New lifestyle hub at Singapore Land Tower in CBD

Four nightlife and dining concepts to open at Singapore Land Tower in the next three months

The Singapore Land Tower (above) will house all four new nightspots and restaurants. -- PHOTO: UIC LIMITED
The Singapore Land Tower (above) will house all four new nightspots and restaurants. -- PHOTO: UIC LIMITED

The hip quotient in the Central Business District (CBD) is set to turn up a notch with the launch of four nightlife and dining concepts over the next three months.

And the Singapore Land Tower may just become the coolest lifestyle address in the financial district as all four establishments are setting up shop in the 47-storey building in Raffles Place.

Upscale bar lounge Empire will be the first to open early next month on the 45th storey, ahead of the Formula One weekend from Sept 19 to 21.

A steakhouse named Sear and Angie's Oyster Bar will follow suit in October and a modern Japanese restaurant that has yet to be named, will open in November. All four concepts, which form a lifestyle hub dubbed 50 Raffles Place, take up 17,000 sq ft on the top two floors.

The office building currently houses tenants such as CIMB Bank and law firm Lee & Lee.

Those who keep up with the nightlife scene may remember the announcement last February that restaurant-bar Vogue Club, linked to the popular fashion magazine, would open at the same location by the middle of last year.

But Life! understands that plans for the club had fallen through and the space is being taken over by the four establishments.

The people behind the ambitious venture are lifestyle group Massive Collective - known for successful nightclubs such as Fenix Room and Dream in Clarke Quay - and hospitality group Hidden Door Concepts, which runs eateries such as PigsFly Kitchen & Bar and Kitchenette in Novena as well as modern European restaurant Boathouse on Fullerton Road.

Hidden Door Concepts' managing director, Mr Christopher Lim, who is in his 30s, says the idea to open several establishments under one roof is inspired by similar concepts seen in cities such as Jakarta, Hong Kong and Tokyo, where office complexes can house three to four floors of restaurants and bars.

He cites Menara BCA in Jakarta, which has a restaurant and bar on the 56th floor rooftop of the office tower, as an example.

The 4,000 sq ft Empire will cater to business-executive types working in the CBD looking for a place to chill out in and enjoy drinks after work or dinner. Mr Lim says the lounge's name is inspired by the 360-degree view that patrons can enjoy from the rooftop.

"The view is second to none... you have to be there to put things into perspective, but part of naming it Empire is that every person can have an empire of his own, like being on top of the world," he explains.

More details on the other three restaurants will be available soon, but Mr Lim says the steakhouse will be similar to modern American steakhouse CUT by Wolfgang Puck at Marina Bay Sands.

As for the Japanese restaurant, it will be traditional in the use of ingredients, "but modern in the way it is presented and how it is consumed".

Mr Lim adds: "It won't be your traditional sushi and sashimi restaurant."

Discussions for the collaboration with Massive Collective started in April after Mr Lim approached the group to "do something novel in the area".

Mr Phillip Poon, 37, one of Massive Collective's directors, says he was won over by the building's location, which commands a clear view of the Marina Bay area and CBD skyline.

"It has an amazing view and the concept fits in with what we are already doing with our clubs and restaurants. It is also in an area that we felt we were not serving fully," he says.

Massive currently operates three nightclubs in Clarke Quay and a new restaurant (Match) and nightclub (Bang Bang) at Pan Pacific Singapore.

Mr Lim, who declined to disclose how much was invested in the venture, says: "We wanted to create different elements of the food-and-beverage experience in one space - you can have dinner, then head to the bar for drinks.

"And after a night of drinking, you can have ramen at the Japanese restaurant for supper.

"It kind of creates an all-in-one experience and makes it convenient."

Other CBD addresses that have become multi-concept lifestyle destinations include 1-Altitude at the former OUB Centre in Raffles Place and Equinox Complex at the Swissotel Stamford in the City Hall area, which houses five restaurants and bars, including French fine dining restaurant Jaan and club lounge New Asia Bar.

melk@sph.com.sg

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