Boss opens new invite-only hidden bar at Takashimaya store
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Boss' new bar was designed by veteran designer Nathan Yong.
PHOTO: BOSS
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SINGAPORE – Fashion label Boss is offering its top customers more than just premium apparel.
Tucked away in the back of the German brand’s new store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre in Orchard Road is a bar. Private and petite, this six-seater speakeasy is open only to invited guests.
Inspired by the gentlemen’s clubs of the 1970s, it was designed by celebrated local designer Nathan Yong. Finishes of Turkish travertine and black Marquina marble recall the decadence of that era, while a sculptural scallop stone wall and granite counter add some texture.
Behind the counter is an aged metallic wall, along which the bar’s collection of fine spirits is displayed.
“The design exudes a dark, gold, natural, raw and brutal masculinity. Every element – from the selection of exclusive materials to the meticulous construction details – was curated to evoke a sense of luxury and exclusivity,” says Mr Yong, who runs a multidisciplinary design consultancy based in Singapore.
“This intimate bar serves the top-tier, uber-rich clientele, offering them a refined environment that seamlessly blends opulence with an understated, timeless allure,” he adds.
This is Boss’ first time offering customers an experience like this, and is intended to be an extension of its customer journey, a place where VIP shoppers and their friends can enjoy a night out.
The menu features cocktails like Got To Go, a concoction of Roku Gin, Campari bitters and vermouth rosso. It changes seasonally and all drinks are complimentary.
Boss is the latest fashion brand to amp up its offerings with tipples or tasty treats.
In January, Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet opened the world’s first AP cafe at Raffles Hotel to make AP House feel like “a go-to destination and opportunity to enjoy a more leisurely connection with the brand”.
In February, Italian brand Prada officially opened a new cafe at its Ion Orchard boutique, with a menu curated to showcase traditional Italian food and beverages with a modern twist.
Located at the same mall, Finnish lifestyle design company Marimekko sells small bites, cakes, coffee and tea at its flagship store.
Ms Sharon Tay, country manager at Tanachira Group, which manages the brand in South-east Asia, says: “One of the main challenges is the lack of a central or open kitchen, which limits our ability to serve a wider food menu.”
She adds that the menu is seasonal to make sure there is always something new for shoppers to experience at the cafe.
Likewise, local fashion brand In Good Company shares a retail space with Plain Vanilla bakery, as part of an attempt to create a “community hub”.
“Handcrafted bakes, good coffee and fashion share a common thread – an appreciation for craftsmanship and mindful living. Bringing them together felt natural, creating a space where people can linger, slow down and enjoy something made with care,” says Ms Vanessa Kenchington, founder and chief executive of Plain Vanilla.
Ms Yeo Mui Hong, chief executive of Orchard Turn Developments, the company that runs Ion Orchard, says: “Today’s shoppers seek more than just products. They are looking for rich, multisensory experiences that go beyond traditional retail and blend discovery, connection and lifestyle.”
These concepts, she adds, could foster deeper brand connections and encourage longer visits.
It is for similar reasons that carmakers such as Audi and Porsche have also stepped into the culinary space.
The former’s Cross Street showroom, which opened in February, now houses Burnt Ends Bakery’s second outlet, as well as a speakeasy bar.
Porsche’s Guoco Midtown studio, meanwhile, features the brand’s first Cafe Carrera, run by bakery chain Baker & Cook.
“Our goal with these new and unique retail formats is to be able to immerse our customers and fans in these stories, further elevating the ownership experience for those wanting to become part of this community,” says Mr Andre Brand, general manager of Porsche Singapore.
He adds that business has been very positive. The cafe and the studio’s inventive format have resulted in a “substantial increase in footfall, far exceeding the figures of a traditional car showroom”, with growth in the triple-digit range.
Porsche will open another store at Jewel Changi Airport in the second half of 2025, complete with cafe treats by Baker & Cook.
