The Canteen at Chinahouse has been one of the famous places
for patrons to get-together for a chill or to get away from the daily hustle of
work. With its pub concept decorated with antique furniture and wooden chairs, it
has soon become a favourite spot for many. To recognise this place, just walk along Victoria Street until you come across a huge porcelain cat greeting you at the entrance; or if you have entered the Beach Street entrance, explore China House all the way till the end and you will find yourself at The Canteen.
The atmosphere might be quiet during the day because most of the time, people are directed to the other side of Chinahouse but you are allowed to sit there if you want to. They have their own food and drinks menu but more focused on light bites and snacks like chunky fries, quesadillas or sandwiches. The chiller consists of a handful of cakes but if you want those that are displayed in the ‘Kopi C’ section (the other side of the restaurant), you can purchase them and have it brought over. Most of the time it is a self-service policy because there might be short of staff.
There are always live local bands of different genres serenading
you every night from 9 p.m. onwards. The Canteen offers a promotion where you
are able to win a free drink of the exact beverage you have previously ordered
or the similar value with just a selfie taken with the band of the night and
post it on the mentioned social media platforms. Choose your preferred drink
for the night from the handcrafted cocktails drawn on the blackboard or for guys, you can professionally try out your ‘James Bond’ style to maybe successfully impress your date. Either
way, the bartender is very much skilled and will have your drink sent to you in
no time.
The crowd will start somewhere around dinner hours therefore if you want to secure a seat for a large group, best you be there early because it is mostly a walk-in system and reservations are not really encouraged because seats are limited. Nevertheless, if you come in to enjoy the music and the crowd, you can take a seat at the bar and maybe have a conversation or two with the bartender.
