Wine walks, star chefs and fresh flavours: how to enjoy the Wine and Dine Festival

The annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival later this month promises more booths and longer hours to help attract over 168,000 visitors.

The South China Morning Post unpacks what is on offer so you can enjoy the event to the fullest.

1. What is the festival and when is it open?

Organised by the Tourism Board under the theme “Taste the World’s Best,” the festival will be held from October 29 to November 1 at the Central Harbourfront, opening at 7.30pm on the first day and 1pm on the following three days.

For the first time, on October 30 and 31, the event will extend its opening hours until 1am.

2. What’s new at the Wine and Dine Festival this year?

The four-day festival will be larger than last year’s, with more than 340 booths, an increase of over 10 per cent. The festival footprint will also be extended to Tamar Park.

The event will feature guided wine walks for the first time, where participants can experience more than 20 masterclasses led by experts who will guide them through wine tastings and share professional insights.

The Tourism Board will subsequently launch “Hong Kong Gourmet Month” in November, featuring limited-edition dishes and dining discounts throughout the month. Visitors to the Wine and Dine Festival can present their ticket stubs to enjoy exclusive offers at selected restaurants, retailers and business associations.

3. What are the culinary highlights and special tasting events?

Highlights include the Grand Wine Pavilion, a designated area for premium wine, the Tasting Room restaurant featuring five renowned chefs, and the Hotel Boulevard showcasing signature dishes from 26 hotels.

The Grand Wine Pavilion will bring together fine wines and delicacies from around 31 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada and South Korea.

It will also feature wine selections from top Bordeaux chateaux, including renowned bottles such as Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1er Cru 1982, a prized wine from one of Bordeaux’s “first growth” estates and the legendary 1982 vintage.

At the Tasting Room restaurant, diners can enjoy dishes made by famous chefs including Edward Lee, the Korean-American who made his name in Netflix’s cooking survival show Culinary Class Wars, and Michelin-starred masters including Yoda Chen Zhiping and Thierry Marx who will create a collaborative banquet alongside three other chefs.

The event will also feature local “Only in Hong Kong” flavours, including innovative combinations such as black sesame soy milk pudding tart.

The Hotel Boulevard will gather chefs from 26 prestigious hotels at the Central Harbourfront, each serving up signature dishes, including Hong Kong-style satay beef bun from Kowloon Shangri-La and 3 Signature Pandan Cake with Coconut Ice Cream from The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong.

4. What special benefits or exclusive offers are available?

Tickets for the festival are HK$40 (US$5.13) per person and HK$20 each for children aged three to 11. Each tasting token costs HK$25.

Locals and visitors can purchase a Grand Wine Pass or Tasting Pass via Trip.com at a special discounted price, with complimentary admission included. Grand Wine Pass packages start from just HK$558 (valued at HK$900) and allow visitors to enjoy a wide range of signature activities at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.

American Express card members enjoy exclusive benefits, including a special presale price on the Premium Wine Pass and 20 per cent off when adding consumption tokens at the festival.