dtrax
15-10-12, 00:19
Hot Spots
An explosion of hip bars and restaurants in the streets of Chinatown, from Duxton Hill to Club Street to Ann Siang Hill, has brought vibrance to the area
Oct 14, 2012
By Melissa Kok
In the heart of Chinatown, the streets from Duxton Hill to Club Street to Ann Siang Hill are abuzz on Friday and Saturday nights.
So vibrant is the weekend nightlife that patrons can be seen criss-crossing the streets as they hop from one bar to the next, or milling about - with drink in hand - along the meandering roads that connect Jiak Chuan and Keong Saik roads, and Ann Siang Hill to Gemmill Lane.
The cool quotient in the four areas - Jiak Chuan Road to Keong Saik Road; Gemmill Lane off Club Street; Club Street to Ann Siang Hill; and Duxton Hill - is sizzling off the charts thanks to a boom in new bars and restaurants over the past year or so.
Each area has its own unique charm and identity, and the best part is, you can walk from one area to the next within 15 minutes.
Retail shops and karaoke bars that used to operate in these conservation shophouses have made way for young restaurateurs and bar owners who love the vibe and architecture of the shophouses that line the streets.
Among the newcomers to the Chinatown neighbourhood are whisky bar B28 and cocktail bar Bartini on Club Street, kitsch tapas-style restaurant Lolla on Ann Siang, Spanish restaurant Esquina on Jiak Chuan and restaurant-bar Club Street Social at Gemmill Lane.
They add to the existing stable of French, Italian and Japanese restaurants, and drinking holes, some of which have been around since the late 1980s.
The new kids on the block are making for an eclectic mix of dining and drinking options, attracting more diners and night-time revellers keen to check them out.
A possible reason driving that trend, say property agents, is the fact that landlords prefer tenants who run food and beverage outlets because they can charge a higher monthly rental over tenants using the space for retail or office use.
For example, a ground-floor shophouse space of 1,200 sq ft or so can be leased out for about $12,000 to $20,000 a month for an F&B outlet, while the same space for retail use may attract a rental that is 30 to 50 per cent lower.
International Property Advisor chief executive Ku Swee Yong says: "In the past two to three years, it was not uncommon to see a 20 per cent increase in rental for commercial space in this area, and people in F&B are willing to pay the higher rental - that is why the streetscape is changing."
Restaurant and bar owners in the four areas tell SundayLife! they have seen an increase of up to 30 per cent in human traffic compared to just a year ago.
In Jiak Chuan Road, popular Spanish tapas bar Esquina, which opened last December, is so packed that it sometimes sends diners a few doors down to cocktail bar Cufflink Club for a drink or two while they wait for a table.
Mr Joel Fraser, founder of the 80-seat Cufflink Club, which opened in July, says: "It's unbelievable, the amount of traffic that can come down, and Esquina has been the main catalyst.
"One night, it was like a carnival, we had about 180 people here and we had to send people next door to get beers. Just a year ago, there was no buzz."
Mr Olivier Bendel, chief executive of Deliciae Hospitality Management, which runs a stable of venues including French restaurants L'entrecote and Le Petite Cancale, as well as Spanish tapas bar Sabio in Duxton Hill, says: "The opening of more restaurants has brought us a bigger crowd.
"Today, people don't ask themselves where they will have lunch or dinner, they just go to Duxton Hill or Club Street and make a choice on the spot."
The variety of choice offers patrons a chance to sample different experiences across one street - or two or three if you are feeling more adventurous.
Ms Penelope Wetherill, 31, a regional account director in an advertising firm who frequents Club Street and Ann Siang Hill at least once every couple of weeks, says: "There's quite a nice potluck of experiences on this street, it can be mellow and chill or booming.
"It's also more personal. I decide where to go when I get here and I go where the atmosphere goes."
No other area quite exudes the same charm as this Chinatown district, except for Holland Village, which is packed with pubgoers and diners each night along Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong.
It could even be said that it is as hopping as what Mohamed Sultan Road - formerly a popular go-to place to party and drink at pubs and discotheques - used to be in the late 1990s and early noughties.
Those who frequent the Chinatown places are a mix of Singaporeans and expatriates, mostly discerning urban diners in their late 20s to early 40s out for a casual experience where they can unwind with family, friends or colleagues with great food and tipple.
Many regulars are also finance and banking professionals, or designer and creative types working in the nearby central business district or in Chinatown.
On quieter weeknights, bars and restaurants get a steady flow of regulars and residents who live a stone's throw away.
Mr Tim Inthirakoth, a public relations director in his early 30s who lives close to Club Street, says: "The vibe has changed a lot since I moved to the area 11/2 years ago. I think it's great - lots of energy and people around on the weekends but it has never affected me in a negative way. You expect Club Street to be the watering hole destination. It's called Club Street after all."
And you would think that with so many bars and eateries popping up - SundayLife! counted more than 20 in the four areas over the past couple of years - there is bound to be some competitive tension.
But bar operators and restaurateurs say that on the contrary, it is a close-knit community where everyone "generally gets along with one another".
Indeed, it is not uncommon for a bartender in one establishment to encourage a patron to try out the next bar a few doors down.
In fact, just in February this year, five bars in the area, including Bartini, 83 and Beaujolais, launched a Mardi-Gras themed street party, where patrons could use drink vouchers at any of the participating outlets.
Mr Barnaby Murdoch, 28, Bartini's bar manager, says: "There's a good connection. If we run out of alcohol or straws, we can always borrow from one another. Everyone's quite independent and unique in what we offer, so it's not competition."
Ann Siang Hill and Club Street
VIBE: Understated and cool, Ann Siang Hill and Club Street offer a hodge-podge of restaurants and bars that each has its own unique identity. It is the go-to destination for night-time revellers without a plan.
Spot designers and creative types knocking back a pint of beer or two, or sharing a bottle of wine in the al fresco area of restaurants.
Expats and tourists also congregate here on weekends for dinner at one of the French or Spanish restaurants before moving on for after-dinner drinks.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Chill out at cocktail bar Bartini (46 Club Street, above), where friendly bar manager Barnaby Murdoch whips up unique concoctions such as its pornstar martini (a passionfruit and rasberry vodka-based martini served with a shot of champagne on the side). Wine bar Beaujolais (1 Ann Siang Hill), which has been around since 1988, stocks more than 100 different types of wine. But funnily, the place also attracts a lot of British expats who go there to drink beer.
Whisky and jazz music lovers can try B28 (28 Ann Siang Road), which boasts a selection of more than 100 types of single-malt whisky and has a live jazz band performing on Friday nights.
Looking for a new, hip spot for dinner with friends? Head down to restaurant Lolla(22 Ann Siang Road) and tuck into tapas-style fare such as tuna belly tartare, sea urchin pudding and scrambled eggs with bottarga (cured fish roe). The place also has a unique champagne selection and an extensive wine list to suit your fancy.
Ann Siang Hill and Club Street
VIBE: Understated and cool, Ann Siang Hill and Club Street offer a hodge-podge of restaurants and bars that each has its own unique identity. It is the go-to destination for night-time revellers without a plan.
Spot designers and creative types knocking back a pint of beer or two, or sharing a bottle of wine in the al fresco area of restaurants.
Expats and tourists also congregate here on weekends for dinner at one of the French or Spanish restaurants before moving on for after-dinner drinks.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Chill out at cocktail bar Bartini (46 Club Street, above), where friendly bar manager Barnaby Murdoch whips up unique concoctions such as its pornstar martini (a passionfruit and rasberry vodka-based martini served with a shot of champagne on the side). Wine bar Beaujolais (1 Ann Siang Hill), which has been around since 1988, stocks more than 100 different types of wine. But funnily, the place also attracts a lot of British expats who go there to drink beer.
Whisky and jazz music lovers can try B28 (28 Ann Siang Road), which boasts a selection of more than 100 types of single-malt whisky and has a live jazz band performing on Friday nights.
Looking for a new, hip spot for dinner with friends? Head down to restaurant Lolla(22 Ann Siang Road) and tuck into tapas-style fare such as tuna belly tartare, sea urchin pudding and scrambled eggs with bottarga (cured fish roe). The place also has a unique champagne selection and an extensive wine list to suit your fancy.
Duxton Hill
VIBE: For the dinner and wine-drinking crowd, Duxton Hill is sometimes likened to London's Soho district or Charlotte Street, a well-known street in London famed for its restaurants and cafes and lively nightlife.
On weekends, spot young working professionals heading down for some French, Spanish, Russian, Italian and local cuisine from the row of restaurants that line the hill.
Go early or call for reservations if you want to get a table though, because these restaurants are often full by 7.30pm.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Newcomer Le Petit Cancale (37 Duxton Hill) is a quaint shophouse located on the cobblestoned street of Duxton Hill and which serves oysters and "fruits de mer" (seafood platter) sourced from Cancale, in Brittany, France.
Always packed, Spanish tapas restaurant Sabio (5 Duxton Hill) offers a true taste of Spain using fresh seasonal produce and an extensive range of imported Spanish wines, beers and spirits.
Nearby, those out for rustic Italian cuisine can try the family-friendly Latteria Mozzarella Bar (40 Duxton Hill), which offers a smorgasboard of fresh semi-soft cheese and traditional and hearty dishes.
Gemmill Lane
VIBE: Sophisticated and elegant, yet laid-back and cool. This peppy cul-de-sac off Club Street is a good starting place for dinner or light snacks and cocktails in the early evening before working your way up the road for post-dinner drinks with colleagues and friends.
This place attracts the after-work crowd, both locals and expatriates in their late 20s and early 30s who do not mind splurging on food and drink.
As this is a residential area, bars and restaurants here close about midnight or 1am.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: High ceilings and warm lighting greet you when you step into trendy Club Street Social (5 Gemmill Lane). Give its interesting whisky-based cocktails with yuzu (a citrus fruit) a try, or share a plate of crostini or pan-seared lobster panini with friends.
Across the road, sip on exclusive and affordable French wines at cosy Parisian- style bistro O Batignolles (2 Gemmill Lane), or indulge in oysters and beer atLuke's Oyster Bar & Chop Shop (20 Gemmill Lane), a quaint corner restaurant that serves top quality food in a relaxed atmosphere.
An explosion of hip bars and restaurants in the streets of Chinatown, from Duxton Hill to Club Street to Ann Siang Hill, has brought vibrance to the area
Oct 14, 2012
By Melissa Kok
In the heart of Chinatown, the streets from Duxton Hill to Club Street to Ann Siang Hill are abuzz on Friday and Saturday nights.
So vibrant is the weekend nightlife that patrons can be seen criss-crossing the streets as they hop from one bar to the next, or milling about - with drink in hand - along the meandering roads that connect Jiak Chuan and Keong Saik roads, and Ann Siang Hill to Gemmill Lane.
The cool quotient in the four areas - Jiak Chuan Road to Keong Saik Road; Gemmill Lane off Club Street; Club Street to Ann Siang Hill; and Duxton Hill - is sizzling off the charts thanks to a boom in new bars and restaurants over the past year or so.
Each area has its own unique charm and identity, and the best part is, you can walk from one area to the next within 15 minutes.
Retail shops and karaoke bars that used to operate in these conservation shophouses have made way for young restaurateurs and bar owners who love the vibe and architecture of the shophouses that line the streets.
Among the newcomers to the Chinatown neighbourhood are whisky bar B28 and cocktail bar Bartini on Club Street, kitsch tapas-style restaurant Lolla on Ann Siang, Spanish restaurant Esquina on Jiak Chuan and restaurant-bar Club Street Social at Gemmill Lane.
They add to the existing stable of French, Italian and Japanese restaurants, and drinking holes, some of which have been around since the late 1980s.
The new kids on the block are making for an eclectic mix of dining and drinking options, attracting more diners and night-time revellers keen to check them out.
A possible reason driving that trend, say property agents, is the fact that landlords prefer tenants who run food and beverage outlets because they can charge a higher monthly rental over tenants using the space for retail or office use.
For example, a ground-floor shophouse space of 1,200 sq ft or so can be leased out for about $12,000 to $20,000 a month for an F&B outlet, while the same space for retail use may attract a rental that is 30 to 50 per cent lower.
International Property Advisor chief executive Ku Swee Yong says: "In the past two to three years, it was not uncommon to see a 20 per cent increase in rental for commercial space in this area, and people in F&B are willing to pay the higher rental - that is why the streetscape is changing."
Restaurant and bar owners in the four areas tell SundayLife! they have seen an increase of up to 30 per cent in human traffic compared to just a year ago.
In Jiak Chuan Road, popular Spanish tapas bar Esquina, which opened last December, is so packed that it sometimes sends diners a few doors down to cocktail bar Cufflink Club for a drink or two while they wait for a table.
Mr Joel Fraser, founder of the 80-seat Cufflink Club, which opened in July, says: "It's unbelievable, the amount of traffic that can come down, and Esquina has been the main catalyst.
"One night, it was like a carnival, we had about 180 people here and we had to send people next door to get beers. Just a year ago, there was no buzz."
Mr Olivier Bendel, chief executive of Deliciae Hospitality Management, which runs a stable of venues including French restaurants L'entrecote and Le Petite Cancale, as well as Spanish tapas bar Sabio in Duxton Hill, says: "The opening of more restaurants has brought us a bigger crowd.
"Today, people don't ask themselves where they will have lunch or dinner, they just go to Duxton Hill or Club Street and make a choice on the spot."
The variety of choice offers patrons a chance to sample different experiences across one street - or two or three if you are feeling more adventurous.
Ms Penelope Wetherill, 31, a regional account director in an advertising firm who frequents Club Street and Ann Siang Hill at least once every couple of weeks, says: "There's quite a nice potluck of experiences on this street, it can be mellow and chill or booming.
"It's also more personal. I decide where to go when I get here and I go where the atmosphere goes."
No other area quite exudes the same charm as this Chinatown district, except for Holland Village, which is packed with pubgoers and diners each night along Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong.
It could even be said that it is as hopping as what Mohamed Sultan Road - formerly a popular go-to place to party and drink at pubs and discotheques - used to be in the late 1990s and early noughties.
Those who frequent the Chinatown places are a mix of Singaporeans and expatriates, mostly discerning urban diners in their late 20s to early 40s out for a casual experience where they can unwind with family, friends or colleagues with great food and tipple.
Many regulars are also finance and banking professionals, or designer and creative types working in the nearby central business district or in Chinatown.
On quieter weeknights, bars and restaurants get a steady flow of regulars and residents who live a stone's throw away.
Mr Tim Inthirakoth, a public relations director in his early 30s who lives close to Club Street, says: "The vibe has changed a lot since I moved to the area 11/2 years ago. I think it's great - lots of energy and people around on the weekends but it has never affected me in a negative way. You expect Club Street to be the watering hole destination. It's called Club Street after all."
And you would think that with so many bars and eateries popping up - SundayLife! counted more than 20 in the four areas over the past couple of years - there is bound to be some competitive tension.
But bar operators and restaurateurs say that on the contrary, it is a close-knit community where everyone "generally gets along with one another".
Indeed, it is not uncommon for a bartender in one establishment to encourage a patron to try out the next bar a few doors down.
In fact, just in February this year, five bars in the area, including Bartini, 83 and Beaujolais, launched a Mardi-Gras themed street party, where patrons could use drink vouchers at any of the participating outlets.
Mr Barnaby Murdoch, 28, Bartini's bar manager, says: "There's a good connection. If we run out of alcohol or straws, we can always borrow from one another. Everyone's quite independent and unique in what we offer, so it's not competition."
Ann Siang Hill and Club Street
VIBE: Understated and cool, Ann Siang Hill and Club Street offer a hodge-podge of restaurants and bars that each has its own unique identity. It is the go-to destination for night-time revellers without a plan.
Spot designers and creative types knocking back a pint of beer or two, or sharing a bottle of wine in the al fresco area of restaurants.
Expats and tourists also congregate here on weekends for dinner at one of the French or Spanish restaurants before moving on for after-dinner drinks.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Chill out at cocktail bar Bartini (46 Club Street, above), where friendly bar manager Barnaby Murdoch whips up unique concoctions such as its pornstar martini (a passionfruit and rasberry vodka-based martini served with a shot of champagne on the side). Wine bar Beaujolais (1 Ann Siang Hill), which has been around since 1988, stocks more than 100 different types of wine. But funnily, the place also attracts a lot of British expats who go there to drink beer.
Whisky and jazz music lovers can try B28 (28 Ann Siang Road), which boasts a selection of more than 100 types of single-malt whisky and has a live jazz band performing on Friday nights.
Looking for a new, hip spot for dinner with friends? Head down to restaurant Lolla(22 Ann Siang Road) and tuck into tapas-style fare such as tuna belly tartare, sea urchin pudding and scrambled eggs with bottarga (cured fish roe). The place also has a unique champagne selection and an extensive wine list to suit your fancy.
Ann Siang Hill and Club Street
VIBE: Understated and cool, Ann Siang Hill and Club Street offer a hodge-podge of restaurants and bars that each has its own unique identity. It is the go-to destination for night-time revellers without a plan.
Spot designers and creative types knocking back a pint of beer or two, or sharing a bottle of wine in the al fresco area of restaurants.
Expats and tourists also congregate here on weekends for dinner at one of the French or Spanish restaurants before moving on for after-dinner drinks.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Chill out at cocktail bar Bartini (46 Club Street, above), where friendly bar manager Barnaby Murdoch whips up unique concoctions such as its pornstar martini (a passionfruit and rasberry vodka-based martini served with a shot of champagne on the side). Wine bar Beaujolais (1 Ann Siang Hill), which has been around since 1988, stocks more than 100 different types of wine. But funnily, the place also attracts a lot of British expats who go there to drink beer.
Whisky and jazz music lovers can try B28 (28 Ann Siang Road), which boasts a selection of more than 100 types of single-malt whisky and has a live jazz band performing on Friday nights.
Looking for a new, hip spot for dinner with friends? Head down to restaurant Lolla(22 Ann Siang Road) and tuck into tapas-style fare such as tuna belly tartare, sea urchin pudding and scrambled eggs with bottarga (cured fish roe). The place also has a unique champagne selection and an extensive wine list to suit your fancy.
Duxton Hill
VIBE: For the dinner and wine-drinking crowd, Duxton Hill is sometimes likened to London's Soho district or Charlotte Street, a well-known street in London famed for its restaurants and cafes and lively nightlife.
On weekends, spot young working professionals heading down for some French, Spanish, Russian, Italian and local cuisine from the row of restaurants that line the hill.
Go early or call for reservations if you want to get a table though, because these restaurants are often full by 7.30pm.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: Newcomer Le Petit Cancale (37 Duxton Hill) is a quaint shophouse located on the cobblestoned street of Duxton Hill and which serves oysters and "fruits de mer" (seafood platter) sourced from Cancale, in Brittany, France.
Always packed, Spanish tapas restaurant Sabio (5 Duxton Hill) offers a true taste of Spain using fresh seasonal produce and an extensive range of imported Spanish wines, beers and spirits.
Nearby, those out for rustic Italian cuisine can try the family-friendly Latteria Mozzarella Bar (40 Duxton Hill), which offers a smorgasboard of fresh semi-soft cheese and traditional and hearty dishes.
Gemmill Lane
VIBE: Sophisticated and elegant, yet laid-back and cool. This peppy cul-de-sac off Club Street is a good starting place for dinner or light snacks and cocktails in the early evening before working your way up the road for post-dinner drinks with colleagues and friends.
This place attracts the after-work crowd, both locals and expatriates in their late 20s and early 30s who do not mind splurging on food and drink.
As this is a residential area, bars and restaurants here close about midnight or 1am.
NOTEWORTHY PLACES: High ceilings and warm lighting greet you when you step into trendy Club Street Social (5 Gemmill Lane). Give its interesting whisky-based cocktails with yuzu (a citrus fruit) a try, or share a plate of crostini or pan-seared lobster panini with friends.
Across the road, sip on exclusive and affordable French wines at cosy Parisian- style bistro O Batignolles (2 Gemmill Lane), or indulge in oysters and beer atLuke's Oyster Bar & Chop Shop (20 Gemmill Lane), a quaint corner restaurant that serves top quality food in a relaxed atmosphere.