What’s On HKG: Best Things to See, Do, Eat, & Drink on May 18-24, 2023

Ahh, another week is upon us, and you’re looking for cool things to get up to in the 852! We’ve saved you the hassle with The Beat Hong Kong’s rundown of the best places to hit up and things to do right now—from blink-and-you'll-miss-it pop-up sights and new restaurant openings, to the hottest activities that you shouldn’t miss.

To keep your finger on the pulse of the city, follow The Beat Hong Kong to see what’s best in store for the week ahead. 

1. SuNKeN Day Party 003 on The Lawn in Central

Kick off the first waves of summer as SuNKeN returns with Balearic Zoo! After the success of Sunken Vol. 1 and 2 in 2021, the exotic music and open-air festival vibes are set to take over The Lawn this Saturday. Expect to be immersed in an enchanting Ibiza Zoo Party theme, complete with captivating decor and mesmerising body and face painting from on-site artists. Set along the picturesque waterside of Central Harbourfront, The Lawn is the perfect space for an unforgettable day party.

Enter an extravagant, immersive, and interactive event space decked out in all the wild things. With a stellar DJ lineup, dance away to beats from DJs Anil Ahuja, A Squared (Major Tom B2B Anthony2), Benny Cullen, and Lydia Nadia. There will also be a sunset yoga sesh and plenty of fun surprises from event partners, plus BubbleMe seltzers to pass around. All these are soundtracked by a mix of chilled out and summery house sounds to send your mind to the tropics.

When: 1 PM-9 PM, May 20

Where: Hong Kong Observation Wheel & AIA Vitality Park, 33 Man Kwong Street, Central, Hong Kong

How much: Buy tickets here, Starting from HK$210

2. Affordable Art Fair at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Celebrating its 10th milestone, Hong Kong’s annual Affordable Art Fair is set to showcase purchasable works from hundreds of talented artists and galleries around the world at a price tag that’ll make you smile. Browse through a wide variety of inspiring and cutting-edge artworks, participate in interactive workshops and engaging tours, and enjoy fun-filled evening events.

Check out the full low-down on all the immersive art experiences that await with our handy guide here.

When: May 18-21

Where: Hall 1E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

How much: Buy tickets here, Starting from HK$140

3. Silent Disco Yoga on the Hong Kong Waterfront by The Yoga Room

Hong Kong boasts one of the world’s most beautiful city skylines, and The Yoga Room is making the most of that by taking over the gorgeous Central-Western promenade with an experience where you can soak up the waterfront and sunset views while moving a calming flow.

Slip into something comfortable and get lost in a new sensorial world as you move your body to curated beats from a pair of glowing headphones. With the iconic Hong Kong skyline as your backdrop, you'll be transported to a state of pure bliss at this one-of-a-kind yoga practice led by expert instructors.

When: 10 AM-11 AM, May 27

Where: Deck. 2, Central & Western District Promenade, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

How much: Buy tickets here, HK$180

4. Fusion 2 Sculptural Exchange at Asia Society Hong Kong Center in Admiralty

Co-organised with The Arkad Foundation of Seravezza in Italy, the exhibition highlights the concept of fusion and features collaborative sculptural works between five Hong Kong artists and five Italian artists. The unique aspect of this exhibition is that sculptors in Hong Kong worked with wood, while their Italian counterparts worked with marble. The artists were able to choose their preferred collaborative partner, resulting in sculptural works that are the outcome of an unprecedented fusion between artists who have never met in person over their creative process.

The exhibition, which kicked off its first edition in December 2021, was held at two prestigious locations, The Arkad Foundation in Italy and the Visual Art Centre in Hong Kong. Fusion 2 will bring back all 10 sculptures created from Fusion 1 and an additional 20 new smaller sculptures created by the same exhibited artists.

When: Now until June 25

Where: Chantal Miller Gallery, Asia Society Centre, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, Hong Kong

How much: Free entry

5. Ceramics Market by ClayLab at 3 Chiu Kwong Street in Sai Ying Pun

Art and pottery lovers will be “throwing” (get it?) their hands up in the air with delight to know that ClayLab is bringing together local clay artists to the 3 Chiu Kwong Street space this weekend. As a community event, this market is a treasure trove of unique and beautiful ceramic pieces made by over 20 makers.

But it's not just pottery on display. You'll also find a variety of lifestyle objects and other goodies to browse through. And don't worry about leaving your furry friends behind since they're more than welcome to come along.

When: 12 PM-7 PM, May 21

Where: G/F, 3A, Chiu Kwong Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

How much: Free entry

6. White Wine Tasting: Old World vs. New World by Altaya Wines in Wong Chuk Hang

Let Altaya Wines take you on an eye-opening journey around the globe through the fragrant, light, and tenderly delicious vehicle of white wine. Showcasing a lineup of stars, guests can indulge in the Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La Moussiere Blanc 2021, Churton Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Schiopetto Pinot Grigio Collio 2019, Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris 2021, Billaud Simon Chablis 2020, and Walter Hansel Chardonnay Cahill Lane 2020. The tasting, which is valued at HK$688 per person, will be hosted by James Rowell.

When: 7 PM-8:30 PM, May 24

Where: Altaya Wines, 2/F, Cheung Tak Industrial Building, 30 Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

How much: Book here, HK$150

7. Kombucha-tail at Furutu in SoHo

Sweet, sour, and sizzling on the tongue thanks to its fermented nature, kombucha is a treat like no other during the warmer weather. Blended with the Japanese spirit of umeshu, and you have yourself a one-of-a-kind fruity bevvy that captures anyone with a palate for fresh sweetness. Combining the pleasures of these delicious drinks, Furutu on Peel Street is joining hands with local kombucha-makers Taboocha to host a tea and kombucha tasting, with a flair-filled kombucha cocktail-making sesh to follow.

Expect tasty brews like the herbaceous Earl Grey and honeyed Phoenix dan-cong, amongst other delights. Sign up by sending Furutu a direct message on their Instagram via this link.

When: 4 PM-6 PM, May 20

Where: Furutu, 59C, Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong

How much: HK$400 per person

8. New Menu Revamp at Sumac Lebanese Restaurant in Central

Recently revamped, authentic Lebanese restaurant Sumac boasts elevated interiors, an extensive menu of new mezze, and an impressive wine list that guests can enjoy.

Must-try dishes include the signature Falafel, Chicken Liver sautéed with sweet and sour pomegranate juice and pine nuts, egg-based hummus Bayd Bil Awarma, and a taste of the coast in Shrimp Provencal. Award-winning chefs Ahmed Mahrous and Hussein Al Ankouni are the creative team behind these dishes, continuing the vision that managing director and head of culinary Nadim Hamze began in 2010.

Sumac has an extensive wine list that pairs perfectly with the dishes mentioned, including an exclusive selection of Lebanese wines that are hard to encounter outside the nation. Enjoy these post-meal tipples in the Sumac Lounge area, an intimate cocktail lounge and bar with its own large outdoor area, with a range of premium and rare whisky from Scotland and Japan to boot.

When: Now available

Where: Sumac HK, 8 – 9 Glenealy, Central, Hong Kong

How much: Book here, Prices vary

9. Astor 5 Year Anniversary Buffet at Eaton HK in Jordan

In tribute to the old Astor Theatre, The Astor at Eaton is commemorating their fifth anniversary with a delectable buffet menu that celebrates traditional Hong Kong cuisine. Indulge in must-try Hong Kong classics such as Strawberry Sweet & Sour Pork, Sea Whelks with Spicy Wine Sauce, and Fried Silver Pine Noodles with Prawns that bring back that nostalgic dai pai dong flavour. For seafood lovers, meet heaven at the fresh seafood setup where you can choose your favourite marine meats and sauce.

But the fun doesn't stop there! For an extra HK$90, you can upgrade to a free-flow package and receive a theatre gift token. The Astor Si Doh will also be dishing out old-school favourites, featuring local Hong Kong childhood snacks and toys from the 1970s and 1980s, from Mini Coca Cola candies to ring pops. The Astor venue will also be decked out with hand-painted posters depicting Hong Kong's most iconic films, thanks to iconic cinema billboard artist Jimmy Keung.

When: Available from May 2 onwards

Where: The Astor, B1, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, Kowloon

How much: Starting from HK$358 (HK$248 for concessionary)

10. New Nordic Spring Menu at Embla in Sheung Wan

Contemporary fine-dining restaurant EMBLA is welcoming spring with a brand new five- and eight-course lunch and dinner menu featuring seasonal Nordic-inspired dishes.

Chef and founder Jim Löfdahl has prepared exciting seasonally inspired dishes such as smoked eel with pickled herring Gubbröra eggs, Knäckebröd Nordic crispy bread, and Gustav dill vodka from Finland. A supplemental option of Imperial Ossetra caviar is also available for a dash of luxuriousness. For some rarer delicacies, there is also the æbleskiver, a Danish pancake with applewood smoked trout and delightful herbs and toppings.

For the main course, guests can enjoy wild turbot with butter poached razor clams, thyme velouté, potato, and parsley. There’s also the mouth-watering Wagyu A5 striploin with pickled burdock, trout roe, charred eggplant purée, and oyster & sesame vinaigrette.

When: From May 12 onwards

Where: Embla, 11 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

How much: Book here, Starting from HK$1288 (lunch)

Starting from HK$1788 (dinner)