Writing this column, your ‘things going on in Hong Kong’ correspondent often eats at the city’s newest restaurants – which is good, as there are a lot of foodie things going on right now.
If you haven’t already, get yourself to TokyoLima, a sexy-sparkly izakaya on Lyndhurst Terrace that does illegally good nikkei cuisine (and endless sake). We’re putting it out there: it’s the best new restaurant of 2017, which is a bold statement for April. And we haven’t even talked about the playlist…
Elsewhere, brand, brand, BRAND new Uma Nota brings a taste of São Paulo’s Brazilian-Japanese street food scene and cocktails to Central.
Then there’s Pici, hidden in that warren of trendy streets between Star Street and Queen’s Road in Wan Chai. Think perfectly al dente cacio e pepe and buttery burrata, rinsed down with glasses of Amarone. Down the road is Sichuan Deng G – open for a few months, but as punchy as ever with spicy plates and spicier shots of baijiu.
Or how about smart American bistro Bizou in minted Pacific Place? This writer sent a colleague to check it out. His WhatsApped response: ‘Cracking rib-eye, super-fresh salads and a great selection of cocktails from J Borowski.’ Also in Pacific Place is new all-day concept Dim Sum Library.
In Sai Ying Pun’s formerly gritty warehouses on Connaught Road West, Test Kitchen continues to welcome the globe’s hottest chefs. On the bill for this month is 28-year-old Icelandic chef Gísli Matthías for two nights (7-8 April). Grab a glass of wine beforehand at the new, next-door and totally tropical The Winery, whose wine list (and small plates) more than live up to the name.
Also, because we can’t get away without mentioning it (really, we absolutely can’t): over the weekend of 7-9 April, the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens returns to Hong Kong Stadium. Expect the same madness and the same excellent rugby. This year there’s a fun addition: the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Fan Walk at Lee Gardens. See you in the Carlsberg Beer Garden, naturally.
Further afield
11-25 Apr: Hong Kong International Film Festival
1 May-30 Jun: Le French May
13, 14 May: Kanda Matsuri, Tokyo, Japan
Catch the spectacle of this huge festival, when paraders in traditional clothes spend a full Saturday winding through Tokyo, followed by the parading of shrines on Sunday.
May-Nov: Surf season, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
You already know about Bali’s breaks, but you’ll also find some of Asia’s best surfing in southeastern Sri Lanka. There’s lazing on the gorgeous beaches too, if that’s more your thing.
20 May-11 Jun: FIFA U-20 World Cup, South Korea
Want to see the next Messi or Ronaldo? This biennial youth tournament, renowned as a shop window for tomorrow’s big names, showcases 24 global teams in games across six South Korean cities.
12-14 May: Ubud Food Festival, Bali, Indonesia
Local produce – such as coffee, chilli and papaya – is the focus of this event, with a programme that includes cooking demonstrations, food tours and live music.
