Where To Eat And Drink After The Pink Dot Event At Hong Lim Park
With the annual Pink Dot event just around the corner, we have scouted the best places to eat and drink after the celebration.
By Rebecca Rachel Wong,
Not to be cliche, but after soaking in the vibrant energy of the Pink Dot rally at Hong Lim Park with the LGBTQ+ community and allies, the burning question isn't where's the afterparty – it's where to fuel up and recharge. Here’s where we suggest you swing by for sustenance and drinks after the annual Pride Month event.
FOR A TRENDY NIGHT OUT: JUNGLE BALLROOM
Why go: Jungle Ballroom, situated at The Mondrian Duxton, is a tropical cocktail bar celebrating Southeast Asia's vibrant flavours and the region’s abundant ingredients. Standout cocktails reflecting its theme include The Jitterbug, which features bright citrus notes, salt, liquorice root, dry curaçao, mango, and kiwi. Another delightful option is The Lost Ruins, a martini made with Pahit gin, orange and mandarin bitters, a touch of acidity, and a botanical finish.
Address: 16A Duxton Hill, #03-03
Contact: 6019-6005
FOR A MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW: CANYON CLUB
Why go: Another funky bar located on Mondrian Duxton’s rooftop, Canyon Club brings 1970s Hollywood glamour to Singapore. Party after sunset at this shimmering pool club and bar offering Californian-influenced food, stylish cocktails, and a playful pool party atmosphere complete with cabanas. Enjoy colourful tropical sundowners such as the fancy Cuba Libre and Frozen Banana Colada, along with menu items like LA-style cheeseburgers and seafood platters.
Address: 16A Duxton Hill, #13-01
Contact: 6019-6020
FOR ASIAN-INSPIRED COCKTAILS: SLATE
Why go: Slate Bar is the inaugural bar concept from the Ebb & Flow Group, known for establishments like Cafe Natsu. The bar exudes a lounge-like ambience and emphasises drinks with Asian flavours, incorporating ingredients such as red tom yum, Szechuan peppercorns, and smoked spiced capsicum. It also places a focus on eco-conscious cocktails, using in-house infusions and by-products sourced from the neighbouring restaurant Tribal. For instance, Tribal’s pineapple husk syrup enhances the classic pina colada served at Slate.
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-06
Contact: 9789-4699
FOR THE GREAT MUSIC AND PEOPLE WATCHING: OFFTRACK
Why go: Featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, this stylish music-centric bar-slash-dining spot thrives on good vibes, sick beats, and exceptional cocktails. Created through a collaboration between local music collectives Darker than Wax and Ice Cream Sundays, it boasts a cool lineup of guest DJs and offers fun drinks like the Grasshopper (made with mint liqueur, cacao liqueur, mint bitter, milk, cream, and fresh mint), alongside a selection of highballs and pitchers.
Address: 34 North Canal Road, #01-01
Contact: 8748-0408
FOR A DECADENT AMBIENCE: BALLROOM BY BARBARY COAST
Why go: With its plush and opulent interior, Ballroom by Barbary Coast draws inspiration from the ballrooms of San Francisco's yesteryear. Patrons can anticipate a forward-thinking cocktail menu that spans the globe. A recent addition is a cocktail with a focus on Mexico, featuring Los Arcos tequila, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, corn husk, jalapeno, and agave. Drinks are complemented by an impressive selection of bar bites, including charcuterie and cheese boards.
Address: 16 North Canal Road, #02-01
Contact: 8869-04798
FOR THE WHISKY CONNOISSEUR: THE GARRISON
Why go: If you’re a whisky lover, The Garrison on Hongkong Street is your destination. This bar offers an extensive selection of rare single malts and rich bourbons, as well as whiskey-led cocktails. One highlight is the Rob Roy, which combines Scotch whisky with a hint of sweetness from Sweet Vermouth. The tempting food menu includes dishes like som tam foie gras brioche, truffle somen, and Iberico pork loin served with smoked apple puree and sambal baby potatoes.
Address: 42 Hongkong Street
Contact: 8756-3934
FOR INTIMATE COCKTAIL NIGHTS: 28 HONGKONG STREET
Why go: Hidden behind an unassuming 1960s shophouse facade, this well-known watering hole emphasises artisanal spirits and American-style craft cocktails. The bar was the inaugural winner of The Best Bar in Asia Award in 2016 and has consistently ranked in both Asia’s 50 Best Bars and World’s 50 Best Bars lists. We appreciate their ongoing innovation and introduction of new cocktails and spirits. For instance, in May, they celebrated Planetary Tropical Month, featuring a variety of botanical-focused flavours.
Address: 16 North Canal Road, #02-01
Contact: 8869-4798
FOR A HOMEY SPEAKEASY VIBE: THE BACK ROOM
Why go: The Back Room is the newest venture from Lion Brewery Co. This speakeasy-style cocktail bar offers a curated selection of cocktails, such as the Pinkyy Ponkyy – a delightful fusion of Bulleit Bourbon Rye Whiskey, fresh strawberries, tomatoes, lime green tea, and clarified milk. Another standout is the Solero, featuring Okinawa No.2 Gin with notes of lime, agave, and mint. Alongside these cocktails, guests can enjoy a variety of delectable bar snacks, including arancini al ragu and succulent padron peppers.
Address: 36 Club Street
Contact: 9340-0759
FOR A CARNIVOROUS ITALIAN AFFAIR: BOTTEGA DI CARNA
Why go: Led by eighth-generation Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, Bottega Di Carna is a modern Italian eatery with Tuscan influences. It promises a theatrical dining experience that pays homage to the tradition of butchery, featuring cold-cut meats, homemade pasta, and Josper-grilled meats on the a la carte menu. All cuts, including Australian Black Angus and grain-fed bone-in strip loin, are dry-rubbed with Dario's signature salt, the "profumodel chianti."
Address: 16A Duxton Hill, #03-02
Contact: 6019-6000
FOR A COOL BOOZY HANGOUT: LION BREWERY CO.
Why go: For a laid-back, casual setting, visit Lion Brewery Co. This bar was once a heritage beer brewery that shipped IPAs globally throughout the 1800s. Reopened and reinvented in 2018, the flagship taproom and brewpub now boasts 25 beer taps, including old English cask hand pumps. In addition to its wide selection of beers, the menu features comfort gastropub favourites such as fish and chips, sticky pork ribs, and wood-fired pizzas.
Address: 36 Club Street
Contact: 9366-5815
FOR A LUXURIOUS OMAKASE FIX: SUZUKI
Why go: Suzuki, led by head chef Suzuki Yuichiro and designed by Tokyo-based architect Kengo Kuma, marks Kuma’s inaugural commercial project in Singapore. The restaurant showcases bespoke furnishings such as handmade washi paper, cloth napkins, antique soup bowls, and Kuma’s own modern birch chairs, which debuted at the cafe in the Nezu Museum in Tokyo. The omakase-style cuisine emphasises simple, fresh ingredients, and diners can also request a special menu prepared by Chef Suzuki (with at least four days' notice in advance).
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-09
Contact: 9755-7899
FOR CHIC MODERN EUROPEAN FARE: LUMO BAR & RESTAURANT
Why go: This lively speakeasy bar and restaurant offers signature cocktails, wines, and modern European fare cooked over a wood fire. Their standout cocktail is The Lumo, a sweet and fruity concoction highlighting Sui Gin, St-Germain, and Kyoho grape. For the adventurous, there's the Manakin, boasting a spicy, sour, and mildly herbaceous profile. The food here is also a highlight, featuring hearty and diverse offerings such as fresh burrata, pork chop, and Antarctic cod.
Address: 50 South Bridge Road
Contact: 8921-3818
FOR SOUTH AMERICAN FLAVOURS: ARAYA
Why go: Opened in October 2023, Araya is the first fine dining South American restaurant in Singapore and globally to receive a one Michelin star in the 2024 Michelin Guide. Specialising in Pacific coastal cuisine, the restaurant recently introduced its eight-course degustation menu, the Costa ($368++). Standout dishes feature Chilean giant mussel, curanto (a blend of meat and seafood wrapped in leaves and cooked in an earth oven), and aged Ecuadorian cacao paired with pigeon supreme.
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-08
Contact: 8870-0871
FOR A LAID-BACK CHIC SPOT: CHRISTINA’S
Why go: Christina’s has been quietly winning fans since Mondrian Singapore Duxton’s launch, as a stylishly laid-back coffee to cocktail space that changes its mood from day to night. The restaurant is now shaking things up with a new menu by Mondrian’s Chef Kenny Huang, with Asian and Mediterranean influenced dishes cooked over fire. Highlights include a decadent wood-fired mac & cheese made with cheddar, parmesan and mascarpone cheeses and king prawns, the French 40 days corn-fed chicken served with Jerusalem artichokes, and the wagyu sando with yakiniku sauce.
Address: 16A Duxton Hill, #01-09/10
Contact: 6019-6010
FOR A COMMUNAL FEAST: TRIBAL
Why go: Inspired by the primal connection between food, fire, and community, Tribal – true to its name – focuses on communal dining. Executive Chef Keith Wan, known for his leadership at Panamericana, Kilo Kitchen, and Quay House, leads the culinary vision at Tribal. The menu highlights wood-fire cooking infused with Far Eastern influences. Noteworthy dishes include Nasi Ulam-based rice pots, Gai Yang-inspired kampung chicken, Balinese tuna collar, and a variety of wood-fired meats served with daily condiments and sauces.
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-07
Contact: 9789-4699
FOR MEDITERRANEAN VIBES: NOA BY OLIVIA
Why go: Designed by Cristina Cela, owner and creative director of Cris Cela Studio in Barcelona, Noa is an architectural reinterpretation of the Mediterranean basin. Each space, from the bar to the island booths and various seating areas, features a unique colour palette that evokes a distinct experience from the region it represents. Diners can also anticipate modern Mediterranean cuisine, ranging from light and refreshing mezze to succulent grilled seafood dishes, such as Spanish-style barbecue scampi rice.
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-01/03
Contact: 8068-5535
FOR REFINED ASIAN CUISINE: WILLOW RESTAURANT
Why go: This One-Michelin star restaurant showcases contemporary Asian menus, crafted daily using the season’s finest ingredients and Chef Nicolas Tam’s sustainable approach to ingredient utilization. While the menu changes with the seasons, past creations have included dishes like hotaru ika (red snapper and pike conger eel shinjo in lobster and prawn bisque) and dry-aged duck with white asparagus.
Address: 39 Hongkong Street
Contact: 8843-4066
FOR SPICY THAI GRUB: UN-YANG-KOR-DAI SINGAPORE
Why go: If you're a spicy food lover, this is the place for authentic Thai and Isaan (northeastern Thailand) cuisine, renowned for its exceptional heat. A standout dish is the Penlaos signature chicken, marinated with white peppercorns and coriander for three days before being grilled. Another must-try is the leng zaab – pork ribs cooked in an addictive, spicy sour broth. This cosy restaurant also features paintings by talented Thai artists.
Address: 57 South Bridge Road, #01-02
Contact: uykdsg@gmail.com
FOR COMFORT FOOD: THE SHELTER
Why go: The Shelter is a sleek, industrial cafe open until late (11 pm), featuring affordable local cuisine such as curry chicken, mee rebus, mee siam, and pork & century egg porridge. They also offer in-house made gelato and waffles with speciality flavours like Earl Grey & butterfly pea flower, avocado gula melaka, and mango yoghurt. Patrons can also purchase streetwear t-shirts from the cafe’s affiliated store, The Shelter Global.
Address: 150 South Bridge Road, #01-11 Fook Hai Building
Contact: 9672-5434
FOR FUN SET MENUS: RESTAURANT IBID
Why go: Restaurant Ibid is the creation of lawyer-turned-chef and MasterChef Asia winner Woo Wai Leong. The cuisine is heavily influenced by various Asian food cultures, blending both traditional and modern cooking styles. The restaurant has also launched two new menus: a tasting menu for a curated experience and a late-night flavours menu. The late-night menu even includes comfort food like chocolate chip walnut cookies by Chef Leong, paired with cold brew coffee milk froth.
Address: 18 North Canal Road
Contact: 9151-8698