5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend May 16-18, from a run to sampling gin

Summer has arrived in Hong Kong and, according to the Chinese almanac, this weekend is great for – you have guessed it – going out and meeting friends. Try to avoid renovating the kitchen or having your hair and nails done, though. Here are our top five picks of things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. Ginsanity at PMQ The annual gin extravaganza is back for another year at Central’s PMQ, and the weather is looking favourable for some alfresco drinking. The festival brings together more than 100 distilleries from Hong Kong and around the world, and entry is free – pay for drinks as you go, with cocktails priced from HK$75 (US$9.60). Grab a Ginsanity reusable cup for HK$30 or bring your own. If there’s a gin you take a shine to, bottles can be bought on site and delivered to your address at no extra cost – handy if you find yourself enjoying the tipples a bit too much. Ginsanity is open from 4pm to 10pm on May 16 and from 1pm to 10pm on May 17. PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central 2. Fill Your Cup The Run/Walk/Talk Collective Join others for a Sunday morning of community and connection at The Station coffee shop in Sheung Wan on May 18 to build awareness around mental health and support cancer sufferers and their carers. Meet the team from Bring in Change, a Hong Kong charity established by a group of sports enthusiasts in 2012 that aims to connect older adults with the community through sport, and to inspire everyone to age actively and gracefully. They will discuss their mission in a talk from 9.30 to 10am. Some of the group’s senior runners will join the session. Arrive before 9.30am to drop your bag and listen to the speakers before heading out with others for a run, walk or jog for an hour or so. If you are not feeling energetic, simply sit and chat awhile. The event is free to attend, but donations are welcome and will go to the two non-profit groups which organise these get-togethers – Phenomenally Pink, which promotes proactive breast care and men’s health, and mental health charity The New Normal HK. Consider donating to this joint fundraiser to enable the groups to continue hosting more such accessible and approachable events. Register here to let them know you are coming. The Station, G/F, 18 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan 3. Black Bag Following tech-thriller Kimi (2022) and ghost story Presence (2024), Black Bag marks Steven Soderbergh’s third – and most fruitful – film with screenwriter David Koepp. Like an anti-Mission: Impossible – ironic, given Koepp scripted the 1996 film that kick-started the spy franchise with Tom Cruise – this cerebral espionage drama pits husband- and-wife agents (Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett) against each other when the former is asked to root out a traitor. Koepp’s dialogue bristles with tension, particularly in two major dinner-party sequences. “David is not afraid of people in rooms talking, as long as the talk is action-packed,” says Soderbergh, who directs with understated class. Read our ranking of the 10 best Soderbergh films Black Bag is in cinemas now. 4. Opera Hong Kong: The Magic Flute View this post on Instagram A post shared by Opera Hong Kong (@operahongkong) There are a few tickets left for Opera Hong Kong’s new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, set in present-day Hong Kong and where the action starts at an MTR subway station. Directed by the multitalented Shuang Zou, artistic director of the Beijing Music Festival, the opera features an international cast of soloists including Andrés Moreno García as Prince Tamino, Sofia Troncoso as Pamina, John Chest as Papageno and Aigul Khismatullina as Queen of the Night. The production is a collaboration between Opera Hong Kong, China National Opera House, and State Opera South Australia and is expected to go on tour after its Hong Kong premiere. “Opera Hong Kong: The Magic Flute”, Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, until Sunday. Tickets available through Urbtix. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cafuné | Modern Handbags (@cafune.official) 5. Cafuné’s charming collection at IFC Mall pop-up Hong Kong luxury handbag label Cafuné is holding a pop-up at Central’s IFC Mall until June 6 to showcase its first Bag Charm Collection, miniature objects made with Italian leather that complement the brand’s silhouettes. As a bonus, complimentary on-site personalisation by a Hong Kong illustrator will be available on May 25 and June 1, transforming each charm into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. The pop-up features key releases from Cafuné’s spring/summer 2025 collection, including its Mini Egg Bucket in black or ivory (HK$2,750). Shop LA2, Level 1, IFC Find this useful? Look out for our recommendations every Friday online. Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend May 16-18, from a run to sampling gin

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A gin extravaganza at PMQ, a talk about ageing well followed by a run or walk, opera, and a luxury handbag pop-up await you this weekend

1. Ginsanity at PMQ

A gin extravaganza at PMQ, a talk about ageing well followed by a run or walk, opera, and a luxury handbag pop-up await you this weekend