Here’s a new hangout spot for music lovers and audiophiles alike in Singapore: with a massive 5000 sqft space, vinyl listening stations, in-house café and bar, retail store and more! Brought to you by popular homegrown music label, Swee Lee, the newly-opened Swee Lee Clarke Quay is so much more than just a music store—it’s a welcoming space for all to enjoy, whether you’re there to play or listen to music, or just to enjoy a some good food and drinks.
Free vinyl listening stations with over 500 records
If you love listening to vinyls, head to one of their vinyl listening stations and listen from their extensive library of over 500 records. There’s vinyls from various music genres: Pop, Rock, Blues, Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Electronic, Indie and even movie soundtracks and more. Like what you hear? The vinyls are also available for purchase on an average of $20-$70 each.
Join Swee Lee’s free membership programme to enjoy 1 hour of vinyl listening for free with any purchase from the café or bar (from $4) . For non-members, you can also get 1 hour access to the vinyl stations for $10 with any purchase from the café or bar.
In-house café & bar
Despite Swee Lee being primarily a music store, we were pretty impressed with the offerings from their café and bar. The café food and bites are specially curated in-house by Swee Lee, with locally roasted coffee brands by Flip Coffee Roasters and cocktails by award-winning bar, Employees Only.
Kaya French Toast & Dippy Eggs, $17
Chilli Crab Dip, $17
Cookie Crumble Waffles, from $13
Some highlights from their all-day brunch menu include the Kaya French Toast & Dippy Eggs ($17), a spin on the traditional kaya toast made with a thick and fluffy slice of French toast instead, plus a hint of toasted coconut. The Chilli Crab Dip ($18) is also worth a try, with a luscious and subtly spicy chilli crab sauce and sourdough slices grilled with cheese.
Baileys Con Panna, $10
Lychee Granita, $8
Crème Brûlée Latte, from $7.50
Folk, $25; Pop, $25
For drinks, coffee lovers will love the rich and indulgent Baileys Con Panna ($10) served with a creamy Baileys-infused cream and espresso shot that you can dip with the ladyfinger cookie. But if you’re looking for something more refreshing, definitely go for the icy Lychee Granita ($8) made with shaved hibiscus-infused ice. As for booze and tipples, they’ve got a selection of wine bottles and craft beer, as well as handcrafted cocktails from the bar.
Sunlit lounge & retail store
Step into the main hall of the space, boasting ultra high ceilings that let in tons of natural light, with cosy and homey sofas, and communal tables—the place feels like you’re relaxing at a friend’s house, and we can totally see ourselves spending a lazy afternoon here with a cup of coffee.
Here is also where you’ll find a retail corner showcasing goods from various brands, including t-shirts, tote bags and accessories. These brands will be on rotation and on the current line-up you’ll find items from Baggu, Swee Lee’s own merchandise and more. If there are concerts happening in town, they’ll even display some of the artists’ merchandise, such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and more.
Over 150 music brands & guitar “cellar”
Of course, being a music store, you can expect plenty of boutique instruments and music gear available for sale. There are some 150 music brands and some 50 different guitar models on display from famed names like Fender, Taylor, Collings, Heritage, Manson Guitar Works, BOSE, Teenage Engineering and more.
You can also feel free to plug in any of the guitars on display and test them (or jam out) for yourself. There are also lots of equipment and music accessories for sale, including amps, capos, straps, strings and much more.
More than just a music store
Whether you play an instrument or not, we think that Swee Lee Clarke Quay is a place that anyone can enjoy, and is set to become a one-stop lifestyle destination for all. We love the hip vibe of the place; and while there aren’t many vinyl listening spots in Singapore, this is probably one of the coolest and more comprehensive ones so far. It doesn’t hurt that the food and drinks at Swee Lee are comparable to other cafés in Singapore, and we can definitely see ourselves coming back to try the rest of the menu.
Price: $$
Taste: 7/10
Must try item(s): The Chilli Crab Dip, Baileys Con Panna
Swee Lee Clarke Quay
Address: Blk 3B River Valley Rd, #01-06 Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm daily
