When Joshua and Sarissa arrived in Singapore, they were entrusted with one of the most ambitious lifestyle briefs in Asia — launch and scale Pangaea Ultra-Lounge at Marina Bay Sands into a globally recognised destination. They delivered spectacularly. Pangaea Singapore became the highest-grossing venue per square foot in the world, as reported by Forbes — proof of their extraordinary ability to craft immersive, aspirational lifestyle experiences that resonate with the world’s most discerning audiences.
Armed with a world-record track record and an unshakeable vision, Joshua and Sarissa founded their own venture — launching Bang Bang at the Pan Pacific Hotel. More than a venue, Bang Bang became a cultural touchstone, attracting global icons including David Beckham, Gordon Ramsay, and the Black Eyed Peas. It was the first demonstration of what would become SJS Group’s signature: creating spaces that don’t just serve guests — they define how a city lives, socialises, and celebrates.
The formal establishment of SJS Group in 2014 marked the beginning of a deliberate, diverse expansion across every dimension of the lifestyle space. From the iconic Employees Only — a world-renowned cocktail institution brought to Singapore and then Hong Kong, where it won “Best New Cocktail Bar” within just two months of opening — to the sophisticated live entertainment destination LuLu’s Lounge, SJS Group was building something far greater than a collection of venues. They were architecting a lifestyle ecosystem.
Great lifestyle operators understand that the most meaningful experiences happen across the entire day — not just after dark. SJS Group’s evolution into dining and culinary culture proved exactly that. Papi’s Tacos brought soulful, community-driven dining to Singapore’s streets. Pasta Bar offered an intimate, design-conscious celebration of Italian counter culture. Paelet Bar on Keong Saik Road fused cocktails, culinary craft, and artistic expression into one considered space. Each concept a distinct world. Each one deeply lived-in and loved.
Every venue, every concept, every lesson learned over a decade of building Singapore’s most celebrated lifestyle destinations converged into one vision: COTU — Centre of the Universe. A $12 million, first-of-its-kind, five-in-one lifestyle complex, COTU brings together dining, cocktails, live entertainment, and elevated social spaces under one roof — designed for guests who want to move fluidly through an entire evening without compromise. It is the fullest expression of the SJS Group philosophy: that truly great hospitality doesn’t just serve a moment, it shapes a way of life.
The most sophisticated operators know that building great businesses is only half the story. Knowing when and how to evolve them is what separates the best from the rest. Having conceived, launched, scaled, and strategically exited world-class lifestyle destinations across Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and the Philippines, SJS is now channeling expertise into their most exciting chapter yet – partnering with hospitality groups, property developers, hotel brands, and lifestyle entrepreneurs across the globe to build the next generation of iconic lifestyle concepts.
