China Club (Capital Tower) Closes After 19 Years, Cites Years of Losses Amid Stiff Competition

Recently, I had the opportunity to dine at China Club Singapore, an exclusive members-only restaurant/ bar located on the 52nd floor of Capital Tower. The food was good but what I enjoyed most was the spectacular skyline views. Update (29 May 2020): sadly, China Club will close permanently on 01 June 2020 after 19 years. General manager Andrew Mah said that the club has been facing stiff competition posed by new eateries that emerged in the vicinity.

China Club Singapore

China Club Singapore is an exclusive private club located on the top floor of Capital Tower. Founded in 2001, the club consists of a Chinese fine dining restaurant and The Long March Bar (a cocktail bar). You must be a member to dine here. Below are details of the individual membership, and you can write in to ashley@chinaclub.com.sg to apply.

China Club also has a tie up with the UOB Visa Infinite credit card, though the card’s club access is only available till end of this year (2018).

Individual Membership

• Entrance fee at S$6,888 + GST
• Complimentary spouse card
• All active members are liable with monthly dues of S$128
• S$500 F&B deposit are liable to all active members
• Complimentary F&B dining voucher worth S$1,288

One year Term Individual Membership

• Entrance fee at S$1,800 + GST
• Complimentary spouse card
• All active members are liable with monthly dues of S$128
• S$500 F&B deposit are liable to all active members
• Complimentary F&B dining voucher worth S$600

Two year Term Individual Membership

• Entrance fee at S$2,800 + GST
• Complimentary spouse card
• All active members are liable with monthly dues of S$128
• S$500 F&B deposit are liable to all active members
• Complimentary F&B dining voucher worth S$988

Great Ambience and Decent Service

China Club registration booth

After reaching Capital Tower, it took us a while just to get to the restaurant’s floor! First, we went up a short escalator to the building’s lift lobby. After that, we had to sign in at the China Club booth before taking the lift to the 37th floor (same level as GIC). From there, we changed to another lift and took it to the 52nd floor.

Stepping out of the lift, the first thing that caught my eye was the oriental decor of the lift lobby. The walls were covered entirely with beautiful floral wallpaper.

And as I turned right towards the restaurant entrance, I was greeted with a gorgeous view of Singapore’s skyline.

Before starting my lunch, I decided to explore the restaurant first. China Club defines oriental chic with its traditional Chinese furnishings and vibrant wallpaper, complete with a smattering of pop paintings and Chinese memorabilia.

The restaurant has two levels. On the second level, I found several dining areas partitioned with Chinese folding screens.

There were a couple of private dining rooms as well and I saw a business presentation going on in one of them. And almost everywhere I walked, I enjoyed spectacular views of the city skyline.

After walking around for a while more (and probably getting judged by some guests and staff along the way), I returned back to my table which was located by a full length window. This allowed for plenty of natural light to flood the restaurant, accentuating the dark coloured oriental furnishings.

Service was decent. We were each given a warm towel to freshen up upon sitting down. The staff had rather stoic expressions but they were professional and I had no problem getting their attention. Our food was served very promptly too.

Crystal Dumpling

And so I began my dim sum lunch at China Club! The first dish was the Crystal Dumpling, which was delicious. The glossy skin had a really smooth texture and the vegetables within were very fresh.

Siew Mai

After that, I had the Siew Mai (pork dumpling), a staple of Chinese dim sum. It was savoury with just the right amount of bite.

Lo Mai Gai

Next, I had another classic, the Lo Ma Gai (Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaf). As I unwrapped it, I could smell the light fragrance of the lotus leaf. The sticky rice was cooked nicely and I enjoyed the chunks of tender and juicy chicken.

Radish Cake

The Radish Cake had a soft fluffy texture and a delicious savoury flavour. This was one of my favourite dim sums here, though the portion was a little small.

Chee Cheong Fun

My favourite dim sum at China Club was the petite Chee Cheong Fun. The rice roll had a luxuriously smooth texture and went perfectly with the delicious savoury gravy. My only qualm was that the portion was a little small.

Dried Scallop Congee

I ended my China Club experience with the Dried Scallop Congee. The congee tasted decent with a smooth and runny texture, though it was slightly bland. But I enjoyed the scallops which were juicy and chewy.

The Long March Bar

China Club is also home to The Long March Bar, a cocktail bar located within the restaurant. It offers a variety of alcohol, dim sum and small bites.

Conclusion

China Club is a classy Chinese restaurant that is great for business lunches or if you like the exclusivity of eating in a members-only joint. The dim sums definitely passed muster and I enjoyed my meal very much. That said, I probably can’t afford to spend so much on the membership fees just to dine here. I only managed to eat here once because a club member signed me in. On the whole, my first time at an atas members-only restaurant was definitely an interesting experience.

China Club Singapore
Address: 168 Robinson Road #52-01 Capital Tower Singapore 068912
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 7.30am – 11pm | Closed on Sundays |
Phone: +65 6820 2388
Membership Details: ashley@chinaclub.com.sg