The Elephant Room – Cocktails Paying Homage to Indian Heritage

As I entered The Elephant Room, I got seated at the bar I was served a Welcome Drink on the house. It was a clean & refreshing one of gin, green mango & sour plum. It gently woke my taste buds up.. I was ready to explore.

My Welcome Drink – gin, green mango & sour plum

The Elephant Room’s cocktails & nibbles are “inspired by Indian heritage” – cool concept, but I only truly understood this when I flipped through their menu. Reading through each drink’s descriptions & details, I learnt that each one has a story behind it. The stories are centered around Indian culture & childhood experiences, & iconic landmarks/experiences around Little India.

While these stories don’t necessarily resonate with me, I was captivated listening to the bartender tell them. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this will be quite the novel & special experience for you.

My drink of choice was Mogul’s Sweets ($22++), which alludes to the nostalgic memory of the local childhood sweet shop. I picked this because of the unique use of savoury, nutty ingredients: Salted cashews & roasted chickpeas. They sounded like they would go well with the characteristic spicyness of the Amrut, an Indian single malt whiskey.

& by golly, they did. This was delicious in a buttery-smooth & creamy way. It felt like I was drinking a nutty alcoholic milkshake. Despite the slightly oily notes it had (which I generally am not a fan of), I enjoyed it through & through til the very end.

If that doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, don’t worry. The Elephant Room has other cocktails like Tekka (Old Monk rum, spiced palm & banana skin), Jothi’s Flower Shop (Jasmine gin, davanam tinture, lime & honey) & Beeda Man (sour mango rum, caraway & jeera goli).

Whilst sipping on my drink, I was introduced to the other Amrut whiskey variants on the shelf. Being very new to Indian whiskey, I listened intently while being schooled about them. Service here was attentive & warm, & the bartenders are friendly & chatty. I did feel a bit bad having to work on my phone from time to time, but I was glad to be left alone when that had to be done. Appreciated 😉

Different types of Amrut Indian single malt whiskey

I ended off my night by sipping some of their Ghee liqueur neat. Honestly, it smells ordinary, but tastes AMAZING. It’s like liquid butterscotch on steroids!!! I don’t like ghee in my food, but I’d happily drink this all day. Totally blew my mind.

The Elephant Room has sold me on these crazy funky infusions. I am sure it’s not easy to get the perfect balance, but I do hope they continue to reinvent their infusions & cocktails in fresh ways to keep things exciting. They already have these cool ones – ghee liqueur, briyani whiskey, chickpea whiskey!? Daaaamn son. Keep them coming.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📱 Accepts reservations via Chope

Rookery’s 3rd Outlet Serves Up Good Mains, Plentiful Tapas & Drinks

In the last year, I’ve patronised Rookery’s other outlet at Capital Tower fairly frequently, & it was packed each time I went. They must be doing well because they now have a 3rd outlet at China Square. Congrats guys!

There is a live band that plays on Thursdays, & it was a little too noisy for me to chat properly while they’re playing. However, it’s nice if you are dining solo or aren’t trying to make conversations with anyone. The band played a good mix of classic songs.

Regrettably, I forgot to take a photo of my drink after taking a few sips. That’s a Tokyo Martini hanging out in the back. My drink – the Old But Not Forgotten (Happy Hour $13++, U.P. $17++) – is in the foreground.

This well-rounded drink had much to offer, & is in line with my drink preferences. The smokeyness from the Laphroaig whiskey (ohh my love) & the burnt butterscotch, caramelized sweetness of brandied cherries, & citrus hints from the flamed orange peel.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, you can choose from their extensive menu of spirits. There’s bound to be something for everyone. I picked a Lagavulin 16 ($15++) on the rocks.

I usually order & enjoy pasta dishes at Rookery’s other outlets, so I was eager to try their mains. These mains are available from 11:30AM onwards, great for the CBD crowd to drop by for lunch & dinner. Being so used to their pasta & as noodle lover in general, I was surprised how much I enjoyed these mains.

I eat sooo much chicken at home that I rarely order chicken when I’m dining out. However, it delights me when I’m served up a good chicken – & that’s what the Roast Chicken & Stuffing ($25++) was. The cranberry stuffing made this dish slightly sweet, & you get your fill of carbs with the creamy mashed potato underneath & roasted pumpkin.

We unanimously decided that the Miso Glazed Norwegian Trout ($28++) was the best dish of the night. No wonder there’s a chef’s hat next to it on the menu! Served medium, it’s super moist inside & is a highly forkable piece of fish. It practically melts in your mouth.

Sliced cherry tomatoes & asparagus drizzled with garlic yuzu oil keep this dish light & fresh. The zucchini noodles underneath are tossed with a creamy pesto mayo that compliments the natural flavour of the trout. I do wish there were more zoodles to match the proportion of fish, as they were quite addictive.

If you’re all about the nibbly life, Rookery has a Tapas menu (available after 3PM) you can choose from. I can’t say much about the Har Cheong Gai Wings ($16++) as I don’t eat chicken wings, even more so when they are fried… But damn this smelled hella good.

The other tapas we had:
᛫ Wagyu Beef ($25++)
᛫ Meatballs ($17++) – these are made of beef, btw
᛫ Iberico Pork Ribs ($18++)
᛫ Sakura Ebi Capellini ($14++)
᛫ Crispy Pork Belly ($17++)

As a seafood lover, the Scallops ($22++) is totally my kind of tapas. Nicely seared Hokkaido scallops that are plump & juicy, served in a pool seaweed & miso butter. As I chomped down on my first scallop, I liked how firm its texture was without being rubbery. I dipped the crispy thin toast into the butter & was impressed. It’s pretty good; I had to go for seconds.

You might think the Vongole Alla Blanc ($16++) is served with the same sauce as the Scallops, but they tasted different to me. The Korean clams are swimming in a broth made from garlic, white wine & chilli flakes for a nice kick. I preferred to dip my toast into this one!

Thanks Rookery for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🎶 Live Band on Thursdays

No.5 Emerald Hill’s Crazy Chilli Vodka & Happy Hour

I’ve been here before, but this was my first time at No.5 Emerald Hill when the sun was still up 😂 Sitting at the bar alone, my eyes wandered around & couldn’t help but notice the tank of vodka with lots of chillis in them.

Introducing…. No.5 Emerald Hill’s Grey Goose Chilli Vodka Infusion 🤯 The fiery red chillis sit in the vodka for 3-4 months, really lending their spicy flavour to the liquor. I had to have a shot of this or at least try at 1 of their cocktails.. But which one?

The novelty was just too good to pass up! I had to get the 5pice Me Up ($12+) once I heard it’s reminiscent of an Old Fashioned. I don’t eat crazy spicy food (not a Mala lover), but this cocktail pushed all the right buttons for me.

I was impressed not only by the zing of the heat/spice from the chilli, but also how smoothly the drink goes down. It also helps that, like my favourite Old Fashioned, this isn’t saccharine sweet!

5pice Me Up, with a complimentary bowl of peanuts

Surprised at its affordable price, I was tempted to get a 2nd one, but I resisted 😂 I’ll try some of the other options next time: the Hi-5 ($12+) highball with soda, Cherry Snap ($17+) a sweet treat, & Bangkok Martini (2 for $20+).

I have many fond memories after dark (9PM – 1AM, specifically) here, where their extensive Martini menu goes at a sweet 1-for-1. & practically all day before that (12 – 9PM), housepours start from $8 — & that’s a gentleman’s pour of 45ml, not the regular 30ml.

You truly get your money’s worth here. Just like I did with my Hennessy on the rocks 😍 So if chilli vodka isn’t quite your kind of thing, don’t worry about it… You definitely have other options here.

Ps: Also love nibbling on the peanuts & throwing the shells on the floor…. Who’s with me?!

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Quandoo
🙋🏻‍♀ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Hopscotch – Unique Cocktails & 1-for-1 Mains with Burpple Beyond

I remember the days where Hopscotch was a cosy bar inside the Red Dot Traffic Building, whipping up a good variety novelty cocktails. They haven’t deviated from this specialty, but the vibes here now are quite different in the hipster/artsy enclave of Gillman Barracks.

Walking to Hopscotch (don’t park illegally like these cars!)

They still keep things interesting, changing their menu up once in a while. They’re on their 5th menu at the moment, with Singapore or Asian themed cocktails.

My cocktail of choice: Kungfu Hustle (U.P. $22++/HH $15++), which has a base of Chrysanthemum infused scotch. It’s exactly what I look for in a cocktail: Strong, & not sweet. A harmonious balance of floral rose honey, fragrant Gunpowder Tea (珠茶), with a hint of heat from young ginger. Also, check out the bottle it’s served in – soooo aesthetic.

Happy Hour is 5:30 – 8:30PM daily, & yes I could get HH prices on my cocktail ($15++) despite redeeming a Burpple Beyond deal on the same bill. I always make sure I check, & never to assume. I appreciate it when restaurants are flexible like that, so thank you Hopscotch!

Shelves of games you can play – fun idea

The Ribeye Steak ($26++) is part of the Burpple Beyond 1-for-1 menu options. 220g of New Zealand Grass-fed Black Angus Ribeye. It’s a simple hunk of steak, with not much else to the dish. It lies on a light swoosh of Purple Potato Mash that wasn’t very carby, & has a small side of sauteed baby spinach for you to get your veggies & fibre in.

I opted for my usual medium rare, but was afraid that at this thickness it’d be a little tough. But it wasn’t! It was also seasoned pretty well; I didn’t need to dip it in the veal jus served on the side – though that was tasty too. (My dad lapped it up quite eagerly…)

Ribeye Steak, eligible for Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal

Hopscotch’s Chilli Lobster Tagliatelle ($28++) pays homage to local flavours with a chilli sauce of local spices & a lobster-based stock. The chewy homemade tagliatelle pasta was firm to the bite, & the half a Boston lobster it comes with is fairly meaty. The heat isn’t unbearable, in all quite pleasantly tingly on the tongue with a subtle sweetness.

Being a pasta & seafood lover, I would order this again. Exceptionally pleased that I got this at “half price” thanks to Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 main deals, too!

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🏃🏻 Shopback GO partner
💦 Water is not chargeable

Caffe Fernet – Happy Hour with a View

Had some time to kill in the vicinity – chanced upon Caffe Fernet’s happy hour & decided why not. Predictably, the King Cole Old Fashioned ($15++) spoke to me. Bulleit Bourbon, Fernet Branca liqueur, Angostura Bitters. Totally up my alley!

Service is quick & by golly, this drink is a stiff one. I like that, because at the end of it all, I don’t find it too diluted & meh. Holds its weight throughout.

Caffe Fernet’s King Cole Old Fashioned Against the MBS Skyline

I happily sipped on it & thought about life as I took in the nice view of MBS, having been allocated an al fresco seat facing the waters. I was here in the evening, towards the later half of Happy Hour (3 – 7:30PM). I’d imagine that the sun would be quite in your face had I been here earlier in the day… So try to sit indoors during lunch time.

Quite a boisterous crowd on Thursday evening. I will be back & perhaps the next time I’ll order off their dinner menu. I have my eye on some pastas…

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats available (not air-conditioned)
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used Chope
📶 Free WiFi available
💦 Water is not chargeable

Le Coq’s Meaty Skewers, Delectable Appetizers, Fun Pastas & Tasty Drinks

An impressively extensive menu at Le Coq – from appetizers to yakitori skewers, main courses (1-for-1 with Burpple Beyond) & pastas, & a rockin’ happy hour too. Brace yourself for a lengthy review…!

Hard to believe that their Fresh Oysters are only $2.50++ a pop. These New Zealand babies are creamy & decadent. Have them your way – with a squeeze of lemon or a dash of tabasco sauce. Or without anything at all; yes, they are that fresh. & at $16++ for a half dozen, $30++ for a dozen, that’s pretty dang affordable for the good stuff.

Uni on Toast ($15++ for 3) got me all hot & bothered. Firstly, look at the size of that hunky sea urchin. Secondly, that bread is actually a bed I want to sleep on. Pillowy soft, yet slightly crispy on the outside so it doesn’t get soggy. Loved the textures & flavours of this one. I was left dreaming about this for days.

Folks who want to take the heat up a notch will enjoy the Mala Chicken ($10++). It isn’t too wild, but it certainly has the numbness & spiciness that one seeks in Mala. I’m not a Mala expert, nor do I eat spicy food regularly. But I found myself picking slices from this silky smooth appetizer to pop into my mouth for that shiok feeling.

The California Maki Dip with Crisps ($12++) was surprisingly popular; I attribute that to how refreshing & clean it is. It’s essentially a deconstructed California maki roll. Sounds simple, tastes great. The crabmeat used is fresh & flavourful, tossed together with avocado, mayonnaise & crunchy fish roe. IMHO, though, what makes this super addictive is the thin rice paper crisps on the side. Use them to scoop up the dip & comfortably crunch away. That’s pretty dang unique to me.

Le Coq is a Burpple Beyond partner – so you can get 1-for-1 lunch or dinner mains here. However, they also have a fairly large menu that you can order from. Perfect for the office crowd, their drinks menu includes beer, wine, hard liquor & house cocktails. Swipe to see some of their cocktail concoctions that we sipped on through the night!

Their Happy Hour runs daily from 5 – 9PM, giving you a single glass of Grant’s Triple Wood Blended Scotch Whiskey or Hendrick’s Gin for $X at X PM, where X = 5, 6 or 7. At 8pm, it’s $10 a glass which is still okay, but the earlier the better fo’ sho. Also, Ladies Night is every Wednesday. #justsayin

& what better way to pair your evening drink with some skewers to munch on. Good variety of options here, with the Wagyu Beef ($6.80++) is my favourite. Soft & tender, you can taste the natural juices & flavours of the beef. The fattiness absolutely melts in your mouth… Very shiok.

The Cartilage ($2.80++) was interesting – nice & crunchy, a texture that I was intrigued by & appreciated. Something I haven’t had before, actually. But it was unfortunately too heavily salted with the combination & heavy-handedness of both sea salt & togarashi. Gave feedback about this & they took it into account. I would hope they’ve fixed this since then. It’s always nice to speak to chefs/owners/staff that are open to feedback.

If the price of the Wagyu Beef is too premium for you, consider ordering the Chicken Thigh ($2.80++) or Sweetpork ($2.80++); they too are hella juicy 😍 My preference of the two is the sweetpork as it has a sauce of Thai spices & honey, & is a pleasantly tender sweet one to indulge in.

The pastas here look simple, but are good. Both are very different, so take your pick based on your taste/preference/mood.

The Cold Truffle Somen with Hotate & Caviar ($16++) was such a delight to slurp at the end of our meal… Not just because it’s cold & smooth. The light truffle flavour proved to be sooo refreshing on the palate. Very welcomed after an evening of varied specialty cocktails, taste explosion appetizers & crazy flavourful skewers.

The cold slices of scallop were of a nice thickness to lovingly sandwich between your tongue & the roof of your mouth… Before comfortably sinking your teeth into them, thereafter letting out a breathy “ahhh.” 😂

The Mushroom Aglio Olio ($14++), on the other hand, is strikingly different as it is a warm capellini dish. A good vegetarian-friendly option, I wasn’t too bothered that this dish doesn’t have meat or seafood in it.

Most importantly, dang that flavour. It punches you right in the face! Chilli padi BAM. Finely chopped garlic BOOM. Earthy mushrooms YAS.

Thanks Le Coq for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Quandoo
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner

Rabbit Carrot Gun’s Bespoke Cocktails Are Addictive

Rabbit Carrot Gun‘s Specialty Cocktails menu had me taking a second glance. They aren’t discounted during Happy Hour… But I still went for these 2. Yes, even without the discount.

Started off with a Smokey Bloody Mary ($21++), which sounds like a match made in heaven. I enjoyed the taste of health from the tomato (hahaha) & also the woody, peatyness from the Old Young’s Oak Smoked Vodka. The cheeky spice that hits you at the back of your throat is what I appreciate in a good Bloody Mary, too. In all, this was very enjoyable.

Felt like I couldn’t stop there, so I ordered another Specialty Cocktail: the Earl Grey Martini ($18++). I appreciated how the subtle flavours of the chilled Earl Grey Tea really came through, despite the strength of the vodka. A dash of sugar syrup sweetened this cocktail just nicely without making it too saccharine sweet.

Would be back, though probably just for drinks as the food is on the pricey side. Other Specialty Cocktails here include:
• Mango & Pepper Gin & Tonic ($19++): House-infused Mango Gin, topped with cracked black pepper
• Hugalibre ($18++): Angosutra 1919 Rum, Fresh Lime, Ginger Ale

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
☀ Al fresco seats available
💦 Water is not chargeable

Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar – Good Variety, Nice Happy Hour

I’ve been wanting to pop by Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar for the longest time – finally did, albeit when happy hour was just over.

Happy Hour at this hole in the wall at CHIJMES is 4 – 7PM (Mon – Sat) / 2 – 8PM (Sun). Pints of craft beer go for $10+, premium craft beer for $12+.

Happy Hour at Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar

I missed Happy Hour, but I still enjoyed my pint of Passionfruit Wheat Ale ($14+) from Pasteur Street Brewing. Citrusy & fruity, there are hints of passionfruit & lemon, more so the former than latter so it isn’t sour like a saison. A light & delicious beer that pleases the crowd, & which I would order again.

Light & refreshing, I’m sure Pasteur Street’s Passionfruit Wheat Ale is a popular beer

Happy Hour or not, whatever you swipe your (linked) credit card for, you’ll get cashback from Shopback GO! I actually didn’t know this until I checked my phone after I swiped 😂

Sat at the bar counter with my back turned to the world; but before I immersed myself in some me time, I looked around & found the decor to be pretty simple. With various tones of grey & silver, the style is very metallic, almost like the interior of a spaceship.

One downside is that reception was pretty bad here.. I sat at the bar, not sure if it varies throughout the premises as they don’t have a huge space). WiFi also isn’t for public use, so I left after 1 beer.

I’ll probably return with a friend, or if I have offline work to do. 🍻

They had a food menu which I didn’t order from – instead, this coaster was my food for thought

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🍽 Shopback GO partner
📶 No free WiFi
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST