Timbre @ The Arts House

The first one's at Armenian Street, near Fort Canning. This is an expansion act. Nice location, facing Singapore River and Sir Stamford Raffles, tucked at one cosy corner of the Old Parliament House. It's got a kinda artsy, laidback feel, just like its Armenian counterpart.


Timbre @ The Arts House on a Sat nite


Homegrown bands


The 20+ to 30+yrs-ish audience

Sadly, it was a case of beautiful ambience and great live band jamming marred by bad service...

First, the service staff could not agree on what the kitchen had run out of (someone said everything's out except for salads and fried finger food, then half an hr later, a freshly toasted pizza appeared on our neighbour's table). Second, there was this ultimate champion waitress who'd demand for your credit card, with outstretched hands, to either 'close' or 'open' ur bill, 1 sec after your food arrived, with no explanation of rationale and a stoned cold look on her face. One poor foreigner who questioned further had his bill whisked right off his lap as he gingerly reached for his wallet, while still puzzling over why his credit card was demanded. Third, our request for bill took 40min to arrive, despite requests being made to 3 different service staff. Fourth, the drinks (magaritas & cocktails) were really bland. Fifth, customers are entitled to just one round of iced water throughout their patronage, strictly no refills.

Overall - nice ambience, nice music, but poor poor poor service. If you had to go there, it better be because you wanted to support homegrown bands. Skip the food. Get beer instead. Place ur credit card on the table for them to close/open/whatever the bill. Request for the bill 1hr in advance. Be mentally prepared, and it shall be a great night.