OUR VENUES
Putting Smiles On Your Faces
Hidden discreetly between shophouses in Boat Quay is Headquarters, the first of Thugshop’s venues for underground dance music seekers, and its signature darling destination. It opened its doors in 2016 and has been a staple spot in the circuit, with a 2-for-1 experience via dual floors - Upstairs and Headquarters - to feed all sorts of music appetites.
HQ (as it's affectionately known) is the first of the 2 floors, and is renowned for its distinct caged booth tucked behind an unassuming sliding door. The venue’s narrow floor and red beaming lights makes for an intimate, sonically hugging corridor that predominantly champions Techno. In the past though, it's played host to international acts such as Peggy Gou, Gerd Janson, Perc, Boris, Cera Khin and many more.
The penthouse floor, Upstairs, boasts a wider space that allows patrons a more communal dancefloor, whilst also connected to an outdoor patio that overlooks the city's skyline. Here, House, Disco, and many shades take precedence, mirroring its convivial environment. Notable acts such as Soichi Terada, Tornado Wallace, Matthias Meyer, Shubostar, Gonno and more have all filled the spot within.
As underground venues go, HQ's gritty character and its purposefully stained, graffiti-laden walls invites everyone in town looking to satisfy their indulgence, with programming beginning as early as Wednesdays. As legacy clubs go, it's also a spot for key local selectors and fresh artists alike to share their craft.
What started as a temporary pop-up club in 2018 has now transformed into one of the city’s most prominent nightlife venues in TUFF CLUB. Housed in the heart of the CBD on the 19th floor of an office-dominated building, the spacious venue boasts state-of-the-art sound, a custom lighting system, and an underground-overground clubbing experience that’s hard to rival - with worldwide acclaimed international artists gracing its purple and orange trademark dancefloors every week.
From House to D&B/Jungle, UKG to Techno - TUFF (named cheekily after the extra-curricular fitness club in tertiary education schools) has played host to the likes of Marcel Dettman, Dax J, Roman Flugel, Joyhauser, Paco Osuna and more, while also featuring takeovers and collaborations from the island’s many party collectives.
Recently undergoing a long-awaited refresh in September 2024, the club now boasts a Funktion-One set, distinctively cladded in its signature cabinets and white axehead drivers that are synonymous with cutting edge clubs around the world, used in venues such as Berghain (Berlin), Jaeger (Oslo), Marquee (New York), D-Edge (São Paulo), De School (Amsterdam), and Pawnshop (Taipei).
The space also possesses a web-like lighting system that mirrors its music, and an elevated console for the DJ. Its iconic rooftop overlooks the CBD’s skyline, and is connected closeby to its long-winding passageway that invites punters straight out its elevators right onto the dome dancefloor. Beyond its juxtaposed venue among office buildings, the space is also a restaurant in the daytime and transforms into the club at night - a testament to Thugshop’s creativity in turning spaces into valuable and important nightlife establishments.
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From the minds behind culture shifters, Thugshop, (Headquarters, Tuff Club, MDLR, Eat Sum Thing) comes Higher Ground - a rooftop bar and diner that departs from the ordinary, with an emphasis and ethos on a singular, higher purpose - elevating with excellence. Situated in the heart of Boat Quay, Higher Ground offers a captivating setting where elevated cuisine, carefully curated drinks and breathtaking panoramic views converge to create an unforgettable experience.
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Nestled along the historical riverfront, Higher Ground’s 80-seater enclave invites guests to indulge in a sensory feast with a majestic view of the Singapore city skyline. From internationally acclaimed natural and celebrated wines, to award-winning craft beers and a diverse spirit collection, Higher Ground’s beverage offerings cater to cocktail connoisseurs and discerning palates alike. With a pan-continental kitchen helmed by renowned Chef Brandon Lee, formerly of Les Amis and Eat Sum Thing, Higher Ground dispatches plates that echo the establishment’s ode to simplicity and straightforward proficiency.
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A curated selection of elevated small plates is the name of the game here, with each dish a testament to innovation and flavour fusion, showcasing Chef Brandon Lee’s culinary expertise. From offerings like the locally fused Bak Kut Teh Spring Rolls, the pan-continental Salmon Rillette Brioche, the irresistible Chilli Crab with Perilla Leaf Tempura, or comfort indulgences like hand-stretched pizzas and Spiced Chicken, the kitchen is in a constant state of innovation.
A closer look at the Ground’s presence reveals details designed with a no-frills dedication to elegant simplicity - Higher Ground exudes an understated charm that sets it apart in a city of excess. Adorned with undisguised, raw, and industrial embellishments in place of loud flamboyance, rounded off in warmth by wooden touches that anchor its domains. On an island of excessive opulence and extravagance, Higher Ground lets its panoramic vista steal the spotlight instead, with hybrid seating ensuring a carousel of backdrops throughout the evening.
Concealed within an office building on 62 Cecil Street is a pop-up club by Thugshop that fits a whopping triple or so body count that easily leaves its sibling venues in the dust. Unassumingly hidden by sight or sound, MDLR (‘mo-du-lar’) is the nightlife veterans’ Trump Card venue, a newly launched endeavour since 2023 that caters to its larger than life artists and acts.
This is where Thugshop invites their biggest and brightest - high-flying and internationally-acclaimed acts from the likes of Adiel, Skin on Skin, Dixon, SPFDJ, Nicole Moudaber, DJ Nobu, Jody Wisternoff and many more to ply their trades, whetting demands of a bigger crowd, an upsized dancefloor, and a comfortable arena to go till the wee hours.
Only made known by its door staff outside with no signage nor emblematic displays, patrons have to make their way through multiple doors, trusting their sonic capabilities to guide them through mazey stairs. At the end, they’re greeted by a grey bunker with curtains, an industrial-like dancefloor that boasts a Martin Audio set-up and precision sound engineering, with the bare concrete walls as a canvas for visuals to dance along during performances.
An escape from generic club experiences, the upsized spot is taken up wholly and made use of with every inch; the DJs booth sits firmly against a clean grey wall for accompanying visual artists to project full scale productions, whilst the space naturally champions the crowd on a breathable dancefloor that truly shines when in full capacity.
Thugshop also champions local party collectives by allocating the space for them to host their club nights, with names such as Midnight Shift, FOMOHOMO, Strange Weather and more having done so in the past.
