A New Spin: Enter Vertigo 26, A Charismatic Record Store & Bar With Over 1,000 Albums

Audiophiles, prepare to be sucked in (Credit: Vertigo 26)

One silver lining surrounding the locked-down circumstances is the opportunity to reconnect with music. Associated with this audiophilic passion is the steady rise of listening sessions and vinyl culture which hasn’t lost its momentum these past few years. The art of records continues to be celebrated, and keeping up this devotion is a new hangout that’s managed to materialise in these tough times. Vertigo 26 has landed, and it’s positioned itself as a place where “people talk less and listen more”.

Located within the basement of 26 Seah Street – where the MINT Museum of Toys is – Vertigo 26 is a destination that instinctively pulls you in from above. You can’t help but shift your gaze and gravity to the debonair sunken habitat, oozing with an air of class and mystery. Leather and wooden textures are illuminated by warm hues of yellow and violet, the latter spilling from a Beatles-inclined neon sign that reads “Turn off your mind / Relax & flow downstream”. Its displayed record collection instantly gives away that Vertigo 26 hopes to be a haunt for music connoisseurs. Sade, Bloc Party, Massive Attack and Björk line the shelves, adjacent to generation-defining posters of Sonic Youth and New Order. Consider all of these accents with surrounding amplifiers and a turntable by the bar, and you have a muso-minded lounge that aims to keep you stuck here for hours.

During non-dining hours, Vertigo 26 becomes a listening space for music (Credit: Vertigo 26)

Vertigo 26 is a new concept co-founded by music and movie veterans, Eric Chan and Simon Chia, who have worked on past events like Sunset Cinema and Films At The Fort. “As avid music lovers ourselves, we wanted to create a space where people can come, relax and enjoy great music,” says Chan in the venue’s press release. “We’re delighted to be open and we welcome people to enjoy the space with us – it is really a lifelong vision that has now become a reality.”

To flesh out Vertigo 26’s musical ethos, the owners sought out one of the scene’s most ardent vinyl collectors, Robin Chua, to be its musical director. Also known as KiDG and Tiko Jackson – the selector behind events, Eatmepoptart and Tiko Disko – he has introduced a catalogue of over 1,000 albums to the venue, with a repertoire spanning all genres over five decades.

Cocktails and records – what more could you want? (Credit: Vertigo 26)

And to complete the Vertigo 26 experience, the team has brought over head chef Kyle Henderson (from Lolla and Summerlong) and bar manager Cedric Seth (from The Horse’s Mouth) to curate the dine-in and takeaway menu. Recommended bites here are the charcoal-grilled Yakitori, Crispy Duck Mandu, and Kombu Cucumber, all to be washed down with the bar’s range of music-inspired cocktails and craft beers.

Now if you’re wondering, “Wait, I thought dining establishments weren’t allowed to play recorded music during operation hours”, you’re right. Vertigo 26 is well aware of this, which is why they’ve split their hours into dine-in and non-dine-in segments. Before dining hours kick off at 5pm, the venue essentially turns into a vinyl shop where in-store listening is allowed. It’s a temporary workaround that abides by the pesky regulations, but it’s the next best thing we’re going to get for now.

Food on the menu includes the Crispy Duck Mandu and Grilled A5 Wagyu Rump (Credit: Vertigo 26)

So if the thought of losing yourself in a musical haven makes your head spin – in a good way – you should make a date with Vertigo 26.

Vertigo 26, Basement level, 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382, +65 8288 3360. Open Tues-Sat 12pm-10.30pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, closed on Mon. Dine-in hours are from 5pm onwards.

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