Hong Kong Through Beer Goggles

This story was sparked by a comment overheard at last year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens: “You’ve got to admit, Hong Kong gives good piss up.” There is one very good reason why what started as a small tournament in 1976 became the game’s favorite touring stop: the crowd. And what fuels our famous carnival? Beer. And this year, official tournament caterers the Holiday Inn Golden Mile are preparing to serve up at least 90,000 liters of beer. While we don’t advocate binge drinking, we know that far too many of you are going to be out there getting trashed this weekend, so here’s our guide to drunken Hong Kong, from people who should really know better.

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6pm

Here comes the weekend. It’s all downhill from here, so you might as well start your journey somewhere pleasant. Dragon-i is lovely at this time. Sip your sundowner outdoors on the patio, surrounded by birdsong and the gradual silencing of the road drills as they switch off for the night. Door security starts around 9pm, so this is the only time most of us will get to see the place. (See midnight)

7pm-11pm

Happy hour. This is primetime drinking in Hong Kong, where the most drinks are sold in the hours immediately following work. The best place to experience the beery blowout is Lan Kwai Fong. Agave is great for margaritas; Bulldogs is a British-style boozer; Lux is more upmarket, and has a great view of the street. But topping the bill for relaxed happy hour consumption is Stormy Weather, which attracts a buzzing swarm of street-side punters every night. If Wan Chai is more your cup of tea, try Delaney's.

Tip: For a mainland experience, visit the Hong Kong Brew House. A peanut war breaks out here every night as patrons lob shells willy-nilly.

Usual suspects: Suits, skirts, short-sleeved Aussies, your mum, and gaggles of mainland tourists, stopping by for a quick stare.

11pm

By now, you should have your beer goggles on. Other than lowering the taste barrier, beer goggles turn even the shyest person into an extrovert. Worse, they fool most of us into believing we can sing. There is no better place for warbling like a wanker than Hardy’s, which has been putting up with swaying, squawking punters for more than a decade. You can let rip here without fear of arrest, accompanied by the long-suffering, impeccably gracious live band. The beer is cold, and the song list epic.