Four handy apps for Hong Kong’s drinkers and party people
Partying in Hong Kong has never been easier, with a slew of new apps to get cheap drinks in the hippest bars, meet new friends or host a party at home
PUBLISHED : Friday, 16 December, 2016, 1:00pm
UPDATED : Friday, 16 December, 2016, 5:51pm
Anyone who has been out on the town in Hong Kong knows it can leave a big hole in your pocket. And with the huge number of bars in the city it can be difficult to agree on a place to meet up.
Thankfully, there’s a selection of handy apps that make going out to a bar, finding happy hour drinks and meeting people fuss-free – and, in some cases, more affordable.
So grab your smartphone and off we go.
After a long day at the office, it’s nice to enjoy a couple of drinks with friends. If you’re tired of your usual happy hour spots, there are apps that will encourage you to explore new places with the incentive of a bargain drink every night of the week.
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Happy Owl
While a standard cocktail at most places will set you back at least HK$100, for HK$199 a month, this easy-to-use app lets you redeem one drink a day at more than 50 venues, including Zuma, Cé La Vi and Porterhouse by Laris. Once you’ve picked your venue, tap the app to download a list of drinks redeemable at the bar. Make your choice and show the staff your app to get your first drink for free.
Hooch
If you need something similar but with a wider reach, this membership app gives you one cocktail a day, with more than 300 top bars and restaurants in the US and Hong Kong signed up.
Launched in New York in November 2015, Hooch is currently live in 10 large and lively cities, mostly in the US, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Hong Kong is the first outpost in Asia. The app has more than 30 partner bars and restaurants in Hong Kong, including Seafood Room and Maison Eight.
For HK$88.88 a month, app users can redeem one of the three or more premium drink choices from each venue. Stateside travellers can also get their cocktail fix in any applicable bars in cities in the US with their Hong Kong membership.
BottlesXO
Want to take the party home, or thinking of hosting a house party? You can get your booze fix with a few taps on this wine delivery app. You no longer have to worry about running out of chardonnay or champagne again.
The app vows to deliver quality European wines anywhere on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in less than 60 minutes. Deliveries can be to your apartment, or even the beach, daily from noon to midnight.
The delivery includes all the essentials, including corkscrews, reusable cups and a cooler.
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Clink
You’ve got your booze, now how about some new drinking partners. For those who want to meet new people, this Hong Kong-built social networking app matches groups of people looking to get together for drinks.
Just swipe through listed groups, Tinder-like, and chat with them online, then pick a place to meet.
The app also includes a colour-coded party map of Hong Kong, with red zones representing popular gathering places in the city. Blue icons indicate events, parties or pop-ups in lesser-known locations, giving you and your gang ideas for your next hang-out.
Of course, we can’t forget Tinder (gotinder.com). The app now has “Tinder Social” for groups of people who want to hang out together. Swipe right if you see a group you like. Unlock the social function on the app and you will see friends who’ve also unlocked it.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: it’s appy hour
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