Singapore, 12 December 2019 – Multi-level Barbary Coast opens its doors with its first concept, Deadfall, spanning across three historic shophouses on the first floor of the venue. Located on the corner of North Canal and Lor Telok with an original land lease dating back to the early 1800s, Deadfall celebrates the rich history of the Boat Quay neighbourhood in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
Owned and operated by industry veterans Celia Schoonraad and Michael Callahan, Barbary Coast is inspired by the district in San Francisco of the same name during the mid-1800s. Home to a lively array of bars, dance halls, concert saloons and variety shows, the area saw a rapid influx of miners during the gold rush of 1849, alongside sailors from around the world who made their way to this veritable wonderland in hopes of finding their fortune.
Meanwhile, in what would one day become Singapore, shipping and trade across the Pacific found sailors and ships unloading a dizzying array of goods on the banks of what is now the Singapore River. The promise of opportunity built the fortunes of many families, laying the foundation for generations to come. Imagining a few adventurous souls who would have found their way to our shores from San Francisco, Barbary Coast pays homage to what they would have left behind while remaining unique to the time and place that would become Boat Quay.
An approachable welcome to the multi-level venue, Deadfall is inspired by a style of bar that could be found littered throughout the original Barbary Coast. These local watering holes were cheap and cheerful, typically offering no more than a makeshift bar top of wooden planks serving coloured, sweetened spirits to all of their varied clientele.
Taking a journey through Boat Quay’s history, the reimagined space is subtly furnished with a collection of tools and décor which were once a part of daily life in the area – from the bar made of upcycled shipping pallets to original Kopitiam bar chairs. “As with venues in the original Barbary Coast, the space came together from an amalgamation of different materials and fixtures – you worked with what you could find, whenever it came in,” said Schoonraad. The space has been stripped back to showcase original wooden beams, brick walls and concrete floors, adding to the raw, rustic ambiance and honouring the building which sits on one of the area’s oldest original land leases.
“We wanted to recreate the ethos of the original Deadfalls, with a friendly atmosphere that’s open to all kinds of clientele – where everyone is welcome, and anyone can afford a drink.” said Callahan. Coming a long way what would have been served historically yet inspired by the drink styling from the original establishments of the same name, Deadfall features affordable, creative cocktails based on colour (S$14++ each) alongside a curated selection of ice cold draft beer (from S$6 NETT) and wine (S$12++ per glass). Efficiently executed with shelf-stable ingredients and high-quality spirits, Deadfall’s drinks were designed to be accessible and inclusive – from flavours to prices.
The drinks menu is accompanied by a selection of delicious and filling dishes which reimagine local flavours (S$12 – S$15 NETT). In the spirit of the original Deadfalls, the food menu showcases a blend of cultures and ingredients, making use of what’s available within the market.
On the other end of the spectrum, Barbary Coast Ballroom will open on the upper level of the venue in January 2020. Barbary Coast Ballroom’s offerings will be highbrow and elegant, without being overly fussy, in contrast with the more casual offerings downstairs at Deadfall.
Deadfall Fact Sheet
Address: 16 North Canal Road, Floor 1
Singapore 048828
Opening Hours: Monday: 4 PM – late
Tuesday/Wednesday: 4 PM – later
Thursday through Saturday: 4 PM – latest
Sunday: closed
Dress code: No dress code, come as you are
E-Mail: info@barbarycoastsg.com
Website: www.barbarycoastsg.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbarycoastsg
Instagram: www.instagram.com/barbarycoastsg
About Barbary Coast
The first standalone venue owned and operated by industry veterans Michael Callahan and Celia Schoonraad, Barbary Coast is inspired by the district in San Francisco of the same name during the mid-1800s. Located on the corner of North Canal and Lor Telok, Barbary Coast spans two floors of three historic shophouses in a landmark building with an original land lease dating back to the early 1800s. The lower level of the space, Deadfall, is inspired by a relaxed, approachable neighbourhood watering hole, a style of bar that could be found littered throughout the original Barbary Coast. On the other end of the spectrum, the upper level is known as Barbary Coast Ballroom – highbrow and elegant, equally exclusive as it is unpredictable. With two unique concepts under one roof, Barbary Coast is a welcomed addition to Singapore’s Boat Quay neighbourhood offering something for everyone.
