My friends and I were searching for classy and posh bars to celebrate one of our birthdays when we chanced upon Barbary Coast, one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars located along North Canal Road. It houses a dual-concept programme that spans two floors: Dead Fall on the first level and Barbary Coast Ballroom on the second.
Both concepts come together to paint a picture of the original Barbary Coast, also commonly known as the red-light district in San Francisco, which flourished during the California Gold Rush.
A little background: Dead Fall’s concept is derived from the dive bars which were catered to poorer prospectors who could only afford cheap thrills during the gold mining era. In contrast, Barbary Coast Ballroom is an extravagant and sophisticated set-up that resembles the actual ballrooms of San Francisco built for the richer crowds looking to spend generously on luxurious entertainment.
Now, I’ve never been to San Francisco and I’m not familiar with the Old West, so I was only looking forward to Barbary Coast for its renowned cocktails. But I was pleasantly surprised by how the staff took the initiative to introduce their specialties from the moment we sat down.
Initially, it was difficult spotting Barbary Coast as there was no obvious signage. Luckily for us, the friendly staff at Dead Fall noticed how lost we were as we stood outside the speakeasy bar, struggling to find the way with Google Maps, and kindly led us to our destination.
At first glance, Dead Fall appeared pretty casual and unpretentious with its light-hearted and playful atmosphere. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to bask in its ambience and savour the food and drinks as we made a reservation at Barbary Coast Ballroom.
However, after stepping into Dead Fall’s intriguing space, we are eager to return at a future date and experience all of its glory.
Now, back to the Barbary Coast Ballroom. We walked up a hidden and unassuming flight of stairs before entering the grandiose dining area. Compared to Dead Fall’s laid-back and easy-going vibe, the mood upstairs was definitely much heavier and more mysterious — perfect for facilitating more private and intimate conversations.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly and seated at the U-shaped royal blue sofa with a view that overlooked the entire layout of the establishment. Along with walls adorned with floral designs, chandeliers, and the blend of dark hues and ambient lighting, the Barbary Coast Ballroom felt like the epitome of flair, wealth, refinement, and power.
This establishment immediately left a strong first impression with its complimentary cocktail made of orange, rum, and pineapple. It’s a pity we didn’t catch its other ingredients, but we all agreed it was probably the best drink of the night.
We genuinely appreciated the top-notch service, and the staff patiently brought us through Barbary Coast Ballroom’s extensive menu, delineating the concoction of some of its most popular cocktails. In such a dimly lit space, the explainers were needed.
Following the bartender’s recommendation, we ordered three cocktails to share: “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” ($24++), “Ritzy Spritzy” ($22++), and “The Weird One” ($22++). I particularly enjoyed “Ritzy Spritzy”, which consisted of rosemary, Noilly Prat, Amontillado Sherry, and prosecco!
“The Weird One” did not fall short with a mix of Makgeolli, Flor de Caña, strawberry, oak moss, and wheat. While my friends were huge fans of the “Peanut Butter Jelly Time”, which consisted of peanut butter (obviously), raspberry, Smokey Monkey and Mackintosh Malt, I steered clear of the drink after taking a sip (if you don’t like peanut butter, I suggest skipping this option).
We ordered the Ultimate Charcuterie & Cheese Board in a petite size ($50++) to share, which complemented our drinks nicely. You will find the cheese board amazing if you’re a cheese lover like us.
Additionally, we ordered the Lobster Creamed Späetzle Mac & Cheese with smoked gruyère, mushrooms and Noilly Prat to share (without the lobster because some of my friends are vegetarians) ($22++). This was so delicious, and we were basically fighting with each other for the last bite.
After we finished our food items, we received one complimentary chocolate lava cake with a few complimentary shots to celebrate my friend’s birthday! The birthday girl was absolutely in love with the lava cake (and let’s be honest, so were we).
To pen down my final thoughts, we had a wonderful experience at Barbary Coast Ballroom other than the small nuisance of having to use our camera flash to read the menu due to the dark lighting. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and hope to be back soon — Dead Fall, we’re looking at you.
Address: 16 North Canal Road, Level 01 and 02, Singapore 048828
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 3pm to 10:30pm, Saturday from 12pm-10:30pm; Closed on Sunday
Contact: 8869 4798
