The hype: The closure of New Majestic Hotel saddened us, but in its place now stands a private members club for the modern age, Straits Clan. While most spaces in the four storey building is for members only, the lobby lounge area which houses Clan Cafe is open for the public to dine at.
The vibe: Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate a cool Nanyang-inspired space where upholstered furnishings meet seamless rectangular tiled columns and breezeblock wall facades. It’s almost tropical, thanks in no small part to lush amounts of green and a dashing mural that stretches from the bar counter to the co-located botanical design studio, Humid House. A communal table near the entrance seems popular with all the creative and entrepreneurial types that come here.
The food: Healthy, vibrant and distinctly Asian. The stars of the all-day menu are the mixed grain bowls that can come with add-on pots of broth for added flavors. The miso salmon grain bowl ($17), filled with good portions of carrot and lotus root, edamame and snap peas, is filling but light enough for lunch, while the heartier grilled angus ribeye ($19) one, that’s topped with an onsen egg and mushrooms instead of the peas, is great for those looking for a more substantial meal.
We highly recommend opting for your choice of broth—spiced beef, chicken and leek, or hearty tomato (all $9, or $7.50 if you ordered a grain bowl)—to go with them, especially the piquant chicken and leek one, as it does turn the dish into a more nourishing, wholesome experience.
The menu has a bunch of brunch staples too, like eggs benny and avo toasts, as well as bar snacks. Do try the otah sandwich ($16), where comte cheese is melted on a mackerel and prawn otah then decked between two brioche buns. Sublime. Take note though, that the grain bowl and brunch items are only available until 6pm. Luckily, the otah sandwich sits on the bar snack menu too, which is available till closing.
The drinks: Clan Cafe is both a cafe and bar, so expect Papa Palheta coffees (latte goes for $5) and pots of tea blends meant to sooth different ailments from A.muse Projects (all $8), but also variations of classic cocktails (all $17) and bottled craft beers. Kombucha is available too, in line with the venue’s wellness focus.
Why you’ll be back: Does rubbing shoulders with the city’s most passionate, progressive and creative individuals entice you? As the only publicly accessible place in Straits Clan, it’s where clubhouse members and non-members collide.
