June 28th, 2011
Ice-Cold Beer and the Stellar Bar occupy the ground and upper floor respectively of a restored shophouse on Emerald Hill Road, just off the
main Orchard Road shopping street. The Emerald Hill area is a historic conservation zone, with the buildings featuring the decorative Peranakan style architecture of the late 19th early 20th Century that is distinctive to Singapore ( and Melaka in Malaysia). Mostly consisting of two storey shophouses, these were the homes of the wealthy Chinese – Peranakan community of that period. Many of the buildings have been restored for both commercial use and also as private residences.
The building of Ice-Cold Beer & Stellar Bar is situated on a corner, and fronts onto what is now the paved “walking” only section of lower Emerald Hill Road. Neighboring buildings contain a cocktail bar and a tapas bar & restaurant- all under the same management as Ice-Cold Beer and Stellar Bar.
The interior decor one the ground floor of Ice-Cold Beer – consists of a long bar running down one side of the main room- and with a smaller raised area up a few steps at the rear where the darts boards are mounted. The use of dark timbers on floors and furniture, and the dimmed natural lighting of the long shophouse proved a cooling, relaxed atmosphere. The shelved wall behind the bar is stocked to the ceiling with rows of many varieties of bottled beers ( Ice-Cold Beer stock approximately 50 different bottled beers). The other walls are covered with old beer brand posters and other beer memorabilia items. A feature of the bar are the long ice tanks built into the bar itself- glass fronted and topped- so that customers can make their beer selection as the bottles chill off, buried under mounds of ice. A large open sky well near the centre of the bar provides both natural light but also access for the bar staff to the upper floor bar – by means of a tin bucket on a rope for transferring bottles between the bars.
The Stellar Bar on the upper floor is accessed via a staircase at the rear of the building. The decor of the bar features earthy tones on the walls with a somewhat “distressed” finish. Old leather lounges and Stella beer signs on the walls add to the period atmosphere. A couple of pool tables, leather topped bars stools and large LCD screens give the bar a “sports” angle as well. Cold draft beers- Stella, Hoegaarden and Leffe- are served at the bar from an ice coated beer tower.
Ice-Cold Beer serve up some appetising bar food- such as chicken wings, pizzas and nine inch hot dogs- all of which have attracted much praise- almost legendary status- from customers over the years. Generous Happy Hours offer some great deals on beers – bottled and draft.
It certainly appears that the combination of an authentically restored historic building, in a great location just off the busy Orchard Road precinct, together with a huge range of bottled and draft beers- served at “ice cold” temperatures- and reasonable prices- is the formula for enduring popularity over the years since first opening. Both bars continue to attract a steady crowd of customers most evenings, and are particularly busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Cold beers served by friendly staff in a relaxed casual environment- sounds good!
Ice-Cold Beer & Stellar Bar
Address: 9 Emerald Hill Road, Singapore 228293
MRT station: Somerset
Reservations: +65. 6735 9929
Website: http://www.ice-cold-beer.com/Welcome.html
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ice-Cold-Beer/130206587226
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Thursday 5:00pm ~ 2:00 am
Fridays & Saturdays 5:00pm~ 3:00 am
Happy Hours: 5:00pm ~ 9:00pm
