PUBLISHED February 1st, 2020 06:30 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:46 pm
Romance isn’t the only thing in the air this month – and no, we’re not talking about the Wuhan coronavirus, either. Avoid the mall trawl and make dinner plans at February‘s latest restaurant and bar openings; whether you’re making a date with your Valentine or seeking out new places to eat and drink, we’ve got a line up for you.
New Restaurants in Singapore
Mott 32
Serving up six years of award-winning Chinese cuisine in Hong Kong, restaurant Mott 32 takes up a new residence in Marina Bay Sands. The 149-seater fine dining establishment promises to deliver the same progressive cooking techniques and premium ingredients as its overseas counterpart, paired with an exceptional mixology programme and a stunning ambience. Exclusive dishes include the Signature Crispy Sugar Coated Peking Duck Bun, Crispy Prawns with Salty Egg Yolk and Oatmeal, and a local twist: Wok-Fried Live Whole Crab in Black Pepper Singapore Style.
Mott 32 Singapore is located at B1-42/43/44, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-42-44, Singapore 018956. Open for dinner daily 5pm – 11pm; lunch 11.30am – 2.30pm starting 11 February 2020.
Butcher’s Block
We’re all excited that the Raffles Hotel has finally emerged from two years of reconstructive slumber. With it comes a ton of fresh F&B haunts to visit, including the Butcher’s Block: a 44-seater dining experience showcasing some of the world’s finest cuts of meats cooked over a wood fire. Sink your teeth into premium meats and over 200 wines from its Wine Library, and regale in sumptuous multi-course menus prepared by Chef Rémy Lefebvre and his team under the exclusive OAK Table Experience that runs from Thursday to Saturday.
Butcher’s Block is located at #02-02 to #02-07, Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188719, p. +65 6337 1886. Open daily 6pm – 10pm.
BTM Mussels & Bar
Duxton Hill isn’t short on places to eat, but Keong Saik’s charming neighbour has room for one more – BTM Mussels & Bar is a homage to restaurateur Olivier Bendel’s hometown favourite, moules-frites. More specifically, Olivier serves up variations of the best seasonal Bouchot mussels with fries, best enjoyed with an ice-cold pint of house-made fruit-infused beer. Available in portions of 500gm, 750gm and 1kg (S$36++, S$48++ and S$58++ respectively), mussels are available in flavours like classic French Marinières, Ardennaise, and funky Au Roquefort.
BTM Mussels & Bar is located at 5 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089591, p. +65 6690 7562. Open Mon-Tue 5pm-11pm, Wed-Thu 12pm – 11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm – 12am.
Zorba, The Greek Taverna
Singapore’s kaleidoscope of food cuisines just got a little more colourful. Dive into a classic Hellenic dining experience by the Singapore River at Zorba. Rooted deep in Greek heritage and culture, Zorba’s menu span the gamut from crowd-pleasing meat platters to homemade tzatziki and cheese-stuffed bifteki. It’s a meat-lover’s paradise by the quay with pork gyros, chicken and beef souvlaki, lamb chops, and much more.
Zorba, The Greek Taverna is located at 3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-02, Singapore 179024, p. +65 8558 1704. Open Mon-Sat 6pm – 12am.
CouCou
Adding on to Duxton Hill’s gastronomic allure is Coucou. The Swiss team that previously led Senso Ristorante & Bar now lends their expertise to dishing out an iconic Swiss menu filled with some of the country’s most time-honoured favourites. From crunchy Rösti to Zurich-style veal ragouts and toasty cheese raclettes, end a heartwarming meal with a beer or a bottle from their humble curation of Swiss wines.
CouCou is located at 9 Craig Rd, Singapore 089669, p. +65 6226 0060. Open daily 12pm – 2.30pm, Mon-Sat 6pm – 10.30pm.
Smalls
Big ideas come in small packages at Small. Bjorn Shen transforms his on-site office into a new creative space attached to his Middle Eastern flagship Artichoke, and it’s as personal as personal cooking gets. Small enough to fit four guests at a time, Small opens to the public this month, a crash-test site for all of Bjorn’s most experimental concepts that aren’t for the faint of heart. The current opening concept? A pizza omakase that dwarves our most nostalgic Pizza Hut experiences, going at S$500 for four people.
Small’s is located at 161 Middle Rd, Singapore 188978. Bookings for four persons can be made at smalls.as.me. New reservation dates of the upcoming month will be released on the 24th of every month.
Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner
Tiong Bahru Bakery unveils a menu of dine-in meals that make lunchtimes feel a little longer. Available at Raffles City and Funan outlets, the Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner introduces bursts of new flavours like the Pulled Pork Creamy Risoni Pasta (S$22++) and a sourdough made with 158-year-old starter. Many items are also available in vegan or vegetarian options like the Chayote Kimchi and Mung Bean Salad (S$18++) or the Super Green Warm Soup (S$16++) of Chinese spinach, bok choy, and chye sim in mushroom broth and pickled ricotta cheese.
Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner is located at Raffles City Shopping Centre and Funan Mall. Open daily, 8am – 10pm (Raffles) and 8am – 9pm (Funan).
Black Marble Singapore
A sizzling new concept enters Holland Village’s gilded halls in the form of Chef Otto Weibel’s Black Marble. With a focus primarily on Western contemporary cuisine, folks should consider a trip down the Circle Line to visit the brainchild by one of the most respected veterans of Singapore’s F&B industry. Irresistible cuts from Australia, Japan, and the USA are char-grilled to perfection, and highlights include A4 Japanese Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Sirloin (S$90++ per 180g), Grain-fed Lamb Rack (S$38++ per 350gm), and Lobster & Scallop Saffron Risotto (S$34++).
Black Marble Singapore is located at 118 Holland Ave, #02-01 Raffles Holland V Mall, Singapore 278997, p. +65 9641 6913. Open daily, 11am – 10pm.
New Bars in Singapore
Moonstone Bar
Moving out of their namesake residence into Amoy Street, the Moonstone Bar makes a home for itself in the heart of downtown Singapore – this time with food to boot. House pours include reds, whites, and beer on draft, but you can take their speciality cocktails for a spin – if you’re feeling particularly adventurous. The Mason Kitchen serves up quality Indonesian food staples, so go for a snazzy Uptown Funk You Up (S$21++) G&T to have with your bakmi ayam.
Moonstone Bar is located at 103 Amoy St, Singapore 069923, p. +65 6610 3029. Open Mon-Fri 12pm – 12am, Sat 5pm – 12am.
Raffles Courtyard
With the hotel’s grand re-opening, Raffles Courtyard returns as the city’s lushest social space. An alfresco destination decked out with all the trimmings, experience live music of a selection of exceptional cocktails, local craft beers, and tantalising Southeast Asian bites. Wind down the week and kick up your feet with a Pine Bamboo Cooler and platters of Black Pepper Crab Rolls or Nonya Kueh Pie Ti, and watch your worries melt away.
Raffles Courtyard is located at the Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd, Singapore 189673, p. +65 6412 1816. Open daily 12pm – 10pm. Foodservice starts from 3pm.