See You At 66: The Council Is Officially Launching Upstairs Next Week As A Snack Bar Concept

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? (Credit: The Council)

Fanatics of Headquarters have waited with bated breath. Following months of quietude from the nightlife nest at 66 Boat Quay, it’s finally time for its devout patrons to come home.

One of The Council’s best ideas, since its inception in 2016, was to add another floor to its HQ party lair. The expansion was a hit, with the new loft space giving rise to an alternative room dedicated to lighter grooves that didn’t fit the dominantly-techno, red-illuminated room below. Dubbed Upstairs, it effectively became a convivial social area when ravers needed a breather, particularly atop its breezy balcony that flaunts a five-star panorama of the CBD skyline. It’s an endearing sensation that many have missed, but no longer.

A view frequenters will know too well [this was taken prior to COVID-19] (Credit: The Council)

Come 2 December, The Council is officially back in business as it opens its doors to Upstairs, now rebranded as a snack bar concept operating four days a week. The official relaunch of Upstairs comes after weeks of hype on social media, complementing The Council’s ongoing online presence as the trendy purveyor of Mate Mate sparkling Yerba mate tea. As it turns out, this was a bigger baby that they’d been brewing all along.

“It’s not so much a new chapter as it is a temporary pivot for us, but the core of who we are and what we believe in remains the same,” reveals Eileen Chan, co-owner of The Council. “While you can expect the same no-frills approach with everything we do, we’re excited to create a new experience with the snack bar concept in a familiar space that we all miss. It’ll be fun to welcome everyone home once again.”

The new incarnation of Upstairs promises what The Council does best: an excellent curation of choons you’re accustomed to swaying to in elation. And like every decent snack bar, it’s pairing this experience with a menu that’s perfect for dinner, supper, or just a chilled-out drinks sesh.

A glimpse of what you can expect on the Upstairs menu (Credit: Argentinian BBQ Gourmet [left], Sidecar Handcrafted [right])

“We’ll be partnering up with our friends from Sidecar Handcrafted and Argentinian BBQ Gourmet, and you’ll get to pick from a rotating menu of natural wines, sake, and a curated list of cocktails made with Mate Mate. Our opening hours will be from 5pm to 10.30pm every Wednesday to Friday, and 3pm to 10.30pm on Saturdays; which means you now have the perfect spot to spend a lazy Saturday at, while sipping on an Aperol Spritz or two,” shares Eileen.

Now that the cat’s out of the bag, you’d best start making a booking – Upstairs is strictly reservations-only by WhatsApp – to witness this new undertaking by the groundbreaking brand. See you there.