Kult Kafé (11 Upper Wilkie Road)

Kult Kafé is a neighbourhood bar located at Mount Emily Villa, Emily Hill 11 Upper Wilkie Road. The bar was opened for business in late 2015. Kult Kafé hosts various art, music and film events throughout the calendar year.[1] The bar also serves as an event space that is available for private bookings.

The interior bar space of Kult Kafé. Photo from Kult Kafé's Facebook.

Founders

 
Zac Mirza, the co-owner and head bartender of Kult Kafé. Photo from About.me.

Kult Kafé was founded in late 2015 by Tanya Wilson and Zac Mirza — both of whom are owners of Kult Magazine and Kult Studio & Gallery.[2][3][4][5]


Kult Kafé is co-owned by head bartender, Zac Mirza who is the founder and creative director of Bartistry LLP - a Bar Consultancy business.[6] Zac is an award-winning bartender who had previously won titles like Bartender of the Millennium.[7] Following the award, he represented Singapore at the Beefeater International Bartenders Competition in 2000.[8]

Bar concept

 
The Kult Kafé event space at Mount Emily Villa. Photo from Kult Kafé's Facebook.

Kult Kafé is housed within the well preserved colonial walls of Mount Emily Villa. The area surrounding the bar is akin to a large scale garden picnic laid out in a ‘Kampong Glam’ fashion with surrounding coconut and palm trees It serves an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as vegan finger foods prepared by Banyan Tamarin Foods.[9][10]


Sustainability is at the core of Kult Kafé’s operations. The establishment implemented a cyclical system for reducing food waste. The bar’s food waste is sent for composting and then used as fertilizer for their garden. Homemade sauces are made from the garden’s produce. To reduce plastic waste, straws used in drinks are made from metal. Kult Kafé also purchases solar energy from a vendor in Jurong.[11]

Sunday On The Hill

Held on the first Sunday of every month, Sunday On The Hill is a family-friendly social event.[12] It is pet-friendly and features activities for kids.[13] Food and beverage vendors are invited to the event, providing a wide selection of burgers, vegetarian food and drinks.[14] Sunday On The Hill is occasionally thematic with titles like ‘World Animal Day’ and ‘Busker Edition’. Sunday On The Hill is organized by an events planning company, Sideshow.[15]

Salsa under the stars

Salsa under the stars is a monthly salsa workshop conducted on the first Friday of every month. The classes are 60 minutes long, open to all ages and level of expertise with a $5 entry fee.[16][17]

Signature drinks

 
Kult Kafé's signature cocktail, the Bloody Belacan. Photo from Honeycombers.

Referred to as ‘Kultails’, the alcoholic signatures served at Kult Kafé are a tribute to Nusantara culture. ‘Nusantara’ is an old term referring to the outer islands of the Majapahit Empire (present-day parts of Southeast Asia). With similarities to Native bar ⁠— ‘Kultails’, created by Zac Mirza, aims to connect patrons with regional cultures and culinary rituals. Foraged herbs extracted from the bar’s garden are incorporated into the drinks as a reflection of the bar’s local elements.[18]


Signatures include Bloody Belacan ⁠— a unique take on the Bloody Mary cocktail with homemade sambal. And Kult Julep ⁠—  consisting of a rum base, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice and topped off with a homemade gula melaka syrup.[19]

Past events

The event space at Kult Kafé has hosted an array of events ranging from film screenings and art exhibitions to block parties and family days. The bar establishment also serves as a meeting point for cultural exchange. The site is host to Mundo Lingo, a worldwide social project that aims to bring together individuals who speak different languages and helping them engage in conversation.[20][21] Over the years, the bar has celebrated the Independence Days and New Years of countries like Sri Lanka and Poland.


Kult Kafé has also participated in external events such as the Singapore Yacht Show 2019[22] and Earth Fest 2019[23] where they had pop-up booths.

2019

Dates Event Description
1 September 2019 Bites & Vibes Pop-up booth at Amoy street, hosted by foodpanda.
31 August 2019 Afrodisia on the move: Kult Kafe Appreciation of African-centric music, organized by Afrodisia.sg.
1 June 2019 Chill Sessions At Kult Kafé Chill music performances and fund-raiser for The Soup Kitchen Project.
14 April 2019 Celebrate Sri Lanka SG Celebration of the Sri Lankan new year.
15 March 2019 Masala Mash-Up on Mt. Emily Event celebrating Indian culture, organized by Jane’s Singapore Tours.

2018

Dates Event Description
31 December 2018 NYE Eats and Beats at Kult Kafe New Year celebration.
23 December 2018 Kult Kristmas and Anniversary Party Christmas Celebration and Kult Kafé’s 3rd anniversary.
8 December 2018 Family Literacy Day Family-friendly activities which include talk sessions and a lucky draw event.
10 November 2018 Poland Independence Day Party The event celebrated 100 years of Polish independence.
8 November 2018 - 30 April 2019 Collaboration between Folklore and Kult Kafé Collaborative work between Chef D’Silva and Zac Mirza on limited-time menu offerings sold at Folklore.
3 November 2018 Beat Bodega: Music Market & Jam Music market curated by Revision Music.
27 October 2018 Cartoons Underground: Asia’s Independent Animation Festival Underground animation festival celebrating local works.
19 October 2018 Brown Mirror - Tech or Treat Improv comedy by Indian Improv Theatre SG (IITSG).
13 October 2018 Howl-O-Ween: Outdoor Movie Night For A Cause Halloween-themed film and fundraising event for ESA Animal Shelter.
7 October 2018 Genesis Book Launch Written by multi-disciplinary artist, Deborah Emmanuel.
6 October 2018 Ritmo do Brazil 2018 Brazilian carnival cultural festival.
15 September 2018 Heresy Vintage Flea Vintage flea market organized by Heresy.
6 September - 9 September 2018 Step In, Up, and Out Experiential art installation showcasing ALDO Mx3 range. Organized by ALDO Singapore and Kult Gallery.

The event also served as a finale to an arts mentorship programme for Bartistry Mentee - Keshav Natarajan and other creatives.The programme was held from 23 July to 15 August.

19 August 2018 Fragments - Official book launch Book launch of the poetry collection.
17 August 2018 IITSG - Chak Bae! India

(Indian Improv Theatre SG)

Improv comedy regarding British control during the colonial era.
11 August 2018 Viva brazil party Celebration of Brazilian culture with food, dance and music.
4 August 2018 Beat Bodega: Music Market & Jam Music market curated by Revision Music.
3 August 2018 - 5 August 2018 A Pop-up Bar Singapore’s first sustainable pop-up bar hosted by Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore.
21 July 2018 Festejo Colombiano 2018 Celebration of Colombian culture with food, drinks, art and music.
30 June 2018 AfriKafè Appreciation of African culture through fashion, food and music. Featuring brands, Ashepa Lifestyle and OliveAnkara.
19 May 2018 MAMASITAS - a Latin themed Mother’s Day Party Mother’s Day celebration event.
29 April 2018 We Love Jazz SG celebrates International Jazz Day 2018 Celebration of UNESCO’s International Jazz Day by We Love Jazz SG.
20 April 2018 Organika: Public School (KL) Music party featuring rare sounds from Vintage African Funk to Indonesian 70s Psychedelic Rock.
21 March 2018 The Cocktail Social Series x Art at Kult Kafe Social gathering event based on art, food and entertainment.
17 March 2018 Revision Music & Kult Kafé present: Organika Music party featuring rare sounds from Vintage African Funk to Indonesian 70s Psychedelic Rock.
24 February 2018 Gingapura Brazilian-themed party.
17 February 2018 Festejo Colombiano - Arepa Bar Celebration of Colombian culture with food, drinks, art and music.

2017

 
Kult Kafé's poster for the 2017 Halloween event, 'The Last House on Emily Hill". Photo from Kult Studio and Gallery.
Dates Event Description
31 December 2017 NYE JAM New Year celebration.
17 December 2017 Chi Chi BOOM - Singapore Queer dance party with Soca and Dancehall music.
27 October 2017 The Last House on Emily Hill Halloween-themed party.
14 October 2017 Latin American Festival Latin American cultural appreciation event.
16 September - 17 September 2017 Beerlicious Craft beer pop-up organized by Singapore Craft Beer Week.
23 July 2017 Miracle Kutchie Experience 3 - Welcome Party Welcome party for 20 children from Fukushima as  part of Today is The Day project.
22 July 2017 Festejo Colombiano (A Colombian Celebration) Celebration of Colombian culture with food, drinks, art and music.
17 June 2017 Silent Disco Asia 1st Birthday 1st-anniversary party.
16 April 2017 Coordinates Launch & Open Mic Poetry reading by Coordinates along with open mic sessions.
9 April 2017 Skratch Jam at Kult Kafe Local DJ community get-together.
1 April 2017 CITY65 Kult Kafe Pop-Up Gig: stillsunrise Pre-party event for CITY65 Music Festival 2017.

2016

 
The Silent Disco Asia 2016 party at Kult Kafé. Photo from Silent Disco Asia's Twitter.
Dates Event Description
31 December 2016 Silent Disco NYE 2016/17 New Year party organized by Silent Disco Asia.
5 November 2016 Dia De Muertos Singapore 2016 Art and music event celebrating the Mexican - Day of the Dead festival.
23 October 2016 Ritmo do Brazil 2016 (Rhythm of Brazil) Brazilian carnival cultural festival.
22 October 2016 Cartoons Underground Underground animation festival celebrating local works.
16 October 2016 Tap Culture Singapore 2016 Tap dancing workshops and performances.
16 September 2016 Power Records 80s music jam sessions with record sales, live bands and a gramophonology workshop.
3 September - 5 September 2016 Official Funk the Bar 2016 Worldwide Party Worldwide Party Funk music party.
20 August 2016 Sub city 20 AUG: Kult Kafe D&B BBQ D&B, Jungle & Bass music party featuring local DJs curated by Revision Music.
14 August 2016 Concerts On The Hill Series of live music concerts featuring local and regional artists. (Discontinued).
13 August 2016 Reggae Open Mic & Jam Session Reggae music party.
28 July 2016 Prototype Thursdays at Kult Kafé Monthly series spanning from July to October on the concept works-in-progress in art.
24 July 2016 Today Is The Day (Singapore Welcome Party) Welcome party for 20 children from Fukushima as  part of Today is The Day project.
2 July 2016 Silent Disco Asia :: Kult Kafe 2 July 3rd Silent Disco Asia party.
17 June 2016 Artist of “The Search” (AOTS) by Rip Curl Event venue for the launch of the art initiative in Singapore.
29 May 2016 Skratch Jam at Kult Kafe Local DJ community get-together.
20 May 2016 Kult Magazine Launch - #18 Observation Launch of Kult Magazine’s 18th issue.
15 May 2016 REBEL RITES Book Launch Written by multi-disciplinary artist, Deborah Emmanuel.
14 May 2016 Silent Disco Asia Launch Events 1 & 2 Event venue for the debut of the alternate music party concept.
7 May 2016 We Love Jazz Party Vol.3 (SJ50 Edition) Jazz music party marking the 50th anniversary of Singapore - Japan diplomatic relations.
7 April 2016 Tap Jammin’ (Singapore) Tap dancing party.
27 February 2016 A Walk In The Park - Singjazz pre-festival party Pre-festival party for Singjazz Festival, hosted by Sideshow.
3 January 2016 SUAVE Two Year Anniversary Suave Clothing Co. 2nd anniversary celebration.

2015

Dates Event Description
31 December 2015 Kult Kafe - NYE Kountdown Party New Year celebration.
27 December 2015 Beer is Food Blockparty! Celebration party in commemoration of Beer is Food SG’s final day of operations.
12 December - 13 December 2015 Kult Kafe Opening Party 2-day party with spoken word performances, music and art viewing.
17 October 2015 Cartoons Underground Underground animation festival celebrating local works.

References / Citations

  1. Kult Kafe. “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from  https://www.facebook.com/pg/kultkafe/about/?ref=page_internal
  2. “Kult Kafe EmilyHill’s beloved indie art gallery gets a sister bar”. SG Magazine. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://sgmagazine.com/nightlife/singapore-bar-club/kult-kafe
  3. “Tanya Wilson”. Linkedin. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/tanya-wilson-2a29877
  4. “Steve Lawler”. Linkedin. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/mojoko
  5. Ong, Kimberly. “ 6 Multi-concept Cafes For Art Aficionados In Singapore”. Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore. July 26, 2019. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg/life/multi-concept-cafes-art-aficionados-singapore/
  6. “Bartistry”. Linkedin. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from:  https://sg.linkedin.com/company/bartistry?trk=public_profile_position_image
  7. Heng, Janice. “In high spirits”. The Business Times. June 16, 2018. Accessed on 20 August 2019.  Retrieved from: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/brunch/in-high-spirits
  8. Mulchand, Arti. “Battle of the barmen”. The Straits Times. September 29, 2000. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: NewspaperSG.
  9. Kultkafe. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/kultkafe/menu/
  10. Ajith, Dinesh. “Head to Kult Kafe for a ‘Beerlicious’ evening of craft beer this September”. Honeycombers. August 3, 2017. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from:   https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/craft-beer-in-singapore-enjoy-affordable-local-and-international-craft-beers-and-ciders-at-beerlicious/
  11. Tan, Wei Jie. “ Kult Kafe: Indulge In Cocktails With Local Flavours & Support Sustainable Living AT This Cafe on Emily Hill”. Sethlui.com. June 22, 2018. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://sethlui.com/kult-kafe-sunday-on-the-hill-singapore/#ixzz5x7Nxbbr5
  12. Kult Kafe. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/kultkafe/menu/
  13. “Sunday on the Hill at Kult Kafé”. Sassy Media Group. July 3, 2016. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.sassymamasg.com/event/sunday-hill-kult-kafe/
  14. Tan, Wei Jie. “ Kult Kafe: Indulge In Cocktails With Local Flavours & Support Sustainable Living AT This Cafe on Emily Hill”. Sethlui.com. June 22, 2018. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://sethlui.com/kult-kafe-sunday-on-the-hill-singapore/#ixzz5x7Nxbbr5
  15. “About Sideshow”. Sideshow. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: http://sideshow.sg/about-sideshow-2/
  16. Honeycombers Editorial. “Salsa classes in Singapore: Where to go for a Latin ballroom dance lessons for beginners and advanced dancers”. Honeycombers. August 23, 2017. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/salsa-classes-in-singapore-where-to-go-for-latin-ballroom-dance-lessons-for-adults-children-beginners-advanced-intermediate-dancers/
  17. “Kultkafe”. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/kultkafe/menu/
  18. Compton, Natalie B. “Singapore’s Cocktail Scene Is on Fire”. Vice. February 12, 2019. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/vvqxyx/singapore-cocktail-scene-is-on-fire
  19. Kult Kafe. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/kultkafe/menu/
  20. Mundo Lingo Singapore. Facebook. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ML.SIN/about/
  21. “Talking Your Language At Kult Kafe”. Essential Singapore. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.essentialsingapore.com/talking-your-language-at-kult-kafe/
  22. Goh, Weets. “Singapore Yacht Show 2019: what to expect”. The Peak. March 26, 2019. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://thepeakmagazine.com.sg/lifestyle/singapore-yacht-show-2019-what-to-expect/?slide=3-The-Beneteau-Flyer-7-7
  23. Lim, Ariel. “EarthFest 2019: Unusual plant-based foods to try”. The Peak. January 17, 2019. Accessed on 20 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://thepeakmagazine.com.sg/lifestyle/earthfest-2019-unusual-plant-based-foods-to-try/?slide=1-Crunchy-falafels-from-Taste-of-Kult-Inspired-by-st