What: A stylish, specialized cocktail joint in the CBD area.
Pros: When they get their cocktails right, they’re really right. The Mr Bean, which is inspired by the traditional Singapore beancurd dessert, is spot-on – sweet, milky and potent. The ultimate girlie cocktail. Also they play great 2000 era hip-hop – which made me bounce in my chair.
Cons: When the cocktails are bad – they’re SUPER bad – like the cough syrup abomination that I ordered first. Also the service is the worst I’ve experienced in such an establishment. The wait staff are inattentive and slow, although they do know their menu well.
Verdict: It’s a good spot for after work drinks and the cocktails are fab especially if you stick to their tried and tested menu. Experimentation is not advised.
Details: Jekyll & Hyde
49 Tras Street
Singapore 078988
6222 3349
What: A Great Gatsby-esque bar/lounge with imaginative cocktails. They also have food – I just didn’t eat any.
Pros: A crazy extensive cocktail list – that actually live up to their funky names! Friendly staff and that ambiance man – fancyyy.
Cons: Like I said it’s fancyyy, which can also be bad because that means expensive + a tad pretentious. Also it’s super cold! AND because it’s such a stylish place you cant really wrap yourself up in a blanket.
Verdict: I like it, but maybe save it for a fun girl’s night or if you’re pretending to be fancy. Or maybe you are actually fancy? These things are all very relative.
What: Very hip, modern, Southeast Asian restaurant that boasts a very impressive cocktail menu at the edge of Club Street.
Pros: The cocktails are inventive, extensive and very yummy. The Golden Mile was my first drink of the night and I probably could have drunk that baby ALLNIGHTLONG. Also the staff are really helpful.
Cons: The food was so meh – I legitimately don’t even want to talk about it. It’s like, think about whatever Southeast Asian specialties you know and love and then take out THEIR SOUL. That’s the food they serve.
Verdict: Forget the food and forget the desserts (SGD15 for cendol – wtf?!) – but do visit for the fantastic drinks and the fact that it’s a prime spot for people-watching.
When Alex was visiting from Kabul and I couldn’t make his birthday party I decided I would be super selfless and take him to a restaurant that we would both totally enjoy that I’ve been wanting to go to for ages.
BESTFRIENDEVER.
It’s Korean. It’s hip. And I wanted to go.
The bar itself is in Bugis and sits at the end of Tan Quee Lan street past all the legit Korean BBQ places, as this cool-ish, industrial-ish, Korean-ish bar.
There’s a table hanging from the ceiling outside and the color palette is grey, black and white. It’s borderline depressing BUT they have funny comics on the wall inside.
Once there, I ordered makgeolli, a rice alcohol beverage that is native to Korea. Or at least that is what Wikipedia told me.
I ordered the most non-alcohol tasting version that included shaved ice and yucha, which is really just yuzu. It tasted of happiness and made me feel like a princess. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Spring onion chicken bites? Alex and I seriously got down to business and decided that we needed this chicken. I can’t remember the actual name of these babies but to be honest, they were only ok. Next time I would opt for their wings.
Tofu kimchi nachos While we looked forward to this dish the most, it was really very lacklustre. The tofu was cold and the kimchi lacked kick. The spam was great because I love spam. Don’t judge me.
Japchae The humble japchae was honestly the best thing we had. Alex consumed huge amounts of it. Ok, honestly, he had like two servings because the guy cannot eat. But it was filling, flavorful and goooood.
Pulled pork burgers with gochujang I loved these sliders which honestly just tasted like Alabama style ribs in a bun. Very sweet but again, goooood.
My verdict is that this place doesn’t actually live up to the hype. The food really did lack that Korean punch, and no matter what all the other reviews say, that is a problem.
Too bad because I liked that yummy rice alcohol slush.
Not actually my beer (I can’t drink the dark stuff) but this a preview of the pretty glasses they serve them in!What: A craft beer joint (23 different types!) housed in what used to be an old school chinese pharmacy. See: hipster.
Pros: The beers (prices range from SGD8-15-ish), which are plentiful and DELICIOUS and the staff who are helpful and charming.
Cons: Food is not their strongest suit – especially the coffee ribs – don’t order them, they be bitter. Also, where are the nuts man? I need me some nuts with my beer!
Verdict: It’s a great place to start the night, especially if you’re a beer drinker. My recommendation – tuck in a dosa, or two, at nearby Little India, and walk over for some beer to settle those carbs.
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