The latest in the Singapore bar scene: a concoction of booze, bar bites and elements of fun.
DOWN THE HATCH A winding, three storey-tall slide inside nightclub Marquee.
With entertainment options that go beyond dart boards or live jazz bands, drinking holes are working harder than ever to crank up the play factor.
About a month after nightclub Marquee – featuring a ferris wheel and three storey-tall slide – made its debut in Singapore, its sister venue, Avenue, opened in Marina Bay Sands, off ering a speakeasy cocktail concept amped up with a mini-bowling alley, among other interactive games.
Both Avenue and Marquee, establishments by restaurant and nightlife company Tao Group, have certainly raised the bar for the Singapore nightlife scene. “Entertainment is one of the key drivers of tourism in Singapore and we believe our venues will also appeal to regional visitors looking for a new entertainment experience,” says Tao Group co-founder Noah Tepperberg. The Coachella-inspired ferris wheel, coupled with Marquee’s long list of renowned DJs, has attracted throngs of local and regional club-goers since its opening.
Other international players are muscling in on the scene, too. Holey Moley, a bar concept hailing from Australia, has ditched the fairways in favour of fully air-conditioned, indoor mini-golf courses. Its unique bar features three mini-golf courses and it welcomes all to tipple and tee off, or vice versa.
Other drink-and-play concepts include places like Nineteen80, with its bevy of nostalgic arcade games and retro music; or King And The Pawn, which prides itself on the social experience it brings patrons through food, drinks and board games.
The creative entertainment line-up at these venues is matched by an equally innovative beverage menu. Cocktails at Nineteen80 are given a sentimental touch by incorporating ingredients, such as Ribena, that Singaporeans would find familiar. Over at Avenue, the classic Singapore Sling is given a new spin with the addition of gula melaka (palm sugar).
With the use of technology and Singapore’s mixology scene growing exponentially, perhaps the future will see even more unprecedented concepts mixing drinks and play. For now, as we usher in this new age of bars, add these venues to your little black book for an unconventional night out.
AVENUE
For those seeking respite from the boisterous music at Marquee, the club’s speakeasy cocktail lounge, Avenue, offers just that. While it might channel the elegance of an upscale residence, the venue’s playful side comes through with a mini bowling alley, pool table, as well as retro pinball and skee ball machines.
#B1-67, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Tel: 6688-8680.
HOLEY MOLEY
It might not rank among the world’s greatest golf courses, but this mini golf venue keeps good score when it comes to unbridled fun. Featuring three courses, each lined with nine unique holes, this bar allows one to unwind, with a casual putting experience coupled with food and drinks.
3B River Valley Road. Tel: 3129-0000.
NINETEEN80
If modern-day pop culture doesn’t excite you as much as the ’80s did, drop by Nineteen80 for a throwback to yesteryear. Relive a simpler time through arcade games, cocktail offerings, and music tuned to send you down memory lane.
#01-05, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tel: 9183-6073.
KING AND THE PAWN
Opened by board game enthusiasts with a keen interest in food and drinks, King And The Pawn proffers over 300 board games to keep groups of friends entertained. A craft beer list is on hand to keep you well hydrated.
Level 2, 24 Purvis Street. Tel: 6259-1913.
TEXT NICHOLAS KOO
