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Amoy Street has its fair share of speakeasy-style bars – think Stay Gold Flamingo and Employees Only, both tucked behind thick drapes and hidden from unknowing eyes. Recently, a new one has joined the fray. Slip behind the grab-and-go sandwich counter of Mamma Mia Focaccia and you'll find The Champagnery, a sleek, champagne-first lounge dedicated to all things bubbly.
You enter through the deli, brushing past trays of focaccia and the coffee machine, before meeting with a crimson red door. Behind it lies a lowly-lit lounge decked out with statement checkered floors, gold details and LED screens. You can tell it's a space meant for partying, with the DJ booth positioned in the centre, flashy pink light strips around the bar counter and rows of low tables by the sides.
Here's everyone's really here for: the Wednesday Soirée. It's The Champagnery's take on ladies' night, running from 8pm to 11pm every Wednesday with unlimited pours of bubbly for women. At a time when ladies' nights are increasingly watered down or accompanied by token discounts, this feels almost too good to be true. Right now, this three-hour free-flow format might just be the only of its kind in Singapore.
But what exactly is in your flute? That depends. On some Wednesdays, it's the house pour of Jacques Picard Brut Iconique NV, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. On others, expect a rotating selection of sparkling wine, most commonly Prosecco. We'll save those complaints – it's free-flow, after all.
The party really only starts around 10pm. Here's when the DJs take over and the energy lifts. Music Director, Erin Khan, who shapes the sound of The Champagnery, spotlights female talents on Wednesdays, like EJ Missy, who's a familiar name to Club Kyo regulars. Expect a melange of modern house music, R&B and soul-house tunes. On weekends, though, the party runs a little later – usually past 2am.
Here's how to secure a spot on Wednesdays: keep a close eye on the bar's Instagram page, where they release weekly guest lists for the Wednesday Soirée. Slots do tend to go out fast, and the space caps out at just 60 pax. So once it's full, it's a wait-at-the-door situation till a group leaves. The crowd here leans slightly older, well-dressed and here to socialise rather than rave, which explains the minimum age policy of 25.
But back to the champagne. The list runs deep with familiar names like Ruinart, Henri Giraud, Louis Roederer, Dom Perignon, Krug and Bollinger. Of course, if you're feeling flush or celebrating something major, bottles climb into the four-figure range, and there's even a rare Salon Blanc de Blanc Le Mesnil 2013 ($2700) on the menu – one of only five bottles available in Singapore – if you're in a baller mood.
There are also four bubbly-based cocktails on the menu, alongside a list of classic cocktails like negronis, whisky sours and the like. These are set to change this April. We'd recommend tempering your expectations here, as the drinks are definitely on the more straightforward and uncomplicated side – this isn't your craft or specialty cocktail bar after all. The French 75, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, citrus and bubbles, arrives crisp and zesty, albeit a little one-dimensional. The Clarified Pornstar ($24) leans sweeter, capped with a frothy passionfruit foam, and the Rose 75 ($26) adds raspberry to the mix for a floral, tart and sweet spin.
Our favourite of the lot is the Airmail ($22), a refreshing blend of rum, citrus, honey, shiso and bubbles that's dangerously easy to knock back. Peckish? Mamma Mia Focaccia's sandwiches are also available till 9.30pm, perfect for lining the stomach before a night of dancing, and surprisingly, the savoury stacks go extremely well with a glass of bubbly. Check out the deli's full range here.
Overall, we love that The Champagnery is bringing champagne back to the fore, with attractive ladies' nights and a well-designed music programme that champions female talent. While the cocktail and food menus do take a backseat here, it's definitely still a spot to bookmark for your next girls' night.
Time Out's rating: 3/5
Find out more about The Champagnery here.
The Champagnery is open from Tuesdays to Thursdays, 7pm to 3am and Fridays to Saturdays, 7pm to 4am at 94 Amoy Street, Singapore 069914.
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