Date Night: Where to go for cocktails this weekend

Complete your weekend with eco-conscious cocktails and city views from a rooftop bar in an unassuming neighbourhood

Love Drunk, a rum-based cocktail of raspberry, rhubarb, grapefruit and yogurt. Photo by Gluggony

Studio 1939

What’s great: Tucked inside Potato Head Singapore, Studio 1939 covers all the bases for a great night out—an intimate but fun space, filled with solid drinks and delicious grub.

What to order: The new menu, playfully named STFU (Spice, Tea, Fruit, Umami), draws inspiration from local flavours the team grew up on. There are 12 new signature cocktails that are heavy on prep, with inspiration drawn from culinary ingredients and techniques. For instance, the Som Tum Mamuang brings together gin, peanut butter, mango, salad mix and lime, while the Cheesy Melon High comprises feta and oregano, on top of tequila, apple, watermelon and mint.

Food-wise, definitely order the Naughty Fries and one of the many burgers on offer. Anyone with a big appetite can go for the Jason Four Cheese, a delicious double patty burger cooked down with IPA and sandwiched with VSOP-aged gouda, cave-aged cheddar, brie, mozzarella, mayo and ketchup.

Studio 1939
36 Keong Saik Road,
Level 3
Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6327 1939

Spicy Margarita, available in three different spice levels. Photo by Jigger & Pony

Jigger & Pony

What’s great: Having been around for 12 years, with countless accolades under its belt, Jigger & Pony sure knows what it’s doing. The latest menu, Smash, is the sixth edition in a series of annual themed ‘menuzines’, and a way to make drinking fun again. As creative director Uno Jang would say, “There’s no need to overthink what you’re drinking.”

What to order: Smash features 21 cocktails, apart from non-alcoholic tipple and punch bowls. Mainstays such as the Ugly Tomatoes and Clover Club are great picks, and so are new additions like the Spicy Margarita, which offers three different spice levels (we highly recommend ‘extra spicy’, which sounds more daunting than it actually is); and the Champagne Ramos Fizz, a fun, layered drink of gin, champagne, ruby port wine and fluffy meringue.

There are 16 different cocktails at La Palmas, inspired by pop culture, celebrities and art movements. Photo by Courtyard by Marriott

Las Palmas Rooftop Bar

What’s great: Good vibes, good drinks, and good views. It’s a little nondescript, but look for the entrance to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel and 33 levels later, you will find yourself in Novena’s best cocktail bar. With its pool and panoramic views of the city, Las Palmas is made for anyone who desires a respite from the hustle and bustle.

What to order: The cocktail menu has something for everyone. There are 16 in total, spread across four categories inspired by pop culture, celebrities and art movements. We recommend Donn Beach, a white rum-based drink that hits the palate with passion fruit, Calpis and hazelnut; and Peggy, a tequila and mezcal margarita inspired by the jazz singer, Peggy Lee.

Robb tip: Come prepared with your stomach padded. But if you’re feeling peckish, the Fiery Chicken Little is a decent order provided you like Sichuan red pepper.

Las Palmas Rooftop Bar
99 Irrawaddy Road,
Courtyard Marriott Singapore,
Level 33
Singapore 329568
Tel: +65 6250 0303

Slate offers eco-conscious cocktails made with by-products from Tribal, its neighbouring sister restaurant. Photo by Slate

Slate

What’s great: Not many people have caught on yet, so Slate is perfect especially if you want some quiet with your special someone. The space—a cool, intimate and laid-back den—offers eco-conscious cocktails made with in-house infusions and syrups, and by-products and off-cuts from Tribal, its neighbouring sister restaurant. Located at Mondrian Singapore, where good eateries are aplenty, it’s a convenient spot for peaceful pre- or post-dinner cocktails.

What to order: For a riff on classics, get the Daiquiri Night, which employs both dark and light rum, orange and lemon oleo saccharum; or the Mirin Manhattan, a spirit-forward drink that involves a dash of reduced mirin and orange bitters. The bar manager, Lafiama Krego Wright, does a really good Whisky Sour, too—a great choice if you prefer your classics unadulterated.

Robb tip: Happy Hour runs daily from Mondays to Thursdays (5pm to 7pm) and Fridays and Saturdays (3pm to 7pm). Select cocktails, such as your Old Fashioned, Negroni and Ruby Red Sea (tequila, pomegranate and Cointreau), go for S$18, while draught beers and select wines go for S$10 and S$15 respectively. Those who can stomach as much beer and wine in a short span of time can opt for Slate’s two-hour free-flow (S$68).

Slate
83 Neil Road,
Mondrian Singapore Duxton,
01-06
Singapore 089813
Tel: +65 9789 4699