Our Community: Barbary Coast
(above: VIP table at Barbary Coast Ballroom)
We feel lucky to work with an incredible community of creative clients and partners and are thrilled to shine the spotlight on them in our new “Our Community” series. In each feature, we’ll share about a client, partner, or organisation that is a part of our community and has an exciting story to tell.
First in the series is Barbary Coast, a multi-concept venue that takes guests on a journey through the San Francisco gold rush era. Founded by industry veterans Celia Schoonraad and Michael D. Callahan, Barbary Coast has worked with Accela Group across all service lines to launch their business.
Tell us a bit about Barbary Coast’s concept.
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.
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.
While you were consulting on venues for The Compound Collective, did you always imagine eventually opening your own bar?
Yes and no. We didn’t start The Compound Collective with the ultimate goal of opening our own venue however after consulting on multiple venues over the years we had a mountain of amazing ideas that never made it to the final version of so many projects, ideas we believed in, and wanted to find a way for those to see the light of day and have expression.
What have you enjoyed most about the process of opening your own venue in Singapore?
To say we poured our blood, sweat and literal tears into the build of Barbary Coast would be an understatement but it was a wonderfully collective process between The Compound Collective as a team and company, Michael, Celia, The Finer Things and EDG. A collaborative endeavour to help our vision come to life.
Has anything surprised you since you’ve opened Barbary Coast?
We always felt that Boat Quay would have a hard time sustaining two cocktail-focused bars and thus always pushed for great beers and killer food at Deadfall. It was quite the surprise when the guests are ordering mostly cocktails including those from the menu but also rare and rather interesting classics. Seems as if the Boat Quay community has a thirst for elevated drinking that surprised even us old salty dogs.
What has the guest feedback been like since you’ve opened?
The feedback has been really amazing. We have a simple key indicator from which we gauge guest happiness and that is rebooking and repeat guest visits. The ultimate compliment is when a guest makes a booking to return – while still enjoying their current visit. This has been happening nightly with people often saying how excited they are to bring spouses, besties, or both.
What’s your favourite food item at Barbary Coast?
TTW, or the Charcuterie. They are so very different and both unforgettable. …not dissimilar to its owners if I may say so myself. (Let’s be real we all know MDC wrote that one)
Favourite drink on the menu?
As Barbary Coast is a dual concept venue it has afforded us the luxury of two wholly different bars with different looks, feels and menu offerings – with that being said we need to pick two favourites!
Deadfall – Scarlet – a punchy and powerful drink with a blend of Cognac and Rye Whiskey acting as the rich base, a little hint of absinthe for some added warmth, Sweet Vermouth to round out the flavours and clarified raspberry to create an interesting depth overall.
Barbary Coast Ballroom – Buttered Paloma – our take on a refreshing classic but with Beurre-Noisette Tequila, Clarified Grapefruit & Lime, a hint of sweetness and carbonated to ensure that little effervescent kiss. Served on a wedge of Clarified Grapefruit ice so the flavours start to adjust as it dilutes.
The décor is very unique – do you have any favourite pieces in the space?
The décor was definitely a labour of love however overall the wallpaper of Barbary Coast Ballroom is so wonderful to be surrounded by. It acts as a very fun backdrop to a quiet date night or a friend filled adventure. In Deadfall it is the exposed original wooden beams to this historic building, there are few heritage buildings where you can see the original materials and they are gorgeous hence we worked alongside our contractor, Richwood Interiors, to meticulously expose the original brick walls and wooden beams.
Tell us more about your experience working with Accela.
They are the Swiss-Army-Knife of business, the bee’s knees, without them we would be lost.
