The Cheapskate's Guide to Drinking and Dating

Happy AND Wealthy
Can’t afford to down $120 cocktails all night? Yeah, nor can we. Drink smart with some of the city’s best happy hours.

Stone Nullah Tavern’s “Beat the Clock” weekday happy hour deal is ludicrous: Drinks start at 5pm at $1 each, doubling in price every 20 minutes until 7pm.
69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, 3182-0128.

At Lily & Bloom from 5-8pm (weekdays) and 6-8pm (Saturdays), your first drink is just $5, and $45 thereafter. $5!
5-6/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St., 2810-6166.

On Tuesdays at Insomnia, show ‘em your business card and you get free drinks from 9-11pm. Free drinks!
30-32 D'Aguilar St., Central, 2525-0957.

Every Tuesday, Boqueria does $38 gin and tonics all night, served from a G&T cart and featuring artisanal pours as well as infused house gin. Meanwhile on Mon-Sat, $208 gets you free-flow beer, wine, sangria and all the tapas you can stuff into your face. 7/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hotel LKF by Rhombus, Central, 2321-8681.

Got those Monday blues? At Carnegies house spirits are $20 all night. Good luck with Tuesday.
53-55 Lockhart Rd., Wan Chai, 2866-6289.

Little Burro in Sheung Wan does $5 margaritas every Thursday (ladies only, 6-9pm). This night is getting super popular, for some unknowable reason.
1 Upper Station St., Sheung Wan, 2547-8821.

Linguini Fini’s happy hour isn’t for the weak of stomach. $98 gets you all-you-can-eat wings and free-flow PBR on weekdays from 5-7pm.
49 Elgin St., Central, 2387-6338.

Supergiant hidden away in Causeway Bay’s Mira Moon hotel does an almighty buy-one-get-one happy hour, from 4-9pm every day.
388 Jaffe Rd., Causeway Bay, 2643-8875.

Wan Chai stalwart Devil’s Advocate is a stalwart for a reason. On Wednesdays, drinks are $20 if you pay with a Standard Chartered $20 note—so start saving up now.
48 Lockhart Rd., Wan Chai, 2865-7271.

Late night in Kowloon and you’re looking for a deal? The Mira's lounge bar Room One rocks a
4pm-1am happy hour, with buy-one-get-one all day (and night) long.
G/F, The Mira, 118 Nathan Rd., 2368-1111.

Divey pierside beer kiosk The Beer Bay by DB ferry pier has cheap, proper pints for $30-50, a wide range of British brews, and some of the finest views in the world... and we’re not talking about all the DBers sprinting for the ferry.
Ferry Pier No.3, 11 Man Kwong St., Central.

Happy hour over? Switch to Club 7-Eleven (two Tsingtaos for $13) and go drink in a sitting-out area. Oh, and stay away from Blue Girl ($16 for a large can). Even cheapskates have standards.

Cheapskate Dates
So you’re burning with passion but you don’t want to burn a hole through your pocket. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but these affordable dates should melt the heart of any gold digger. Briefly.

Impress your date with some fancy footwork by paddle boating at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir. Two-seater pedalos cost $80 an hour Mon-Fri or $100 on weekends, while rowboats are $10 less. Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park, Tai Tam Reservoir Rd., Wong Nai Chung, 2555-0103.

Take your bae to see a film. But instead of dropping $100 on a single ticket to an average blockbuster, go all art-house with a screening at the Hong Kong Film Archive (50 Lei King Rd., Sai Wan Ho, 2739-2139). Here, screenings of true classics of Hong Kong cinema cost around $40. Coming up soon: John Woo's classic "heroic bloodshed" movie "The Killer" on November 15. It’s the perfect date flick!

Volunteer to walk a dog with Hong Kong Dog Rescue. The charity is always looking for volunteers to walk its pooches, and nothing says “I’m a sensitive soul” like looking after a lonesome pup. You'll need to complete an orientation session ($100) first.

Take your intended on a top-deck tram ride from Happy Valley all the way to Kennedy Town, with a bottle of (screw top) wine and a couple of plastic cups. Late at night, this is a beautiful ride. Generously cover your date’s $2.30 fare, or at least go dutch on it.

Read our full guide to being a cheapskate in Hong Kong here.