After moving out of its old home atop Emily Hill, Kult Kafé has recently moved into its cool new digs at Turf City. It takes over a space in the former grandstand at Turf City, now known as The Grandstand.
In line with Kult Kafé's former locations in the colonial-era Mount Emily Villa and Kult Yard's sanctuary in the 19th-century barracks of Pearl's Hill Terrace, Kult Kafé's new location provides an escape from Singapore's high-rise skyscrapers. There's both an outdoor lounge area and an indoor bar, each giving you a different experience. As you enter the compounds, you'll find vibrant psychedelic murals by Soph O, splashed on the walls of the brutalist building. Inside, the retro-futuristic architecture is echoed with the plush leather seating booths and neon light accents.
"For those who have been paying close attention to the evolution of Kafe, this new incarnation marks a welcome return to the playfulness of the early Kult ethos," reads a sentence on Kult Kafe's press release. And man, did they deliver.
In a cosmopolitan city dotted with world-class restaurants and fancy cocktail bars that have secured spots on The World's 50 Best Bars list, Kult Kafe is the antithesis. It's the perfect hangout spot to kick back and chill out with a group of friends while fuelled by fuss-free food and drink options.
The food menu is developed in partnership with Argentinian BBQ Gourmet. Look forward to fresh and diverse options including stuffed pitas, protein bowls and sharing plates. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. The pita and dips platter ($16) – consisting of fried pita and baked pita dipped with baba ganoush, red pepper sauce and aioli – is always a no-brainer. And if you're hungry, flip the menu over for more substantial food choices. The mouthwatering Angus Steak Pita ($24) is served with skirt steak, salsa verde and charred pepper. Alternatively, try the Grilled Meat Platter ($44), filled with skirt steak, pork sausage, chicken thigh, hamburger patty and condiments.
Here's what we appreciate about the Kult Kafe's food menus: almost half the options are vegetarian- or vegan-friendly. The Truffle Mushroom Pita ($18) punches with flavour; while the Roasted Curried Cauliflower Pita ($16) is always a great choice. Cutting down on carbs? You also have the option to request for the pitas to be served as a salad instead.
But you can't leave without trying its famous "Kultails". The cocktail menu has been curated by Zac Mirza, co-founder of Kult Kafe and a pioneer of cocktail culture in Singapore. Of course, you can never go wrong with old favourites like the Kult Julep (with rum, kaffir lime leaf and gula Melaka) or Kult Kooler with ginger, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves muddled with fresh lemon juice and topped with soda. The Jamu Sour is Zac's take on the conventional whisky sour, infused with traditional herbal elixir jamu instead.
Those who have been following Kult Kafe from the beginning will know that music, art and culture is a major part of Kult's DNA. Since its inception, it's been the go-to place for independent events such as outdoor screenings of local and foreign short films and smaller-scale music performances. After all, the brand was co-founded by DJ Tom Shellsuit, who now wears many hats in the business. But ask the friendly bar staff to show you the way to the "Kult Room", which will be a sanctuary for artists, makers and musicians to run programs and showcase works. The first of such collaborations is a pop-up shop by EYEYAH, an educational platform that uses visual communications to break down social issues.
