The Hangout: Where sequins meet spice, two venues redefining fun in the city

I’m a walking gig guide and my phone has been ringing off the hook. People have been asking for ideas on what to do for wrap parties and something a little different to do on a night out. It’s that time of the year. Here are some of the things on my fun things to do list. First, we’ll talk bingo and if your only frame of reference for it involves quiet halls, hushed calls and beige cardigans, it’s time for a glorious rebrand. I played this kind of bingo in England when we went to visit my grandparents growing up and I loved it. Whether the prize was a toaster or cold hard cash I was in. It was fun and pretty exciting a million years ago and a bit of a bonding experience with mum and nan too. I hadn’t played in years until recently. Enter Bada Bingo, where the numbers are loud, the sequins are brighter than your future, and nobody leaves at least a little crazier,  possibly wearing a feather boa and a much bigger smile than they arrived with. 

Held at Social on Main in Bryanston, Bada Bingo is what happens when a traditional game night crashes into a nightclub with drag queens at the helm and karaoke echoing off the walls. Running on select Saturdays through October and early November, the event promises more glitter, more laughs and far less sitting still than your nan’s version ever dared.

Each night features a unique theme from Boy Band throwbacks to 80s versus 90s dance-offs, meaning you could be belting out Backstreet Boys one week and donning double denim the next. The bingo itself is still there but sprinkled with cheeky prizes, loser hats and the kind of audience participation that makes HR departments slightly nervous.

And the entertainment doesn’t end when the last number is called. Drag performers, live DJs and a dance floor that absolutely refuses to behave keep the energy going well into the night. Combine that with delicious cocktails, glittery shots and karaoke rounds so passionate they probably count as cardio and you have the perfect recipe for mayhem. This is my kind of leg day because me and the gym aren’t really friends.

The event draws a lively crowd looking for something a little different for birthday bashes, bachelorettes or chaotic end of year functions. And aren’t we all a bit bored of the same old team building year end office party? This one is one of the rare nights out where you can win a mystery prize, sing your lungs out and watch a grown adult cry with joy over a bottle of bubbly and a disco ball.

Fun fact, the word bingo dates back to the 1920s and is believed to come from a game called beano where players shouted “beano” before someone misheard and yelled “bingo” and the rest is fabulous feathered history.

Tickets start from R150 and include a welcome drink, bingo rounds, entertainment and some surprise table treats. Go on, give it a go.

And if your night out leans more towards bao buns than bingo balls, then Saigon Suzy might just be your next go to. With one in Pretoria and two buzzing locations in Johannesburg, one in Rosebank and one in Fourways, this Asian BBQ and rock and roll bar is part neon lit food market, part cocktail lounge and part secret karaoke cave that takes singing your heart out to glorious new heights.

The food is bold, vibrant and made for sharing. From juicy bao to crispy dumplings, pho, Pok Pok chicken wings and enough spice to remind you that bland is banned, Suzy’s menu brings Southeast Asian street food straight to Joburg. And it is all washed down with wildly inventive cocktails, including slushies that pack a punch, signature tipples like the Nagasaki Negroni, and their very own Mo Pho craft lager.

But the real gem lies beyond the Cherry Blossom Bar in the No Tell Motel. Suzy’s private karaoke rooms are where soundproofing ensures your friends can scream sing the Spice Girls without judgment from strangers. With over 45 000 tracks, plush themed pods and dedicated table service, it is karaoke but upgraded, pimped out and designed for group chaos. Even the shyest soul in the room eventually ends up on the mic. Trust me.

Whether you are toasting a Tuesday, planning an engagement celebration or just looking to belt out some Whitney with your work crew, Saigon Suzy is where good intentions meet great food and a slightly sore throat the next day. The décor is as extra as the cocktails, with cherry blossoms, lanterns, retro posters and dragons peeking out from corners. It is equal parts Vietnam and Vegas in the best possible way.

Both Bada Bingo and Saigon Suzy prove that going out should never be boring. Whether you are yelling bingo in a glittery crown or crooning boy band ballads in a karaoke bunker, your next function deserves a little chaos, a lot of cocktails and a solid story for Monday morning. You’re welcome.