A jazz bar, steakhouse, and rooftop pool all in one? COTU Singapore is the city’s new nightlife and party hub.
If you’ve been keeping up with the latest buzz, you would’ve heard about a new party spot in Tanjong Pagar. Yes, we’re talking about Center Of The Universe (COTU) Singapore. Spanning 18,000 square feet and two storeys within CapitaGreen, COTU is the brainchild of the industry geniuses behind venues like Employees Only and the now-closed Lulu’s Lounge and Bang Bang.
This unique multi-concept venue is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. It audaciously boasts five starkly different spaces with various offerings, catering to the diverse palates of avid night owls. Curious about what to expect when you step into its core? Here are all the details, including my personal thoughts on some of the spaces!
COTU Singapore: What to expect at the five venues
1. Little Birdie: An experiential cocktail bar with unique drinks
Stepping out of the elevator, I was welcomed by Little Birdie, COTU Singapore’s innovative cocktail bar. The 30-seater nest features a menu created by award-winning mixologist Elliot Pascoe; it’s all about creativity and craftsmanship. I was immediately drawn to the brightly lit circular bar counter and booth seats with plush cushions and golden birds perched on spherical lights. Its hexagonal menu presents a neat and tidy six-drink cocktail menu enhanced with augmented reality tricks.
Titled Macrocosmic Microcosom, the menu draws inspiration from the world’s environment and beyond, translating them into experiential sips. With the use of unique ingredients and thoughtful techniques, each cocktail stands out in terms of flavour, texture, and showmanship.
Cocktails to try at Little Birdie
Light and refreshing, Alpine ($25) features touches of menthol for an added cooling effect on the palate. Inspired by the mist-covered mountains of Japan, smoky nigella brings the pear and peach notes together to create a soothing sip. The Luna Roja ($25) mimics the desert’s unique sweet air after it rains, starting sweet before flavours are manipulated by edible sphere garnishes.
Did you know that astronauts have reported the scent of raspberries lingering on their spacesuits after spacewalks? The story’s draw is what makes the Supermassive Black Hole ($25) intriguing. An almost fully black drink dotted with a drop of squid ink, it’s like staring into the vastness of space. It starts fruity with a rich texture from the white cacao and dark rum, then evolves in complexity as the briny squid ink splits and melds into the drink.
Cave Nomad ($25) is a fun drink topped with frozen apple foam, mimicking the stalagmites in caves. It’s tart and refreshing. I was intimidated by the presence of absinthe in the Cylindrical Forest ($25), but the spirit comes as a whisper, complemented by notes of yuzu, toasted oats, and apricots. My favourite of the night was the Provincial ($25), which captures the French countryside in a glass. It’s well-balanced and perfect to sip over conversations with friends.
The drinks were delicious and had intriguing backstories, but I’ll admit, there were some kinks in the execution that left much to be desired. However, they could be teething issues considering I visited Little Birdie fairly early into its launch.
2. Enso Steakhouse: A steakhouse with Japanese sensibilities
From Little Birdie, you’ll walk through COTU Singapore’s dim corridor, passing a semi-private dining room and a dry-ageing room. Stepping into Enso Steakhouse had us oohing and ahhing, as the golden hour view from the floor-to-ceiling windows blanketed the restaurant with an amber glow. Rounded banquettes by the window make for a romantic date night, while the communal tables are set up for fancy dinners with loved ones.
American-style steaks are prepared with Japanese expertise and premium cuts are aged in-house. The restaurant is helmed by executive chef Alex Craciun, who cut his teeth at spots like Gordon Ramsay’s Maze in London and three-Michelin-starred Kikunoi. Known for his innovative approach to modern European and Asian cuisine, chef Alex constantly adds his flair to every dish, along with bold flavours, skilled techniques, and presentation.
Must-try dishes at Enso Steakhouse
As carb lovers, nothing beats a comforting plate of bread and butter ($16), and the butter from Enso Steakhouse might be the prettiest one I’ve had. Paired with house-made sourdough, it simply opens up your appetite. Savoury charcoal roasted bone marrow ($32) is the perfect treat-yourself appetiser, especially when spread on sourdough toast.
When at Enso, you must get the signature pressed sushi (from $28), where ingredients like salmon and chutoro sit on crispy rice and nori tempura. The contrasting textures make for an incredibly satisfying bite, although it can be a little finicky to pick up.
A visit to Enso isn’t complete without trying one of the steaks, and I was treated to the dry-aged free-range porterhouse ($22 per 100g). Flavours are intensified with the dry age – the beef practically melts in your mouth and is especially enjoyable if you love indulging in the silky fatty texture.
If you’re not in the mood for steak, other proteins include the moist half chicken ($42), infused with wine and truffle flavours. Or order the showstopping panko-crusted bone-in veal cutlet ($62) prepared tableside. At the table, the chef finishes off the perfectly fried veal with burnt truffle butter and pops a slow-cooked egg over it before sprinkling shimeji mushrooms to garnish. While I personally didn’t enjoy the pickled mushrooms, the overall dish was delicious and perfect for sharing.
3. The Whisper Room: A soulful, sultry live jazz lounge
Inspired by New York’s jazz clubs, this elegant cocktail bar and lounge screams art deco luxe. Boasting the same floor-to-ceiling windows, it offers stunning views after dinner. Or pop by in the evening before sunset and take in the city skyline. Besides carefully crafted cocktails, treat yourself to light bites to unwind from the week. And feel free to take your time because this spot stays open till 3am!
Must-try dishes and drinks at The Whisper Room
If you’re in the mood to graze, order a couple of dishes to share with your dining partners. It’s the best way to enjoy the food. A standout on the menu, the uni handrolls ($36) is a DIY dish that lets you put together sushi rice, uni, wasabi ranch and smoked nori for little bites of happiness.
The wagyu kebab ($34), featuring rump cap, spiced Moroccan mince, garlic chips and mustard, and the wagyu beef tartare ($32) with toasted sourdough will satisfy meat lovers, while the broccolini tempura with kimchi vinaigrette ($14) and mushroom panko-age with a spiced BBQ carrot dip ($18) easily prove that veggies have a place at the table.
Of course, you can’t have a jazz experience without a cocktail in hand, and The Whisper Room doesn’t disappoint. From classic martinis to gimlets made with your spirit of choice to the bar’s variation on Tommy’s margarita with a spicy spin, the menu is small but packs a punch. If you love citrusy flavours, try Oki In Japan ($25). The gin sour with a twist is made of Hendrick’s gin, racilla, cucumber, white chocolate and gentian.
4. Dashi Go Go: The buzzing nightclub to get your groove on
Delectable and indulgent dinner at Enso Steakhouse, done. Pre-drinks, settled. All that’s left to do is make full use of that liquid courage and hit up a nightclub. Guess what? You don’t have to go hunting for clubs to break out those dance moves.
Enter Dashi Go Go, an ultra-lounge that brings together the vibrant energy of Tokyo’s and New York’s gritty underground scenes. It’s already seen a ton of hip parties and events within its walls, so you can bet this is going to be the party venue of 2025.
The club sticks to hip-hop and open-format music styles, with guest DJs making frequent appearances on party nights. A bonus for the girls: every Wednesday is ladies’ night! Drinks are free-flowing from 10pm to midnight, perfect to take the edge off the mid-week. Bottle service is also available, starting at $260 a bottle, while signature cocktails go for $25 and classics go for $23. Oh, and you won’t have to pay a cover charge to enter!
5. Dashi Skypool: A luxurious and laidback rooftop pool lounge
Have you ever seen a beach club in the sky? That’s what you get when you visit Dashi Skypool, sitting 39 floors up within COTU’s location. With luxurious cabanas flanking a large pool, the floor-to-ceiling window theme follows here, giving you sweeping views of the city skyline. Sans the sand, you have everything you need for a beach day, including cocktails and bites.
While Dashi Skypool is currently not open to the public (it’s slated to launch on 25 January 2025), you can expect a ton of events happening here. The brand plans on organising unique experiences like floating film festivals and more parties to come.
It’s only a few months old, but COTU Singapore has already taken the city by storm with its unique five-in-one concept. The energy is so magnetic that it’ll draw you back like a moth to a flame. Despite some hiccups in our experience, we fully believe that once everything comes together and the operations smoothen out, COTU will be the party spot in Singapore for 2025.
COTU Singapore, Level 38 & 39, CapitaGreen, 138 Market Street, Singapore 048946
Opening hours: Monday to Tuesday, 4.30pm to 1am; Wednesday to Thursday, 4.30pm to 2am; Friday, 4.30pm to 3am; Saturday, 4.30pm to 4am; closed on Sundays
