The best things to do in Hong Kong today

It's time to dine like royalty with Chinesology’s new ‘Tales of History’ tasting menu, launched in a unique collaboration with the Hong Kong Museum of History. Running from now until July 31, this limited-time menu offers a contemporary Cantonese reinterpretation of the legendary Manchu-Han Imperial Feast – a historic grand banquet famously known for serving more than 100 dishes over multiple days. Designed by chef Saito Chau alongside cultural scholars and culinary masters, the condensed eight or 10-course menu translates historic recipes into stunning modern delicacies, including stewed geoduck in 20-year-aged Huadiao wine, slow-simmered bird’s nest, and roasted Ningxia beach lamb. If you’re ready for a true feast fit for an emperor, remember to book your table at least seven days in advance to allow for the extensive preparation required.

M+ in West Kowloon Cultural District is honouring the late Ryuichi Sakamoto with a museum-wide programme from now until July. Comprising a site-specific installation, moving image works, a listening experience, and film, ‘Seeing Sound, Hearing Time’ celebrates the enduring legacy of the Japanese composer, producer, and artist. ‘Async–Immersion’ presents a three-dimensional, audio-visual representation of Sakamoto’s personal album, combining sonic experience with optical immersion. Nam June Paik’s ‘All Star Video’ explores Sakamoto’s influences and creative encounters, while ‘Vinyl Sessions with Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto’ allows visitors to engage with his compositions, alongside reflections on his work from three Hong Kong-based sound artists. Additionally, ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Music in Film’ will screen two films to allow for an intimate look into Sakamoto’s life, profound artistry, and innovative creative process.

Catch the ultimate golden hour experience at K11 Musea as its sixth-floor Sculpture Park transforms into Sips by the Sea, an open-air sky bar overlooking Victoria Harbour. Running from May 16 to 31 on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays, this breezy pop-up brings together a crew of veterans from Asia’s 50 Best Bars to serve a stellar lineup of exclusive cocktails designed to mirror the changing colours of the sunset. Guests can sip on bespoke creations from Bangkok's legendary Opium Bar, Seoul’s whimsical speakeasy Alice Cheongdam, as well as beloved local bars Tell Camellia and Socio. It all wraps up on June 6 with a massive closing party featuring live DJ sets and even more names from Asia’s 50 Best Bars, including Kyoto’s Bee’s Knees, CMYK from Changsha, and The Old Man Hong Kong. Admission to the Sculpture Park is completely free, with dedicated bar seating reserved for those purchasing drinks.

In a landmark collaboration between the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt, 250 treasures and relics from the land of the Pharaohs will be on display in Hong Kong for nine and a half months. Named ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’, this exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian artefacts Hong Kong has ever seen, displaying archaeological finds loaned straight from Egypt, many of which are being shown outside of their home country for the very first time. Some of our favourite highlights include a set of canopic jars used to store internal organs in the mummification and burial process; statues of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut and Rameses II; painted coffins of wood and stone; a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll; and even an ancient Egyptian toilet seat. Swing by the gift shop to find a wide range of Egypt-related merch, including an adorable series of blind box plushies created by HKPM which depict pharaohs, canopic jars, mummies, and more.

The city is gearing up for a dazzling dose of cabaret magic. This June, the inaugural WestK Cabaret Festival, presented by WestK Performing Arts, takes the stage at the Xiqu Centre with a nine-day carnival of cross-cultural music, dance, comedy and storytelling from May 30 to June 7. The city’s first-ever cabaret festival is an immersive extravaganza, featuring Broadway stars, Parisian icons, West End headliners, and a dazzling line-up of local talents all under one roof. Whether you're craving a sophisticated date night, a wild evening with friends, or just a fantastic excuse to dress up, here is why this festival needs to be on your radar. Expect something different on every stage. The main stage at Grand Theatre is stacked with unmissable highlights. Catch three-time Tony Award winner and Broadway legend Patti LuPone in her only Asian stop with A Life in Notes (June 3), or experience the flamboyant overseas premiere of Mon Premier Cabaret by Paris’ oldest and most historic Paradis Latin (June 6-7). Do not miss the Asian debut of four-time World Irish Dance Champion, Bobby Fox, in Mr. Entertainment (June 2), and local star Alex Lam’s sci-fi cabaret, 3026: A Cantopop Odyssey (June 4) and more. The allure goes beyond the main stage. If you prefer your entertainment with a cocktail in hand, the Tea House Theatre is your destination, which sees no barrier between stage and audience, creating an intimate, bar-style atmosphere perfect for edgy, fringe-style musical comedies...

Curated by local artist armechan, Pocket Art is Hong Kong’s first art collection card exhibition. Running at PMQ from May 29 to June 21, this unique showcase brings together 10 local and overseas artists – including comic master Li Chi Tak, Rex Koo, Lio Yeung, Erika Shiba, Abby Lee Yan Yee, and many more – to shrink contemporary art into palm-sized masterpieces. Visitors can hold, swap, and build their own mini art collection with various packs offering nearly 200 collectable cards, and there’ll even be grading and authentication services from Grading Eleven Authentication so you can seal your card inside exclusive protective slabs. If you prefer to wear your art, the exhibition has also partnered with local fashion brand Grocery to translate the visual motifs of the art cards into wearable daily items.

Hong Kong football fans are in for a treat this May as the FIFA Museum makes its large-scale debut at Times Square. Kicking off on May 28, this six-month residency offers a deep dive into the history of the beautiful game, featuring The Rainbow installation of 211 member association jerseys alongside original trophies and artefacts from both the men’s and women’s World Cups. Beyond the glass cases, visitors can also catch screenings of short films or uncover unique stories from Asia and Hong Kong. Tickets go on sale April 16 at 6pm via the Arena-Tix platform, with standard entry priced at $180 and concessionary tickets for $140. Limited VIP packages with guided tours and exclusive souvenirs are also available.

Celebrate the 85th anniversary of the iconic evaporated milk brand Black and White with a series of harborfront events kicking off on June 2. For a limited time, the brand is taking over the historic Dukling – Hong Kong’s oldest traditional Chinese junk boat – for exclusive Victoria Harbour cruises complete with complimentary cans of classic milk tea. If you prefer to stay on dry land, head over to the waterfront promenade outside K11 Musea where a boat-inspired installation features five experiential zones, inviting visitors to take photos, journey through the brand's history, and take home exclusive anniversary collectables.

This spring, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is hosting a two-part exhibition that combines interactive multimedia with a collection of rare historical treasures. The first section, Meet Mona Lisa, uses an immersive multimedia installation to follow the five-hundred-year journey of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, featuring a personal narration from the lady herself. The second half, Portraying the Renaissance, showcases over 100 precious works from leading European institutions, including four of da Vinci’s original manuscripts on the human body and faces exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time. The exhibition runs from May 1 to July 27, 2026, and is completely free to enter from 10am to 6pm on weekdays (except Tuesdays) and until 7pm on weekends and public holidays.

For the first time, HKU’s University Museum and Art Gallery is pairing Swiss and Chinese paper cuttings together, setting up side by side to highlight what makes each tradition so special. The Swiss works, drawn from the collection of Interlaken collectors Elsbeth and Niklaus Wyss, mostly use black paper to capture slices of Alpine life with fine, eye-catching details. On the Chinese side, red paper is often used to depict different themes and subjects like tigers, peacocks, opera masks, or pagodas – each carrying deep symbolic meanings. Both approaches are all about storytelling, pulling from Swiss village scenes or Chinese folklore to offer the audience a chance to appreciate how two cultures turn the same craft into something uniquely their own.