The buzz: Look past the fact that it’s not actually on Club Street (it’s just off it on Gemmill Lane) and that the name’s a rip-off Pollen Street Social, and you’ve got Singapore’s latest hotspot, Club Street Social.
The décor: Director-owner Min Chan fitted this high-ceilinged space out with cast iron doors and rustic brick walls. It’s all very laidback really.
The food: A handful of salads ($14-$16) complement a largely Italian sandwich-dominated menu (from $9) in incarnations like panini, tramezzini and crostini.
The drinks: A short list of white and red wines (both from $13/glass, $60/bottle), with an even shorter cocktail list of just seven concoctions from Chan’s good friend and mixology consultant, John deBary, based at NYC’s previously underground cult cocktail bar Please Don’t Tell. Of them, the most adventurous is a toss-up between Number 4 ($20) —Italian vermouth, rye whiskey and Vegemite—and the #7 ($16)—bacon-infused cognac with walnuts and dates.
The music: A real mix, depending on the time of day—with everything from jazz to breakbeats to soul.
The crowd: A healthy balance of locals and expats working in the area, as well as F&B industry players including off-duty chefs, restaurant managers and bartenders.
Why you’ll be back: It makes for a nice alternative to the other watering holes on the Club Street scene. Bonus points for the satisfying yet affordable bites.
