Orchard Road, Singapore

When it is near Christmas festival, Singapore's Orchard Road is very beautiful. Lights and special decoration of each building and streets are very attractive. The design makes you feel you are in a Christmas Time. Do pay a visit to Orchard Road at night, when it is near Christmas. Beautiful Christmas trees and lights are waiting for you.

My friend took me here after having dinner at Scotts Food Court. It was 7pm. We sauntered into China Black, sat at the bar and topped the cherry to our dinner with a few mugs of beer (draft). From 7-7:30pm - a mug will cost you only S$2.00 & and from 7:30-8pm the price increases to S$3. However on weekdays, their Happy Hour prices (30% off all drinks) are from 5-10pm.

They also offer a small buffet spread of finger food for early birds who are hungry. I did not try the food, so...no comments. =)

The interior of the club is average, with a fusion of the old Eastern furniture finishing with a tinge of Western look. Do not expect a super sleek, metal shiny look from this club.

There are 2 floors in this club. The bottom floor has 2 bars. The one in the middle of the dance floor is as pictured on the left. The other bar is at the side.

Besides the standard bar table & stools, they have lounge areas with sofas and coffee tables.

Though I couldn't make it, they were holding a gig there for Suede (*woo hoooo) the week after. Pity, but I had to leave Singapore by then! This was way back in January, my previous trip here before this one in March.

Their music ranges from Top 40s Contemporary Pop to Commercial House. On 'Retrolicious Thursdays’, DJ Jas spins the best hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Dress Code: No slippers/singlets.

Directions -
Get off at Orchard or Somerset MRT station. Walk towards FarEast Plaza in Scotts Rd. The Pacific Plaza is opp FarEast Plaza. Take the elevator near the MiuMiu & Gucci shops. Go to the 12th floor - waa laa - welcome to China Black!

This was a really fun place that I probably wouldn't have found left to my own devices but I was taken there by a local. I had a few doubts when we first got there as I wasn't sure if it was a gay bar. A lot of the staff and the lead singer in the band especially were extremely camp, the latter looking as if he had just left the set of Cabaret. The resident band are called Tania and are apparently very well known locally.

It is an older crowd which suited me down to the ground and there were a lot of expats. The taped music they were playing when we arrived was right from my era and the live band that perform every night play similar music. The band get going at around 10:30pm.
Unfortunately we had to leave early due to an early start the next morning and the place didn't really get going until around midnight. I would like to have stayed for a few more hours. Ah well, it just means I will have to go back there.

Dress Code: Casual. I got the impression anything goes. There were some pretty outrageously dressed people but no-one batted an eyelid.