Raise a glass in Singapore
Liam Hyslop finds abundant options for every taste in one of the more under-rated social cities in Asia.
Sitting inside a ferris wheel, which sits inside a nightclub, which sits inside a shopping mall, which sits on an island, there was a realisation that Singapore really did have a world of socialising options that a lot of people might not know about.
That epiphany came while getting a look inside Marquee, a mega-club kitted out with said ferris wheel, as well as a slide that goes down its three storeys of party levels.
It wasn’t really my cup of tea – that was reserved more for the plethora of high-quality restaurants dotted about the island nation – but it offered an insight into a city that offers options for just about every taste.
Whether it’s a classy, cavernous bar, a rooftop cocktail joint, a Michelin starred restaurant, or a traditional Singapore dining experience, the country has a lot to offer.
Dinner
I didn’t know how much I loved duck until I ate at
Ibid. The Michelin-listed restaurant is the brainchild of the inaugural winner of MasterChef
Asia, Woo Wai Leong.
Woo showcases his modern French cooking, informed by Chinese traditions and Nanyang twists, which really comes through in his roast duck – the perfect mix of juicy and crispy.
Up there with Ibid was Cheek Bistro, although it was more catered to the Australian and, by proxy, New Zealand market. The smokey duck was also fantastic, but I would definitely recommend the iberico pork chop as the standout.
The Quarters had a nice feel of an authentic Singaporean meal out, with the fusion of all the culinary influences that have come into this migrant nation. The salted egg tabasaki was a particularly sultry flavour delight.
Going even further down the authenticity spectrum was to dine at the home of food writer Annette Tan and her FatFuku experience.
She was a pioneer of the private dining movement in Singapore, and shares her Peranakan family’s favourite recipes, while telling stories of how food supports local businesses.
Post-dinner drinks/partying
This is where Singapore really starts to shine, with a bit of everything, depending on what sort of beverage-consuming mood you are in.
Rooftop bars have become the craze all around the world. Singapore is no exception and a nice wee joint called The Other Roof is a laid-back way to enjoy Singapore’s nightlife. It offers a unique flavour as its more than 400 spirits are all created in-house and finished with tea. The result is a refreshing blend of your favourite tea flavours and favourite cocktails.
Perhaps you might then move on to Atlas, which has all the hallmarks of an evil lair in a Batman movie, or a scene from a James Bond film.
It’s a throwback to the 1920s European art deco movement, and you feel classier when you enter. Perhaps that’s because any man who tries to wear shorts – no matter how hot and humid outside – will be given a pair of long pants to wear.
The No 8 top bar in the world, it’s the sort of place an ordinary Kiwi might feel out of place in, but it was nice for a gawk and one drink from one of the 1300 gins that sit inside a daunting gin tower.
If you’re a party animal, or just like gawking at bizarre stuff, the aforementioned Marquee
Nightclub is a sight to see, or the place to be. First, it’s set inside Marina Bay Sands mall, and the walk past closed retail stores is an odd appetiser for what’s to come.
Inside is 2300 square metres of party areas spread across three floors. There are dancers standing on tables for, uh, entertainment. There is an excruciatingly slow-moving ferris wheel to go on, and three-storey high slide.
It’s insane and inane, but if you like to party, then give it a look.
The next day brunch/lunch
For those who enjoy a big night out, recovery the next day is important. A solid brunch or, depending on the lateness of the previous night, lunch, sets you up for the rest of the day and next night ahead.
Let me preface this section by saying I’m a big believer in brunch. It’s my favourite meal of any
weekend. I have high standards but they were met at Manhattan and Clifford Pier.
Manhattan is ranked at No 11 of the 50 best bars in the world. It has more than 200 American whiskies, the oldest of which is 103 years old.
Inside, it’s like walking into a scene from a 1930s American gangster film. You’re half expecting someone to light up a cigar in a corner.
On top of all that, they put on an adults-only Sunday cocktail brunch, complete with boozy milkshakes. After dining on the wide range of food there, and downing said boozy milkshake, I was still full five hours later.
At Clifford Pier at the Fullerton Hotel in Marina Bay, it’s a lighter look as you walk in, particularly because of the imposingly beautiful chandelier in the entrance.
The food on offer for its heritage dim sum is another chance to test the strength of your belt, with cuisine from Asia and the world. The bottomless Champagne is a nice touch, if you’re flush.
Those two options sit at the upper-tier of the budget, but for that more authentic, Hawker-style lunch, head to Keng Eng Kee Seafood (commonly referred to as KEK). The open air and plastic chairs give that ‘‘eat like the locals’’ feel. The coffee pork makes you wonder if you’ll ever taste anything as good as that again.
I also hear the crab was fantastic, if you’re seafood-inclined.
If, after all that, you’re still looking for another drink, then Brass Lion Distillery is a cool place to go.
A tour of the distillery was an interesting adventure and, on Sundays, you can have a crack at making a small brew of your own at its gin school (bookings are a must).
This is just a small taste of the nightlife and vast array of eating options available in Singapore. You could spend a week there, eat and drink well, and still not end up at any of the places listed above.
That’s what makes it great and a little underrated, if you’re from this part of the world.