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A drink or two at happy hour is perfect for after-work bonding, but too many may lead to disaster (all a matter of perspective, of course). While a good start on happy hour one day may leave you a not-so-happy one the next, drinking in Guangzhou is worth the risk! Part of a series, this first article explores the best happy hour deals in the Garden Hotel area, a popular expat and tourist hang out. We will also consider food menus to steady the buzz from alcohol and give you something more than beer for dinner. Best of all, all deals mentioned are available every day of the week.

All the bars and restaurants are within walking distance of each other, making it an ideal place if you want to take advantage of as many happy hour prices as possible. To get to this area, either take a taxi to the Garden Hotel (花园酒店/ Huayuan Jiudian) or take Line 5 metro to Taojin station.

1) Hill Bar
Well known around Guangzhou for its happy hour, Hill Bar offers indoor and outdoor seating options with the best value draft beers everyday from 11.30 – 20:00. For the budget conscience, the cheapest beers are Tiger (18 RMB a pint, 45 RMB a pitcher) and San Miguel (20 RMB a pint, 50 a pitcher). Paulaner and Hoegaarden (40 RMB a pint, 80 RMB a pitcher) are also available. Worth a special mention is the electronic dart board where you pay 20 RMB to compete against the resident champ, and if you can beat her (yes, she’s female!) you get the game for free. With a good selection of music, retro décor, conveniently located on the ‘hilltop’ and across the road from the Garden Hotel, the Hill Bar makes the perfect first stop to relax and settle down with a pint.

Hill BarView In Map
Add: 367 Huanshi Dong Rd, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市越秀区环市东路367号
Tel: 020 8359 0206

2) Elephant and Castle
Taking its name from a London suburb and located just up the road from Hill Bar, Elephant and Castle is a popular waterhole amongst expats. Happy hour is everyday from 17:00 – 20:00, selling draft beers like Carlsberg or Tiger (15 RMB a pint, 40 RMB a pitcher), Kronenbourg (25 RMB a pint) and Kilkenny (45 RMB a pint). Equipped with an outdoor pool table (although, a little dodgy), TVs showing sports from around the world and the option to be your own DJ with a sound system that allows for easy conversation, it is the perfect place to meet up with friends or make new ones.

Elephant and Castle PubView In Map
363 Huanshi Dong Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市越秀区环市东路363号
Tel: 020 8359 3309

3) The Happy Monk
Although a little hard to get to, The Happy Monk has a very cosmopolitan feel to it, different from other bars in the area. Located all on one floor with an indoor seating area and an outdoor terrace, it is a very open and popular place for fashionable young locals and expats to be seen. All the usual draft beers have discounts during happy hour everyday 17:00 – 20:00 like Carlsberg (20 RMB a pint, 50 RMB a pitcher) and Hoegaarden (35 RMB for 330ml, 50 RMB for 500ml). The Happy Monk also stocks Belgian ales like Liefman’s Fruit Beer (40 RMB 400ml) and Maredsous (35 RMB a pint) which cannot be found at any other bars in the area. With snazzy décor, it’s a great place to go on a date or to meet up with a couple of friends.

The Happy MonkView In Map
Add : Units 107-110, Ground Floor, Peace World Apartments, 29 Jianshe 5 Road, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市环市东路29号好世界公寓首层107-110单元
Tel: 020 8331 5013 
Getting there : When at the Garden Hotel, turn left into Jianshe Liu Ma Lu, walk down the street and turn right at Huale Lu, and you will find it on the corner at Jianshe Wu Ma Lu.

4) The Paddy Field Irish Bar and Restaurant
Living up to its motto of ‘food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty and rest for the weary’, Paddy Field has been the watering hole of choice among Guangzhou expats since 2004. With a lively atmosphere and a food menu to keep both expat and Cantonese customers more than satisfied (although a little pricey) it is no wonder it is so popular. Paddy Field also offers a wide selection of draft beers on happy hour, including (but not limited to) Murphy’s Irish Stout (42 RMB a pint, 25 RMB a glass), Strongbow (48 RMB a pint, 28 RMB a glass), Paulaner (88 RMB for one litre, 48 RMB a pint) and the budget Carlsberg (20 RMB a pint, 55 RMB a pitcher). With these deals going from 11.30 – 20:00 everyday, it is one of the longest happy hours out there.

The Paddy Field Irish Bar and RestaurantView In Map
Add: Ground Floor, Central Plaza  38 Hua Le Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市越秀区华乐路34号
Tel : 020 8360 1379
Website: www.thepaddyfield.com
Getting there: When at the Garden Hotel, turn left into Jianshe Liu Ma Lu, walk down the street and turn left at Huale Lu. Walk for about 200m and you will find it on your right.

5) Tairyo Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant
Although not considered a bar which offers a happy hour, the Tairyo Japanese Restaurant is a popular place to meet in preparation for a big night out. Located on the second floor of the Paddy Field building, the restaurant offers an ‘all you can eat and drink’ buffet (including beer and sake) for a bargain 168 RMB. The customer service is outstanding and it’s entertaining to watch your personal chef skillfully prepare a selection of foods like soft beef, cod fish and shrimp. Go early and make the most of your drinking session so you can get well fed and drunk at your first destination.

Tairyo Teppanyaki Japanese RestaurantView In Map
Add: Second Floor, Central Plaza, 38 Hua Le Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市越秀区华乐路38号广怡大厦2楼
Tel: 020 8360 1371

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