Founded by Muhammad Ilyas “Thanos” Rachman, Sebastian Kevin and Linda Novita, Ace of Clubs in Blok M builds its spirit around the fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland. Down the rabbit hole, guests will find a community-friendly bar set in a Victorian-inspired space with a rotating cocktail menu refreshed every four months.
“We wanted to embody Wonderland’s whimsical chaos, while still keeping a certain structure,” shared Linda. “It gives us freedom in how we run the bar, from the interior of the room, the activations that we do, to the menu itself.”
Experimentation starts behind the bar, where an in-house distillery provides a creative space to mix and reimagine cocktails. Curated by Thanos, the drinks fall into four suits: bold Spades, fizzy Diamonds, sweet-heart Clubs, and dessert-forward Hearts — updated every four months to leave room for new lineups in the future.
A look at today’s favourites might give an idea of what’s to come in the future. Boogie Wonderland is crafted with an oak-aged gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari that lands smooth and bittersweet. Meanwhile, Tweedledee combines coconut, sour mix, orange jelly, and housemade rum to create a soft, fizzy sweetness. For a drink with a softer kick, Love and Kiss pairs strawberry milk wash, vodka, and a layer of matcha cream for a light, sweet tart finish.
In bringing the theme to life, the interior merges Wonderland’s jumbled fantasy with a Victorian parlour. Chessboard tiles meet wood on black flooring, set beneath mixed-height sofas in deep colours. At the centre of the magenta walls, stained-glass panels illustrate familiar characters from lore, while the chandelier and antique clock echo the period it borrows from.
In a neighbourhood busy with after-dark affairs, Ace of Clubs’ magic arrives through its guests — bringing the fun with social events that span from an after-work karaoke session to a party hosted by local communities. “Friendships can start on the dance floor, or simply from sharing a bar stool with whoever’s to your left or right,” said Thanos. “What matters most is a fun atmosphere that feels separate from everything outside. That’s the Wonderland escape we want our guests to find here.”
