Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Tatler Hong Kong

Not only did the Asia Art Archive (AAA) fundraiser gala dinner on November 14 celebrate the 25th anniversary of the independent non-profit group’s founding, it also marked an exciting new chapter for the city’s art scene. In Cloud 39, the all-glass ballroom at the top of The Henderson building, AAA staff, board members, art collectors and guests gathered to witness the transition to new leadership. Following a lion dance to bless the event, Christopher K Ho, the outgoing executive director introduced his successor: Özge Ersoy, who had been AAA’s senior curator and was promoted to the top role in September 2025. “Twenty-five years is a very long time; [it’s] a generation’s worth of stories, connections and shared beliefs in the importance of keeping Asia’s art histories alive and accessible,” said…

Every year brings restaurant openings, but only a few become the ones you actually think about on a Tuesday night when you’re hungry, tired or simply in need of something that make you feel something. What sets these openings apart was the ease with which they joined my routines, my cravings and my calendar. At the beginning of the year, Roganic returned, and I was genuinely pleased to welcome it back. Walking into the new space feels like stepping into a wooden cocoon: calm, warm, softened at the edges. The cooking is as clear-minded as ever: fresh and bright in the way Roganic does so well, but with a few comforting renditions of their signatures that feel like seeing an old friend. The non-alcoholic pairing remains one of the most…

Gone are the days when a woman in search of a gym kit would be limited to tighter-fitting, pink versions of the male offering. Legacy activewear brands like Adidas have stepped up their shoe game—their Sambas dance off the track—while a plethora of brands have cropped up to fill the sartorial void, from Lululemon to Alo Yoga. Yet until now, most of these brands sat firmly in the streetwear space, and relied on one-off designer collaborations—hello, 2015 NikeLab x Sacai—that fuelled the sneaker drop frenzy. But what we’re seeing today—and will continue to see for years to come—is athletic luxury planting its flag in the fashion lexicon as a category in its own right. Rather than just hopping on a passing fad like gorpcore or balletcore, discerning shoppers are looking…

Walking away from Cartier—your dream job since childhood—at 25 takes a certain type of conviction. Alessandro Sabbatini had it—though he didn’t know it at the time. “I thought I had already achieved what I wanted in life,” he tells me over video call from Hong Kong, where he’s showing pieces to a select group of collectors. It’s typical of his approach—low-key, personal, worlds away from the fanfare of traditional jewellery presentations. Back in the French capital, Sabba Paris operates from a single showroom with the discretion of an old-world atelier. “I was never dreaming about having my own jewellery brand. I was dreaming of designing for Cartier,” Sabbatini admits. The shift came through a conversation that lodged itself in his mind like a splinter. A friend, older and presumably wiser,…

Thirty minutes: that’s all it takes to get from Hong Kong International Airport to the 103rd floor lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, where the city stretches out beneath you like something from a film. The hotel occupies floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre on the West Kowloon waterfront, making it one of the highest hotels in the world. It’s well connected to Central, the views are uninterrupted and the accolades speak for themselves: a Michelin Key Hotel in 2025, a spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 10 Best Hotels in Hong Kong by readers’ choice and a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. THE CLUB LEVEL The 312 rooms here start at 50 sq m —generous by Hong Kong standards—and almost all face the harbour. But the…

The second season of Man on the Inside launched on Netflix at the end of last year. It’s a typical whodunnit caper, with Ted Danson playing an elderly investigator—quite similar in style to another Netflix release, The Thursday Murder Club (2025). Based on Richard Osman’s book of the same name, it too features elderly people cracking mysteries and solving crimes with a jolly, devil-may-care attitude. Yet what is most striking—and poignant—isn’t the clever plot twists or witty one-liners; it is the genuine friendship and camaraderie between the old people. Whether it’s the banter over chess between Charles (Danson) and Calbert (Stephen McKinley Henderson) in Man on the Inside or The Thursday Murder Club’s octogenarians’ “I got your back” vibe, these moments transcend the comedy whodunnit genre; these are tales of…

Since its founding, the Park Hyatt collection of hotels has defined itself not through spectacle but through understatement—hotels conceived as elegant residences, defined by thoughtful touches and personal connections. The idea traces back to founder Jay Pritzker, who envisioned a hotel that felt less like a place to stay while passing through, and more like a home—a sanctuary to welcome family, friends and fellow travellers with warmth and discretion. That sensibility continues today: Park Hyatt properties are refined retreats where modern design, curated art and connoisseur-level dining combine to make guests feel both cared for and inspired. At Park Hyatt Kyoto, tradition takes centre stage at the two Michelin-starred Kyoyamato, a prestigious ryotei with a history that dates back to 1877; at Park Hyatt Jakarta, design and art draw deeply…

Bangkok is a city that thrives on contrasts. Ancient temples glow gold against neon towers, canal boats glide beneath the BTS Skytrain, and a single street can hold a morning market, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a rooftop cocktail bar. Sitting at the heart of this exhilarating metropolis is the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, the largest hotel in the city and the first Marriott Marquis in Asia Pacific. The Marquis name within the Marriott portfolio is reserved for flagship properties in gateway cities. These hotels are defined by their scale—vast inventories of rooms, extensive dining choices, and sweeping event facilities—yet what makes them stand out is how they deliver this at the level of detail expected by premium leisure travellers. Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park embodies this philosophy completely: more…

The Women’s Foundation held its annual gala on November 13 at The Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong, bringing together 450 guests for a good cause. The evening was emceed by fundraising strategist Jennifer Wannenmacher and featured a powerful address from Fiona Nott, the foundation’s chief executive officer, who drew on her personal journey to illustrate the transformative power of community support. “I was told I would never make it in law; I applied anyway,” Nott, who worked as a lawyer for several years, told guests. “When I left my corporate role, people said my career was over. When I experienced sexual violence, I was told to stay quiet. I didn’t take that advice.” Nott emphasised that gender inequality affects persons of all genders, ages and socio-economic backgrounds, and highlighted the…

As proud media partners of Para Site’s annual charity gala on November 20 at the St Regis, Tatler witnessed a whimsical celebration that highlighted the vital role of private patronage in sustaining Hong Kong’s contemporary art ecosystem. Founded in 1996, Para Site has established itself as Hong Kong’s pioneering artist-run space and one of the longest-standing independent contemporary art centres in Asia. The organisation has consistently championed experimental practices and emerging voices, serving as both incubator and platform for artists who challenge conventional narratives. Its commitment to risk-taking programming has made it an essential bridge between Hong Kong’s art scene and global contemporary discourse. The evening’s newly appointed board chair Alan Lo—who has served on the board since 2015—delivered remarks that articulated Para Site’s considerable achievements this year: seven exhibitions…

Throughout Africa, where wilderness stretches far beyond the horizon and rivers trace the stories of nations, water is everything. Yet, as pressures from climate change and development intensify, Africa’s water security hangs in a delicate balance. South African conservationist and explorer Steve Boyes is determined to change that narrative. Through his organisation, The Wilderness Project, Boyes is spearheading the Great Spine of Africa expeditions, a monumental effort supported by the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. This mission, which began in mid‑2022 and aims to complete 200 expeditions, seeks to better understand and protect Africa’s critical waterways. The core work involves exploring and safeguarding the continent’s water towers—elevated regions such as the Angolan Highlands that act as essential natural reservoirs by storing and supplying fresh water downstream, often sustaining life even in…

Smart cities deploy the Internet of Things (IoT), where IoT refers to the connection of everyday devices to the internet so they can collect and transmit information and communicate with other devices, explained a report of Rand, a US think tank, in August 2025. Applications of IoT include connected cars and smart homes. In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping identified smart cities as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, his megaproject to connect China with other countries through infrastructure projects. The August 2025 Rand report estimated there were 36 Chinainvolved smart city projects in the Middle East between 2014 and 2021. “China has been strongly involved in smart city development, both in China and worldwide,” it said. “China has been developing a well-articulated strategy for smart city build-outs both…

When Lily Muni He walks into our Hong Kong meeting spot on a crisp November morning, there’s a calmness about her that feels almost paradoxical. She’s just driven from Shenzhen, and has the National Games to come later in the month. But perhaps that tranquillity is precisely what seven seasons on the LPGA Tour has taught the 26-year-old: how to exist in the chaos while maintaining a sense of peace. He, who qualified for the US Open aged only 15, has evolved from a nervous rookie into one of women’s golf ’s most compelling figures, with over a million Instagram followers. “It’s really special to see that people are curious to learn about women’s sports, women’s golf and what I do [for a living],” she says. And what she does…

ACE OF DIAMONDS An irregular pavé technique with stones of varying sizes set in seemingly random patterns has become something of a Pomellato signature. The maison pushes it further with the Sabbia collection, which introduces baguette cuts into the brilliant-cut mix. The rose gold lariat is clever: cascading plates connected by a baguette-set tail, adjustable so you can wear the pendant front or back; while the earring set gives you three pieces—one stud, two pendants—to style as you please. TASSELS OF LOVE We love it when jewellery refuses to be worn just one way. The Messika D-vibes Tassel necklace is a recent favourite example. It comes with an art deco-inspired tassel which detaches to become a brooch, while the 85cm chain offers a variety of length options. At its heart…

Shanghai is constantly humming with creative energy; the 15th Shanghai Biennale, for example, opened on November 8, and saw international visitors flock to the Power Station of Art (PSA). But that was not the only event held in that location that month. When Tatler headed to the building’s freshly renovated third floor on November 24, winter light flooded through vast windows as a crowd of artists, curators, writers and art enthusiasts assembled. They had come to witness the unveiling of the Espace Gabrielle Chanel, a new cultural destination born from a long-term partnership between Chanel and PSA. The space is home to mainland China’s first public library devoted to contemporary art; elsewhere on the same floor there is a theatre, an exhibition space called Power Station of Design and an…

When was the last time a hotel truly surprised you? Alila means “surprise” in Sanskrit, and this remains the North Star and guiding principle for the brand — to delight in ways that are unexpected, and create moments that become lasting memories. The locations of its properties are sometimes a surprise in themselves—like Alila Dong’ao Island Zhuhai, a spectacular, serene retreat on the southern coast of China, or the remote, majestic Al Hajar Mountains that surround Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman. At other times, Alila properties surprise guests by offering a fresh perspective on familiar destinations. Enter Alila Moments, a programme that aims to facilitate immersive, inspiring, introspective moments through personalised guest experiences that foster meaningful connections with each destination, be it through culture and community, nature and environmental awareness,…

On a chilly Friday night at Swim Club at the Kimpton TST Hong Kong, pastel suits and bold prints combined to paint the perfect picture as Tatler celebrated the launch of Asia’s Most Stylish 2025. With 150 guests embracing the Miami Vice dress code with panache, the evening was a nod to the vibrant community that makes Hong Kong’s style scene so extraordinary. Asia’s Most Stylish celebrates the region’s best-dressed—each year honouring the people in our community who embody Tatler’s style ethos. Since launching in 2019, the platform has championed the incredible diversity of style across our markets, from Hong Kong to Singapore, Taiwan to Indonesia, celebrating individuals who use fashion as a language of creativity, identity and cultural expression. This year marked a special evolution in the celebration. Rather…

There are fashion shows and then there are fashion moments. Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2026 presentation at Sands China’s The Londoner Arena on November 13 was decidedly the latter—a meticulously orchestrated spectacle that transported Hong Kong’s most discerning style set to Macau. The experience began long before the first model took her stride. Selected guests were whisked away from Hong Kong in a fleet of private vehicles, cocooned in leather-clad luxury as they made their way across the border to Macau. It was the opening act of an evening designed to remind us why Louis Vuitton remains one of fashion’s most ambitious storytellers. Upon arrival at The Londoner, VIPs were ushered into an elegant cocktail area—among them were singer, dancer and Louis Vuitton ambassador Victoria Song, the incomparable Carina Lau and…

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPhil)’s mid-December concerts, which featured HKPhil’s music director designate Tarmo Peltokoski and Lang Lang, not only marked the Chinese star pianist’s first performance in the city since January 2024; it was also the first time the pair had collaborated. The Nordic-inspired programme—Peltokoski is Finnish—was also a welcome rare opportunity for both Lang and the orchestra.The concerts on December 11 and 13, sponsored by Standard Chartered Global Private Bank, showcased the scope of Finland’s musical genius: the evenings opened with the Greek mythology-inspired orchestral work Castor (2019) by Esa-Pekka Salonen, the HKPhil’s composer-in-residence for the 2025/26 season and one of Peltokoski’s mentors. Lang then brought Edvard Grieg’s lyrical Piano Concerto (1868) to life; before the shows concluded with Jean Sibelius’s Lemminkäinen Suite (1896), evoking the mythic…

Residents thrive when the systems beneath a city run intelligently and seamlessly: transport networks that move people sustainably and efficiently, secure communication channels that protect personal information, resilient buildings designed to withstand a changing climate and semiconductors that support next-generation electronics. In Hong Kong, a new breed of innovators is strengthening these foundations, pushing the world towards a future where every metropolis can be smart. Here are four breakthrough ideas reimaging the essential facets of urban life: how we live, move, connect and build. DIAMOND-CHARGED INNOVATION In a smart city, daily life relies on high-performance innovations, from the AI powering autonomous vehicles to data centres running next-generation cloud and edge computing, and medical devices delivering predictive, personalised services. None of this is possible without semiconductors, the essential ingredient in every…

Meet the Artist Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter is known for his light installations—he’s illuminated the Egyptian pyramids, the Coliseum in Rome and icebergs in Antarctica. Late last year, he took on the challenge of lighting up a stretch of the 20,000km-long Great Wall of China and surrounding architecture with five creatures, both mythical and real: horses, pandas, tigers, peacocks and dragons. The project, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, was in partnership with UBS, the Beijing government and the Beijing Music Festival. Staging a light show on a Unesco world heritage site was no easy feat. Hofstetter says there were strict rules as to where he could place projectors, and the authorities had to review and approve the images; he was only allowed to feature…

If current travel trends are telling us anything, it’s this: travellers are yearning for life’s simple pleasures, whether that’s independently owned hotels that are banking on the power of nostalgia, or digital detox programmes designed to help us tap into our pre-internet brains. As we enter a new year, we look at some upcoming trends that are shaping how we might experience travel in 2026 and beyond. And honestly? We’re on board for all of it. THE MOTEL MOVEMENT In a recent podcast that went viral, Ian Schrager, the founder of Public Hotels and Edition Hotels, praised the rise of small, boutique and independent hotels, calling it “by far the biggest segment of growth going forward”. He says, “You can’t make it [with] a hotel based on the efficiencies of…

Eighty years ago, on May 8, 1945, Winston Churchill reportedly made two telephone calls from London’s Old War Office, otherwise known as the OWO: first, to inform King George VI that the war was over; second, to order 40 cases of Pol Roger champagne from his trusted wine merchant, Berry Bros & Rudd. It’s also at the OWO that Churchill, in his roles as secretary of state for war and first lord of the admiralty, held war councils and gave daily addresses from the building’s grand staircase. On a visit to London last October, eight decades after those historic phone calls, I stood on that very staircase, its drama and pageantry still intact, the steps draped in ruby red carpet and surrounded by painfully intricate details cast from Painswick stone,…