This bar has closed.
After introducing partygoers to dressed-up venues like The Vault and kyo, lifestyle brand Limited Edition Concepts has opted for a refreshing simplicity in the conceptualisation of its new venue, Shelter. Housed at what used to be Archipelago Brewery’s iconic corner space on Circular Road, the venue is labelled a ‘pop-up’, though plans are to keep it open indefinitely (as far as we know).
The no-frills dive doesn’t make any misguided attempts to fancy itself up – it’s flanked by girly bars and mookata joints on the dodgier backstreet of Boat Quay – and it’s that very un-ambitiousness that adds to the draw of the space.
Drinks are a simple menu of Carlsberg’s offerings: the Danish label itself, plus Kronenbourg’s two brews are on draught. Somersby ciders, Belgian Grimbergen beers, Corona and Mexican dark Negra Modelo are available in bottles; overall, there’s enough choice to sate the average drinker looking for cheap watering with prices kept between $6 to $12.
If that’s still too much to pay, Shelter offers three pints of Carlsberg for $30, with a half dozen chicken wings and drumlets thrown in on top (in one of four flavours – buffalo, spicy, barbecue and shrimp paste). And if you’re even cheaper than that (seriously?!), there are also free shelled peanuts to munch on – you even get to throw the shells on the ground, though the Singaporeans (us included) in the house were clearly hardwired to keep everything on the table.
While we’ve a few gripes with the somewhat glum service staff and lack of overall inventiveness to the concept, at such low prices, we’d just be spoiled to complain. Natasha Hong
Drinks $6-$12