Dara Chau

Never did you really think that you'd miss the gym. At least we didn't. After a much too long temporary closure, the fitness centres are finally reopening their doors, and we really can't deny that we're ready for a piece of the action. After months of laying dormant, it's time to get our blood pumping again (and let's face it, swimwear season is also just around the corner). There are plenty of options and training styles to choose from in Hong Kong – from studios to personal training to gym classes and group training to multi-discipline clubs and multi-branch studios – it's time to get your sweat on at the best gyms in Hong Kong.  RECOMMENDED: Looking for some outdoor activity? Try the best Hong Kong hiking trails

The pressure of life in the city can certainly take a toll on our physical and mental health, so it's important to find time and give ourselves a little TLC every so often. Before you switch off and enjoy a soothing treatment that eliminates all your stresses and strains, finding a spa that works for you is essential. That's why we've put together a list of Hong Kong's best spa sanctuaries that will transport you to a place of relaxation and rejuvenation. Take a break from your hectic life and pamper your mind, body, and spirit at these top destinations. RECOMMENDED: If you prefer connecting with nature, go for a stroll in one of the best parks in Hong Kong or escape the city's chaos at these hidden peaceful places in Hong Kong.

Looking to spend some time at home? Even a comprehensive library like Netflix or Disney+ can run dry sometimes. So, instead of holding your breath for the next batch of new releases; turn your attention to some of the best made-in-Hong Kong productions old and new. Whether it is rewatching a golden oldie for nostalgia or diving into some titles which have recently hit the screens, here are some of our favourite local movies to stream online. RECOMMENDED: In need of a good laugh? Check out these iconic Hong Kong comedies from the 2000s.

The risk of catching Covid-19 is more real than ever as seen in Hong Kong since the pandemic began. Be informed about what to do if in the case we do test positive.  The city has flocked to rapid antigen test (RAT) kits like how surgical masks, toilet rolls, and vegetables were once the cause of quite the frenzy. You can still take RT-PCR tests at the Community Testing Centres but the government is also accepting home kit test results. So, how do you go about testing and reporting your case? Read below for the full information.  RECOMMENDED: Stay up to date with the city's latest pandemic regulations

Though the city has already opened the borders for foreigners, travellers and returning locals are still required to spend three days in quarantine. The thought of isolation may seem like a daunting undertaking, but at least compulsory days in quarantine have significantly decreased. To help you decide where to book before entering the city, we’ve relied on our dear friends and community groups to share their experiences with us and come up with the best places to stay for quarantining in Hong Kong. Accommodations on this list will make your home for the next little while seem like a refuge and retreat that will go by in no time at all.   Note: Bookings are in demand, so do reserve early to avoid disappointment. For the full list of designated quarantine hotels, booking status, and the latest news regarding travel requirements, visit Hong Kong SAR website.  RECOMMENDED: Once done with quarantine, do check out the best places to explore in the city, and make sure to check out the new additions to Hong Kong’s dining scene.

This June, immerse yourself in the world of gems and jewellery. Bask in the brilliance of diamonds, the elegance of pearls, and vivid hues of exotic coloured gemstones at the city’s first live jewellery buying event, Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) happening on June 16 to 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).  The event will bring together world-class jewellers and gemstone dealers under one roof. Initially reserved for trade buyers, this year’s special edition is opening its doors to jewellery lovers for unforgettable product discovery and shopping experiences this summer. For four days, visitors will be presented with the rare opportunity to discover all things jewellery and purchase export-quality collections without breaking the bank. Take advantage of the exhibitors’ exclusive offers, where fine pieces can be had for up to 90 percent off the list price!

With the city returning to its former busy and bustling glory; now with extended opening hours of restaurants, events and activities finally resuming, and the amount of new things to see and do in the city, the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) is forging a new creative path with a brand new exhibition unveiled this month to the public as it commemorates its 60th anniversary. As one of Hong Kong’s most esteemed museums, it has long had a reputation for housing some of the rarest and most excitable artworks in town. Veering away from the obvious showstoppers, In-Between celebrates the uncelebrated by featuring lesser-known works from prominent artists. The exhibition showcases carefully selected works from the four core collections of HKMoA – Chinese Antiquities, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, China Trade Art and Modern and Hong Kong Art. The objective of this exhibition is to showcase the different points in the life of the artists’ creative careers, and demonstrate how the artist has transformed and evolved in perception and execution. 

Hong Kong is a city full of fab photo ops, from Instagrammable locations to photogenic cocktails and delightful looking desserts. Plus, with new sweet treats popping up left, right and centre, you needn’t venture too far to score a drool-inducing shot. Whether you’re into doughnuts, waffles, ice cream or cakes, here are Hong Kong’s best-looking desserts.  RECOMMENDED: Continue your Instagram adventures at the city's most photo-worthy restaurants!

Hong Kong's affinity for coffee is brewing a growing café and coffee culture in recent years. And as a lifestyle purveyor, Cathay Travel Lifestyle Programme is embracing the flourishing  coffee industry by partnering up with one of the city's most popular coffee chainlets, Blue Bottle Coffee, for an exclusive three-month coffee subscription (valued at $1,920 or 44,780 miles). Shop with Miles Plus Cash and earn one mile for every $5 spent. 

The future is here. It really is, at least in the world of nutrition. Putting together state-of-the-art technology and developing nutrition, Hong Kong food and tech start-up Allklear Health Limited has invented the world’s very first drinkable liquid salad. So, if eating several servings of greens a day doesn’t coincide with your current lifestyle, a pack of Allklear’s Future Salad gives you all the vitamins and nutrients you’ll need in a day, all in a few sips.

Covid has really messed up a lot for us, fitness routines included. If the pandemic hasn’t demolished your motivation to exercise entirely, it certainly has affected the way you work out. With gyms still closed and masks are once again a must for any outdoor activity, the virus most certainly is shaping the evolution of fitness. With that, adrenaline junkies are getting their fix through virtual classes to get their sweat on, anytime. For those looking to emerge out of the restrictions with a rocking bod, we’ve scoured the internet to find the best online gyms to get your blood pumping and adrenaline running. RECOMMENDED: Wanna get out while keeping your distance? Check out the best Hong Kong jogging routes to pick up your pace.

Staying sheltered day and night at home is hard, even homebodies who usually prefer to spend their time indoors. Some cope with it by binge-watching Netflix, some invest their time on Nintendo Switch, and some prefer to indulge in a little aromatherapy by creating a little ambience with candles and home fragrances. If you're in search of some beautiful, soul-soothing candles, then you've come to the right place. Check them out below.  RECOMMENDED: Need to head outdoors? Stop and smell the roses at Hong Kong's most Instagrammable flower spots.

Immerse yourself in the world of performing arts at Hong Kong Ballet's season finale and Asia premiere of La Bayadère. Known for its exciting storyline filled with love, drama, and sacrifice, this ballet performance is a world-class production featuring a lineup of international superstars that will leave you in awe. Mark your calendar for June 2 and 4 (Fri 7.30pm, Sat-Sun 2.30pm, 7:30pm) and get ready to be transported to another world through the magic of dance. Whether you're a seasoned ballet enthusiast or someone new to the art form, La Bayadère is an experience not to be missed. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Ballet The story of La Bayadère  The story of La Bayadère, a 19th century Russian ballet adapted by world-renowned dancer and choreographer Vladimir Malakhov, transports the audience to an exotic and beautiful world of intricate storytelling. The performance narrates the ill-fated love story of Nikiya, a temple dancer (bayadère), and Solor, a noble warrior, who is engaged to another woman. Set in the jungles of ancient India, its complexity is filled with palace intrigue, forbidden love, revenge, and redemption, all brought to life through dance. La Bayadère is considered one of the most beloved classical ballets of all time, featuring grand staging after Marius Petipa, exquisite music by Ludwig Minkus, and opulent sets and costumes by Jordi Roig. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Ballet An important piece of performing art  La Bayadère is an essential piece of pe

The World’s 50 Best Bars have just announced this year's winners in London on Tuesday, December 7. Making the list this year are three prominent bars from Hong Kong, including Jay Khan’s Coa – which is currently the Best Bar in Asia – taking number 7 on the list; Rosewood Hong Kong’s DarkSide, and the winner of Bar of the Year for Time Out Hong Kong Bar Awards 2021, makes a new entry at number 49; while Antonio Lai’s Quinary reenters the ranking at number 50. Nabbing the title of the World's Best Bar this year is London's Connaught Bar, the reigning champ from last year and also the winner of Best Bar in Europe. Other countries around Asia such as Shanghai, Japan, and South Korea have all claimed several spots on the list, while Singapore has the most (more than any city in the world) with six bars on the list. And, for the first time since 2012, India returns on the list with Sidecar in New Delhi, ranking in at number 47.   Here's the full list of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021: Connaught Bar (Best Bar in Europe) - London, UK Tayēr + Elementary - London, UK Paradiso - Barcelona, Spain  The Clumsies - Athens, Greece  Florería Atlántico (Best Bar in South America) - Buenos Aires, Argentina  Licorería Limantour (Best Bar in North America) - Mexico City, Mexico  Coa (Best Bar in Asia), Hong Kong  El Copitas - St Petersburg, Russia Jigger & Pony - Singapore  Katana Kitten - New York, USA Two Schmucks - Barcelona, Spain  Hanky Panky (Highest New Entry) - Mexico City, Mexico 

At long last, Hong Kong sees the end of the tunnel with the government announcing today loosened restrictions coming Thursday. This long-awaited good news will ease the stringent rules on the city just in time for Mother’s Day. On May 5, beaches and pools will reopen to the public as temperatures rise, and mask-free exercising will be accepted in outdoor areas. Evening dining will also be relaxed, raising the current limit of four persons per table to eight. “Considering the epidemic’s relative stability and the strong demand of people in this time, I further announce that the following three measures – which are part of the phase two social distancing measures – will be in effect two weeks earlier, from midnight on Thursday, May 5,” says chief executive Carrie Lam in a press conference today. As Mother’s Day is around the corner, the news will allow families to gather and celebrate. “We hope everyone has an enjoyable Mother’s Day and that one table can sit eight people spanning three generations,” says Lam. Bars and late-night venues were ordered to be closed in January, but now with the latest announcement, they will soon resume operations. Bars, nightclubs, karaoke rooms, mahjong parlours, and cruises are set to reopen starting on May 19. Restaurants will be able to extend their opening hours until midnight, while bars and clubs can operate until 2am. These new guidelines are a positive indication that soon, the constrictive measures will be slowly lifted, and Hong Kong ca

Hong Kong is not a city short of fine dining experiences, but can you really have too many luxury establishments? Joining the lineup of world-renowned restaurants is new kid on the block, Mosu. The innovative Korean fine dining restaurant has already made its name back home in Seoul, and now, the refined cuisine will be made available in Hong Kong.  Photograph: Courtesy Mosu Hong Kong Set in the newest museum of visual culture, M+ Museum, the restaurant melds its creative dining within the destination for art, technology, and gastronomy in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong. The interiors are simplistic and contemporary, with wall to ceiling windows lining either sides of the restaurant, the lush greenery, skyscrapers, and artwork flood through the space giving the whole dining experience more dimension and depth. Aside from the bright dining room, the restaurant also includes two private rooms for more intimate gatherings.  Photograph: Courtesy Mosu Hong Kong The ‘tasting menu-only’ restaurant is based on reconstructing Korean traditions in a forward-thinking and sophisticated manner, reviving old humble ingredients and transforming them in a way that is rarely seen in contemporary fine dining culture. Chef Sung Anh of Mosu Seoul replicates his signature dishes from Korea to Hong Kong, while also adapting his recipes to fit the local palate and utilise local ingredients as well. The seasonally changing menu will give diners a refreshed experience on a regula

The pandemic has deteriorated much of the city’s economic activity and vibrancy over the past few years. Especially with the hard-hitting fifth wave, businesses have suffered like never before. To alleviate a bit of the strain on those directly affected by the closures of specific businesses (F&B, fitness facilities, spas, and nightclubs), the government has announced a one-off subsidy of $10,000 to those who have lost their jobs during this challenging period.  In order to be eligible for the Temporary Unemployment Relief Scheme, a few criteria must be met. Full-time, part-time employees and self-employed individuals or those who have been requested to take a no pay leave for at least 30 days (over the age of 18 must have worked in Hong Kong for at least one month during the period of October 1 to December 31 of 2021, with a monthly salary which falls between $2,700 and $30,000). And while this does help some to get back on their feet, the government has decided that they will be furthering this relief to others in different sectors, and without an income ceiling cap.  To simplify the application process, those who were filed under MPF employment will only have to submit their application form to validate their work term and proof of salary. For those without MPF, it could require a lengthier course with additional documentation required. For the first batch of successful applicants, the relief fund will be directly deposited into personal accounts as soon as April 12. So fa

Starting April 1, flight bans will be lifted from nine countries, including Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, the US, and Nepal, initially scheduled to remain until April 20. Seeing that these countries no longer pose serious risk, the new policy will allow for Hongkongers abroad to return home. Countries will no longer be designated in groups A, B, and C.   Travellers are required to produce a vaccination record of two doses, a negative PCR test within 48 hours prior to travel, and proof of a seven-day quarantine hotel booking. Upon arrival, travellers are expected to undergo a PCR test and will be given a pandemic kit including self-administered RAT tests which are to be carried out daily throughout quarantine.  Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam also announced that social-distancing rules will still be maintained until April 20 and will not be relaxed ahead of time, citing that the Covid-19 situation in the city is still severe.  If Covid-19 infections do not rebound, social-distancing measures will be relaxed in three phases starting April 21. The first phase will include the reopening of gyms, beauty salons, massage parlours, religious places, game centres, and sports venues. Group gathering will be increased to four from the previous two. And restaurants will be allowed to operate until 10pm, from 6pm, allowing four diners per table. Phase two of Covid measures will see bars reopening (operation until 2am, seat up to four people per

Following the successful collaboration of the ‘HK Tram Green’ in 2021 to commemorate the 117th anniversary of the tram, Hong Kong Tramways has once again teamed up with Pantone to bring the world’s first ‘Very Peri’ Tram inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year.  Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Tramways Affectionately known as the ‘Ding Ding’, named after the electric street car’s distinctive bell sound, Hong Kong Island’s frequented tram embraces the selected colour to signify “a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic attitude that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression”, which is synonymous with HK Tramways’ mission to bring about innovation and vibrancy to the city.    Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Tramways The 'Very Peri' Tram (#30) will make its way around our little island from March onwards to send a warm and positive message for Hongkongers to stay hopeful during these trying times. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch last year’s HK Tram Green and the new Very Peri colour coming across each other on the rails! View this post on Instagram A post shared by 香港電車 HK Tramways 叮叮 (@hktramways) Do you still feel the same about our city even when things are looking a bit grim? Take the Time Out Index survey and let us know what you think about life in HK now.  Want to hear the latest city news and learn about what's happening in the city? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to get the news.

Travels to our neighbouring SAR have been restricted (or at least very discouraged) with the current 21-day quarantine requirement upon entering Macao. But there’s still a glimmer of hope for those looking to cross the waters into the shiny gaming mecca starting from February 21, 2022.  Macao authorities have recently announced their new entry requirements for travellers coming from Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can enter the territory provided that they have not travelled outside of mainland China within 14 days of arrival. Foreign nationals in Hong Kong with residence permits are allowed entry if they have not ventured out of Hong Kong in the last 21 days.  Hongkongers entering Macao will be required to take a Covid-19 RT-PCR test and wait for negative results to return before granted entry. Travellers who test  negative will then be transported for their  14-day quarantine in  their designated hotels (and present booking confirmation issued by the Medical Observation Hotel) for medical observation. Hongkongers whose test returns positive will be isolated.  Other requirements for entry include documentation for the initial full course of Covid-19 vaccination taken at least 14 days prior to arrival, with the last vaccine taken within seven months of travel. For those who are deemed unfit for vaccination, a certificate must be presented for proof.  Currently, Macao allows for bookings at Optional Hotels (Regency Art Hotel and Grand Coloane Resort), Designated Hotel (Pousada

In the case that you, or someone you know, has contracted Covid-19, moving around the city can be risky for others in Hong Kong. In order to reduce the chances of spreading the disease, the city’s Transport and Housing Bureau has recruited 300 cabs to act as a designated taxi fleet transporting Covid-19 patients to and from Hong Kong’s seven designated clinics in Shau Kei Wan, Kennedy Town, San Po Kong, Kowloon Bay, Kwai Chung, Sha Tin and Tin Shui Wai, completely free of charge.  The fleet of 300 designated cabs will begin operations on Friday, February 18 at 7am. These special taxis will be labelled with a blue and white striped sticker that reads ‘designated for anti-epidemic; pre-booking required’ in Chinese text only. All tagged cabs will run without a taximeter and can be booked via the online portal designatedtaxihk.com or by phone at 3693 4770 between 8am and 10pm daily. Once the order is confirmed, patients are only allowed to sit in the back seat of the vehicle to reduce contact with the driver.   Drivers who are set to earn $3,000 a day will be transporting these patients will be wearing protective gear and undergo daily rapid antigen testing. All cabs will be disinfected daily too. To be eligible as a designated cab driver, individuals must test negative. Drivers who are part of the designated fleet are not to pick up any other passengers and those who have not booked, or are not Covid-19 patients, should refrain from getting on these taxis.  For further informat

It’s been another tumultuous year for the food and beverage industry in Hong Kong and Macau, what with the recently reimposed social distancing regulations banning dine-in services after 6pm – but hey, the show must go on. While restaurants have not been operating at their full capacity these days, that doesn’t mean the kitchens have been quiet. Chefs have been hard at work to present their creative inventions in new adaptive ways to suit the social climate. Despite the challenges the industry has been facing since the pandemic outbreak, restaurants have been pushing culinary boundaries and achieving new levels of excellence.  Following in the footsteps of the 13th edition in 2021, this year’s Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau was announced in a live virtual ceremony broadcasted on social media. Restaurants were judged based on the following criteria: quality of products, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in their cuisine, value for money and consistency between visits.  Photograph: Courtesy Chaat In Hong Kong, nine new one-star additions were announced including Belon, by Matthew Kirkley who joined the Black Sheep team from San Francisco’s Coi in 2020. Rosewood’s Chaat, helmed by Manav Tuli, also earned a well-deserved star for its refined modern Indian cuisine. Meanwhile, Hansik Goo received a star for its bold interpretations of Korean cuisine under the direction of Kang Mingoo. Two Chinese restaurants, Seventh Son and Yong Fu,