From an Asian taproom specialising in craft beers and heritage cuisine, to a cool, hidden spot in a Club Street shophouse basement, these new openings are raising the bar, literally.
Text by: Eris Choo
Hup San Social Club & Club Street Laundry
Nestled at the corner of Club Street and Ann Siang Hill is Hup San Social Club, a brand new 12-seater bar. This drinking spot is tucked away in the basement beneath Club Street Laundry, an open-concept eatery on the ground level.
The bar is helmed by beverage director June Baek, a talented Korea-born bartender with experience across Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, and the US. June crafts unexpected drinks for Hup San Social Club’s debut menu, aptly titled “Do What Brings You Joy”. Playful concoctions include Club Street Colada made with baijiu, Discarded banana rum, oloroso sherry, pineapple, lime and coconut milk clarification; and Achar made with gin, achar shrub, pineapple, lime and Tabasco.
If you want to continue your adventurous streak for the evening, try The French Fries 2.0, a cheeky creation made with French fries-washed Monkey Shoulder whisky, Heinz tomato, chilli and salt. For something refreshing, the Bing Soo is a good bet – a blend of red bean-distilled Andong soju, onde onde soju, sparkling wine and strawberry. The rim of the glass is glazed with coconut white chocolate for a fragrant finish.
Meanwhile, upstairs at Club Street Laundry, Chef Justin Hammond and director of operations & communications Donna-Mae de Cruz oversee a modern Australian menu served from morning to evening. You can pair the casual bites with wines or a selected list of cocktails.
Autobar
Newly opened at Republic Plaza in the CBD, Autobar is a contemporary taproom that brings the best of food and drink under one roof, with a curated beverage programme by craft beer veteran Lee Chee Li, and heritage Peranakan and Southeast Asian cuisine by Chef Yang Xueling. The 120-seater offers a refined yet convivial space that transitions from power lunches to evening socialising with ease. The beverage menu impresses with crisp lagers, fruity hard seltzers, and creative cocktails like the Peach Basil Smash, served cold and straight from the tap.
Meanwhile, the weekday Heritage Set Lunch ($28) is a draw for nearby professionals, featuring dishes like white rojak, mapo tofu, and beef cheek rendang served with sides of Nonya chap chye, house achar, and blue pea jasmine rice. Evenings lean into bolder flavours, from Iberico pork neck with som tum to Duroc pork schnitzel topped with burnt pineapple and calamansi.
Coach Bar
Tucked inside Coach’s shophouse on Keong Saik Road, the newly unveiled Coach Bar is a surprising and stylish extension of the fashion house’s lifestyle concepts. This warm and distinctly playful cocktail spot trades in nostalgia, featuring a library of cassette tapes, dim lighting, and a sonic backdrop of 70s soul and 90s hip hop, coupled with elements that reflect the spirit of American optimism and New York swagger.
The menu leans into the same vibe, with moreish bar bites like Pastrami Poppers, soft-serve sundae topped with caviar, and steak sandwiches. Aside from the classic wine and bubbles, the food also pairs exceedingly well with signature cocktails like the Tabby Disco Tea with Coach “C” citrus ice, or the Spicy Margarita Royale adorned with white chocolate and caviar. Of course, no NYC-inspired bar experience can miss out on the martini, a drink that has become synonymous with class and sophistication.