BARBARY COAST
We scour the bar scene to bring you the new and noteworthy. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!
First impressions:
A clever multilevel bar concept in Boat Quay that’s been executed with class.
The Chosen One:
In the venue’s upstairs section, Barbary Coast Ballroom, order a Tea with Raspberries and Cream ($21) and you get a twist on a traditional gin-milk punch. The milk really takes the edge off the gin kick, and it’s creamy and velvety without being too heavy. The tea is served with a branded, stamped ice cube and an embossed gold and black stamped bottle – a plus for attention to detail!
The Cheapskate:
Deadfall is the name of the downstairs bar, where you’ll find five cocktails named after colours as well as beers on tap and wine. Our pick is the Slushie 1 ($14), a sublime artisanal banana daiquiri slushie. This tart, almost caramel, frozen wonder is the perfect antidote to a balmy Singapore afternoon. One is nowhere near enough!
Bite on this:
Also downstairs, nosh on stylish finger food and bar bites like pulled pork croquettes ($12) and peanut hummus ($12). The Ballroom, meanwhile, offers sharing platters and cheese boards. We ordered the deceptively named Petite ($50), which was generously heaving with cheeses, antipasti, pickles, charcuterie and a steady offering of bread. Special mention goes to the smoked butter – holy moly! Needless to say, we did not leave hungry.
Last but not least:
Two booths upstairs have an exclusive button that you push for a bottle of champagne. Push the button and a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve (from $100) will be brought out to the table!