Fontaine Cheng

Is anything better than a sandwich? From budget-friendly options to sandos packed of high-end ingredients, people love getting their gnashers round a good ’wich all over the world. After all, if you haven't tried a city's national sandwich, have you even really been? So, in an homage to the ancient act of cramming some cracking cheese, meats, fish, or vegetables into two slices of bread, we’ve compiled a list of the world’s very best sandwiches right here – and there’s no wraps, tacos or hotdogs to be seen. Without further ado, sink your teeth into our carby, crunchy roundup. Here are the world’s best sandwiches (according to us). RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in the world🎭 The best things to do in the world in 2024🌃 The best cities in the world🌤️ The world's coolest neighbourhoods

Said to be inspired by the gritty and retro nostalgia of the neighbourhood that it’s located in, Eaton HK in Jordan is the cool hotel on the block that young hipsters, artists and creatives frequent. And since we’re just as cool – albeit not as young – we found ourselves checking in for an easy breezy summer staycation. But it’s no ordinary staycation, it’s a ‘Live Clean, Go Green’ package that preps your stay with plant-based meals, green guides, vegan snacks, and directly helps to protect the environment through a donation to Zero Foodprint, an organisation committed to helping farmers turn bad carbon into good carbon. Keep reading for the full green experience.  RECOMMENDED: Want to read more hotel diary entries, check out our stays at The Sheraton Tung Chung or The Ritz Carlton for some inspiration on where to go next. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

When’s the last time you hopped onto a plane and tucked into a meal high up in the sky? Yes, travelling freely seems like a distant memory to us too. But thankfully, there is a string of hotels in Hong Kong drumming up some creative staycation ideas to bring new experiences to Hongkongers that can’t travel right this moment. The Sheraton Hong Kong in Tung Chung is doing just that with a Runway Dreams weekend staycation that explores the world of plane food with airline caterer, Gate Gourmet, and gets up close and personal with pilots and cabin crew from Hong Kong Airlines. Intrigued, and really rather curious about the plane food(!), we booked ourselves in to check it out. Read on for the full experience.   RECOMMENDED: For more staycation diary entries, check out our stay at Four Seasons Hotel or The Ritz Carlton for some inspiration. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Considered the Grande Dame of The Far East, The Peninsula Hong Kong is an icon of sophistication and has proudly stood in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui since 1928. Redevelopments in 1994 resulted in a 30-floor tower expansion which was added to the original hotel along with helipads at the top. Today, The Peninsula is an elegant celebration of heritage, seamlessly blending its colonial beginnings, architectural features and design with modern elements, personalised service and luxurious amenities including a large fleet of Rolls-Royces painted Peninsula green.  Journey the World: New Encounters is a staycation that offers the chance to take a real break. After all, one of the best parts of a vacation is discovering something new, and you can with these ‘New Encounters’ that are curated into five categories including heritage, art and culture, atelier, culinary, and adrenaline, so there is something for every type of guest. Keep reading to find out what we encountered during our stay. RECOMMENDED: Want to read more hotel diary entries, check out our most recent stays at Eaton HK or The Park Lane for some inspiration on where to go next. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here. Watch the video for a sneak peek:

Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, we're blessed with an endless source of online entertainment. So, whether you're keeping safe at home or just need a distraction from what's going on in the city right now, there's everything from all-time classics to recent releases that are just a few clicks away. Keep scrolling to see our pick of the most binge-worthy shows to help get you through the day. RECOMMENDED: Prefer to check out the local talent? Then work your way through the top 100 Hong Kong movies.

As Hong Kong endures its fifth wave of the pandemic, many of Hong Kong's restaurants and venues have decided to temporarily close, with some sadly closing their doors permanently. The current situation, along with strict regulations, has also led to numerous events being been cancelled. To help keep you up to date, check out all the major event cancellations and restaurant closings below. We'll be updating the list continuously so stay tuned, and stay safe, folks. Note: Please be aware that all restaurants, bars, and venues may update their opening hours and status. We will do our very best to keep this list updated, but if in doubt, please check with the venue directly to be sure. RECOMMENDED: Don't forget to check out our regularly updated social distancing guide and stay informed on developments as they happen.

While we long for the day that we break out of our social-distancing shells, there are still a couple of things that we can do including what we miss, and possibly need, the most: a little TLC to get us through. The power of a rejuvenating facial, properly manicured set of nails, or deep tissue massage to knead out the stiff muscles has never been so apparent. Serving the desperate calls of beauty-stripped Hongkongers are mobile spas that bring their services to the comfort of your own home. You may not be able to physically step foot in a spa, but you can indulge in pampering that comes to your door. RECOMMENDED: Sweat it out and try these online workouts and fitness programmes at home!

No meal is complete without something sweet to round it all up, a little something to feel fully satisfied. Am I right, or am I right? So, for those of you that have a hankering for some silky smooth gelato or craving for chilled mango pomelo sago, read on to see our list of the best dessert delivery and takeaway available in Hong Kong. RECOMMENDED: It’s someone’s birthday somewhere, so why not check out our list of The best cake shops in Hong Kong.

The Tsing Yi Covid-19 isolation centre, sometimes referred to as a mobile cabin hospital, was constructed in seven days using shipping containers and provides up to 3,900 beds for those diagnosed with Covid-19, asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Each of these isolation units holds three beds, and there are shared bathroom and toilet facilities at the location. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc in Hong Kong, it’s important to remain calm and prepare yourself for whatever happens. So, equip yourself with knowledge and learn 10 things you need to know about these centres and what to expect inside these mobile cabins. RECOMMENDED: Keep up to date with Hong Kong’s latest social distancing rules and regulations 

Damned if you do, damned if you dough-nut! Well, when the doughnuts taste this good. Why not? From the classic glazed and sugared to the decadently filled and indulgent, doughnuts in Hong Kong are really coming into their own. So, if you’re looking for the best doughnuts in town, we’ve got your back, because we're selfless like that. RECOMMENDED: Want to go for something more traditional? Check out the best local bakeries and get your Hong Kong pastry on.

There’s nothing quite like ripping into a wonderfully crunchy but succulent piece of crispy golden fried chicken. In fact, thanks in part to our lovely Korean friends, fried chicken is being celebrated left, right and centre with numerous styles from America to Taiwan and beyond, all available in Hong Kong and ready to be delivered to your door. So, get the beers (or soft drinks) ready and let’s get our fried chicken on. RECOMMENDED: Best pizza restaurants in Hong Kong that deliver

Whether you're a little culinary challenged or a pro home cook, there is always room for hacks that will save you time and energy in the kitchen. And with so many of us working from home recently, there’s no time like the present to don an apron and get cooking. TikTok has shared its wisdom with most of the world but since we don't have it here, we thought we'd help by gathering the best to help you level up your kitchen game. So, here are some really clever kitchen hacks to change the way you cook or prepare food from here on out. RECOMMENDED: Upgrade your bowl of instant ramen or try out these seven kitchen ingredients to make cocktails!

A well-known international brand, Toni&Guy spans more than 40 countries with over 400 hair salons across the world. In Hong Kong, Toni&Guy is located in Central, covering a contemporary 3,000sq ft space with 19 seats and two VIP rooms that can be used as a cosy lounge, or even an event space for pop-ups and collaborations. The salon, with its arched ceiling lined in warm natural wood and glass-panelled walls, make for a relaxing experience in a comfortable yet elegant setting. Led by managing director Marcus Lam, and a talented team of beauty and hair technicians, Toni&Guy Hong Kong is one of the city's top salons that provides a variety of services including haircuts, styling, colouring, balayage, perming, straightening, treatments and more. Plus, you can rest assured that you're in safe hands as the team have honed their skills through the international Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy. The experience here is very calming thanks to the friendly, but professional, team that ask all the right questions to ensure they create the best result for you. From the cup of tea upon arrival and the consultation that runs you through your wants and needs, but also how that translates to your own hair, to the shampoo, cut, colour and so on. But ultimately, it's the hair that you end up with that makes Toni&Guy the kind of salon that you can rely on. 

So, you’re having a bad day. Maybe you stubbed your toe while running late, got stuck in rush hour traffic, and then proceeded to walk the wrong way to the restaurant you’re supposed to review. I get it, I’ve been there. In fact, I was there and when I finally sat down, about 30 minutes later than my reservation time at Posso in Sheung Wan, I’m grumbling endlessly to my dinner date and certain that nothing is ‘posso’ right now. That is until I start eating. Posso, meaning ‘I can’ in Italian, is a modern Italian restaurant serving creative cicchetti (pronounced chi-ket-tee), the small side dishes and savoury snacks akin to Spanish tapas. Chef-owner Max Wong, whom you may recognise from Shady Acres and 22 Ships, created Posso with handmade pasta kits before transforming the idea into a restaurant. Fitted out with white brick walls and dark wood tables, Posso is as modest in its design as it is in its menu. A few specials of the day and soft drinks were written on the blackboard, but without a liquor license yet, only lemonade, blood orange soda and Italian cola are up for grabs. You are currently welcome to bring your own bottle. A mix of 90s Brit-pop and upbeat tracks created a fun and familiar atmosphere, lending that peppy feeling you get at the closing credits of a feel-good movie that resulted in a bit of a shoulder bop. Then, as I ordered my food, I’d seemingly forgotten about my throbbing toe and felt that pang of excitement for the dishes to come. The one-page menu feat

The secret to a long life, aside from genetics of course, is a nutritious diet and a robust social network that is more meaningful than your Instagram following. Or at least that’s what Okinawans live by. The balmy Japanese island was dubbed ‘the land of immortals’, where residents – many of which are silver-haired centenarians – are said to be some of the world’s happiest and healthiest. While I’m sure many of us wouldn’t mind living a little longer, it was the pursuit of happiness and, obviously, good food that led us to Hong Kong’s very own exuberant island to check out Okinawa-inspired restaurant and bar Awa Awa. Opened by the team behind Sake Central, the idea is to introduce Okinawa’s ancient distilled spirit awamori (there's a good collection of awamori to try here and they'll keep adding more) and its unique cuisine, which is internationally influenced by a long history of trade, to Hong Kong. Think interesting combinations and punchy flavours inflected by Chinese, Southeast Asian, and American culture. The interior is as playful as the Hawaiian-style summer jams it plays. Neon lights, fun wallpaper, Japanese lanterns, and spoof movie posters make a lively backdrop for the high top bar tables and chairs, some of which surround the bar while others face Peel Street for live nocturnal wildlife-watching. It’s the kind of buzzy place where suits can be seen decompressing after a long day of work, much like they do in Tokyo’s izakayas, with a beer in hand and where friends

Grain, in partnership with one of Hong Kong’s top craft brewers Gweilo, is a restaurant and bar offering gastropub food for weekend brunch (a la carte), Sunday roast ($280 per person), lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with beers and drinks to match.  Grain also houses a research and development brewing facility called Gweilo Brewlab, which will allow beer lovers to try out newly developed brews before they’re released, as well as an area to host beer workshops and tastings to learn more about brewing beer. Offering a total of 24 taps, Grain will serve a rotating selection of craft beers by Gweilo and other breweries, along with a dedicated bar snack menu. They will also have tap-served cocktails including refreshing pineapple mojitos, Pampelle spritzes, and gin and tonic made with Gweilo Gin and Capi Tonic. The food menu, led by head chef Matthew Ziemski whose experience spans well-known establishments in the UK such as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, focuses on a modern gastropub-style of cuisine with comforting flavours driven by seasonal ingredients, many of which are used in the beer brewing process. Think pork and beer malt sausages served with burnt apple ketchup and celeriac remoulade, Scotch eggs with beer mustard, slow-cooked ox cheek and stout beer pie with bone marrow and mashed potato, and a series of Roman-style Pinsa pizza with a focaccia base. Not forgetting the desserts, diners can also indulge in sweet treats including a Millionaire Chocolate Tart with salte

Tucked away in a backstreet alleyway near the end of the Lan Kwai Fong strip, Roji – named after the Japanese word rojiura, meaning alleyway – is a walk-in only restaurant and bar offering Japanese food with a touch of French influence. Dishing out fun casual vibes with light bites and creative cocktails to the beat of old school RnB, soul, and hip hop, Roji has a dining room with table seating and high countertops, a slick bar, and a semi-outdoor space with benches to perch on. Food wise, the menu offers a range of dishes with small bites, starters, hot plates, mains, desserts and rice boxes, all of which come under $300. Highlights include plump cuts of scallop ($138), an oily hamachi dish ($168) topped with salmon roe, grated bottarga and crispy garlic chip, and a crunchy deep-fried chicken katsu ($168). The menu also offers loaded mini-sized rice pots filled with wagyu ($248) or seafood ($268). Wash it all down with a classic highball ($95), saketini ($125), or fruity Kinome cocktail ($120).

You may have heard of high-speed sushi, but have you tried 'bullet train' Japanese BBQ? Well, now you can, kinda, thanks to the new restaurant and Japanese BBQ grill brand Wagyu Yakiniku Ichiro in Jordan. While there were no actual trains involved, the new dining destination does offer unlimited Wagyu set menus (yes, that's right, you can keep eating meat for 120 minutes) with so-called 'Shinkansen bullet trains' bringing food from the kitchen to our table. The contactless service is programmed to deliver our order directly, which basically means it makes a stop at our dining station before we press a door button to access it. The menu offers a choice of six unlimited sets (A to F) which range from $348 to $1,048, with the latter featuring exclusive Odagyu A4 Wagyu from the Oda Chikusan ranch on the remote southwestern tip of Japan. This award-winning meat benefits from rich marbling and gave us some of the best, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth yakiniku moments we've ever had. One of the highlights in set F is Today's Special which includes the special cut of the day and comes in a smokin' treasure chest. Set menus also include US and Australian Wagyu, with grill selections including premium cuts and beef tongue, alongside selected fresh seafood, beef sashimi, sushi, and much more. But the free-flow doesn't end there. We opted for all-you-can-eat and drink (range from $48 up to $78) which gives us unlimited salad, dessert and drink at the bar, so you can graze on a variety of salad

Man Wah is the Cantonese restaurant of Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong which sits on the 25th floor of the hotel. Offering exquisite cuisine, including dim sum in the day, Man Wah is one of the top fine-dining Chinese restaurants in the city with a Michelin star under its belt and a stunning skyline view to boot. The restaurant was recently given a huge makeover, thanks to design studio Silverfox Studios, and the end result is absolutely gorgeous. The interior, in elegant dark azure tones, is accented with brass elements and Chinese embroidered art panels on the wall, adding a sense of refined elegance to the whole experience. But that's not all, the menu was also given a revamp with dishes that sing the song of Cantonese classics in a refined and understated manner, all the while championing these age-old flavours for a modern palate. Seafood lovers can opt for the seemingly simple sautéed lobster cooked in a rich superior fish broth packed with flavour and umami ($588), while those that enjoy local cuisine can try a Hakka-style braised pork belly with taro ($168) which shines a light on village cuisine in the most sophisticated manner.

Updated August 21, 2024: Bȃtard will operate until August 25 before they officially close their Sai Ying Pun location and relocate a new members-only club in Central’s Pedder Building. Bȃtard first opened in June as the love child between Bistro du Vin and The Fine Wine Experience, which was just a month before the third wave hit the city and social distancing rules tightened once again. So if you blinked too hard, you may have missed when the restaurant officially opened, which in our opinion, should have been to greater fanfare. For that reason, we have since returned to Bȃtard to let you know what’s good at the restaurant and that it is still open. With a name like Bȃtard, which stems from the old French word for bastard, you’re not wrong in assuming that this restaurant is more easy-going than other formal wine-focused establishments in Hong Kong. Wine connoisseurs may also have guessed that the restaurant was named after the grand cru vineyard Bâtard-Montrachet in Burgundy, indicating their penchant for fine wine. And yes, the name does point towards the oblong-shaped French bread too, a loaf in between the round boule and long baguette – neither here nor there – a bread bastard if you will.  Walk past the ultra-modern wine cellar to find a dressed down but well-spaced restaurant. The interior, accented with cerulean drapes and deep teal walls, is adorned with decorative mirrors and calligraphy naming vineyards from around the world. A wine restaurant at its very core, B

No, we would never call you fat! The pop-up restaurant’s name is actually based on the auspicious and most favoured number in modern Chinese culture, eight (8), owing to the fact that it sounds like the Chinese word ‘fat’ (發) which is short for ‘fat choi’ (發財) which means to get rich or make a fortune – hence the play on words.  The pop-up concept is also inspired by the legendary land of Chinese mythology, Mount Penglai, where eight immortals would come for a mega ceremonial feast. Much like the ancient story, the pop-up is designed to look ethereal, with soft textures and dreamy white and gold accents throughout the space.  Tucked away inside another restaurant, Shanghai Garden in Exchange Square, 888 Fatfatfat will serve dishes that explore regional Chinese food through modern eyes, while also offering a noodle bar (dishes start from $138) for lunch and unique dining experience for dinner.  Headed by veteran Chinese chef Wong Hon-keung, with input from green food pioneer and chef Peggy Chan of Grassroots Initiatives, the menu is designed for sharing with vegan, vegetarian, seafood, and meat dishes to try. Highlights from the menu include Peking ‘duck’ wraps ($238) which uses cured jackfruit that tastes so meaty it could fool a carnivore; a take on a typhoon shelter classic using Scottish razor clams ($328) cooked with black garlic and vermicelli; and Henan 8 Immortal’s Chicken ($428) which supposedly was one of the Qianlong Emperor’s favourite dishes and is CFC (Chinese f

Hong Kong has seen a fair few cookie campaigns popping up this year, including Cookie DPT's stint at The Upper House and the Baked Indulgence pop-up at IFC to name a few, but the cookie mania doesn't stop there. Now, online cookie shop Cookie Vission is set to bring their sweet, round disks of baked dough to K11 Musea for two months, from October 1 to November 30. The pop-up will be located on the ground floor of the mall's Muse Edition section, where a retro-style food truck will sell their signature style of cookies that hold a molten lava centre. Five classic cookies ($40-50) will be available at the pop-up and will offer their popular hazelnut Nutella; triple chocolate; Portuguese egg tart; funfetti cheesecake; and matcha macadamia white flavours. Photograph: Hong Kong milk tea creme brulee cookie | Courtesy Cookie Vission/Nicholas Wong During the month, two new and exclusive cookies that have been inspired by Hong Kong flavours, will also be offered. The first, available throughout October, will be the Hong Kong milk tea crème brûlée ($50) cookie which features creamy milk tea filling in a chunky cookie casing that is blow-torched on site. The second, available during November, will be the Hong Kong egg waffle cookie, which takes on the classic Hong Kong dessert flavour and puts in a crispy, but gooey, New York style cookie. Make sure to get there bright and early, as the first 25 cookie-loving customers will get the exclusive flavour for free on the first day of each mo

Known for coming up with bursts of food and beverage creativity in Hong Kong, The Upper House, which most recently launched a teakha pop-up, is introducing something that they’ve named C’est Cheese – The House Cheeserie, a pop-up made for cheese and wine. The menu – which will change up every week – offers a good variety of cheeses sourced from responsible producers and farmers across France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Pair this with wines picked by their award-winning chef sommelier, Leo Au, and you’ve got yourself a fine evening. Some of their cheese and wine pairings include a firm aged Swiss Cheese called Vacherin Fribourgeois, which is creamy, nutty and balanced with natural acidity. As suggested, this is best paired with an unfiltered sparkling Yamanashi sake from the Shichiken brewery, which helps to temper the more complex flavours of the cheese. Another is a softer Italian taleggio cheese from the Bergamo region of Alpine Lombardy region, which is aged for 100 days, paired with a beautifully complex Poulsard from Domaine du Pelican in the Jura. The pop-up is available on Tuesdays through to Sundays (closed Mondays and subject to Government regulations) until December 30 and will take place on The Lawn area, so as to take advantage of the slightly cooler weather in Hong Kong and enjoy alfresco moments. Cheese boards are priced at $275 for three, $475 for five, and $675 for seven cheese. There’s also a 50 percent discount on selected bottles of wine from

The pop-up, which is open until October 15 on the third floor of Landmark Atrium food court, will offer the French brand's signature pavlovas and jar desserts, highlighting a new summer pavlova that indicates the hottest season of the year isn't quite over.  Inspired by the classic French dessert peach melba, the summer pavlova will be based on their crisp meringue with chewy centres (as they should be!), topped with rich vanilla Chantilly cream, fresh peaches, raspberries, slivered almonds, and a zesty peach and lime coulis. It's available in an assortment of sizes, so whether you're eating for one and need an individual portion ($55), or want a bigger 12-inch pavlova for 15 people ($800) – or just really love pavlovas – you're all set with Le Dessert.  For those that can't make the pop-up, Le Dessert take online orders and are also introducing a limited edition pavlova DIY kit ($550), so you can make your own at home. The DIY kit provides all the ingredients, along with a step-by-step guide, including one six-inch meringue base, freshly whipped Chantilly cream, coulis and fresh fruits. Check out their website for more details.

The list of venues voted between Number 51 and 100 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 has been announced ahead of the 50 Best ceremony, which makes its return as a live event taking place in Bangkok, Macau and Tokyo on Tuesday, March 29 simultaneously. Three accolades including Asia’s Best Female Chef Award, Icon Award and American Express One To Watch Award have also been announced prior to the launch of the best restaurants list. Young and talented Japanese chef Natsuko Shoji of Été in Tokyo was awarded Asia’s best female chef, while Buddhist nun Jeong Kwan of Baekyangsa Temple in South Korea was celebrated as one of Asia’s culinary icons, and Eat and Cook chefs Lee Zhe-xi and Soh Yong-zhi in Kuala Lumpur have been recognised as ones to watch this year. Photograph: Courtesy BâtardA restaurant made for wine lovers, but foodies flock to all the same The announcement of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 list features 25 new entries and reveals 10 of Hong Kong’s top restaurants as Asia’s best. Six of the new entries are from Hong Kong including the highest-ranking newcomer, Japanese restaurant Godenya (No. 64); elegant Shanghainese restaurant Xin Rong Ji (No. 77); French restaurants Bâtard (No. 82) and L’Envol (No. 88); crowd favourite and Indian street food-inspired dining room Chaat (No. 96); and Edomae-style omakase restaurant Sushi Hare (No. 98). Photograph: Courtesy Sushi HareJapanese omakase in an intimate setting Last year, beloved Cantonese restaurant The Chairman t

The Hong Kong government announced a new round of the employment support (or wage subsidy) scheme, providing up to 1.3 million workers affected by the fifth wave of the pandemic with three months of subsidy totalling $24,000 to help employers pay each eligible worker $8,000 a month from May to July. Applications must be made by business owners and subsidies can only be used to pay staff and not for any other purposes. Workers that earn less than $30,000 on a monthly basis are eligible as well as those aged 65 or above with no MPF account. The government also stated that larger companies including those in government bodies, public institutions, supermarket chains, pharmaceutical chains, banks, financial institutions, property management, telecommunications, broadcasting and delivery services would be excluded. Employees with salaries higher than $30,000 would also not be eligible. Applications for the scheme are said to begin in April. Costing them $26 billion to $31 billion, the government says the scheme is intended to support small to medium enterprises while also helping to curb the unemployment situation and boost business confidence. In her announcement, chief executive Carrie Lam also discussed the city’s worrying unemployment situation with the rate in February hitting 4.5 percent, resulting in over 157,000 unemployed Hongkongers. With this in mind, the government are also pushing out a one-off payment of $10,000 for temporary unemployment relief. Eligible applicants

Life with Covid-19 is different for everyone, but in Hong Kong, this means experiencing one of the world’s strictest pandemic regulations. Some of us have been carted off to stay at a quarantine centre – Yes, in fact, I may have been one of the first to give it a test run – or experienced the dystopian moments of sudden lockdown, and everyone is still subject to stringent social distancing measures. Can you say bye-bye beach? And if, in the midst of all this, you happen to run a business in Hong Kong, well, you’re probably bearing the brunt of it all. Not only will you have experienced a very apparent commercial decline but, depending on your line of business, you may also be facing temporary, or even permanent, closure. Suffice to say, it’s been hard. OK, it’s been shit – absolutely steaming. But, thanks to a bunch of passionate and forward-thinking Hongkongers, the fight isn’t over just yet. RECOMMENDED: How businesses are helping other businesses and Hong Kong charities and communities to support right now.  Photograph: Courtesy F45 Causeway BayThe indoor gym has found a way to survive outdoors There are people in the park lifting dumbbells and doing press-ups, training metres away from others while an instructor talks them through the workout via zoom. It's possible to continue working out and follow all the rules because the will to survive is here. "There's no better driver of innovation than survival,” says Kevin Ho, owner of F45 Causeway Bay. “We've adapted our ind

McDonald’s Hong Kong, which has over 245 branches across the city, announced in a Facebook post that it will temporarily close 38 outlets due to the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. About 90 other McDonald's venues will only open until 6pm, while the remaining restaurants will also shorten their business hours. Waiting time for orders to be picked up and delivered will also be affected and longer than usual. The fast-food chain joins a number of other venues and restaurants that have chosen to temporarily close during this time. In the social media post, McDonald's Hong Kong stated that its operations are facing unprecedented difficulties, with manpower and supplies greatly affected during this time. From March 7, 2022, McDonald's will push their evening deals earlier to 5pm to allow more people to enjoy the discount. For the latest McDonald's restaurant operating hours, visit their official website. 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.

The Hong Kong MTR Corporation has announced the reduction of weekday services of eight railway lines (East Rail, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Island, South Island, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, and Tuen Ma lines) during peak and non-peak hours starting Friday, March 4, 2022. Train frequencies of the East Rail Line during weekends and public holidays will also be slightly adjusted. As a result, passengers will have to wait one to four minutes longer for trains, almost double the wait time for some lines. More specifically, the waiting time during the morning peak hours (from 7.30am to 9.30am) on the East Rail line will go up from 2.9 to 3.5 minutes to 6 to 7 minutes; Tsuen Wan line will increase from 2 minutes to 3 to 3.6 minutes; and the Island line will go up from 1.9-2.9 minutes to 3.4-3.6 minutes. As cited by the MTR Corporation, the adjustment is the result of a drastic reduction in passengers due to the pandemic and operations staff shortage. Passenger numbers dropped in the second half of February 2022, and ridership during weekday peak hours was less than half of that in December 2021. The same goes for weekends and public holidays, which saw a decline of about 60 percent from last December. The number of MTR operations, maintenance, and contractor staff, who could not go to work because they tested positive for Covid-19 amassed to about 1,500, creating a workforce shortage and challenges to train operations.  Passengers are advised to check and consider whether their travels wi

You may not be a typical Hong Kong foodie who snaps 20 different angles of their morning cereal, but you can’t deny that food triggers emotion. At the very least, you’ll get a little irritated when you’re hungry. Others will reach for that tub of ice cream when they’re sad, or gravitate towards a heartwarming bowl of soup and feel-good carbs when they’ve had a bad day at work. Whatever it is for you, comfort food is timeless. It’s a mood-enhancing food – not necessarily indulgent or calorific – that feeds the soul. In Hong Kong, there are about a million and one different dopamine-triggering foods to enjoy, but street food is undoubtedly a top contender. Cheung fun, a simple Cantonese dish, is well-loved in this city and collectively, we eat it like it’s going out of fashion. You can get plain ju cheung fun (named for its resemblance to ‘pig’s intestines’ apparently) which is a blank canvas for the sweet, savoury, and spicy sauces; the filled variety which wraps the rice noodle around beef, pork, seafood, and more; stir-fried versions with aromatic xo sauce; the wrinkled kind that is scraped off the pan to create folds for more sauce to hold on to; and there are even colourful, sweet versions filled with cream and durian. The list goes on and on. Some Hong Kong restaurants create their own renditions, adding unexpected flavour and ingredients for a new style of cheung fun, but the traditional type, well that’s where the comfort comes in. Photograph: Fontaine ChengGrabbing a

Ahead of the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2022 virtual award ceremony, which takes place on January 19 at 3pm (Hong Kong time), this year’s Bib Gourmand selection of value-for-money eateries has been announced. This comprises 64 venues in Hong Kong including seven new additions, which are new or newly promoted, as well as seven in Macau too. The Bib Gourmand distinction is awarded to venues that offer high-quality food at budget-friendly prices. More specifically, this means that we can enjoy a high-quality three-course meal (excluding drinks) for a maximum price of $400 in Hong Kong. The selection of eateries covers a variety of cuisine with more than 20 different styles across Hong Kong and Macau including not only restaurants but also street food shops that reflect the culinary traditions of both Hong Kong and Macau. Three of the new Bib Gourmand eateries in Hong Kong offer traditional Cantonese and Chiu Chow flavours which have been passed down through generations or carry flavours, techniques and culinary known-how that have been sharpened through the years. The other four venues offer Hong Kong's beloved comfort food that you typically get at the city's best street vendors. The seven new Bib Gourmand eateries in Hong Kong include:  Chan Kan Kee Chiu Chow This 70-year-old Chiu Chow restaurant is one of the oldest in Hong Kong but closed its Sheung Wan location to open up in Lohas Park. They have continued their culinary traditions here and remains well-loved for th

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Go out for a lunch date, send your boo flowers, keep them sweet with some chocs, or you can take them to Pane e Latte in Stanley and buy one of their Lover’s Croissant Bombolonis. You never know, you might find an 18K white gold diamond ring inside. Yes, you read that right, the Italian bakery and gelateria is stuffing expensive jewellery (worth $14,000 mind you!) inside a pastry so one lucky person can win some bling on February 14, 2022. The rest of us, well, we can still enjoy the croissant bomboloni, a hybrid invention of crisp, flaky pastry with a soft, pillowy centre filled with orange blossom crema.  Photograph: Courtesy Emphasis JewelleryFind this ring in a croissant bomboloni at Pane e Latte on February 14 The elegant 18K white gold diamond ring, in large size, is from Emphasis Jewellery’s Mystique Collection and features marquise-cut brilliant diamonds (total carat weight 0.26 ct) surrounding the centre princess-cut, square modified brilliant, diamond (total carat weight 0.11 ct, colour G-H, clarity SI1-SI2). There is, of course, other baked goods, creamy gelato, and all-day breakfast to enjoy, but I already know what I’m going to order. Photograph: Courtesy Pane e LatteWill you try your luck at Pane e Latte this Valentine's Day? Pane e LatteG/F, U-c Court, 25 Stanley Market Rd, Stanley Want to hear about the latest restaurant openings and learn about the most happening events in the city? Subscribe to

The Year of the Tiger is just around the corner (Tuesday, February 1) and in keeping with tradition, Hong Kong is lighting up with bright and colourful Chinese New Year displays. Sure, social distancing restrictions remain, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in style and what better way to get into the CNY spirit than to inject a little festive flair into your home.  Enter Ikea's brand new Chinese New Year decorations, the Kungstiger collection, which includes everything from lanterns, rugs, cushions, tableware, and other home accessories to usher in all the good luck and fortune we need for the new year. The collection also has some adorable tiger-shaped products as well as auspicious floral items and multicoloured designs.   Photograph: Courtesy IkeaIkea's Kungstiger collection for Chinese New Year Homeware  Find comfort in lucky red tiger cushions ($149.90) as well as cute mini plushies that draw inspiration from the traditional Chinese children tiger-head shoes in white, green and red ($34.90). Hong Kong exclusives come in the form of a red tiger doormat ($49.90) and cushions with blossoming peony designs ($79.90-$99.90), along with interior decorations like magnets or wall stickers ($12.90-$24.90).  Photograph: Courtesy IkeaJazz up your home with CNY accessories from Ikea Lighting options include the more traditional looking red pendant lamp shade ($279.9) or the contemporary style peony lampshade ($129.90). There's even an artificial potted mandarin plant ($3

In his first international match since the Tokyo Olympic summer games last year, Hong Kong’s star fencer and world number four Edgar Cheung Ka-long made Hong Kong history again, beating Italy's Edoardo Luperi in the final for men’s individual foil at the FIE (International Fencing Federation) World Cup in Paris on January 16 and claiming gold with a score of 15-12. Photograph: Facebook/FIE.org Cheung, who is now the city's first-ever men's fencing World Cup winner, made Hong Kong proud throughout the competition and also defeated the world number one and former world champion Alessio Foconi at 15-4 in their semi-finals. The future is extremely bright for the Hong Kong fencer and Cheung is expected to go on to achieve a higher world ranking. 🙌 Ka Long CHEUN, le champion olympique de @Tokyo2020, est le nouveau vainqueur du #CIPfleuret 2022 ! Il bat l’Italien, Edoardo LUPERI, 15 à 12 ! Bravo 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Gd9e5GwdRt — Fédération Française d'Escrime (@ffescrime) January 15, 2022 Meanwhile, Cheung’s Hong Kong teammate and world number eleven Ryan Choi Chun-yin narrowly lost to Foconi in the quarter-finals at 15-14, and Shawn Cheung Siu-lun reached the last 64 having outperformed teammate Cheung Ngo-chun. Want to hear more about the latest news or events and find out what's happening in Hong Kong? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to get the news!

We've got a lot of love for British restaurant Roganic, which has left its mark – a green one at that – on Hong Kong's dining scene since opening in 2019. The one-Michelin-starred and Michelin-green-starred restaurant is a British import created by chef Simon Rogan which continues to wow us with its creative and sustainable cuisine. Now, the team are opening a new venture in Hong Kong: The Baker & The Bottleman. Reflecting the same sustainable values, the new shop is a bakery by day and wine bar by night, offering gourmet British bakes and natural wines on Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The bakery, led by executive chef Oli Marlow and his team of chefs and bakers, will deliver an assortment of baked goods that are made from scratch on-site, all the while working with local suppliers and premium ingredients that embrace seasonality.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The menu will feature British bakes including pastries, scones, cakes, bread, sandwiches, cookies and more, as well as locally-sourced coffee, soft drinks, juices, and loose-leaf teas from a boutique tea merchant in Hong Kong. There's even soft-serve ice cream, with flavours such as vanilla and English tea.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The shop also features an upstairs space (opening soon) to enjoy your goodies while you're there. This will then transform into a casual wine bar in the evening that serves natural wines, curated by

Gingko House, a social enterprise that advocates senior employment and supports local communities in Hong Kong, has launched the ‘Share Love’ store to help those in need during the winter. We took a moment to chat with Kenneth Choi, director of business development at Gingko House and executive director of registered charity Everbright Concern Action Limited (ECA), to find out more about the store and how we can pitch in too. Photograph: Courtesy Gingko HouseKenneth Choi (far left) with staff and volunteers at the store What is the store all about? The ‘Share Love’ store gives away donated goods to those in need, free of charge. It is orchestrated by us but powered by you.  The venue was donated to us by a generous landlord, Lofter Group (樂風集團), who answered our call when we sent out a message on our Facebook page, and the goods are kindly donated by our supporters. Run mainly by volunteers, the shop serves individuals in need within our community. The aim is not only to give away these things, but we want to share the warm feeling of love with everyone involved. Photograph: Courtesy Gingko HouseThe store categorises clothing for shoppers to easily find what they're looking for What are you trying to achieve? The ‘Share Love’ store works towards a number of things: We want to encourage recycling by redistributing gently-used goods We want to promote the importance of volunteer work We want to employ and empower those in need to help others in need (some staff members are