For the boutique creative agency that owns this 1,722 sq ft venue, the decision to rent out its office was not a hard one to make. Chun Tsubaki’s five employees are out on most days and people were constantly asking about renting its space after seeing photos of it on social media.

In the space is a fully functional kitchen island that is moveable along with other modular elements such as a concrete-like wall on wheels, which doubles as a photo-booth backdrop or projector screen.

The space has been rented out two or three times a week since May last year, with hourly rates starting at $150 on weekdays and $180 on weekends. The income from this helps the company offset its rental costs.

The biggest downside of the location, Amanda says, was the lack of parking. Her guests had to find alternative places in the vicinity to park or give up driving altogether. But often, the aesthetics and the uniqueness of such a venue can more than make up for the inconvenience.

Where: 3 Kim Chuan Ln, #03-01, Singapore 537069

Venuerific’s most asked about venue last year was an event space on the second floor in Jalan Kilang, in an industrial park in Bukit Merah. Cloud9, which opened in August last year, received 696 inquiries, of which half became actual bookings, mainly for social events.

There are plenty of entertainment options in the 2,200 sq ft space, including a karaoke set, virtual-reality set, foosball table, arcade console, pool table and board games.

Co-founder Charmine Yee, 27, says: “It’s a place where guests can amuse themselves and it saves the event organiser from having to come up with a programme.”

Agency development executive Melody Chow, 30, held two company events – a formal goal-setting session and a Christmas party – at Cloud9. “Because the space rental cost was within budget and covered the entertainment, we could afford to splurge more on food and drinks,” says Melody, who paid $600 to rent the space for 90 people for five hours, which she says was worth it.

Where: 7 Jln Kilang, #02-01, Singapore 159407

Event spaces that do not provide entertainment and food-and-beverage amenities typically have add-on event planning and catering options to simplify the planning process for clients. Maison Miaja’s event space, on the second floor of APS Building on Muthuraman Chetty Road in Robertson Quay, offers a list of vendors for food and drink, florists and DJs. One of the chefs Maison Miaja partners with is French chef Bruno Menard.

The 3,390 sq ft space is a contemporary art gallery when it is not being rented out, making it ideal for upmarket events such as luxury brands’ product launches and fine-dining dinners. Guests can keep the artworks and digital installations in the space or have them removed completely.

The fee averages around $6,000 for a nine-hour, full-day rental on a weekday, excluding catering and decor. The space has standing room for up to 250.

Its 31-year-old brand development manager, Yuching Teng, says: “The versatility of the space means that we can cater to different needs. We’re not like a restaurant, but we can provide the experience a restaurant offers while still keeping it special and exclusive.”

Where:  9 Muthuraman Chetty Rd, APS Building, Singapore 238931

Some event spaces prefer to fly under the radar with little to no social media presence. Cargo39, on the third floor of Tanjong Pagar Distripark in the Central Business District (CBD), relies mostly on word of mouth as its main marketing tool to keep its 4,000 sq ft open-plan warehouse space exclusive.

Event and marketing manager Cristina Gurnari, 28, says: “It’s the surprise element that we hope people experience when they come to an event at Cargo39, because you don’t expect to find something like that so close to the CBD.”

Where: 39 Keppel Road #03-03, Singapore 089065

This rooftop cafe tucked away in Kallang’s Pico Creative Centre boasts sweeping panoramic views, a rooftop garden and 4,200 sq ft of indoor space for a big private party. It’s got friendly vibes with tons of seating options, and they can even tailor an event package to suit your needs and preferences. 

Plus, it’s a cafe so you won’t have to worry about catering food from elsewhere. Besides buffet packages and gourmet cakes and drinks, the cafe also specialises in delicious peranakan cuisine as well as western fare like burgers and pizzas. 

Also located in Kallang, this rustic 2,200 sq ft event space takes you back to the good old days. A private lift which takes you up to the venue provides an added touch of exclusivity. There’s an arcade machine, karaoke, board games, pool and foosball tables and something to ensure young ones will never be bored – Nintendo Switch!

Where: It’s so secret, you’ll need to contact them for the exact location, but it’s an 8-minute stroll from Lavender MRT. 

This spacious 5,400 sq ft industrial-looking space hidden away in an Ang Mo Kio industrial park is great for hosting a large party of up to 400 guests. There’s a curtain for dramatic effect, which reveals a gorgeous concrete bar counter that your guests will go crazy over. 

Where: 38 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2, Singapore 569511

Photo: Work+Store

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Text: Michelle Ng, The Straits Times / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew