With the pandemic still raging, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year are going to look a little different. But that doesn’t mean the holidays can’t still be amazing! Hotels, restaurants, and brands across the city are getting creating to ensure that you can still enjoy yourself, so without further ado, here are our picks for Chinese New Year & Valentine’s Day 2021!
What to Do
Ovolo Hotels is inviting diners to be spontaneous this Valentine’s Day with its Suite Dessert offer. Available from Feb 11, couples can indulge in a decadent Valentine’s Day meal at Veda or Te Quiero Much – towards the end, they can opt to extend the evening by ordering an exclusive dessert (from $1,000) which will come with a room key. Couples will finish their meal with an Ashwagandha Tiramisu (Veda) or Flan de los Enamorados (Te Quiero Mucho), then grab their key and end the evening in one of the hotels’ design-forward suites. How’s that for a fun, unplanned adventure?
Treat yourself to a romantic staycation full of decadent foodie experiences with the Romantic Eatcation offer from the JW Marriott Hong Kong.
Book into The St. Regis Hong Kong for a celebratory staycation this Chinese New Year. The “New Year, New Beginning” package (from HK$2,600) includes breakfast at Chinese restaurant Rùn and either afternoon tea or a three-course dinner with a glass of wine – and, of course, a plush guest room and 24-hour butler service. The hotel’s newly-awarded two Michelin-starred restaurant, L’Envol, is also celebrating Valentine’s Day with Bisous ($398), a decadent cake of vanilla rose cream, Madeleine sponge on a red almond praline crunch base in an edible chocolate heart box by pastry chef Mandy Siu.
Check into Island Shangri-La Hong Kong for the most extra staycation ever this Valentine’s Day! From incredible jewels from Piaget, private dining by chef Uwe Oponchensky, round-trip limo transfers, and a stay in a suite, the “Diamonds are Forever” offer will make this a Valentine’s Day to remember!
In need of a little grooming ahead of Valentine’s Day? Nude Beautique is offering a series of treatments at special offers – and they’re also offering 15% off their online shop!
Treat your special someone – and yourself! – to an exclusive stay at Hong Kong’s grand dame hotel. The Peninsula Hong Kong’s “Experiences that are Passionately Yours” package is an indulgent getaway featured a turndown service inspired by the Southern Aurora lights and a bespoke star map, 40% off at Falconer Jewellers, a night in a plush guest room, daily breakfast for two, and $800 dining credit ($1,500 for suites). Guests in suites will also enjoy a photo session on the hotel’s helipad, one-way transfer, and an Aroma bath experience. Available through Feb 28.
Stanley Plaza is collaborating with homegrown brand G.O.D to deliver fun installations for Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day – and they’re even hosting a market, too!
What to Buy
Planning to pop the question or just want to treat your lady love to some fabulous diamond jewelry? Homegrown studio Per Sempre creates stunning custom diamond jewelry using the highest-quality diamonds – and they’re giving our readers 15% off!
This holiday season, give the gift of glowing skin with GLOWGEAR. The innovative skin and self-care device brand produces high-quality products that help users indulge in at-home wellness while getting glowing skin.
Treat yourself (or your other half) to sexy lingerie from Avec Amour. The online-only store has a curated collection of international brands you won’t find anywhere else in Hong Kong – and they’re offering 15% off!
Perfect for both Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, Charbonnel et Walker has launched an exquisitely presented red and gold handcrafted box with a traditional Chinese lattice pattern packed with the brand’s famous Dark Chocolate Truffles ($228), along with mini and large-size heart-shaped boxes in all the most popular flavors.
Celebrate Hong Kong craftsmanship this Chinese New Year with this exclusive collaboration from Young Master Ale and local confectioner Yan Chim Kee. Available at all Circle K stores, the set features two beers – Coconut Pandan Pale Ale and Coconut Peanut Stout and a pack of Yan Chim Kee’s famous coconut candy!
Hong Kong perfumer Intime Artisan de Perfume has created the perfect scented gift for Valentine’s Day. The “A Journey of Love Discovery Set” ($1,230) is a curated collection of six scents, each one carefully crafted to capture the emotions of different stages of love so the wearer can recall different sweet memories while wearing them. The gift set can be personalized with a name on the box. Intime is also hosting bespoke online perfume making workshops ($890 for two) with kits delivered to your door, offering a fun activity for couples.
Local flower and gifting service BYDEAU has created two exquisite collections of floral arrangements to celebrate Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year – both are filled with stunning blooms and come with handwritten notes for that personal touch.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, Hong Kong-born Aroha has debuted its line of simple, elegant jewelry inspired by the owners’ international influences – and they’re offering our readers 10% off!
Barossa Valley winemaker Grant Burge has released a new line of exclusive vintages developed by Chief Winemaker Craig Stansborough that are sure to be the perfect accompaniment this Valentine’s Day. Blending notes of rich dark fruit and hints of clove, cinnamon, cedar oak, and thyme, the Balthazar 2018 is a robust, velvety Shiraz; the Meshach Shiraz 2016 is an equally punchy drop featuring complex layers of blackberry, coffee, chocolate and aromas of cinnamon, clove, chocolate, pepper, and mulberry. Lighter, though no less complex, The Holy Trinity Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre 2018 is a medium to full-bodied wine with fruit-forward notes of fresh raspberries, candied apple, raspberry jubes, and frangipane. The wines are available in Hong Kong through Accolade Wines.
Where to Eat
Head to award-winning Mott 32 to enjoy their exquisite Chinese New Year Menu which features eight dishes such as Whole Boston Lobster ‘Lo Fu’ Salad with Australian Abalone, Braised Giant Garoupa paired with Pork Belly and Crispy Tofu Skin, and Crabmeat E-Fu Noodles with Superior Soup. You can even pair this with plates off their recently-launched plant-based menu! Staying in? Order their celebratory takeaway packages, the Lobster and Abalone “Lo Hei” ($1,280, 8 pax) or Premium “Poon Choi” ($2,280, 4-6 pax).
Over in Hung Hom, Red Sugar, the charming alfresco bar and lounge at Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, has put together a compelling Valentine’s Day menu that pairs exquisite dishes with creative cocktails.
COBO HOUSE, the elegant eatery specializing in creative cuisine at K11 Musea, has created an exclusive menu just for Valentine’s Day. The COBO Valentine’s Box for 2 – accompanied by Champagne and candles – is the perfect way to celebrate your love at home this year.
Welcome the Year of the Ox with the brand new “Ox-traordinary Bites” afternoon tea set at WOOBAR at the W Hong Kong. Created by Executive Chef Rafael Gil and Executive Pastry Chef Baptiste Villefranque, the East-meets-West set features delightful signature bites such as the W Abalone Tart, Lobster with Smoked Herring, Caviar, and Osmanthus, and the Bird’s Nest Raspberry Cheesecake.
Hotel Icon is partnering with three iconic French brands for its “Valentine’s in Paris” afternoon tea at GREEN. Developed in partnership with Elle & Vire, Ile de France, and La Maison du Chocolate, the new tea set including dairy-infused sweet treats like Marscapone Strawberry Rose Tart and Mango Cheesecake along with French pastries such as French Palmier. The whole thing is presented in a thoroughly Instagrammable Eiffel Tower setup and comes with gift cards so couples can exchange heartfelt messages. The set is available for takeaway and also comes with a mini-bottle of Moët et Chandon Champagne.
