Located above one of Singapore’s most popular bars is Ghostwriter, an incubation space where some of the country’s aspiring F&B entrepreneurs test their concepts.

Chances are most patrons throwing back their Daiquiris at popular Duxton Hill watering hole Low Tide aren’t quite aware that there’s something brewing above them. For tucked on the second floor is Ghostwriter, a concept by the Low Tide folks – who are also behind successful cocktail bar Sago House and the newly-opened nose-to-tail restaurant Underdog Inn – where aspiring F&B entrepreneurs cook up their ideas. Here they trial recipes, refine techniques, do test runs, and oh, test their nascent concepts on small groups of willing, paying customers before deciding whether to take the plunge on their own venue.

But IYKYK.

It’s culinary blank canvas. Every month, Ghostwriter hosts in its attic-like space a different F&B pop-up each of which can be wildly different from the other. Incidentally, it was originally Punch & Consequence, now spun off by Executive Chef Pete Smit as nose-to-tail restaurant Underdog Inn.

GRLA - Son and June
GRLA duo Son Pham and June Baek.

‘Dirty Suppers’ was followed by gastronomic and cocktail pop-up Guerilla (GRLA), which saw Son Pham of popular Circular Quay pizza bar Sonny’s Pizza partner up with seasoned bartender June Baek – formerly of Madame Fan and MO Bar – to offer up some mod-Asian eats and cocktails. Then there was Quality Melts, opened up by Sago House alumni Edwin Tan dishing out a take on the New York City chopped cheese sandwich, served up with his own range of canned hard sodas.

The most recent was LOSTINTHENOST. Featuring private dining duo Erik David Tan and Jinfero Tanzil of NOST, this was a riotous culinary and cocktail showcase that was a tribute to nostalgia but also pop culture.

Ghostwriter - NOST Gyarados
LOSTINTHENOST featured Gyarados, a modern ceviche twist on the classic Cantonese raw fish salad named for a Pokémon monster.

NOST, we understand, will open their new venue this May.

May will also see a new residency at Ghostwriter. It will welcome Spectre, a vintage apothecary bar and restaurant concept that embodies Japanese kintsugi philosophy. Conceptualised by MasterChef Singapore finalist and performing artist Inch Chua and bar consultant and spirits brand ambassador Andrew Pang, you’re looking at a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages paired with nourishing Southeast Asian bites that are rooted in mental wellness.

As for future concepts? That’ll depend on the creativity, daring and gumption of the next generation in Singapore’s food and beverage scene. And for gastronomes, Ghostwriter is a great way to find out what aspiring local chefs, bartenders and other F&B artisans are currently up to.

Spectre will be open at Ghostwriter Tuesdays through Saturdays, 5pm to midnight from 3 May 2023. Reservations are highly recommended and may be made here; space will be made for walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.


Ghostwriter

Address 98 Club St, Singapore 069467  (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5pm to 12am Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays (Spectre pop-up)
Tel (65) 8044 2804
Web www.lowtide.sg/ghostwriter
Instagram @ghostwritersg
Reservations book here

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