We love a bar with a good concept; even more so when they take it a step further and develop a backstory. Enter Eliza, the newest club to hit the nightlife scene, and the latest connection in the Coterie Concepts’ painstakingly refined storytelling.
If the name of the group sounds familiar, it’s likely because you’ve spent a hazy night or two over at their other concepts Sum Yi Tai and Mona’s Lounge. The latter, which recently opened in May, sought to develop the lesser known story of ex-songstress Mona, the third wife (or “Sum Yi Tai” in Cantonese) of a powerful man. Now, they’ve gone on to extend the family tree. Eliza was born to the second wife, but tragically lost her mother to addiction, and was hence left to depend on Mona as her stepmother. Growing up, she rebelled against the influential Mona, and at 18 moved to London to pursue fashion design and jazz. Well honey, she’s since graduated—and decided she wants a piece of the family business. This new bar marks the “return” of Eliza, design business in tow, for the dawn of a new era: hers. If that isn’t some Empire-worthy storytelling, we don’t know what is.
Oscar-winning narrative aside, Eliza Bar is set to be an exciting new addition to our nightlife scene. Nestled along Telok Ayer Street, the modern Asian bar and cocktail club combines elegant food and drink menus with era-appropriate entertainment—think live jazz rearrangements of pop hits that transition seamlessly into nu-disco DJ sets (by DJ Aldrin of Zouk fame, no less). Against a backdrop of sultry colored lighting, gold finishings and plush pinstripe chairs, enjoy Shanghai dishes and curated cocktails in classy refinery.
As with the group’s other concepts, much detail has gone into ensuring a consistent theme in the cocktail menu. Headed up by Group Chief Bartender Sam Wong, the selection includes Drums & Sax ($22), a sweetened fusion of Old Tom Gin and ginger liqueur as a take on an Old Fashioned; The Custom Cut ($22), a reinvented Highball cocktail with frozen Campari and orange soda that’s Eliza’s drink for when she is designing her famous pinstripe suits; and Dragon’s Daughter ($22), a self-proclaimed epitome of Shanghai elegance marrying Botanist gin, Peychaud Bitters and a touch of vinegar for flowery aromas.
With the closure of Shanghai Dolly, we’re thrilled to have a spate of new bars paying homage to old-school Shanghai glamour (also on the Eliza team is Gordon Foo, former Managing Director of Shanghai Dolly). Right now, Eliza promises the vibes of post-millennial Shanghai, which honestly sounds like a fun place to be.
Eliza is located at 113 Telok Ayer Street, and is open 5pm-3am (Mon-Fri) and 6pm-4am (Sat). More information here.
