Ah, beer pong. To American college graduates, the phrase all but conjures up the stale fumes of bygone beers and sticky tabletops.
Tictac, however, has grander aspirations. Riding on a wave of theme bars (or so we’re told) in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, it’s equipped with state-of-the-art, light-up tables and upscale drinks priced at RMB90 and higher.
That’s right – at Tictac, a game of good old beer pong is served up alongside a broad array of single-malt scotches and custom cocktails.
Among the offerings, we sample a neon-orange, fruity Tictac coated in sour plum powder, followed by a tart 9¾ Ameyoko that pairs sake with passionfruit and lime (both RMB98). Less interesting but more memorable is a classic whiskey sour (RMB90) brimming with bourbon sweetness and quality citrus.
For traditionalists, there’s also fancy imported beer sold by the glass (RMB90), or modest pitchers of Liefmans, Vedett or Asahi (RMB200).
The prices seem like less of a shock given the setting. With seats and tables borrowed from art deco-inspired cocktail destination Men’s Club – green leather seating and gleaming metal highlights - half of the bar gives off a distinguished air.
The other half is Americana with Chinese characteristics: LED-lit pong tables, a feel-good hip hop soundtrack and a tiny burger joint outside the semi-hidden door of the bar.
But moving past the schizophrenic design scheme, let’s address the bar’s main selling point: its beer pong tables.
On the one hand, victory does taste sweeter with ultra-sensitive pads that register each gentle plop, lighting up the clear cups (filled with water) in different colors. Also, the table keeps score for you.
But for all its high-tech gadgetry, Tictac Pong hasn’t solved the problem of balls ricocheting off cups and smacking innocent bystanders and furniture. And the sheer length of the tables, while good for competitive players, make us long for the days when we didn’t have to raise our voices to heckle opponents.
In the end, it boils down to your love of beer pong – for the truly nostalgic, it’s a fun throwback to bygone days. But for the rest of us, Tictac is a long shot.
Price: RMB90 a drink
Who’s going: lovers of the game, recent college graduates
Good for: high-tech beer pong, high-end hangouts
Nearest metro: Convention Center (Exit D), 10 minutes
See listing for TicTac Pong.
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