WEEKENDER: Celebrating CNY in Hong Kong, foodie delights, live music and more

CNY is officially here and we’re ringing in the Year of the Horse with some celebrations! We’ve got the best festive events happening in Hong Kong for you to pick from, plus a cheese-fest feast, local live music, cool cultural exhibitions and plenty more… enjoy the long weekend everyone!

Kung hei fat choi!
The Year of the Horse is finally upon us! Hong Kong’s all decked out in red and gold and everyone’s got a smile on their face for the New Year (especially as those lai see packets start coming in!). As the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, there are tonnes of celebrations and plenty of cultural activities to get involved in – and we’ve rounded them all up in our Guide to Chinese New Year 2014 in Hong Kong. Not only have we found the best festive field trips and events for you to enjoy (including the beautiful Flower Markets and fun Night Parade in TST), but we’ve also got the deets on yummy Chinese New Year feasts at some of the hottest restos in town. Let’s get ready to gallop into the New Year!

When: Until 16 February, see all dates here
Where: All over town, see more locations here
How much: Many are totally free (our favourite word)!

Cheese, glorious cheese
Who doesn’t love a deliciously indulgent, creamy fondue? To keep us warm this winter, DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant and French cookware experts Le Creuset have teamed up to create some comforting fondue sets just for us. Expect cheesy heaven (served in a Le Creuset pot of course!) coupled with artisanal beers from Italian microbrewery 32 Via dei Birrai; with three different cheese flavour sets (we’re talking Gruyere, Fontina and Gorgonzola… mmmm…), you’ll be spoilt for choice! If that ain’t cheesy enough for you, DiVino have also created three extra sharing dishes that include an oven-baked camembert, cream-filled buffalo mozzarella and buffalo milk ricotta – yum! Treat yourself just in time for CNY, you big cheese!

When: Until February 28
Where: DiVino, G/F, 73 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $300 per person for the Fonduta Svizzera, $280 per person for the Fonduta Alla Valdostana, $250 per person for the Fonduta al Gorgonzola. For reservations, call 2167 8883 or email [email protected]

Tunes & tipples
Why not kick off the Lunar New Year by supporting Hong Kong’s local music scene? One of our fave Brit bars, The Pawn, will be hosting some great local bands and live acts every Tuesday evening at their Live Sessions. With everything from reggae and rock, to the blues and folk music, you’re sure to discover a new homegrown talent you’ll love! It’s always nice to find somewhere that does good live music (quite the rarity in Hong Kong!), and the setting of The Pawn’s beautiful old heritage building makes these live sessions even better! It’s the perfect way to wind down after work…

When: 4 February (and every Tuesday until 11 March), 7.30pm
Where: 1/F The Living Room, The Pawn, 62 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry with ‘Tipple Time’ special drinks prices; call 2866 3444 for more info

Fragrant food
Love perfume? Love food? Then you’ll love the special La Parfum Menu at The French Window Brasserie and Bar, which has paired up with designer label ELIE SAAB for a multi-sensory foodie experience. Not only will you get to savour four courses of delicious French food (hello honey-glazed monkfish and rose-scented soufflé!) but you’ll also receive a complimentary ELIE SAAB Portable Trio Fragrance Gift Set… bonus! With a menu designed to compliment the orange blossom and rose honey scent of ELIE SAAB’s newest perfume, this makes for one luxuriously aromatic meal. P.S. This romantic set is also available in two different menus on Valentine’s Day… Hint, hint! 

When: Mondays-Thursdays until 20 February
Where: The French Window Brasserie and Bar, 3101, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $498 per person (add $298 for wine pairing) for Le Parfum Menu Gourmand; $488 per person for Valentine’s Day mini-menu, $888 per person for Valentine’s Day full menu (plus 10% service charge). Call 2393 3812 for reservations

Culture vultures
Was one of your new year’s resolutions to re-discover your cultural side? If the Year of the Horse has got your creative juices flowing, then come check out Building the M+: The Museum and Architecture Collection exhibition in TaiKoo Place! If you haven’t heard of the M+, then you’d better get up to speed because this brand new Hong Kong museum (which should be finished in 2017) is set to rival the likes of the Tate in London and MoMa in New York as one of the most important centres for art in the world. This exhibition at Artistree offers an introduction to what the M+ is, how it’s going to look and gives an insight into the museum’s growing architecture collection – you can even build your own mini building using recycled materials at the back of the room! Don’t miss out on this cool exhibit… we really enjoyed our day there!

When: Until 9 February, open daily 10am-8pm. Open until 5pm on 30 January, closed 31 January.
Where: ArtisTree, 1/F, Cornwall House, TaiKoo Place, Island East, Hong Kong
How much: Absolutely free!

Got an event you’d like us to feature in The Weekender, or have a top tip for us? Email us the details at [email protected].