Toast To The New Year

The New Year parties may be over, but let’s face it, no one really is in the mood to hunker down with work and get real until after the next big public holiday – Chinese New Year. And since world economies are all doom and gloom anyway, we could do worse than toast the new year and hope for the best… A little positive thinking and attitude adjustment will go a long way in lifting our spirits.

WHERE TO GO?

The Keyaki Bar at the lobby of Pan Pacific Singapore may not be the most hip place around (but at 40, who cares? We’ve earned enough ‘hip’ points by now to go where we want to go, rather than follow the masses!), but its star attraction is a special range of martinis and saketinis at an incredible $9.99 nett. We like their lychee martinis - one of the best in town, there’s no stinging on the ‘alcky’ so you’ll probably feel a buzz by the end of the 2nd glass, and with nicely balanced flavours, too. We also like the fact that house wines (they have a very refreshing white, but I can’t remember the name now), beers and other liquors also go for the same price, plus a very suitable menu of substantial bar snacks including a yummy platter of their famous sausages! Plus they’ve recently introduced sake, shochu and plum cocktails (from $18), and a sushi bar. The Sake Alexander is a must-try.

Available at:

The Keyaki Bar

Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore

7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square

Tel: 65 6336 8111

The chaps at Bodega Y Tapas, adjacent to the Orchard Hotel, claim to serve the best mojitos in town, but they also serve excellent sangria, a good choice of cava, and a dizzying happy hour from 12pm to 9pm that gives you one-for-one drinks for the better part of the day. Fancy a ladies lunch or a lengthy pre-dinner drink session? Toss back some sangria (from $13 per glass, $48 per jug), cava and cava cocktails including a most delightful cava bellini, and nibble on their ‘snacks’ which are pretty heavy stuff – enough to make a light meal. We love the trio of croquettes with green tomato marmalade ($12), platter of Spanish hams and sausages ($18) and Spanish cheese platter ($16), all made by an authentic 27-year-old from Spain. For those who drink lightly, this is one of those rare places that serve wines in tasting portions (6cl) too.

Available at:

Bodega Y Tapas

442 Orchard Road

#01-29 Orchard Hotel

Tel: 65 6735 3476

Finally, teetotallers get some candy at The Conrad Centennial Singapore if they volunteer to drive their happy friends home after an evening of good libation. Let the waiter or the cute bar guy know you’re the chauffeur for the night, and as a reward for staying dry while your friends slosh it out, you get complimentary free flow mocktails for the evening, a complimentary ‘Uniquely Singapore’ lunch voucher for one person at Oscar’s and a campy car decal that says “I’m A Designated Driver” for you to wear with pride. Outlets where you can get this going are Oscar’s, Golden Peony and Lobby Lounge as well as banquet events.

Available at:
The Conrad Centennial Hotel, Singapore
2 Temasek Boulevard
Tel: 65 6334 8888