Lan Kwai Fong owes its legendary social scene to its location in the Central business district. When the working day draws to a close, the employees of the nearby multinationals, legal chambers, finance companies and government departments head for the bars to celebrate. Weekend evenings in particular are occasions for meeting up with friends and colleagues to chew over the events of the week and forget about life’s little problems for a few blissful hours.

Once the haunt of street hawkers and wedding arrangers, the area between Wyndham and D’Aguilar streets is now a maze of restaurants and bars catering for every taste from elegant dining and fine wines to street food and vodka jelly shots. You can opt for waiter service at the top end of the price range or elbow your way through the crowds for standing room only. For those on a tight budget, Happy Hour and Spree Hour offer a particularly good excuse to stay for just one more round! Happy Hour is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and usually offers two-for-one drinks and half-price food, while Spree Hour starts at 10 p.m. and attracts university students and tourists with even more cut prices. Some venues impose entry fees, service charges or tips, so you might have to factor this into your calculations, but it’s still possible to have a great time without breaking the bank.

When the bars are too full to squeeze in any more bodies, the party spills out onto the streets, with revellers purchasing drinks from local convenience stores and snacks from nearby Wing Wah Lane. Here you can feast on any cuisine that takes your fancy, from European to Malaysian, Thai or Chinese – a quick and tasty way to satisfy those late-night munchies.

Lan Kwai Fong has a full programme of carnivals and celebrations during major holiday periods such as Halloween, Christmas and New Year. It also hosts its own beer festival, which draws ale fans from all over the city and beyond.

To join the party, catch the MTR to Central, leaving the station by Exit D1, turn right onto Pedder Street as far as Queen’s Road Central, then take a left into D’Aguilar Street. Don’t forget the MTR stops running between 12.30 a.m. and 6 a.m. so you might need to catch a taxi home between these times.