Oosh Bar and Lounge, in the Dempsey Hill neighborhood, has both indoor and outdoor spaces, including Balinese-style pavilions. Published: November 1, 2009
AS Singapore’s thirst for cocktails has grown steadily over the last few years, a new generation of bars and clubs has emerged in some memorably unusual places.
Ground zero for the city’s new breed of night life is the Dempsey Hill neighborhood. Where army barracks once stood surrounded by tropical jungle, bars and restaurants have been sprouting at a breakneck pace. The result combines a laid-back atmosphere with alfresco settings, all just a few miles from downtown.
The area trailblazer, way back in 2006, was Richard Goh, who opened Oosh Bar and Lounge (22 Dempsey Road; 65-6475-0002; www.oosh.com.sg) on almost 100,000 square feet of lush green property.
“Dempsey was just a nature enclave when I chanced upon it,” Mr. Goh said. “I had a vision that it could be transformed into a resort lifestyle venue.”
Indeed, Oosh may evoke memories of your last tropical getaway. Live musicians often entertain at the main bar; out in the garden, Balinese-style pavilions are set among moodily lit waterfalls and reflecting pools. Service can be slow, but strong cocktails and the stirring décor are distraction enough.
A more recent addition to Dempsey is the White Rabbit (39C Harding Road; 65-6473-9965; www.thewhiterabbit.com.sg), where a young and well-heeled crowd competes for attention with the space itself: a charmingly restored chapel, complete with stained-glass windows, which houses a bustling restaurant and alcove lounge leading out to a garden bar. The whimsical theme is carried through from topiary sculptures to “reinvented” takes on classic cocktails, like the Blackforest mojito, which is made with Chambord.
“I think locals and expatriates alike respond well to unique, multifaceted concepts,” said Tengwen Wee, a co-owner of the White Rabbit. “We’ve seen a growing base of discerning clientele in Singapore.”
Mr. Wee’s latest addition to the party scene fills a surprisingly underrepresented niche on this tropical island: the beach bar. Opened in May on the resort island of Sentosa, just off the city’s coast, the Shack (120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa; 65-...; www.theshack.com.sg) is an aptly unpretentious moniker for this breezy hangout, where the bar resides within an old shipping container and beer barrels have been recycled as tables.
Wild Oats (11 Upper Wilkie Road; 65-633...; www.wildrocket.com.sg) promises a lower-key experience at its hidden-away location within the residential maze of Mount Emily. Keep your eye out for an elegant, sprawling colonial mansion with a tranquil terrace out front. While the drinks selection is rather standard, there is an ambitious menu of bar food (the owner, Willin Low, is also the chef at the nearby Wild Rocket restaurant).
The most unlikely setting of all may be at KPO (1 Killiney Road; 65-6733-3648; www.imaginings.com.sg) in downtown Singapore, where a bar and lounge share space with an operating post office. During the day, KPO is a sleek cafe, but after dark, it fills with down-tempo beats and a mix of locals and tourists. A second floor also opens up at night, with a lovely open-air balcony where bar stools are arrayed to overlook the whizzing traffic below.
“KPO’s a great chill-out alternative to clubs and pubs,” said Vanessa Murthy, 31, while sharing drinks with a group of friends. “Singapore’s night life definitely offers a lot of variety nowadays.” http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/travel/01headsup.html
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