It’s located at one of the most prestigious addresses in Singapore and has an appropriate name to boot. Following several weeks of soft launch parties, HighHouse at 1 Raffles Place has finally opened, replacing the iconic nightlife destination 1-Altitude, which closed in March last year after 12 years.
Only time will tell if HighHouse will be just as successful. But signs are positive. The food is sublime—order the grilled Spanish octopus and hand-cut beef tartare—and the drinks pack a delicious alcoholic punch.
It is the music, however, that most excites general manager Wayne Lee (main picture). After Helios rides the sun-chariot below the horizon, HighHouse transforms into a nightlife venue, and Lee’s experience planning and programming music for specific moments has proven invaluable in creating this concept.
Lee ran Zouk for a decade and led the club successfully through the pandemic, so he’s raring to redefine the nightlife experience once again. For all the troubles that Covid-19 brought to the hospitality industry, he’s grateful for one thing. “Before [it], the nightlife scene was saturated with too many nightspots and bars offering the same concept with little content differentiation. There was a serious lack of diversity,” says Lee.
The reset forced everyone to build something different. Now, the nightlife veteran is enthused to see a new and adventurous generation of gig promoters, DJs, bartenders, and venue operators willing to plunge into uncharted waters.
More importantly, young punters are responding, as long as there is value for money in the experiences.
Lee and his team have definitely built something special at HighHouse. It’s almost impossible to find dry-ageing freezers beside two rows of climate-controlled wine fridges, but the tallest nightlife destination in Singapore wants you to enjoy great meats and even better vino. On the same floor, a soundproof karaoke room lets you and your friends belt out Taylor Swift (or Jay Chou).
Guest DJs will also perform on the floor above while clubbers dance and enjoy cocktails created by Jay Gray of Sago House, ranked 10th in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. They can also admire the artwork on the walls of both floors before they reach inebriation.
“Understanding the preferences and spending habits of clubbers and VIP guests has helped the team conceptualise what we believe is the right product for the market,” says Lee.
In March 2024, HighHouse will reach even higher peaks. Nova is scheduled to open on the rooftop. When I visited, tarpaulin sheets covered construction equipment, but the rooftop bar’s centrepiece—a giant steel sculpture of a star called Astra—had been finished. “I am fascinated by space and galaxies,” says light artist Jun Ong. Behind him, Astra exploded into a visual confluence of light while the music reached a crescendo.
Two hundred and eighty metres below, the people walking on the pavement glanced up momentarily, their evening reverie interrupted by the bright flash of light.
A star is born.
