On The Right Track: Rails Bar & Lounge Finally Opens Its Fantastic Steampunk Domain

After a 10-month delay, the steampunk bar and lounge is finally open (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

The faint chugging of a locomotive whirs in the air, as you enter a narrow gateway framing an old metallic elevator. Derelict bicycle wheels greet you on the other side, leading you further down a corridor that opens up into what resembles a grimy, underground tunnel in olden London. The curved, piped nature of the room instantly sucks you in, and you realise you’re not quite in Singapore circa 2021 anymore. This is the potent illusion crafted by Rails, the latest nightlife concept from A Phat Cat Collective.

The entrance of Rails is right next to NINETEEN80 (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

If you’re familiar with the crew’s reputation, you’ll know they have an excellent tendency for building fantastical worlds within their spaces. With NINETEEN80, they constructed an arcade-themed discotheque that saluted the campy ’80s. In Pinball Wizard, they came up with a whole bar dedicated to the retro table-top game. Rails offers another getaway from reality with its industrial steampunk persona, radiating a debonair, adventurous charm that would inspire Jules Verne. Rugged yet refined, it’s an escape that exists in the habitat of Tanjong Pagar (where Kilo Lounge used to be), set to attract night owls and city slickers alike.

The space of the room resembles an old underground tunnel (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

The arrival of Rails marks yet another admirable triumph for A Phat Cat Collective. Like the hardy disposition that emanates from its brickish walls, the bar’s fruition is a symbol of patience and resilience.

When the pandemic hit the scene, it struck the collective hard. Fresh off a major expansion and revamp, NINETEEN80 was forced to shut down just one week after its reopening. Pinball Wizard, similarly, slipped into hibernation mode. The Rails that operates today had to make some sacrifices as well; postponing its original launch in April 2020, the venue had to forgo its identity – albeit temporarily – as a club with DJ performances, due to the ongoing restrictions that’s shrouded the nightclub scene in darkness. Instead, the brand gradually unveiled its musical imprint with a weekly mix series online, featuring soundtracks of house, disco, world music and other non-commercial genres. Through recorded mixes, this curation continues to play in the background of Rails at permitted volume levels, creating an air of bittersweet anticipation for those who miss partying sorely. Nevertheless, this is the Rails we’re going to get for now, and the Phat Cats are behind it 110 per cent.

Coming dressed as this is optional (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

A clock tower frame forms the backdrop for where the DJ console would’ve been (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

This dedication is as clear as day when you just spot the amount of detail that’s gone into birthing this fantasy. The halved face of a clock tower starkly forms the centrepiece that gazes upon the room – situated where the DJ console would’ve been – festooned with LED projections that brighten up the ambience. A web of gears sprawls across the ceiling, reinforcing the vibe of socialising within a giant machine. Other fanciful accoutrements take their positions: a classic hat rack with steampunk apparel, old analogue radios, and paperback books lined up on the walls. And where the magic happens: a glass-panelled bar counter with exposed piping and uniformed staff in sync like clockwork.

There are four categories of drinks to choose from (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

The Apothecary [left] and Murder on the Orient Express [right] (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

The Midsummer Dystopia [left] and Steamed & Hammered [right] (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

As a full-scale bar, Rails has plenty of concoctions to keep your beak wet, playing to the venue’s theme with four categories that sound like chapters of a sci-fi odyssey. Case in point, the fizzy gin-infused Jinrikisha Spritzer that you can find under “Sparking Like The Hopeful Light Of Tomorrow”; or the Velvetier Negroni that shakes up the classic beverage with cacao and chocolate bitters, aptly slotted under “Stirring, Spiritous Blends For Bracing Times”. Or if you reckon “Curious Experiments. Fortune Favours The Bold” is more up your alley, you can always opt for the Apothecary that mixes cognac and Amaro with the medicinal Pei Pa Kao; a saccharine, minty cocktail that goes down smoothly.

The Dirty Taters [left] and Soul Slider [right] from Chix Hot Chicken (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

If you’re wondering what happened to the winding back alley that formed the entrance to Kilo Lounge, Rails has converted the sheltered path into a kitchen for its food resident, Chix Hot Chicken. Its second outlet is cosily holed up here, cooking up its signature Nashville fried chicken that can be eaten within Rails’ main room. Guests are encouraged to get their hands dirty with their wholesome Soul Slider, spiced up with paprika-mayo ‘pink’ sauce and a cumin-coriander slaw. The Dirty Taters are another hot draw if you’re obsessed with tater tots, and there are Hot Wings that turn up the heat with spice levels of your choosing. While the food choices do derail from the venue’s theme, it’s a minor diversion that doesn’t dent the overall atmosphere – you’ll be too hungry to be fussed.

With the cards that they’ve been dealt, A Phat Cat Collective has exceeded expectations with this brave new launch (Credit: A Phat Cat Collective)

Besting the dire circumstances that every nightlife venue owner is struggling with, A Phat Cat Collective has kept their head above water and pushed Rails full steam ahead. The amount of love that’s gone into this space affirms their commitment to making their latest creation work, and it’s an optimism that’s carries a torch for the scene. With its eccentric vibe, palatable spread of F&B offerings and meticulous music selection, it’s a venue that’s upping the ante as not just a snack bar, but a lifestyle destination.

If this is merely the first edition of Rails, just imagine the full potential of this space once things in the scene get back on track.