Illusion takes centre stage at Singapore's first magic bar

Tucked away in an industrial estate in Ubi is one of Singapore's most unusual watering holes: a speakeasy where illusion takes centre stage.

- Teo Kai Xiang

The Magic Bar, which opened in 2023 at Oxley BizHub, is Singapore's first bar dedicated to magic performances.

The small 215 sq ft space accommodates up to 15 guests, though the venue's weekly Tuesday to Saturday night shows are typically limited to fewer than 10.

"The magic gets better the more you drink," quips magician Kai Emmanuel, who co-founded the Theatre of Wonder events group. He performs behind the bar two nights a week and his shows blend sleight of hand, cocktails and storytelling.

For first-time visitor Sathya Prakash, 29, who works in pharmaceuticals, the experience of crawling around an industrial estate to find a magic bar was odd, but intriguing.

"There was some whiplash when I wandered in from the industrial complex outside," he says. "It's a little far out, but it makes sense considering the price of rentals these days."