection of 42 works from Botticelli and other Renaissance artists (through 24 February 2021). The nearby MoMA Design Store in K11 Musea celebrates its first anniversary with a special The Record Shop pop-up running until the end of November. Definitely one for vinyl junkies, audiophiles and fans of record culture, it’s a celebration of LPs, concert posters and books that explore the interplay between the visual arts and music. Expect to see lots of Bowie and Warhol prints.
In a former dilapidated tenement building, a team of local and international artists have transformed an unassuming space into disCONNECT HK (through 29 November). Initially a site-specific installation in an 1850s Victorian townhouse in London, the Hong Kong iteration highlights collaboration across borders and artists’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If a dose of escapism sounds more appealing to you, check out Seaweed Sunrise at Over the Influence gallery on Hollywood Road (through 14 November). German-born, London-based artist Super Future Kid’s first solo show in Hong Kong is a lysergic trip of surrealist cartoonish paintings.
Tune in to Digital Festivals
While the Clockenflap music festival may have been postponed due to COVID-19, there are a few other festivals still taking place this month. The Hong Kong International Literary Festival spotlights authors including Kevin Kwan, Frances Cha, William Dalrymple and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri who will speak on virtual panels to a global audience (5-15 November).
Film buffs can catch the 21st Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival, which streams 30 films focusing on Jewish culture and identity (14-29 November).
Even the annual Wine & Dine Festival is going mostly virtual (through 15 December). Explore everything from online masterclasses to a wine auction and exclusive offers on food and wine deliveries, all from the comfort of home. If you’re dining out, participating restaurants have some special menus and experiences.
Holiday at Local Hotels and Attractions
While you’re waiting to take off on that next overseas adventure, why not take advantage of the wealth of staycation offers at top hotels right here in Hong Kong, among them, the Four Seasons, the Langham, The Ritz-Carlton and the Gold Coast Hotel.
Even Ocean Park is getting into the game with a green staycation offer that will have you glamping within the theme park itself. Plus, it has come up with new activities such as yoga in the aquarium and guided hikes to Nam Long Shan with nature specialists (through 13 December).
If you’re looking for something to get your kids in the mood for the festive season, the Frozen exhibition may do the trick. The 18,000-square-foot exhibition space in Tseung Kwan O’s Park Central has room for everything from life-sized attractions to its own enchanted forest (17 November 2020 through 28 February 2021).
Hong Kong Disneyland’s 2-for-1 Magic Offer ticket deals are valid through 15 November – and Cathay Pacific Holidays has a Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel offer inclusive of dim sum lunch.
