SINGAPORE

Every six months, expect an entire concept change from agave to tiki to a swiss lodge. Helmed by Joe Alessandroni, always a good time in this hidden 10-seater bar.

43 Tg Pagar Rd, Singapore (in the back)

Junior the Pocket Bar

People just don’t do what the folks behind Olivia do. What I mean, is that people don’t invest in the furniture, build out and tenacious menu like these Spanish cats. Don’t tell them I told you, but ask for the illegal cured meat.

55 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore

Olivia

Might be the best pizza in Singapore… for now. No but really, I chose where I lived to be within walking distance from the restaurant and that has been one of the best decisions in my life. Stick to the pizza and try the Diavola and afterwards walk down the block and go to Green Apple Spa for a foot massage and a good, pirated film.

52 Kandahar St, Singapore

Cicheti

Every Singaporean will state that the best Hawker Centre is the one next to their house and I have fallen into that trip. Go see my girl at stall #101 for Wonton Noodles, Chicken Rice and Char Siew Noodles.

861 North Bridge Rd, Singapore

North Bridge Food Market

If you’re in the know, then you know about what Yijun and Hutch have gotten started on Keong Saik. There are no better drinks and no better playlist and the design is damn good as well. Try the Tom Yum cocktail and end with the espresso martini. They are just damn cool. Also, during the day they allegedly also sell coffee.

20 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore

No Sleep Club

Old school hardware store turned hippest of hip coffee shops. They do so much more than serve coffee and I am happy to let them. Design is intentional and damn good and the beer selection (yeah I said it) keeps me pretty sorted in the garden.

150 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore

Chye Seng Huat

What I love, besides the incredible natural wine list and the chips with french dip and caviar, is the decor. Lighting and use of stone makes it the ultimate lovely date spot. Don’t sit in the dining room, stay up front by the bar of course.

29 Club St, Singapore

Le Bon Funk

This is the mecca. Just look at the grill. Mecca. Get a seat at the counter and don’t worry about the price, just indulge. The unsung heroes of Burnt Ends is definitely the front-of-house who work like ninjas slinging picklebacks and the most sought after Australian wines, funky and iconic alike.

20 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore

Burnt Ends

I hate ruining the secret but the world deserves to know. Through the most basic, standard, corporate hotel lobby find the tiniest bar with such a mighty soul and swagger that goes late late. It’s hard to find a jam this good on a Sunday or Monday and men, send me your thank you’s in the morning because this is THE way to impress that Tinderoni or Bumblerella.

320 Orchard Road, #01-05 Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

The Other Room

I don’t care what you say, but this one is even better than the original. It comes down to care. They care what song is playing. They care how many napkins they throw at you. They care about the chicken soup at closing. They care about how many espresso beans on your espresso martini. They care about having the best pork chop in Singapore. They simply care. Get in and get down.

112 Amoy St, Singapore

Employees Only

It’s hot pot. But not just hot pot. They will go above and beyond and out of their way to make sure your experience is flawless. From a screen protector for your mobile phone screen to a free manicure if you have to wait for a table, this is a true HOT spot. (see what I did there?)

103 Irrawaddy Rd, #06-01/02 Royal Square @Novena (but there are a lot of locations, this is just the one we ended up at 3:15 am after a wild night at Avenue)

Hai Di Lao

Luke’s is a nod to those classic business institutions that serve consistent oysters, steaks and a baller shrimp cocktail. Travis Masiero understands what matters to a guest and insists on comfortable seating, stunning art and the right amount of marble. Also, who is Luke anyway?

22 Gemmill Ln, Singapore

Luke's Oyster Bar and Chop House

They just don’t make them like this anymore. Well, this place just opened, but still. They did not waste an inch of this massive two-floored space. Upstairs is the elegant but high energy Barbary Ballroom and downstairs is home to $6 or $10 beers and large batch colored cocktails. This is a game-changer and I can’t decide if I like the PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE buttons that actually work or the bathrooms more.

16 N Canal Rd, Singapore

Barbary Coast

To be honest, I had a bit of a hand on this joint. But what I started, the boys behind the bar, particularly Richie, Gally, Magic and Dave have taken to a whole new level. Expect to find one of these guys on the bar pouring drinks in your mouth to “It’s Raining Men” on what is considered a “quiet” night. But beyond that, chef is throwing down in the kitchen and it may be the best kept (not so) secret at Marina Bay Sands.

10 Bayfront Ave, Lobby Tower 2 Hotel, Singapore

Adrift by David Myers

Not officially opened yet but worth a round of applause. Chef Bjorn Shen took his little chef’s office and turned it into a 4-seater, tasting menu revolving around pizza. He took inspiration from dive pizza restaurants in the US and packed a shit ton of innovation into this extremely tiny future talk-of-the-town. If you can get in, sit back and get ready for the most intimate of dining experiences and amazing 90s R+B baby-making music. See you next week Bjorn.

161 Middle Rd, Singapore

Small's

Inspired by the original name of JFK airport, this bar marries some of the best jazz in Singapore with some truly solid cocktails. My personal favorite: Touria but you may catch me with a Last Word as my first word. Erik Hargrove on drums is enough to keep me there on the weekend and one day they will sing Tina Turner for me…. one day.

Lobby Level, 80, Middle Rd, Singapore

Idlewild

Folks, it ain’t pretty. Ladies and Gentleman, it is in a car park in Hillview (far af). But man, do they understand hospitality. Try to get in the back room and have a cheeky cigar and some even cheekier wine and cognac and the most diverse menu you can imagine. Our perpetual “boys night” spot.

#06-00 Lam Soon Industrial Building, 63 Hillview Avenue

Peranakan cuisine is my kind of cuisine. Please just get the tasting menu. It is an exceptional value and includes the best dish I have had in 5.7 years: blue swimmer crab curry. What to drink? Have a bottle of champagne or stick to gin and tonics because the wine list isn’t exceptional (call me, I can fix that).

17A Dempsey Rd, Singapore

Candlenut

Chains aren’t always bad. Especially when it comes to Imperial Treasure. On top of having really solid dim sum, they have the most attentive service in Singapore. These folks give a damn. When I am at Marina Bay Sands, I sneak upstairs to partake and when I am on Orchard Rd I find that infamous duck.

L2-04, Marina Bay Sands Level 2 Dining, 10 Bayfront Ave

Imperial Treasure

So, your family is visiting from out-of-town and they want to see the 8th best bar in the world and the world’s largest gin collection, so you take them to Atlas. But in reality, if that is the only time you go to Atlas, you aren’t really practicing “self-care.” My therapist recommends a Josephine Baker or Atlas Martini at least 2-3 times a week and I am happy to follow doctor’s orders because this is what bars are made of. True elegance and refined attention to detail and I am so happy the music ain’t jazz. It would be way too on the nose.

600 North Bridge Rd, Parkview Square, Singapore

Atlas

Relaxed and super chill, but that is not how to describe the food or attention to design. It just simply feels good. There is an effortless, natural approach to service and style that makes you feel like you’re living in a page from Esquire Magazine.

97 Duxton Rd, Singapore

Kilo Kitchen