In Sentosa Island, sand play for grown-ups
We shed a tear when Sentosa’s much-loved pop-up bar The Shack closed earlier this year. But the fact that its farewell party was so well-attended seemed to hint at two comforting certainties: first, that upwardly mobile party folks’ thirst for cool, beachside hang-outs stretches well beyond the frankly drab, teeny-bopper-infested Café del Mar; and secondly, Tanjong Beach Club, its handsome new successor, had big boots to fill.
Happily, Lo & Behold – the folk behind OverEasy, Loof and The White Rabbit – have pulled it off. But whereas The Shack had a kind of rough-edged, buck-toothed charm, TBC – as it will, no doubt, come to be known thanks to the city’s trigger-happy acronym-isers – has a much more preened, self-conscious vibe. It feels distinctly more grown-up, favoured by youngish, fashionable, high-net-worth individuals with small pedigree dogs and assertive swimwear.
But don’t let that put you off. This isn’t quite the showy skin-fest it could be. (Or would be if, say, Singapore was a short flight from Moscow). And despite its minor pretensions, this place feels oddly accessible. Plus, if nothing else, the gaudier, silicone-happy clientele who sit among the more grounded, easy-going types make the bar a pleasing people-watching spot. Certainly, to survey the crowd from the main bar on a recent visit was to realise that Singapore is experiencing something of a golden age in hot pants.
Music-wise, guest DJs fly a strictly sophisticated music flag that segues into a kind of Balearic buzz around the pool with more hushed, minor-key revelry spilling out onto the beach. The tasteful decor is faintly retro: the dark wooden decking, robin’s egg blue sun loungers with beige canvas canapés and throwback, broad-striped deck chairs feel like a modernist reboot of 1950s-postcard Nice.
Traditional cocktails are the gist here (passable but not great, more care in the prep required, $15-$18) with Erdinger and Tiger on draught. At first, we were excited to find pints here were going for a suspiciously modest $10-$14. Sadly, on a second visit, they’d been replaced by half glasses but still at the same cost.
The newly added restaurant The Dining Room offers some boutique sharing plates, as well as mains like striploin steak with duck fat potatoes and smoked eggplant. If you're looking for that upper-class coastal dining, it's a suitable spot to tucker in.
There are glitches to iron out from the peppy if adolescent service – but otherwise it’s good news: Singapore has a winning new party pen. It feels long overdue.
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Telephone 6270 1355
Open Tue-Thu 11am-Midnight;
Fri & Sat 10am-1am;
Sun 10am-Midnight
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It has a good vibe, one of the best in SG. So I keep going there. But the menu is limited and over priced. The staff are useless. Completely clueless, inattentive, and I suspect poorly trained. Sorry Singaporeans but service here is generally terrible compared with Europe, Oz or the USA, but TBC takes the service levels to a new low!
Posted on Thu 31 May 2012 22:38:44
2011 and still the same. After all these negative comments and still no changes! Wad is the point of me sharing my story? They don't change!!!
Posted on Mon 08 Aug 2011 13:16:50
So looking forward to spending my birthday at tbc!
Posted on Sat 06 Aug 2011 08:43:57
I have been to many beach clubs around the world and Tanjong Beach Club have nailed it. Has to be one of my fav spots in Singapore to chillout and party. The staff are friendly and the food is great. Love the Sunday sunset vibe and tunes.
Posted on Thu 31 Mar 2011 15:23:08
Charge for the daybeds is only on Sundays and only for the daybeds. Every other day it is free! There is a range of other seating options - sunloungers, deck chairs, bar seating, cabana, etc which are also free for TBC guests.
Posted on Sat 22 Jan 2011 14:54:34
Always loved km8 and shack but TBC is horrible. Overpriced, small menu. As for restaurant, not able to accommodate vegetarian requests, yeah and overall design suxx!
I'd rather prefer chalet like shack than ugly concrete TBC box. When we came over after ZoukOut (received newsletter stating they got recovery party) and basically were starving and just waiting for their kitchen to open at 11am their staff woke us up.
We were sleeping on sun beds and they said we have to leave if don't have sun bed reservation or have to pay $200 or something. That's ridiculous, we wanted to spend on breakfast of course, but i wasn't drinking alcohol that time and my 2 girlfriends couldn't drink anymore after 10 hours drinking in ZoukOut...
Yeah and she said there is NO RECOVERY PARTY today! I did feel like im idiot! Sooooo dissapointed with the place...
Posted on Sat 22 Jan 2011 12:18:51
I have spent a few Saturdays down at TBC and have to say it is a very pleasant escape from the concrete and hustle and bustle that is Singapore.
Service was friendly, design is gorgeous, and food and drinks were on par. Definaitely will be coming back for more and highly recommend as a great place to de-stress!
Posted on Fri 21 Jan 2011 09:21:43
Having spent a relaxing evening with 10 friends - and over $400; the menacing looking tattooed Security man yelled "time go - lah; we closed so move now - lah". There were still plenty of people at the bar, so seemed to be directed only at us. Can only describe this was a shocking end to otherwise plesaant evening
Posted on Mon 20 Dec 2010 12:23:14
I've been a regular at TBC in 2010, but lately they started to charge 200$ for day beds in the form of compulsory drink spend. I'm perfctly OK with demanding ppl to buy drinks when they book a bed, but the minimum price tag is definitely too high and it will kill the interesting crowd mix that made TBC so special.
Posted on Thu 16 Dec 2010 11:36:30
Nice relaxed atmosphere with beautiful people getting drunk on Sunday afternoon. The pool is very dirty though and the service is one of the worst in Singapore, which bears some strong meaning...
Posted on Mon 27 Sep 2010 13:16:07
Good review... have to say I have been frequenting Tanjong Beach Club a few times over the past few months and been loving it! Great place to relax and definitely a good place to people watch. Singapore needs more interesting venues like TBC!
Posted on Thu 16 Sep 2010 21:59:13
Great review - and quite apt I dare say. More like this please!
Posted on Thu 16 Sep 2010 11:24:18