A heritage-rich building is given new life through the new Club Street Laundry and Hup San Social club – here are all the deets on the food, drinks, and vibe.
If there’s one spot you gotta put on your must-visit list, it’s this mysterious Australian eatery located at the corner of Club Street and Ann Siang. Even before an official opening, I’ve seen it filled to the brim with people, wine glasses in hand and standing by the bar because no seats were left. Having taken over the old Low Tide and Ssal, Club Street Laundry and Hup San Social Club are establishments inspired by their heritage-rich locale within the neighbourhood. So, what’s the buzz behind the facade? I made a trip down to find out.
Club Street Laundry & Hup San Social Club: Details at a glance
Best for: Small groups looking to catch up over dinner, date night for the couple that loves to people-watch, speakeasy lovers who aren’t claustrophobic
Must-tries: Flame grilled beef cheeks, charcoal grilled sea bream, cold soup, Pumpkin Ma Heart
How much: Mains at Club Street Laundry start from $23, signature cocktails at Hup San Social start from $25
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 11.30pm
Address: Club Street Laundry & Hup San Social Club, 98 Club Street, Singapore 069467
Club Street Laundry & Hup San Social Club: The origin story
Back in the late 19th to early 20th century, Club Street was best known as a hub for Chinese social clubs. Think of it as a gathering place for pioneers who supported each other and celebrated shared heritage. Like our forefathers of yesteryear, Club Street Laundry and Hup San Social Club aim to do the same – creating social spaces for Singapore’s “second generation” immigrants. Having taken over the old Low Tide and Ssal, the duo are establishments inspired by their heritage-rich locale within the neighbourhood
This can be seen just from the team alone. Behind the concepts are Eurasian-Singaporean operations director Donna-Mae Therese de Cruz, Australian chef Justin Hammand, and South Korean beverage director June Baek.
The names were inspired by the building’s previous life as Hup San Laundry, one of two laundromats in the area. In tribute, this spot puts Asian flair and flavour into each plate and glass while recreating the vibrant community atmosphere that once occupied Club Street in the old days.
You can feel that effort the moment you step into the restaurant. Donna greeted me warmly and quickly got me settled in my seat with water and a menu. My table was well taken care of, with Justin coming out to explain some dishes and his ideas behind them, almost as if we were friends at his dinner party. And at post-dinner drinks with June, she was eager to share her creations and make recommendations. Being treated with such familiarity is one of the little joys in life I adore.
Let’s start at Club Street Laundry
If you’re around the area for lunch, Club Street Laundry has a brunch menu that’s classically Australian with several sandwich options. The twist is plenty of Asian flair with fillings like fried Spam and chicken bulgogi. However, this spot has become popular for casual dinners and even first dates, evident from the number of couples I saw during my visit.
A glance through the menu reveals a variety of dishes with Asian touches, as seen in the hot & sour squid ($19). Squid flowers are fried and served on a bed of endives with a red nam jim dressing, a type of Thai chilli sauce. The sauce is lightly spiced, and I wish there were more greens in the dish because it made for a fantastic salad dressing.
It’s the kind of appetiser that tempts you into wanting more, and the varying textures and flavours remain balanced and refreshing. The one thing that might stop you is the price tag. For four pieces of squid, my table agreed it was a little steep and would make you think twice before ordering.
The kingfish ceviche ($18) is fresh and vibrant, with tiger’s milk (a sauce spiced with chillies) and avocado. Like any ceviche, the dish is bright and acidic, balanced beautifully with the creamy avocado. Make sure you get a bite of all the components to create a perfect bite.
Other options that piqued my table’s interest included cauliflower and bacon soup ($18.50), a salumi plate ($22), and roasted beet and goat cheese salad ($17). But we decided to save our stomach space for the upcoming mains. Spoiler alert: we couldn’t help ourselves and overordered.
A saucy affair with the main plates
Beware when ordering multiple dishes because we found our table quickly running out of space – a lovely problem to have.
A universal favourite for my group was the flame grilled beef cheeks ($33), which were grilled to the perfect tenderness. The meat fell apart with a gentle cut, and was paired with super creamy mashed potatoes. It’s an umami bomb with tons of beefy flavour, which is great for the carnivores to share with the group. The only gripe I have is how the potatoes mix with the sauce to the point where it becomes indistinguishable in terms of texture.
The charcoal grilled sea bream ($31) was generous in its portion size, and I loved how the skin stayed crisp after our endless photo taking. It was seasoned well, and the fish flaked apart beautifully. While the lemon and caper sauce was lovely (I would have drunk a whole bowl of it), it got lost in the smokey flavours of the fish, which was a little disappointing.
If there were an award for the prettiest bowl of mushrooms, Club Street Laundry would get it. The wood-fired mushrooms ($15) feature diced king oyster and maitake mushrooms in a celeriac cream and topped with chives. I’m not the biggest fan of maitake, but I enjoyed how it paired with the celeriac cream, plus the bouncy king oyster bits were fun to eat.
The charred leeks ($15) were inspired by Justin’s mother and the roast dinners he used to have growing up. The leeks are smothered in a glossy chicken gravy topping with a crispy garlic and sage “stuffing”, emulating a roast chicken dinner. Luciously soft, the veggies were a dream side dish, cooked down to a wonderful melt-in-your-mouth texture. Consider me a leek convert.
Two reasons to save room for dessert
You always have to save room for dessert, especially when they’re as delectable as the ones at Club Street Laundry. My table decided to go for a lighter and a more indulgent option. Because who can say no to chocolate or mango?
Don’t expect your typical mango sticky rice ($12) when you order this. Like the charred leeks, the dish has been reconstructed with new textures and executions. The crowning jewel is a mango sorbet on a coconut cremeux with white chocolate and puffed buckwheat grains. While I missed the sticky coconut rice, this Thai dessert becomes light instead of cloying, and will refresh your palate.
Meanwhile, the double chocolate miso brownie ($8) was possibly one of the best brownies I’ve had this year The miso flies under the radar and is hard to discern, but that’s where the sea salt comes in. The salinity of it balances the sweet flavours of the vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate.
Down we go to Hup San Social Club
If you had a couple of drinks at Club Street Laundry during dinner, be sure to mind your step going down to Hup San Social Club. You might find yourself stumbling a little (I speak from experience).
The space underwent a dramatic makeover from its previous facade as Ssal, and I was wowed by the transformation. Who would’ve thought a cosy spot like this was hiding in a basement? Draped in dark woods and illuminated with warm lighting, it’s inviting and luxe at the same time.
The space is incredibly small, with only 12 people seated in the bar at any time. Teeny tiny! However, if you’re lucky enough to score a seat, you’ll be well taken care of. My group of four squeezed itself into the only booth seat available, and we were quickly greeted with water and a smile from the owner, June Baek.
The brand’s philosophy of creating community permeates through June’s hospitality. As we settle in, she eagerly shares her menu, offering suggestions based on our preferred flavour profiles to ensure the best drink experience.
A taste of joy through Hup San’s menu
Hup San Social Club’s menu of 14 signature cocktails revolves around curiosity and nostalgia, and they nailed it. Along with the list of ingredients, each cocktail comes with an emotion tied to it, which put me into an inquisitive and adventurous mood. Yes, I would absolutely love to find out what childlike whimsy and spring taste like.
Before we headed into the bar, our server had quickly whispered, “Order the cold soup”, to me and who am I to say no to a recommendation? Spoiler alert: it was delicious. The cold soup ($26) is inspired by the Korean cold noodles, naengmyeon. Made with kelp dashi, apple vinegar, and spiked with Tokki soju, it tastes exactly like an alcoholic version of the Korean soup. It’s served ice cold, a clean and refreshing drink to soothe the body.
Another comforting drink is the Pumpkin Ma Heart ($25), described as a warm embrace. One of the few warm cocktails you’ll find in Singapore, it’s made with pumpkin, yam, mango, spiced rum, and topped with coconut cream. It’s a sweet dessert drink reminiscent of orh nee, a Teochew dessert made with yam paste. Decadent and sweet, it’s best shared amongst a few people if you get tired of sweet flavours quickly.
A really fun drink is The French Fries 2.0 ($26). Monkey Shoulder whisky gets washed with fries from Club Street Laundry, and is added to a mix of tomato water, chilli, and salt. Served highball style, it leans a little bitter in flavour. It’s savoury, and tastes just like fries with ketchup. So unique!
Club Street Laundry & Hup San Social Club: Your next home away from home
These new social spaces ooze character and a clear sense of purpose. Whether you’re planning an early evening rendezvous or a weekend catch-up, both spots strike a careful balance between cosy and cool, offering a refreshingly unfussy approach to Singapore’s bar and food scene.
If you’re thinking of visiting, I recommend planning a night out with a small group, no more than four people. Both spaces shine in smaller settings, lending themselves better to intimate conversations rather than large gatherings. For the price-conscious like me, the big plates are where the real value lies.
What stands out most about both establishments is the community spirit they foster. From the communal plates to the down-to-earth hospitality and even the regulars who clearly feel at home, there’s an underlying warmth that makes it worth a visit.
