With its CBD Sky Forest, CapitaGreen is vying for position for the world’s greenest building. Artemis Grill proudly sits on the 40th floor, the sophisticated dining room giving way to another breathtaking view of Singapore’s growing skyline – up close and personal. Get here in time for sunset and happy hour (5-7pm) for a pre-dinner $10 glass of wine at the breezy alfresco bar. The Mediterranean food focuses on grilled free-range grass-fed meats and seafood. The menu might leave you in a bit of a pickle – basically everything on it sounds delicious (with many gluten-free options for those inclined). From the Halibut Crudo ($24) – served as a tasty trio of ascending piquancy with borrowed Asian flavours, to the Alaskan King Crab Salad (huge chunks of crab prettily plated with avocado, $28), to terrifically coloured Beetroot Tortellini ($20/30) [pictured] – purple pasta encompassing salty feta and ricotta contrasting with the sweet carrot puree. Order the Spicy Iberico Poke Presa ($40)with the moreish Artemis Crushed Potatoes ($13), grab a table right up against the glass windows and you’ll have date night pretty much sorted.
Things are heating up over at the National Gallery which opens any day now. Aura was first to the post last month, this comes rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors (which shares the same beautiful view). There’s alfresco seating for cocktails and bar bites, or indoor lounge seats for more of a nightclub feel. Expect little interesting twists on the cocktails you know well – Milo Haze ($24) – with Barbados 5 Year Rum, Italian Vermouth, Spanish Sherry and Milo Tincture – is a Singaporean interpretation on the classic Manhattan with a nod to the local favourite choc drink. Meanwhile the Siamese Fireback ($20), a sweeter cocktail with Italian Vermouth, Campari, Soda and Passion Fruit Cordial, will start your night with a fun bang (just sit back if you want to keep your eyebrows). Secondary to cocktails are the bar bites made by sister restaurant Yan (serving classic Cantonese fare downstairs), including Beer Battered Cod & Chips $24, Charcuterie ($24) or Cheese Boards ($28) and Asian style nibbles like Crispy Fish Skin ($10) and Crispy Roasted Pork Belly ($16).
Does chocolate lava cake still get you excited? It’s a little last decade, n’est ce pas? Except not at Non Entree Desserts – a cute modern dessert shop in Serangoon. Chocolate lava cake here is elevated (in every sense of the word) to new heights as it comes suspended over a glass bowl, balancing precariously on a crispy almond nougatine hovering over a fantastic orange infused scoop of gelato. Crack it, let the chocolate drip into the bowl, or mix it all up and get mouthfuls of cold creamy gelato with oozing hot Valhrona chocolate sauce, crispy bites of almond and moist chocolate cake. Tropicana ($15.90, pictured) is another favourite composed of coconut mousse, coconut crisps, pineapple chutney, meringue bites, passionfruit coulis and mascarpone lime sorbet. Astoundingly for a little stand-alone café, chef Francis Wong (former pastry sous chef at Basilico Regent Singapore), meticulously makes everything in-house from the decorative coconut crisps to the fruit sauces.
What was once just “Verre” has now been relaunched with a new look, menu and chef. If you haven’t chanced upon this French riverside spot (just past the underpass by Boomarang on Robertson Quay), then now’s the time to pay your respects. Consultant Chef Masashi Horiuchi (20 years’ experience in Michelin restaurants including London’s L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon) has transformed the menu – and the result is pretty darned good. Don’t miss the Half Lobster Salad ($38) – the Maine lobster is de-shelled, with a delicious avocado dressing– a little pricy but the food is top notch. Rillettes are made in house or go for the Chicken Liver Parfait ($24) – whipped chicken parfait, silky smooth and creamy served with impressive dehydrated tangerine segments. The pièce de résistance would have to be the Black Garlic Soup ($19)– quite frankly one of the best dishes we have had all year! Imagine this: a thyme bun nestled at the bottom of your soup bowl topped with a buckwheat sesame crisp. The glass domes are lifted off your plate (glass is omnipresent, this being Verre) and the rich umami deep flavoured black garlic soup is poured on top. The result is reminiscent of a smooth French onion soup yet with a richer taste with superfood properties thanks to the black garlic itself. Plus there are 750 French fine wine labels to choose from, along with 30 wines by the glass.
Trendy Keong Saik Road sees the sleek and mirrored Meta enter its fold with South Korean head chef Sun Kim on show in the open kitchen. With experience at Singapore’s Waku Ghin and Sydney’s Tetsuya, the food naturally curves towards French cooking with an Asian twist. Dishes include Scallop Carpaccio with Yuzu Sago Pearls ($18), a beautifully presented single Oyster garnished with Pomelo and Lemon dressing ($8), and a nod to chef’s roots with Wagyu Bulgogi, Egg Jelly & Korean Pear Kimchi ($25).
An offshoot from Overeasy at Collyer Quay, Overeasy Orchard is all about American diner food with a side order of street-side beer pong. Burgers (The To Die For of Wagygu beef, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles and OE sauce $22), Fries, Mac ‘n’ Cheese (from original at $12 to Truffle with Wild Mushroom at $16) and of course Milkshakes are all great. Of particularly note are Smokey the Bear ($9), a mix of vanilla ice-cream, bananas and house smoked maple syrup, and the Bacon Bourbon Milkshake with bacon and maple whiskey, triple sec, egg, and vanilla ice cream ($18). There’s a glass of free lemonade waiting for you shoppers here every day till 6pm (no purchase necessary – just show them your Orchard Road shopping bags).
Beate is a freelance food and travel writer and fulltime mama to two kids. With a passion for all things foodie, she has one ear firmly planted to the ground for the latest bars, cafes and restaurants. Originally from the UK, Beate has been in Singers for 5 years and loves being back near the Equator after spending her childhood in Uganda and Kenya.