South Beach Avenue is the Civic District’s New F&B Enclave
PUBLISHED June 15th, 2017 06:00 am
If you haven’t yet heard, there’s a new dining and lifestyle destination in the city that you should totally check out. Conveniently located next to both Esplanade and City Hall MRT stations, the sprawling 32,000 square feet South Beach Avenue is home to more than 10 new restaurants, cafes, and drinking establishments. To make it more convenient to jump from venue to venue, the expanse is completely sheltered by a modern microclimatic canopy, designed by award-winning British architects Foster + Partners.
And here are our recommendations for wining and dining in this beautiful space:
Fynn’s
For modern Australian fare at their uncomplicated best, look no further than Fynn’s. Lunch is a lively affair with homemade pasta dishes, burgers, and distinctive small plates like Cavatelli ($25) and spiced Iberico Pork ($32). Come the evening, things get a little more robust as you work your way through seared and grilled meats and hearty carb dishes by intimate candlelight, along with a selection of quality wines from the Down Under.
Fynn’s is located at #B1-21 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6384 1878. Open Tue-Fri 9am – 10pm, Sat 11am – 10pm, Sun 11am – 5pm.
Black Cow
Craving for some shabu shabu or sukiyaki? At Black Cow, look forward to a smorgasbord of the freshest produce and ingredients, including the award-winning Matsusaka and Kagoshima wagyu beef. From casual get-together with friends over sharing plates to a private dinner specially curated by the chefs, this is where you want to go for outstanding Japanese fare, especially when there’s rare sake, shochu, and bespoke cocktails involved.
Black Cow is located at #B1-20 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6386 6720. Open Mon-Sat 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm. Closed Sun.
Caffè Vergnano 1882
Caffè Vergnano is Italy’s oldest family-owned coffee roaster, and their traditional heritage brew is a time tested one, since 1882. Great for a quick coffee and bite, try the aromatic coffees Caffe Gianduja ($6), an indulgent hot chocolate and espresso topped with whipped cream, and the Espresso Shakerato mocktail ($5.50) – premium espresso sweetened with syrup and shaken with ice.
Caffè Vergnano 1882 is located at #B1-17 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6385 5579. Open Mon-Fri 8am – 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 6pm.
The Armoury
Café by day, craft beer and wine bar by night, The Armoury is South Beach Avenue’s resident gastro-bar, decked out in a modern colonial look that pays tribute to the venue’s history of being an army barracks. Alongside over 15 craft brews on tap and growing, the elegant menu explores modern hearty brunches, protein lunches, and an evolved European cuisine glittered with Asian flavours – resulting in sophisticated and playful dishes including the Lobster Satay Capellini ($29.50) and Royal Armoury Burger ($19).
The Armoury is located at #01-01 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189673, p. +65 6385 3173. Open Mon-Thu 11.30am – 11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am – 1am, Sun 11am – 9.30pm.
Fasta
Some days you just need a fast and fuss-free meal, and that’s where Fasta comes in. Drawing inspiration from different culinary traditions, every pasta dish here features a unique fusion sauce and dressing, accompanied by a variety of seafood and meat toppings: Scallop Wallop ($16), Tuna Poke ($14), Siow Ba Mee ($13), and more. Feeling extra hungry? Top up a small sum for extra toppings or pasta.
Fasta is located at #B1-23 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 9111 1245. Open Mon-Sat 11am – 9pm. Closed Sun.
Alchemist Beer Lab
If a Pink Guava Cider ($15) sounds good, you’ll love Alchemist Beer Lab, a beer infusion bar that houses a mindblowing 16 state-of-the-art beer infusion towers – all customised for maximum flavour extraction and fresh concoctions. Also, look out for progressive drinks like the Obama ($15), a stout (Little Island’s Black Magic) infused with toasted marshmallow, vanilla pods, and mint leaves.
Alchemist Beer Lab is located at #B1-16 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6386 4365. Open Mon-Thu 12pm – 12am, Fri 12pm – 1am, Sat 4pm – 1am. Closed Sun.
Real Food
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan living in Singapore, you’ll most likely already be familiar with Real Food, which has branches all over Singapore. Run by a team of passionate individuals who believe that we are what we eat, the restaurants’s entire menu is free from any meat, processed ingredients, artificial preservatives, and trans-fat, and also features produce from local suppliers. Highlights include the Curry Soup Noodles ($12.80) and Baked Stuffed Portobello ($11.80).
Real Food is located at #B1-19 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6384 2206. Open daily 10am – 9pm.
Atmastel
Atmastel is run by Andrea Tarini, an Italian chef with a 3-Michelin-star background. Here, he crafts authentic Italian dishes with ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, San Daniele ham, and the finest crudo flown in weekly from Italy. While the restaurant may be modern and the food fine, it is still casual enough for a girl’s night out. Don’t miss out on the stars of Zuppa di Pesce ($68 for two), an umami-filled seafood stew, and the Black Truffle Pizza ($48).
Atmastel is located at #B1-22 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6581 0085. Open Mon-Thu 11.30am – 10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am – 11pm.
Quaich Bar
Once awarded the “Great Whisky Bar of the World’ by Whisky Magazine and voted “Top 10 Best Unique Bars’ by Epicure, Quaich Bar is one of Singapore’s whisky appreciation culture’s pioneers, originally established in 2006 at Grand Copthorne Waterfront. With more than 500 different labels (such as the Kilkerran 2006 Calvados Cask and Cadenhead Bowmore 12 Years), this new outlet offers yet go-to place for whisky newbies and connoisseurs alike.
Quaich Bar is located at #01-16 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189763, p. +65 6386 5366. Open Mon – Sat 5pm – 1am. Closed Sun.
Vatos Urban Tacos
You couldn’t guess from the name, but Vatos Urban Tacos is one of the hottest restaurants to arrive from Korea, having garnered plenty of praise for its new spin on Mexican cuisine. Influenced by both Los Angeles street fare and home-cooked Korean meals, expect refreshing creations like the Galbi Tacos ($13), Kimchi Carnitas Fries ($18), and Honey Tequila Chicken Wings ($18).
Vatos Urban Tacos is located at #01-03 South Beach Ave, Singapore 189768, p. +65 6385 6010. Open Mon-Thu 11.30am – 11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am – 1am.
