Hong Kong’s best alternative party venues

Aqua Restaurant Group is known for its elaborate bars and restaurants with show-stopping views – like the eponymous Aqua – but the best view it offers is surprisingly not from a dining table. Instead, it’s onboard the Aqua Luna, a traditional Chinese junk boat available for hire. Its glittering sails, painted an auspicious red, are hard to miss out on Victoria Harbour. For private charter, hourly rates start from $11,000, inclusive of drinks and dried snacks for 50 people.

Jumbo Floating Restaurant is perfect for those who have a penchant for parties with a maritime flair. The gilded edifice that floats in the middle of Aberdeen Harbour is only accessible by a complimentary sampan service while the latticed windows evoke a sense of nostalgia. The location even served as Hollywood inspiration for James Bond’s The Man with the Golden Gun. Multifunctional banquet halls can seat up to 720 guests while you can choose from a plethora of seafood-centric Cantonese menus to suit every occasion, including a birthday dinner menu ($5,680 per table) or corporate package ($8,380 per table).

Hidden at the end of a narrow alleyway in Lan Kwai Fong, Brickhouse is the cool kids’ go-to spot for a Mexican fiesta. Rustic and quaint, the venue boasts great food, great music and great company with an outdoor patio for any late-night drunk dancing. Expect delicious offerings such as wagyu beef, adobo and salsa ranchera tacos – all served in hearty portions. If you're looking to host an event here, two-hour open bar packages are available starting from $400, inclusive of wines, beers and spirits. You can also opt for free-flow non-alcoholic mocktails for $250.

Who says workouts have to be tedious? UPP – which stands for Unique, Playful, Prestigious – transforms sweaty locker rooms into a hip and chic party venue for hire. This indoor golf bar features private VIP rooms for 18-hole games with workout equipment and changing rooms. After a hot shower, hit the in-house restaurant and bar complete with darts machines and pool tables. Try the four-hour party package, which includes 18-hole vision golf and coaching, two driving range bays and free-flow drinks.

Another local icon, the Star Ferry has been connecting the two main sides of Hong Kong since 1898 and continues to serve some 70,000 passengers a day. Boats available for rental include the World Star, Shining Star, Meridian Star and Classic Ferry. These open top, double-decker vessels fit around 120 to 280 people, making them ideal for cocktail functions and wedding receptions as you sail beneath the bright lights of Hong Kong’s famous city skyline. Rates start from $5,300 an hour on weekdays. If you hire a ferry, you can BYOB and also arrange for outside catering as well.

Sometimes simple elegance is all you need for the perfect party. That’s exactly the case with Breeze, a 2,000sq ft rooftop space in Repulse Bay that can accommodate up to 50 people. With sweeping seaside vistas and lighting all around the terrace, it’s the rooftop bar that will have everyone Instagramming come sunset. Catering is available with a fully stocked bar serving cocktails and Asian-inspired tapas. Turn up the music, get your groove on and dance the night away.