LOCAL CUSTOMS · HONG KONG
How happy hour works in Hong Kong
No legal happy-hour clock. A dense, early, competitive window, and a 10% service charge that may be on the original price.
The rule
The liquor licence sets when alcohol may be sold, not when it may be discounted. 1-for-1 is legal. There is no statutory happy-hour clock. A 10% service charge is the usual restaurant habit, and it is not a tax. It is sometimes calculated on the original price rather than the discounted one, so it is worth asking. A bar in a residential building is often barred from selling between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The drinking age on licensed premises is 18.
The custom
Central and Wan Chai are the loud version, starting as early as 4. TST is the visitor version. Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town are where the same deal got younger and more restaurant-shaped. Half-price beats 1-for-1 if you are alone. Bar seats and the dining room are sometimes different menus. The room can be full at 6:15 and gone at 8:30.