Working in Hong Kong these days can come with an extra dose of stress and anxiety, what with staff shortages or incoming talents, so a good place to eat after a day of toil and trouble with drinks will go down nicely, thank you, to get one ready for the next day.
Hong Kong street food gets a lot of people going, and a happy hour menu that provides traditional Hong Kong snacks with a contemporary touch is now available at The Praya from 3 to 7 pm daily.
Chef Samuel Ng, who was raised in Australia after being born in Hong Kong, fuses Western and Asian culinary methods.
He and his team add fermented bean curd to creative dishes like salt and pepper tofu with crispy garlic and chili (HK$68), and crispy chicken wings and fermented bean curd (HK$88).
Garlic chive pesto dips and prawn roe mayo, prawn & chicken meatballs, garlic chive pesto (HK$68) is another standout snack.
The team at The Praya makes meatballs by hand rather than using machines to ensure a solid texture.
Diners can add on a cocktail such as Hong Kong tonic and Orange Blossom for HK$78 to chase it all down.
For Japanese tapas and a side of cocktails, visit Room 3.
Those who prefer richer flavors can opt for Levitating Cloud (HK$130). The drink, modeled after mango mochi from Cheung Chau Island, combines mango-flavored Plantation Rum, fermented rice wine and mango curd with salted cream cheese foam to create a sweet, savory, salty flavor.
Sippin Sweets(HK$130) is worth trying for sweet potato fans. This cocktail is inspired by the classic Chinese sweet potato and ginger soup, with the use of Arquitecto Tequila and Okar Tropic giving it a distinct aroma.
The bar also offers tapas that are inspired by Japan to go with your drinks.
You can expect a range of yakitori selections (HK$38), including chicken breast soft bone, chicken neck, chicken thigh and teriyaki chicken and Japanese scallion.
Other must-haves include grilled cheese fish cake (HK$32), Japanese monkfish liver (HK$48), Japanese sweet potato chestnut croquette (HK$48) and tossed udon with matsuba crab (HK$88).
If you like traditional southern Italian cuisine, then Ramato has the happy hour for you.The restaurant serves happy hour drinks (HK$50 each) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 8 pm. The offer lasts all day long only on Wednesdays.
From 5 to 7 pm on Tuesdays until Sundays, diners can dig into a good meal, including happy hour tipples with complimentary snacks that will not break the bank.
Ramato also offers three varieties of sharing-style pitchers (HK$298 for each) to enhance the happy hour experience.
After a long day, guests can unwind with friends while enjoying seasonal pitchers like guava spritz with guava, lemon, prosecco and cucumber garnish, Amalfi fizz with gin, lime, white vermouth, elderflower cordial, mint and soda, and Rossa Fuoco with ratafia, red wine, lemon, green apple and lemonade.
The pitcher selections are available from 3 pm to 8 pm daily and all day on Wednesdays.
Casa Cucina, a Venetian-inspired cicchetti bar, also introduces a Happy Hour menu on weekdays from 5 to 7 pm.
For HK$98, guests can order two drinks. The offerings range from red, white and sparkling wines, classic spirits, to aperol spritz and ice-cold pints of Stella Artois.
There are also several small plates and sweets like tomato & pesto crostini (HK$68), burrata (HK$115) and the signature tofu panna cotta (HK$58) on offer during the bar's happy hour.
