Buzz: Easing its way towards the top spot among Singapore’s hippest corners, the thriving uncoventional ecosystem of the SIT flat estate in Tiong Bahru now has a bar.

Décor: More towards the industrial chic side in terms of looks, SocialHaus has three different bar experiences in one compact space. A long, wood-topped bar with metal light fixtures above it, a spacious dining area and an airy lounge-type section with pseudo-rocking chairs overlooking 40 Hands across the street. Menus are written on chalkboards befitting a quirky establishment.

Food: Though SocialHaus opened at the beginning of the year, it won’t operate at full tilt until the later part of February. In the meantime though, they’ve got your usual bar bites like French fries ($6) breaded shrooms ($7.50) and sliders ($9) along with a few mains like seafood pasta ($14.50), fish and chips ($13.50) and beef stew ($14.50)

Drinks: For the moment, it’s mostly uncomplicated after-work drinks – beers ($6-12), wines (from $10 a glass and $45 a bottle), basic spirits ($10) and a handful of single malts (from $12 a glass and $180 a bottle). Expect more in the way of cocktails later this month as well (currently they’ve got Jaegerbombs going at $12). 

Music: Not much to speak of, it’s very much a place given its charm from the ambient chatter and cars passing below.

Crowd: An after-work crowd dominated by the modern-day Tiong Bahru bohemians.

Why we’ll be back: Even without being fully operational, we like what we see. A chilled-out place in a neighborhood we love that’s unpretentious, inviting and full of potential to be that well-kept secret we all crave. Tiong Bahru was missing one thing: A bar. And now it’s not.

Open 4pm-midnight on Mondays