With social distancing restrictions being relaxed and holidays such as Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day just around the corner, there are lots of reasons to celebrate this month. So, to ensure you make the most of all the events going on around town, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top happenings in May – from art exhibitions and outdoor activities to the best menus Hong Kong has to offer.

Note: Keep an eye on the latest COVID-19 regulations and confirm any details before you head out

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo 

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than at Hong Kong’s new Mexican restaurant, Chicano ? This Gough Street newcomer offers authentic meals made with hearty ingredients, with a menu that features nostalgic recipes handed down from founder Gabe Perez’s abuela. Wash down the spicy fare with ice-cold Coronas and shots of tequila for a full fiesta Mexicana. 

Take advantage of the weather

Hong Kong is getting hotter, which means that you’d better take the chance to get outdoors while you still can. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival may have been cancelled this year, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a ferry ride over to the sleepy seaside island for some delicious seafood and easy hikes instead. With eight temples to visit and a variety of trails to enjoy, it’s the perfect way to spend the weekend with family.

To celebrate Buddha’s birthday on May 8, head to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. The 430-step climb takes you past 500 life-sized golden arhat statues and up to a whopping five temples and four pavilions, along with a terrace that offers breathtaking views over Sha Tin. 

Spoil mum this Mother’s Day

Looking for the perfect way to thank your mum this year? There are lots of restaurants offering unique Mother’s Day menus for the holiday, ensuring there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. 

Sheung Wan’s 1908BC  will be offering two set menus this Mother’s Day, in celebration of the special day. The Old Hong Kong Mother’s Day Menu showcases traditional Chinese classics such as double-boiled pork and hairy fig soup, or fish maw with Chinese mushrooms in abalone sauce, while their New Hong Kong Mother’s Day Menu features much-loved British-style Chinese dishes such as honey pork ribs and butterfly prawn toast. Mums will also get a complimentary glass of prosecco with their meal.

Looking for something a little more… elevated? Located on the 24th floor of California Tower and offering panoramic views of Hong Kong’s skyline, Aria ’s Mother’s Day offering comes in the form of a refined five-course dinner. The menu boasts restaurant favourites such as the cuore al tartufo (burrata stuffed with truffle, aubergine and fresh basil) and the ravioli di branzino (sea bass ravioli served with saffron emulsion and liquorice) – and all mums will be gifted an LKF Elite gift card when they dine.

Across the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, contemporary Australian restaurant Hue  will be offering a special three-course lunch and four-course dinner menu. Choose from dishes such as pan-fried sea bass and wagyu sirloin as you take in the dazzling view of Victoria Harbour. And as a special treat for those who enjoy the evening set menu, each mum will be gifted a little aromatherapy treat, too.

Hit up the best exhibitions at Art Central

Art Central  will be returning to Hong Kong from 26-29 May, having been rescheduled from the event’s original date in March. Featuring up-and-coming contemporary artists in the Asia Pacific region alongside artists from around the world, it has fast become one of the art community’s most anticipated events of the year. This year’s Art Central will show works from more than 50 galleries, making it the biggest yet. And for the first time ever, the event will showcase Hong Kong-based artists without representation in the Made in Hong Kong exhibition.

Splash out on a staycation

While some of us may be eyeing up flights for a quick escape to Phuket or Singapore following the reduction in compulsory hotel quarantine, many aren’t quite ready to hop on a plane just yet. So, while you wait for your next overseas adventure, there are still plenty of staycation offers to take advantage of in Hong Kong right now, such as The Peninsula , The Conrad  and The Hari  in the city, or the Auberge Discovery Bay  and the Gold Coast Hotel  a little further afield.

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