There’s a new retro bar-club in town, and it’s opening tomorrow at one of the most unexpected spots you’d probably find yourself partying at: the basement of a 32-year-old building known for housing the hottest … electronic goods and parts.
Yes, older millennials, you can now drag your friends to party with you at Sim Lim Square — not at the electronic shops, but at Pinball Wizard, a new concept that operates as a bar during the day and transforms into a club at night, spinning tunes from the heydays of the ‘90s through the early aughts, on Fridays and Saturdays.
During the rest of the week, Pinball Wizard will have themed nights based on different music genres. Those who feel compelled to chant their hearts out to nineties rock anthems, for instance, can check out their Rock n’ Rolla night on Wednesdays, while the Tupac and Biggie fans can relive the golden years of hip hop during their Tilt nights on Thursdays.
DJs that make up the entertainment roster include Eatmepoptart stalwart Weelikeme, who was a former resident at Zouk, Canvas and Empire DJ Nicolette, ex-Hard Rock Cafe DJ Bucko and NINETEEN80 DJs Ollie’des, YA5TH and Bobos.
Pinball Wizard is the latest venue from A Phat Cat Collective, purveyors of playful nightlife concepts like NINETEEN80 arcade-bar in Tanjong Pagar, where club-goers can play vintage arcade games such as PacMan and Space Invaders while getting their booze on.
The new venue replaces those arcade games with retro pinball machines — hence the name of the place — themed on popular shows like The Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy, as well as film franchises with big followings, like Star Wars and The Avengers.
The design of the bar-slash-club itself is somewhat inspired by the pinball machine, with funky lights and a colorful arch entrance that looks a bit like the plunger tunnel that pinballs get catapulted into.
As for the booze on offer, the bar will be slinging a variety of cocktails and shooters, in case you and your crew are looking for some nice drinks to chase down those beer towers you just offed at Prinsep Street. Pinball Wizard’s cocktails will be priced at S$18 each, while shooters are S$15 each.
If taking photos of beautiful-looking drinks is your thing, then there’s the psychedelic Flower Power cocktail, a blend of butterfly pea-infused gin, elderflower, apple, ginger and lemongrass, and the jelly-like Free Willy shooters.
They’re also making a cocktail inspired by good ol’ Orange Julius — most of us probably remember that drink as “liquid candy, but make it orange” — made with bananas. At Pinball Wizard, the bartenders have reimagined it as the Banana Julius Flip, vodka mixed with creme de banana, maple syrup, and buttermilk.
FIND IT:
Pinball Wizard is at Sim Lim Square (Entrance facing Prinsep Street), #B1-29, 1 Rochor Canal Road
Tues & Wed: 6pm to 1am; Thurs & Fri: 6pm to 3am; Sat: 6pm to 4am
MRT: Jalan Besar
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