Artistic director Septime Webre pulls out all the stops with stunning visuals, gorgeous music and an abundance of good dancing. Where it falls short as an adaptation of a great novel, it makes up for in sheer entertainment value.

Qioa Yang, 55, shows off her astounding flexibility in this celebration of her career. The lighting and videography were brilliant, but some of the choreography failed to do the dancer justice.

No fewer than three productions of Giselle, the farewell appearance of Jin Yao and an epic performance of Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus were highlights. But Hong Kong Dance Company’s puzzling season was a disappointment.

The first show, Nuts’hell, looks at psychiatric diagnosis and insanity. The second show, Jangdan, is a more commercial dance than contemporary.

• Veteran dancer Jin Yao gives her ‘finest performance’ in emotionally charged ballet and guest dancer Marcelo Gomes lifts production to new heights.

• Brazilian who quit American Ballet Theatre under a cloud relishes opportunities in his new career as a freelance. A guest in Hong Kong Ballet’s production of Giselle, he says the company can skyrocket under Septime Webre.

Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor’s Tree of Codes opened the New Vision Arts Festival with a full-length production that was stunning to watch but ran out of things to say.

A co-production between Hong Kong Opera and New York City Opera, the show was a mixture of great vocal talent, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s great rendition of the score and a plot with a few weaknesses.

Ashley Sutton’s tribute to the Art Nouveau era is carried through in meticulous detail, offering a gorgeous array of Tiffany stained glass lamps, tables and candle holders, with classic cocktails to match.

The annual choreographers’ showcase had its moments, but the original pieces showed signs of a lack of mutual inspiration between artists and dancers.

A key card gets you into a dimly lit retro looking bar, where transparent cocktails can be ordered from an invisible menu. However, the staff are young and inexperienced and some of the drinks could be larger.

Founded by two celebrated mixologists, Joe Villanueva and Sandeep Kumar, the bar’s regal interior sets the tone, and the signature cocktails focused on adding a Spanish twist to classic concepts, complements it perfectly.

The first production choreographed by artistic director Septime Webre that the troupe has performed, this Alice is magically inventive and packed with spectacular effects

In this generous space, patrons can choose from four craft beers from The Artist, a brand of artisanal beer from Belgium on sale here, but more choices are needed if it’s to compete in Hong Kong’s overcrowded craft beer market.

The competition for dancers aged 15-19 and organised by Britain’s famous Royal Academy of Dance, was held in Hong Kong and 16-year-old local dancer Jordan Chan took home the award. Gold medals went to Australian Joshua Green and New Zealander Monet Hewitt.

The ping pong ball drinking game at Pong is drawing the crowds eager to let down their hair after work, the signature cocktails look impressive, and there’s a striking neon feel to the place when the sun goes down. This bar’s a keeper.

Murray Lane may be away from your usual Central hangouts, but this bar at the new Murray Hotel is a perfect venue for a chilled after-work drink or even a relaxed business meeting. Food is served all day too.

The Grimm Brothers’ tale performed in Hong Kong has been given a few twists and a Scottish flavour by choreographer Christopher Hampson, and benefits from stunning visuals and simple comedy that children will identify with

Khan’s reimagining of the classic ballet leads the audience on a roller-coaster ride in the first act, with Crystal Costa shining in the title role, although the sombre lighting sometimes made it hard to make out the dancers on stage.

‘Wheeldon, Ratmansky, McIntyre and The Beatles’ features contrasts in choreographic style, but not in mood – and none of the works on show have the kind of substance you can get your teeth into.

Timeless story about passion and freedom is brought to life by world-class artists, including Armenian opera singer Varduhi Abrahamyan whose huge voice matches her thrilling stage presence

Ashley Sutton opens another fantasy-themed bar in the IFC. The Parisian flower shop-styled interior is attractive if incongruous in its high-rise location, but there is nothing wrong with the signature cocktails

This frivolous, family-friendly Alexei Ratmansky fantasy is superbly performed by a sparkling cast on stage and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in the pit, but the plot is too flimsy for a satisfying Hong Kong Arts Festival experience

Looking for somewhere different to drink in Wan Chai? Whether you want a stiff G&T and great happy hour deals, delicious Asian inspired cocktails or a Japanese-Brazilian fusion, let our reviewers be your local guide

More sung drama than traditional opera, Pelléas et Mélisande can ask a lot of audiences, but Welsh National Opera pulls it off with realistic production, perfect French diction, and stand-out performances from cast and orchestra

Planning a night out in Central? You’re spoilt for choice on one of the city’s oldest streets – let our reviews be your guide

National Theatre of Britain production for the Hong Kong Arts Festival is entertaining, funny and a hi-tech exercise in theatre, but it failed to engage the emotions of this reviewer and lead actor is not plausible as his character

Founded by the man who pioneered fat washing, PDT (Please Don’t Tell) regularly features on world’s best bar lists. The speakeasy-style bar is accessed through a phone booth, and serves up excellent cocktails and gourmet hot dogs

Superstar couple’s varied programme shows off ballerina’s flexibility and fluidity and violinist’s musicality, and was ably supported by Hong Kong orchestra

Svetlana Zakharova opens up ahead of two performances of her new show with violinist husband Vadim Repin starting tonight at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre