The best things to do in Hong Kong today

Organised by one of Hong Kong’s first craft breweries, Black Kite, Flockfest promises to be a cultural festival that blends craft beer, gourmet food, live indie music, and lifestyle crafts. Stroll among the stalls to sample your way through a variety of indie beer brands, including Japanese names such as Black Tide Brewing, DD4D, Far Yeast Brewing Company, and West Coast Brewing. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s buzzy craft beer scene will be represented by the likes of Deadman Brewery, Black Kite Brewery, Heroes Beer Co, and Yardley Brothers. The vibes will be kept upbeat with a music festival as well, featuring a lineup of indie Hong Kong artists worth listening out for, while four curated local food brands will offer special menus tailored for beer pairings. Pop-up stores and creative workshops round out the festival to keep all the senses entertained. Entry to Flockfest is free, and all food and drinks will be sold separately (note that they only accept cashless payment at this event).

Are you ready to go to the Jellicle Ball? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world-class musical Cats is finally touring in Hong Kong! Inspired by a book of whimsical poems by T.S. Eliot named Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical follows the Jellicle cats at their annual gathering who share their stories and adventures before choosing one cat to be reborn into a brand-new life. Everyone should experience Cats’ intricate costumes, charming sets, energetic choreography, and unforgettable songs at least once in person!

We love a good excuse to go drinking! Make your way to the 10 participating bars – The Old Man, Honky Tonks Tavern, Coa, Dead Poets, Bourke’s, Dragonfly, Socio, The Pontiac, Lockdown, and The Mixing Room – to collect your free Margarita Mile passport. At each location, order one of the featured Marg Mile cocktails or any cocktail made with El Tequileño tequila to earn a stamp. When you get five stamps, you can collect a tequila shot and a shot glass to take home, plus a chance to win a bottle of El Tequileño 1959 The Sassenach Select Tequila (worth $1,208). Complete the passport with drinks at all 10 bars to put your name up to win a trip for two to Mexico, including return flights, a three-night stay in Casa Salles, and a tour of El Tequileño’s distillery and agave fields!  Pop over to Honky Tonks on September 16, the last day of Margarita Mile, for the official closing party in celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day

Calling all rugby fans, the WXV Global Series Challenger is taking place in Hong Kong for the first time this September. On September 13, 19, and 26, this world-class sporting event will take over Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground as six global women’s teams – including Fiji, The Netherlands, Samoa, Spain, Brazil, and Hong Kong China – battle it out on the pitch.  Each matchday sees three back-to-back tests, with gates opening at 11am before the first kick-off at 12pm. Tickets start at $180 for adults and $100 for kids aged 3 to 12 for a single day, with student tickets also available. However, if you’re planning to catch the action throughout the month, a Combo ticket covers all three matchdays, starting at $450 for adults and $250 per child. While general admission tickets give you flexibility to sit anywhere, upgrade to Reserved Seat Category A tickets for $250 to ensure a premium seat along the pitch’s halfway line. For a VIP experience, the Pitchside Reserved Seat ensures top-tier viewing. For $750 per day, you’ll get a reserved Category A halfway-line seat and a generous food and drink package, including a meal voucher, four beers or wine, and two non-alcoholic drinks to keep you refreshed throughout the matches. Find more information about this highly anticipated event and secure your tickets on WXV’s website today.

Tai Kwun pays tribute to the social value of camaraderie and having brothers-in-arms with its newest summer exhibition ‘Better Together – Partnering Up for Hong Kong Movies’, which celebrates the ethos of paak zyu soeng (拍住上) – a Cantonese phrase for team spirit which evokes the image of partnering up with arms around shoulders – as seen in several decades of filmmaking since the 60s. Among the immersive recreations of iconic scenes from eight films and sequels, visitors can expect to walk through the famous upside-down heist scene from Once a Thief starring Chow Yun-fat; contrast two robotic figures from Aces Go Places 2 and Gen-Y Cops; and an iconic stunt action sequence involving a helicopter, motorbike, and gold bars from Police Story 3 – Super Cop. A must-visit for any Hong Kong film buff.

Europe's acclaimed equestrian theatre show, Cavalluna: Gate to the Otherworld, lands at Kai Tak Arena for an exclusive eight-show run this September. Featuring 54 magnificent four-legged stars, the show brings a mythical fantasy tale to life under the direction of Emmy-nominated director, composer, and author Klaus Hillebrecht. Expect high-flying acrobatics, bareback stunt riding, liberty dressage, and live dance performances set against a dramatic cinematic score. Tickets to the show are now available via HK Ticketing; standard seating starts at $395 and goes up to $1,995 for first row seats ($395, $695, $895, $1,095, $1,595, and $1,995). For groups, VIP tables seating six guests are also up for grabs ($27,220).

Discover the history, art, and cultural impact of gaming at CityUHK’s new interactive exhibition, The Power of Play. This hands-on showcase spans 5,000 years of gaming history, tracking the evolution of human play from ancient Egyptian board games and nostalgic 1980s arcades to immersive virtual reality experiences, modern esports, and collaborative robotics. Curated by professor Espen Aarseth, the exhibition offers a fascinating look at how society’s attitude toward gaming has shifted from a casual amusement to a global competitive phenomenon.  The Power of Play runs from July 4 to October 25 at the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery (18th floor of the Lau Ming Wai Academic Building at CityUHK). Doors are open from 11am to 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Entry won't cost you a penny, though you’ll need to register online before turning up.

Update, August 25: Marrow has extended its run due to immense popularity. Meat lovers can now enjoy their open-fire seafood and meat dishes until September 30. Click here for details, including brand-new dishes. Landing in Wan Chai for a two-month run from July 1 to August 31, Marrow is a sleek, meat-led pop-up restaurant offering an unconventional take on open-fire cooking. Curated by chef Chris Ma, the concept moves away from traditional steakhouses to highlight lesser-known cuts with distinct local and regional flavours. Alongside a selection of fire-cooked mains, diners can enjoy a playful menu of creative starters, seafood options, and nostalgic desserts. The restaurant is open daily for dinner only, and with a short summer residency, booking ahead is highly recommended.

Casa Cucina has kicked off its new Casa A Casa collaboration series, reuniting chef Anthony Cheung with fellow Amber alumnus Babette’s chef Cédric Tsia to serve up a limited-edition French onion soup pizza ($188 for 10-inch, $118 for seven-inch). Available from now to September 13, the creation swaps standard dough for a 48-hour fermented 50 percent dark beer crust topped with red miso onion purée, smoked caramelised onions, purple onions, aged French Comté, Italian mozzarella, beef jus, Bayonne ham chips, and chives. Each pizza purchase also donates $10 to the rén Community Foundation to support local underprivileged youths.

Celebrating the city's cherished 3.15pm (aka ‘saam dim saam’) tea culture, Cordis, Hong Kong has partnered with Yau Ma Tei’s historic Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop and food illustrator Kai to present ‘Art In Residence: Tea Time Stories’ from August 17 to October 31. The takeover spans across both Cordis and Tai On, featuring an exhibition of Kai’s signature dining sketches, alongside a reimagined menu of classic afternoon tea treats – including peanut butter mille-feuille, caramelised peanut toast cakes, coconut red bean baked French toast, and peanut butter egg tarts. Visitors stopping by both Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei locations at 3.15pm can also catch daily interactive activities and get their hands on limited-edition merchandise.