AVALON vs PANGAEA
In a nutshell
Avalon The Hollywood playground docks at the Crystal Pavilion’s ground and second floors, opening a wide portal for legendary acts, perhaps a red-carpet star or two, and, er, Lindsay Lohan.
Pangaea The regional wing of global nightclub operator Michael Ault’s A-list ‘ultra-lounge’ – not your standard-issue discothèque, mind – aims to be Asia’s cushiest nightspot and a new nesting ground for the well heeled and fabulous.
Pangaea The regional wing of global nightclub operator Michael Ault’s A-list ‘ultra-lounge’ – not your standard-issue discothèque, mind – aims to be Asia’s cushiest nightspot and a new nesting ground for the well heeled and fabulous.
Cover
Avalon $35 on the door, unless there’s a special event (and no, entry to one does not allow you into the other – they’ve disabled the elevator going to all floors). $1,500 minimum on tables.
Pangaea $40 on the door. If you’re eyeing a table, be prepped to spend big – it’ll set you back between $1,500 and, er, $15,000 to reserve one (yes, one – specifically, the ostrich-skin VIP banquettes that are tucked away beside the DJ booth).
Pangaea $40 on the door. If you’re eyeing a table, be prepped to spend big – it’ll set you back between $1,500 and, er, $15,000 to reserve one (yes, one – specifically, the ostrich-skin VIP banquettes that are tucked away beside the DJ booth).
Area
Drinks
Avalon Standard liquor, draft beers and wines range between $15 and $23 per glass, while bottled Corona and Kronenbourg 1664 are $19 a pop.
Pangaea Ranging from $18 for a glass of Absolut to $9,000 for a bottle of L’Essence de Courvoisier. They also have a tight selection of bubbly (from $20 for a glass of Moët) and wines (from $20 for a glass of Kaiken Malbec).
Pangaea Ranging from $18 for a glass of Absolut to $9,000 for a bottle of L’Essence de Courvoisier. They also have a tight selection of bubbly (from $20 for a glass of Moët) and wines (from $20 for a glass of Kaiken Malbec).
Decor
Avalon Futuristic without feeling sterile, Avalon’s stellar glass-fronted view of Marina Bay is almost a second thought once you’re visually accosted by its warm, psychedelic strobe-and-laser lighting. A waterfall chandelier cascades from Crystal Pavilion’s scaffolded ceiling, and the two floors have ample schmoozing space surrounding the VIP couches. Friskier patrons can lose themselves on the dance floor and, if they’re feeling especially brazen, try waving like a loon to the spesh guest DJ perched on the unusually high console – not that it’ll get you noticed from up there (yes, we tried). The second floor doesn’t afford a view of the decks either – the moving light fixtures seem programmed to get in the way – but there’s a clear line of sight to the dance floor below.
Pangaea Safari swish. Revellers sit pretty on – and are encouraged to dance atop – luxe, genuine crocodile-skin couches, while cocktails picked up from the bar swathed in zebra stripes rest on millennium-old Saur Tree tables. Walls are also lined with African masks from founder Michael Ault’s personal collection, although the ceiling’s canopy of 20,000 rainbow-hued, glinting glass bulbs offsets the tribal theme. Even the floor staff are dressed to the nines – each svelte Pangaea Girl wears a stunning, figure-skimming, inky-blue Ashley Isham dress with a handmade pewter macrame strap.
Pangaea Safari swish. Revellers sit pretty on – and are encouraged to dance atop – luxe, genuine crocodile-skin couches, while cocktails picked up from the bar swathed in zebra stripes rest on millennium-old Saur Tree tables. Walls are also lined with African masks from founder Michael Ault’s personal collection, although the ceiling’s canopy of 20,000 rainbow-hued, glinting glass bulbs offsets the tribal theme. Even the floor staff are dressed to the nines – each svelte Pangaea Girl wears a stunning, figure-skimming, inky-blue Ashley Isham dress with a handmade pewter macrame strap.
Crowd
Avalon Look out for flashy Ku De Ta deserters, pretty young clothes horses (aka ‘the Abercrombies’) and (semi-) professional punters.
Pangaea Mainly frequented by the sophisticated, look-at-me rich and famous set, but the club’s bouncers are trained to keep a close eye on the mix – too many high-flying corporate types and your creaseless Zegna suit might be given a pass.
Pangaea Mainly frequented by the sophisticated, look-at-me rich and famous set, but the club’s bouncers are trained to keep a close eye on the mix – too many high-flying corporate types and your creaseless Zegna suit might be given a pass.
Music
Avalon The mega-club has a revolving door roster of weekly bigwigs – guest dance dominions have thus far included The Chemical Brothers, White Lies, Massive Attack, Shitdisco and Digitalism. On regular nights, local scenester residents Tony Tay and Effen spin wonky, big-room house, elliptical trance and breakbeats.
Pangaea Aside from occasional non-publicised mystery guests, resident house lothario Patrick Oliver spins slick, open-format sets featuring indie and hip hop, undercut with a spiralling seam of house synths.
Avalon and Pangaea are both at Marina Bay Sands, Crystal Pavilion South, 2 Bayfront Ave. For operating hours, click on the links.
Pangaea Aside from occasional non-publicised mystery guests, resident house lothario Patrick Oliver spins slick, open-format sets featuring indie and hip hop, undercut with a spiralling seam of house synths.
Avalon and Pangaea are both at Marina Bay Sands, Crystal Pavilion South, 2 Bayfront Ave. For operating hours, click on the links.
By Cherylene Chan
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