Park Hotel Alexandra may be right smack in the heart of busy Queenstown, but up there at this poolside bar, you might almost feel as if you were on vacation. From the seventh-storey glass box-like perch, you’ll be greeted by a picture-perfect view of the verdant Southern Ridges. Better yet, arrive before 6pm, and you might just be in time to bask in the blushing glory of the sunset.
Fresh fruits and herbs are de rigeur on the cocktail list here. Some of them come with a cheeky savoury lilt, such as the Poire Basil ($18), a concoction of pear with basil, spiced syrup, lime juice and vodka. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, order the Hot Melons ($18) for its alcoholic affogato-inspired twist: watermelon cubes are muddled with chilli padi, addled with dark rum, then poured over a soursop sorbet.
It’s hard to pick favourites from the bar bites menu, so here’s what we suggest: order a whole bunch of small plates to share. The Battered Cauliflower ($8) is a brilliant idea ─ who knew these veggies would taste so amazing battered and deep-fried?
Another moreish one to try is the Truffle Polenta Fries ($10). These thick-cut polenta batons are simultaneously crisp and fluffy, and absolutely addictive with the house-made truffle mayonnaise that’s speckled with real black truffle. In fact, be sure to keep a keen eye on the sauce because you’ll want to dip everything in it.
The Crabmeat & Artichokes Flatbread ($24) is brimming with fresh blue swimmer crabmeat, and the thin crust breaks with a definitive snap. The ‘Dirty’ Steak ($36), so-named for the smoky aroma imparted from its wood-fired oven, is a 150g tenderloin steak that’s big on umami notes with the accompanying house-made anchovy butter.
5 Tan Quee Lan Street, tel: 8138 1628. Open daily, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-midnight.
Korean cuisine may not seem top-of-mind when you’re planning an evening of drinks and gossip with the girls, but Joo Bar happens to be one of the sexiest K-food spots in town. Think industrial chic with a black-on-wood palette, edgy hexagonal copper lamps, and upbeat K-pop chart-toppers.
The tipple of choice here is makgeolli, the cloudy Korean rice wine, and Joo jumped ahead of the trend by being among the first to introduce a concise collection of house-made makgeolli on tap. We suggest you start off with the Makgeolli Sampler Set ($35 for five tasting portions) to get acquainted with the milky brew before deciding which flavour you like best (Psst. We’re partial to the passionfruit version.)
If you’d rather jump in and do a punch bowl with the girls, the Yucha Sojurita ($28) is an excellent choice. Picture an oversized goblet filled to the brim with a slushie of sorts – soju, yucha (a Korean citrus fruit), Cointreau and lemon juice – with an overturned bottle of Hite beer stuck into it for good measure. It’s completely refreshing, and four people can comfortably share this.
The concept of anju, bar bites, is taken seriously and delivered with a modern reinterpretation of Korean classics. Graze on wafer-thin Tofu Chips with Guacamole & Kimchi Salsa ($14) and soya-glazed Joo Wings ($18) to whet the appetite, before moving on to the meaty stars.
The thick-cut Grilled Mangalista Belly ($25), is gloriously unctuous, and served with an invigorating chive salad. The Wagyu Bombs ($48) lives up to their hype with perfectly pan-seared A3 wagyu beef cubes, seasoned with black pepper, chives, onion and umami garlic chips.
Still, leave space for dessert. The Joo Bingsu ($18) is a great palate cleanser with makgeolli snowflakes, Korean red bean paste and toasted rice puffs.
Horse City, 100 Turf Club Road, tel: 6466-0966. Open Tue-Fri, 10am-midnight; Sat & Sun, 9am-midnight.
Get away from the city and enjoy a languid meal at this lush space off Bukit Timah Road. Whether you’re sitting al fresco or within the airy repurposed stables, the breezy farm-house style of the restaurant is idyllic.
Start with the Beetroot Salad ($17) of pink and golden-hued slow-cooked beetroot, pickled onions and creamy goat cheese. The Beef Tartare ($22), scooped onto a hollowed-out bone marrow with condiments on the side, is a great appetiser to share.
We love the comforting Tin Hill Social’s Seafood Stew ($30) for its briny prawn bisque and the generous portion of black cod, prawns, calamari, clams and mussels. The restaurant specialises in smoking their food with hay, so you’ll do well to order the Hay-Smoked Pulled Pork and Pancetta Pizza ($29), and Hay-infused Panna Cotta ($10) with spiced honey sauce.