Hup San Social Club: A cosy, hidden basement bar with heart

As one of the few new cocktail bar openings in town this year, it really shouldn’t have taken me this long to visit Hup San Social Club.

This vibey bar, tucked away right below Club Street Laundry, is the brainchild of native Korean June Baek, whose previous experiences include MO Bar and Madame Fan in Singapore, Bar Cham in Seoul, and Seoul Salon in New York. 

The bar gets its name from the building’s previous occupant, Hup San Laundry, but it’s also a nod to early Chinese immigrants who created their own small enclaves to gather and drink. 

And just like the enclaves of yesteryear, Hup San Social Club sits behind a blink-and-you-might-miss-it grey entrance that could easily be mistaken for a closet door. 

In fact, the first time someone asked me how to get there, I realised I had no way of directing them, simply because there is no visible street-level signage. I simply said: “Go to Club Street Laundry, and tell them you’re there for Hup San.”

But all that work to locate the space is worth it once you push past those doors, settle in and get a drink at the bar. (If you manage to snag a seat at this small 12-seater spot, that is.)

Hup San Social Club stands where Korean-inspired bar Ssal once stood, but it has stripped off its old rustic interior, swapping it instead for a more warm and modern wooden finish. 

Off the bat, it reminded me a little of Old Man in Hong Kong, but it wasn’t until June lets on that the bar’s concept was inspired by a Korean bar she used to work at (12 Chair) that I saw the similarities. 

I had come across 12 Chair in Itaewon on a night out, after being told of the bar by a local, and getting to the bar was a similar endeavour — locating a place whose signage bears no relation to your destination, going down a dark stairway, and then having it open up to a cosy space. 

Same excitement, and similar hospitable vibes, but with June’s very personal twist. 

Trying Hup San Social Club’s menu 

Hup San’s debut menu — Do What Brings You Joy — comes with 14 signature drinks, each tagged to different experiences or feelings. 

Whether it’s a “refreshing mid-day escape” or “unexpected surprises”, you choose a drink based on what you’re feeling at the moment, or what you hope to feel. 

There isn’t a particular style of drink here. Sure there’s some Korean-inspired ones, like the very delicious Cold Soup (S$26), owing to June’s Korean heritage, but the drinks are mainly a compilation of June’s favourites across the years, as well as flavours she enjoys.

If you don’t know where to start, the Cold Soup is a great one. Inspired by the Korean dish oi naengguk (or chilled cucumber soup), the soju-based cocktail comes with kelp dashi, sesame, cucumber, and apple vinegar.

Said to provide an “invigorating chill on a scorching hot day”, it tastes and looks exactly like the soup it is inspired by, but with a sharp, clean finish owing to the soju. For the seasoned drinkers, this will go down quickly.  

Another fun drink is the bom fizz (S$26), where “bom” refers to spring in Korean. With mugwort and toasted white sesame, it’s yet another Korean-inspired take, this time on the Ramos gin fizz. If you’re lucky, your drink might even come complete with a cheeky smiley face. 

It’s a comforting, easy drink that would put a smile on your face, just like what the affable June does.

Lastly, if you want to continue down the route of comfort, we highly recommend the Pumpkin Ma Heart (S$25), a warm cocktail that is supposed to feel like an embrace.

It comes with spiced rum, pumpkin, yam, mango, cinnamon and coconut cream. While we don’t experience autumn in Singapore, this is the type of drink I imagine would be perfect for that slightly chilly evening — hearty and satiating. 

In fact, this would be a great post-meal dessert drink, especially if you’ve just had dinner at Club Street Laundry right above Hupsan, just as we did. 

There are plenty more signatures that caught our eye at Hup San, such as the gin-based Achar (S$25), The French Fries 2.0 (S$26), with a french-fries-washed whisky base, and the mala diwa (S$25), which doesn’t just come with Sichuan pepper, but watermelon and strawberry, too.

But that just means we have even more reasons to head back, right?

For those who prefer their drinks a bit more predictable, there’s an equally extensive menu of classics, ranging from the ever-popular gin & tonic (S$20) to the robust negroni and old fashioned (both at S$27).

While it doesn’t have a food menu yet, you can order food from Club Street Laundry down to the bar, and conversely, drinks from Hup San up to the restaurant.

Tucked away in the basement, hearing June’s stories about her times in the different regions, while sharing her inspirations behind each drink, we soon lost track of time. 

Perhaps owing to the compact nature of the bar, we also ended up exchanging conversations with those within the space easily. 

If you’re the sort that loves making conversation, whether with the bartender or with fellow bar-goers, while enjoying some very tasty tipples, you can definitely count on this social club to get the party going. 

For more ideas on what to eat, check out Club Street Laundry which sits above, or our round-up of new menus around town this month. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Hup San Social Club, which sits right below Club Street Laundry.