Journeys Within Travel Blog

A notable culinary trend is sweeping across Hong Kong as diners increasingly gravitate toward comforting, familiar cuisine, placing pasta firmly back in the spotlight. Despite an established fine-dining Italian restaurant scene, the city is now witnessing a rapid proliferation of unpretentious, fresh pasta bars and modern Italian eateries that emphasize simple, quality preparation and innovative flavor profiles, satisfying a growing appetite for elevated everyday dining.

This emergence is characterized by a mix of high-profile chef returns and daring culinary fusions, signaling a dynamic shift in the local Italian food landscape. From dedicated pasta-focused venues to establishments integrating global influences, these new spots are redefining the Italian experience across diverse districts, from Central’s bustling thoroughfares to suburban enclaves.

Fusion and Fine Dining Define the Shift

Several recent openings illustrate this trend. Twist Pasta Bar, located on Bridges Street, differentiates itself with daring Hong Kong-inspired interpretations of Italian staples. Head Chef Ben Sears incorporates local flavors, such as a bone marrow macaroni utilizing Koon Yick Wah Kee curry powder—a nod to local curry brisket noodles—and an egg roll cannoli stuffed with ricotta. While offering inventive creations, the menu maintains classic appeal with dishes like baked rigatoni and cacio e pepe croquettes.

Meanwhile, industry veteran Chef Roland Schuller has returned to the scene with La Volta in Causeway Bay. Schuller, known for leading The Drawing Room to its Michelin-star status, focuses on refining classic comfort food. La Volta offers polished Italian dishes, featuring lunch set options including mafaldine with broccolini pesto and a signature spaghetti alla carbonara, alongside an indulgent oversized egg raviolo for dinner service.

Global Influences and Neighborhood Gems

The embrace of pasta is also driving fascinating cultural mash-ups. Zozzona introduces Hong Kong diners to itameshi, the Japanese interpretation of Italian cuisine that dates back to the Meiji period. Under the direction of Chef Takayuki Kumai, formerly of Carbone, Zozzona features innovative dishes like tagliolini freddi tossed in shiso and walnut pesto served with marinated squid. The maccheroni alla Zozzona exemplifies this fusion, blending ingredients like Italian guanciale with Kurobuta pork sausage and Japanese Jidori egg yolks.

Beyond the urban core, establishments are bringing elevated pasta to residential areas. Osteria Uno, situated in the West 9 Zone near Olympic MTR Station, offers accessible, familiar favorites, including substantial options like tagliatelle duck ragu made with homemade semolina pasta and classic lobster linguine. Further east, Mi Manchi in Ngau Tau Kok, housed in the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, combines a family-friendly atmosphere with fresh pasta preparation. Its menu injects local character, such as the spaghetti alla red shrimp seasoned subtly with Huadiao wine.

Finally, Alma &, a Spanish-Italian hybrid on Peel Street helmed by Chefs Ives Abel and Yoyo Cheung, approaches pasta with meticulous care. Their menu offers highly sophisticated options, including the crab caramelle featuring prawn bisque and Jerusalem artichoke purée, and the deeply flavored lamb ragu fazzoletti topped with stracciatella.

This city-wide trend indicates that Hong Kong’s culinary scene is prioritizing fresh, high-quality ingredients coupled with creative execution, making contemporary Italian pasta a mainstay of current dining culture. The success of these new concepts suggests that diners value both novelty and the enduring assurance of a perfectly executed, comforting bowl of noodles.

Hong Kong’s beloved marine artifact, the fin whale skeleton at Cape D’Aguilar, has been successfully reinstated following years of damage and conservation efforts. After the original bones suffered terminal degradation and a short-lived 3D-printed interim, a meticulously crafted replica now occupies the familiar coastal perch outside the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS). This installation ensures that future generations can continue to engage with a poignant piece of the city’s natural and historical landscape, despite the shift from authentic remains to an engineered substitute.

The Legacy of “Hong Kong’s Whale”

The history of the Cape D’Aguilar skeleton dates back to 1955, when a stranded two-month-old fin whale calf swam into Victoria Harbour. Sadly, the infant whale was severely malnourished and struggling, leading authorities to humanely euthanize it. The remains, however, were preserved by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and, in 1991, placed on public display at Cape D’Aguilar, quickly becoming an essential landmark for school trips and local residents.

For three decades, this coastal exhibition endured the harsh environment. Exposure to corrosive sea spray, relentless winds, and ultraviolet radiation gradually weakened the irreplaceable structure. The final blow came in 2018 with Super Typhoon Mangkhut, which inflicted severe, irreparable damage. The intense storm fractured the supportive framework, cracked ribs, displaced the lower jaw, and ultimately caused a hip bone to be swept away.

Conservation Decision Leads to Replication

Recognizing the fragility of the genuine bones, SWIMS decided in 2021 to remove the severely compromised skeleton from public view. The original remains were subsequently transferred to HKU’s biodiversity collection for permanent preservation, concluding its outdoor display era.

The decision to install a replica was driven by the desire to maintain the site’s historical function and public appeal. An initial attempt in 2023 involved a 3D-printed model, but the material proved inadequate for the coastal climate, deteriorating rapidly and failing within a year.

SWIMS then commissioned experts specializing in skeletal displays. They provided detailed scans of the original bones to a manufacturing company in Sichuan, China, which meticulously fabricated the durable, new replacement. The completed replica arrived, and the SWIMS team successfully unveiled the new installation earlier this month, permanently stationed by the rocky shoreline where the original once stood.

A New Era for a Familiar Sight

While the replacement marks a necessary compromise between conservation and public access, the unveiling underscores the institution’s commitment to maintaining this important cultural touchstone. Although visitors are now viewing a high-fidelity copy rather than the original 1955 bones, the presence of the display continues the tradition of honoring this unique piece of Hong Kong’s marine history.

Visitors should note a common factual inaccuracy: the skeleton is sometimes incorrectly labeled online as the “Bones of Miss Willy.” SWIMS research confirms that “Miss Willy” was, in fact, a killer whale that passed away at Ocean Park in the 1980s. The misconception likely arose because the fin whale skeleton’s public debut closely followed the publicized death of the killer whale, leading to a enduring misidentification.

This durable replica now ensures that one of Hong Kong’s most memorable and photographed landmarks remains accessible, preserving the visual legacy for future generations visiting the dramatic coastal reserve.

In the somber days following Hong Kong’s most devastating fire disaster, major cultural, athletic, and entertainment events scheduled for the coming weeks have been either canceled or significantly altered as the city mourns its mounting losses and focuses relief efforts on the affected Tai Po community. With the reported death toll at 128 and rescue operations still underway, numerous organizers, led by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), have paused normal activities out of respect and to free up critical government resources. Residents and visitors should note these urgent itinerary changes affecting large-scale gatherings, performances, and public events across the territory.

Citywide Events Rerouted in Wake of Tragedy

The severe impact of the tragedy has prompted event organizers to pivot quickly, prioritizing sensitivity and support for emergency services.

The Sun Hung Kai Hong Kong Cyclothon, a key athletic event, has been completely called off. The HKTB confirmed the cancellation, originally scheduled for November 30, to ensure that relevant government departments could dedicate their personnel and assets entirely to ongoing search, rescue, and relief operations for the fire victims.

Similarly, the launch of the Immersive Light Show in Central, a central part of the Hong Kong Winterfest celebrations, has been postponed. The kick-off ceremony originally set for November 28 was canceled. While the light show was expected to run through early January, the HKTB has not yet announced revised dates.

Non-profit organizations have also stepped up, most notably Oxfam. The organization announced the cancellation of the Oxfam Trailwalker 2025 fundraising hike, which was slated to run from November 28 to 30. Crucially, Oxfam further committed to donating all public funds already raised for the Trailwalker directly to aid affected residents in Tai Po.

Additionally, the annual Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Night Parade, managed by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, will not proceed for 2025. The event was scheduled for the weekend of November 29 and 30, with no rescheduling information available at this time. Several political forums and election campaigning events related to the December 7 elections have also been suspended out of respect.

Entertainment Adjusts Tone and Production

While some events were halted, others elected to continue with modifications to reflect the city’s mood and ensure public safety.

The high-profile MAMA Awards 2025 ceremony, which sees a large influx of international artists, will proceed but in a significantly altered manner. To maintain sensitivity, the red carpet event on November 28 was canceled, and stage designs will be adjusted to remove elements such as pyrotechnics and flame effects. Attendees will observe a minute of silence at the ceremony’s opening, and the event flow will be modified to offer comfort to those affected by the disaster.

Several major concert bookings have announced changes:

• Miriam Yeung’s ‘Live My Live 2025’ concert series will continue at the Hong Kong Coliseum due to production and scheduling constraints, but all pyrotechnics will be removed. Yeung confirmed that proceeds from the first night and all merchandising sales will be donated to local fundraising efforts.
• Concert promoter Emperor Entertainment postponed three shows at MacPherson Stadium: Arvin Tsang’s “Lunatique” concert, Angela Hui’s “Glowing Tour,” and Ken Hung’s “Explorer Live Tour,” originally scheduled between November 28 and 30.
• Singer Jace Chan delayed the scheduled public sale of tickets for her upcoming concert, stating on social media that it was an inappropriate time for a ticketing event.

Finally, Hong Kong Disneyland canceled special screenings for Magic Access members and an evening gala premiere related to the new Zootopia 2 film. A scheduled appearance by Hong Kong star Joey Yung was also scrubbed, along with the nighttime projection and drone show “Momentous: A Party in the Night Sky.” Guests who entered the park on November 27 were offered a free return visit within six months as compensation for the disruption.

In this period of community distress, the widespread decision by event organizers to pause or adjust activities underscores a unified commitment to mourning and resource allocation as Hong Kong begins its recovery efforts. Affected individuals should verify new dates and refund policies directly with event organizers.