Just when you thought you could put that glass of whiskey down after what seemed like an entire month of endless drops of booze and parties, a new month (and a happy New Year, too) hits and your resolutions to drink less just blows up in your face. And how could you anyway, when there’s new bar openings, an alcohol-focused delivery service that now delivers craft beers and new year’s day parties?
New Year’s Day Parties
HI-SO Rooftop Bar, Sofitel So Singapore
There are many reasons for going to a New Year’s Day Party: you could just hate the crowds and cab-hunting of New Year’s Eve; you could be a strong proponent of the ol’ hair of the dog hangover treatment or maybe you just like you wake up before noon on the first day of the year and celebrate with friends. Whatever it is, there’s a couple of them that might suit your fancy. Party people Eyes To The Front are throwing a New Year recovery part at Sofitel So’s HI-SO Rooftop Bar with the likes of Stephen Day, Deen and Oliver Osborne helming the decks. Restore your tired soul and body with a slew of barbeque far alongside Bloody Marys, mojitos and beers. Then there’s Kult Kafe, for anyone who partied (silently) there till late with their ears plugged in. Aptly called Hangover on the Hill, the soiree begins at 6am (yes, you heard that right) with chill music, snacks and sambal belachan Bloody Marys to wake you up. You could also take the part to Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) on their second day of the two-day affair (it’s equally exciting as the first). Lounge in the daybeds and bask in the sun while DJ Mad Hester and The Professor spins a slew of urban party tunes and enjoying all the drinks that TBC has to offer. Or opt for something a little Mexican at Chimichanga as they serve up a night of authentic Mexican food and affordable drinks complemented with music by Finding Niko, Casey J and Haili.
Seletar Aerospace gets a new “lifestyle hub” with fancy cocktails
There wasn’t much reason to head over to Seletar, unless it’s to play golf or to check out the historical airport that’s there. But that’s all gonna change with the arrival of a new English countryside-inspired restaurant, garden and bar at The Oval @ Seletar Aerospace, within the confines of a gorgeous huge conservation bungalow. From the people who brought us places like 1-Altitude and Una at One Rochester, The Summerhouse brings together all the big trends and trending players in Singapore’s F&B. The second floor is the establishments Dining Room & Balcony Bar, while downstairs, the cafe, patisserie and bar Wildseed shakes up cocktails like Kaya Martini and Beetroot Sling, courtesy of the dapper Yadhevan Santheran. And if you need some good coffee, they have a roasting facility by local micro-roaster Nomad the Gallant on their premises.
Zouk has finally moved into its new home in Clarke Quay
They’re still in the midst of their soft opening, but they’ve already opened their doors to public. People have already taken to their social media pages to post videos, boomerangs and images of the 898 sq meter nightclub. It’s been described as “neo-industrial” with elements like exposed bricks, twisted metal and high ceilings. But what takes the cake for this joint, apart from the huge main room, is what they call the “mothership”, which hangs above the dancefloor. Aptly named, the mothership is just one of the many high-tech features, which holds a bunch of light fixtures for the club. Head down and continue to enjoy their signature, dizzying long island tea and sour plum shots, or wait out for the official launch on Jan 13, where renowned DJ and producer Diplo helms the deck of the new Zouk. And if you need a break from dancing, their sister cocktail bar Red Tail is on the same block and is surprisingly good.
Have bottles of craft beer delivered straight to your doorstep
BottlesXO changed our lives this year, when it started delivering a selection of European vino within 60 minutes, kept at the perfect temperature for immediate serving. All boutique wineries, no minimum order and no delivery fee. Imagine our excitement when we discovered they’re expanding their catalogue to include European craft beers. Similar to their selection of wine, you won’t find be able to find these anywhere else. They’ve brought in bottles from German craft brewery Faust, which won the National Craft Brewer of the Year award in the Meininger International Craft Beer Awards this year. You can expect beers like the Auswanderer IPA, a top-fermented and deep ruby colored elixir with tropical fruit and citrusy flavors; the Johann Adalbert Hochzeitsbier that has a pretty cute story behind its name; and the Hefe Hell Hefeweizen, a golden wheat beer with notes of grapefruit, honey and banana.
You can go bar-hopping with our Nightlife Guide
The S Bar
Last month, we launched our annual Nightlife Guide for 2017; possibly the only guide you’ll ever need for a great night out in Singapore (download your free guide here). We reformatted the guide to make sure we’ve touched on even the smallest of trends and venues; instead of dozens of lists, we’ve given you 21 reasons why Singapore’s nightlife is awesome. Also, if you flip (or rather, scroll) to page 22, we’ve given you tips on how to make the best of some of Singapore’s best drinking districts. But if you need a quick fix, we’ve also put up the suggestions on bar hopping in Boat Quay and HongKong Street, Club Street and Amoy Street, as well as Keong Saik, Duxton & Bukit Pasoh.
There’s a new burger-and-cocktail hole-in-the-wall on HongKong Street
Chamomilla at Teepee Bar & Restaurant
Singapore’s second-best cocktail bar aside, Hongkong Street has been buzzing for a couple years now. But we’re still excited to learn there’s a new arrival: Teepee Bar & Restaurant is a great new options for when you want a cocktail, but aren’t feeling fancy (and don’t have a reservation). Here, you’ll find a more rustic, grungy establishment where you can enjoy affordably priced gourmet burgers and bowls, and cocktails too. The drinks menu was created by Matthew Chan, a certified sommelier of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and former head sommelier at Bacchanalia. Grab a seat at the bar and order a beer or two, signature classics or some of Chan’s unique concoctions, like the Chamomilla, a blend of chamomile infused gin and Tougarashi Umeshu, with notes of lemon and Jasmine. Line your belly with burgers and chirashi bowls. How to find the place? When you’re on the main street, look out for some dingy-looking cardboard signs that say “Lunch? Coffee?”. You’ll be in for a surprise.
Kilo Lounge reopened where popular LGBT nightclub PLAY used to be
At the beginning of the year, we were sad to hear that popular indie club Kilo Lounge had to close down its Kampong Bugis premises due to zoning issues, but we are glad they are back, this time on Tanjong Pagar. Unlike its predecessors that once stood where it stands now, the entrance is located at the back in a dark alley. Leave your inhibitions at the door and walk through a jungle garden walk way, and then shake it off as you come upon the massive dance floor. Unlike its former residence at Kampong Bugis, the new space can hold up to 400 people at any one time. Although there are no more dingy lifts to take, there are some signature touches still in place, like the raw concrete finishings, the wood-panelled low ceiling, the unisex toilet and more. Shuttered grills will be opened and closed, depending on the various nights so that the lounge can transform into a cocktail-bar-only venue, keeping the dance floor out of bounds to patrons. Signature cocktails include the spicy margarita, a deadly concoction of homemade jalapeno infused tequila, citrus, salt, homemade sour mix and lime (not for the faint-hearted); the Kilo Mojito, made using rum, basil, mint, cilantro and lime; and many others.
