Last updated 060416

Where to Salsa in Singapore

1. Union Square
Union Square is the longest-running salsa club in Singapore. What started as one night of salsa has
now grown to six nights of salsa. Union Square is located in the shopping arcade that’s connected to
the Amara Hotel; second floor, directly above Burger King. It's a mid-sized club, so there’re lots of
bar stools, a dance area and a pool table. There's an adjoining lounge with some pretty good
singers.

Salsa nights: Every night except Sundays.

Dance floor: Mid-sized. Very packed with dancers on weekends, which usually spill onto the
walkways. Walkways are okay to dance on, till it gets sticky with sweat. And you have to watch for
incoming and outgoing human traffic if you dance along the walkways.

Crowd: The crowd is a mix of salseroes and non-salseroes (regular pub-goers). So you can
definitely gather an audience if your dance is eye-catching enough. However, it can be quite
impossible to dance without fear of injury when it gets super crowded on Fridays and Saturdays.
Watch out for sharp elbows and heels as you walk in and out. Most crowded hours are between
10:30p and 11:30p. Cozy and well-attended on other days.

Environment: Very nice on weekdays, and too crowded on weekends. Walkways are sometimes
smooth, and sometimes a little sticky with perspiration. The way the bar stools are lined up, you
could say Union Square is configured to allow flamboyant and narcissistic displays of salsa. The
place is well air-conditioned but tends to be smoky.

Music: Currently, there is a three-lady Latin band (plays salsa, merengue and some cumbia). In
between sets, the DJ will spin faster-paced salsa. There’s a fair bit of merengue and bachata, and
sometimes, even cha cha.

Ladies night: Friday. Free drinks - soda, Bacardi breeze, the usual simple stuff. $15 cover for guys,
inclusive of 2 standard drinks.

Cover charge: Cover is $6 from Mondays to Thursdays, inclusive of 1 standard drink (except for
the ladies on Ladies Night on Friday). Increases to $15 for 2 standard drinks on Saturdays.

Plus points: If you like live music and slower salsa, the band is a nice change. They play slower
salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia. Sometimes they’ll involve themselves in some dancing too. If
you want to flamboyantly display your salsa skills, Union Square is THE place to be seen.

Minus points: The crowd (on Fridays and Saturdays). Chances of getting stepped on and elbowed
are quite high.

Additional notes: Action begins at 9+. Floor gets packed 10:30p. So if you want lots of space, go
early before 10:30p, or stay late past 11:30p. Apparently, they play slower songs on Tuesday,
which is good if you want to practise.

Parking: At $2.58/entry, you can park at the basement of Amara Hotel. You'll need a cashcard.
Keep all your valuables hidden! The parking lot is not very tight on security. Alternatively, there are
some URA lots just outside, although they’re limited in number. If you’re lucky enough to get one,
you’ll enjoy free parking after 10p.

Public Transportation: Take the MRT to Tanjong Pagar. Follow the signs for Amara Hotel.

Union Square
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
The Amara, #02-05
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Singapore 239924
Tel: 6224-6116
Email: mark_tay@ntucclub.com.sg
Web site: http://www.ntucclub.com.sg

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2. Xenbar
Xenbar is housed in one of those big pre-war terrace shophouses (corner unit). Three storeys, split
level. Mostly dedicated to salsa. There are classes there in the evenings before 9p or 10p. So if you
go there early, you can't dance but you can observe the class.

Salsa nights: Every night. However the crowd tends to leave by 10:30p.

Dance floor: Spacious. Floor is nice for the most part. Sometimes a little too slippery. And watch
out for some warped wood that will throw your spins off.

Crowd: The crowd has really thinned out. The average number is probably 10 or less. So if you
want plenty of space, Xenbar will be very suitable.

Environment: Nice and cool, especially because of the high ceilings and small number of patrons.
Not too smoky.

Music: BYOM. Usually somebody will put in some music. You can also play your own music (salsa of
course). Lots of CDs there if you don't have any. But sometimes the music skips and gets cut off in
the middle. Sometimes it's technical error, sometimes it's human intervention.

Ladies night: Every night. Comes with a free cherry cocktail.

Cover charge: First drink charge of $10 (non-alcoholic) or $12 (alcoholic) for guys.

Plus points: The spaciousness and coolness. The club only closes when the last person leaves.
Even if it's 6am! And it’s open every day, including Sunday afternoons.

Minus points: The spaciousness – sometimes there’s no one there!

Additional notes: There's also a smaller dance area on the third floor, which they sometimes use
for tango.

Parking: You can park at the URA carpark on the parallel streets, or at the sizeable parking area
along Club St. After 10p, it’s free. You can also park near Maxwell market or at China Square
Central ($2/entry).

Public Transportation: Take the MRT to Chinatown. Take the exit for Pagoda St. Walk away from
Chinatown MRT, towards South Bridge Road. It's somewhere in the middle of Pagoda St. Look out
for the tallest 4-storey, single pink shophouse on your left (with green windows and a large banner
on the front of the building).

Xenbar and Restaurant

32A Pagoda Street
Singapore 059191
Tel: 6225-2620
Email: i@xenbar.com
Web site: http://www.xenbar.com

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3. Brix
Mainly R&B, with one day a week (Sunday) dedicated to latin music, including salsa. It's located at
the basement of the Hyatt Hotel along Scotts Rd.

Salsa nights: Sundays only.

Dance floor: Nice but very small.

Crowd: Variable but generally not crowded at all. The place is known to attract 'working women"
and expats, so if you're bored, you can always pay attention to the “action” that's going on.

Environment: Nice and cool, but can be smoky.

Music: Very variable. Be prepared to wait for salsa music if there are very few salsa dancers. You’ll
probably have to go bug the DJ. The band that comes on around 10:30p plays a variety of latin
music, including salsa, cha cha, merengue, gypsy-kings-type songs.

Ladies night: Not that I know of.

Cover charge: None.

Plus points: Nice environment, not crowded at all. It’s nice to have a live band, although they don’t
play too many salsa songs.

Minus points: Infrequency of salsa songs.

Additional notes: The DJ may not play any salsa if he feels there are very few dancers. He'll tend
to pander to the crowd. You'll have to bug him to do it.

Parking: Expensive parking at Hyatt. $4 per entry. Far East and Scotts are not much better. Maybe
just slightly cheaper but you have to walk further.

Public Transportation: Take any bus to Scotts Road, or MRT to Orchard.

Grand Hyatt Hotel Singapore

10 Scotts Road
Singapore 228211
Tel: 6416-7107
Email: brix.sg@hyattintl.com
Web site: http://restaurants.singapore.hyatt.com/brix/brix_intro.html

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4. Hard Rock Cafe
Although better known for rock than salsa, Hard Rock Cafe has now opened its doors to salsa
addicts every alternate Thursday night. Situated along Orchard Road, amidst the entertainment and
shopping district, the cafe offers a spacious dance floor, restaurant and bar, and an open air dining
area on the second level.

Salsa nights: Alternate thursdays only.

Dance floor: Squarish, fairly spacious and smooth

Crowd: Cosy and not too crowded

Environment: Fantastic. Great ventilation due to high ceilings. Excellent layout for dancers.

Music: A variety of deejays spin here. Music tends towards more mambo, and latin-jazz pieces,
which are awesome for "On 2" dancing.

Ladies night: Not that I know of.

Cover charge: $12. Includes one drink.

Plus points: Great environment. Nice dance floor. Fantastic music. Not as smoky as some of the
other clubs.

Minus points: None.

Parking: Try Forum Galleria ($3/entry) and Tanglin Shopping Centre ($2.10/entry). Do note that
the latter is a little dodgy. Parking at Hilton Hotel. is very expensive at $4 per entry before
midnight, and another $4 after midnight.

Public Transportation: Take an MRT to Orchard and walk towards Tanglin Rd, away from Orchard
Rd. Or take a bus to Tanglin Rd.

Hard Rock Cafe

#02-01 / # 03-01 HPL House
50 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249724
Tel: 6235 5232
Email: sgp-anpasst@hardrock.com.sg
Web site: http://www.hardrock.com.sg/aboutus.htm

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