Relax - 2011 hotspots and up-and-coming cool spots for 2012

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2011 HOTSPOTS

2011 was the year that saw the most unexpected spots in Singapore blossom into hip places to hang out in. BTWeekend recaps the hot lifestyle spots of the year and looks at some up-and-coming spots for 2012.

Little India

Once better associated as the go to place for curries, spices and saris, new lifestyle concepts have, for the past two years, been slowly but surely breathing new life into Little India.

This includes the hugely popular Zsofi Tapas Bar (Dunlop Street) (below), posh wineshop/showroom Booze Wine Ship (111 Jalan Besar), and of course, the two cool boutique hotels along Dickson Road - mOOn@23Dickson and Wanderlust along Dickson Road.

The colourful area was really cast into the spotlight when Mustafa Centre unveiled a swanky new wing earlier this year with its modern-looking glass and steel fixture and a rooftop garden complete with a huge glass dome and water features (top photo).

Such changes have inspired the opening of more upmarket concepts like premium cocktail joint Barkode along Dunlop Street - proof that the area is mushrooming into a lifestyle area to watch.

'We chose Little India because we wanted a bar with character and if we were in a more commercialised area, we would be classified as just any other bar around us,' says one of Barkode's owners, Caryn Cheah. 'I do see the area blossoming and I believe many would agree with me as there are now a variety of eating outlets around, including a Russian restaurant, Spanish, French and lately an American diner.'

Agrees Zsofi's spokesperson Janice Tan: 'Little India has blossomed due to its rustic charm and somehow it has managed to keep its ethnic qualities while moving along with development.'

>>Next: Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru

Even as early as last year, Tiong Bahru was quietly growing a reputation as the site du jour for quirky lifestyle concepts but it was 2011 that sealed its position as one of the hottest lifestyle spots of the year.

The launch of coffee joint 40 Hands (below, left) at Yong Siak Street by Australian barista Harry Grover and the Spa Esprit Group in October 2010 has often been credited as the the catalyst that sparked off the changing of the landscape of the area, inspiring more lifestyle businesses to join it this year.

This includes independent bookstore Books Actually, Bhutan Shop which specialises in indigenous craft, boutique Strangelets and cafes The Orange Thimble and Drips. In October this year, they were joined by eatery Open Door Policy (above, right) - yet another Spa Esprit Group venture with 40 Hands' Grover and Tippling Club's owner-chef Ryan Clift.

'Tiong Bahru has grown tremendously in the past year,' observes Spa Esprit Group's founder Cynthia Chua.

'In a very short time, it's changed from a low key residential area into one with quite a stylish persona. It has become another exciting enclave for people to go hang out.'

She adds that Tiong Bahru has plenty of potential as it is a charming space with a great mix of locals, creative types, young professionals and expats.

'We predict more growth in the area and hope to nurture it into a fun new enclave where people come together and enjoy themselves plus the added excitement of discovery,' she concludes.

>>Next: Duxton Hill

Duxton Hill

Duxton has been in the limelight for a while, thanks in large part to the Deliciae Group who added tapas bar, Sabio, to the area this year after opening the highly popular steak frites joint L'entrecote last year.

'Duxton Hill has certainly evolved from an infamous 'nightclub' haunt to a sophisticated enclave of trendy bars and restaurants,' says Deliciae's director of operations Paolo Randone who reveals that the group is set to open a new French bistro called Le Petit Cancale in the same area next year. 'The buildings still retain their historical old world charm but walk into a restaurant and it really is a modern representation of today's Singapore.'

Other notable openings in the hip enclave this year included Russian restaurant Buyan (above) and modern Singapore cuisine joint Wok & Barrel. Adding to the multi-cultural atmosphere of the area was English gastropub The Jackson Plan although it has since been replaced by Latteria Mozzarella Bar - an Italian eatery.

But while Duxton has been steadily growing in popularity as a hotspot for food and beverage, it has also attracted a number of lifestyle businesses the past year. Local designer Ernest Seah opened a retail branch-cum-design den in the area in June, just a few months after book cafe and dynamic arts space The Pigeonhole moved in in March 2011.

'The Duxton renaissance is definitely on the rise. Even as we speak, units are being renovated along Duxton Road and Duxton Hill and a handful of new shops have opened up in the past two to three months,' muses The Pigeonhole's co-owner Ave Chan.

'Duxton's proximity to conservation areas, living space and offices spells opportunity for all manner of lifestyle and F&B services. It has always been our view that new and interesting tenants in the neighbourhood will offer the community the long term benefits of placing Duxton, much like Dempsey Hill, as a viable weekend option in the eye of the public.'

>>Next: Rodyk Street

Rodyk Street

It was formerly known as the quieter end of Robertson Quay, but the row of refurbished warehouses along Rodyk Street - further down the Singapore River towards Jiak Kim Street - slowly stirred to life in 2011.

Interestingly, a majority of the tenants in the stretch are first-time F&B ventures by local entrepreneurs.

There is the stretch's initial tenants, Reuben Tan and his partners behind Bar Bar Black Sheep, who moved into the space - then surrounded by construction sites - at the end of 2009. Then there are the three brothers behind family-run Singaporean mattress company Magic Koil, who set up gelateria Medley Amaii to celebrate their love of the Italian dessert, followed by restaurant-bar Merry Men (right), run by former banker Eugene Fung along with a group of ex-schoolmates from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), and Verre, a winebar set up by a medical doctor Gregory Lee and freelance opera singer Melvin Tan.

Just a stone's throw away is glitzy culinary trio Kha, Graze and Provisions in the recently launched Martin 38 condo, which has helped the River Valley neighbourhood to up its cool quotient.

Alvaro Sanchez, head roaster of Australian coffee chain Toby's Estate which took up the last vacancy in the warehouse strip when it moved in in October this year, says it's been busier than he expected for a new venue. 'I thought we were going to take a little longer to get to this point. Perhaps it's because we're a part of Robertson Quay - all the other parts have a little more mayhem, this part has more of a relaxed, local crowd,' he said.

Other operators feel that the largely residential crowd in the area helps to give the neighbourhood a down-to-earth feel, free from the pretence associated with other nightspots in neighbouring Clarke Quay or Dempsey Hill.

'We foresee this area transforming further from a well-kept secret into a popular destination in 2012,' says Merry Men's Mr Fung.

>>Next: The rest of Chinatown

The rest of Chinatown

Perhaps riding on the growing popularity of Duxton Hill, the surrounding area that borders Chinatown has also blossomed, attracting enterprising restaurateurs to open shop there.

This includes Napoli-born chef Anna Borrasi, who helms the Italian restaurant Amo (above) on Craig Road and Tim Ross-Watson of the Garden of Eden in Neil Road.

'I feel that our location helps us to attract diners who are a little more daring, those who actively seek out and support independent establishments,' muses chef Ross-Watson, who trained in the UK under Michelin-starred chefs Garry Hollihead and Phil Thompson.

'They also want to be the first to check out and form an opinion about a new venue before the rest of the world gets to knows about it. From that respect, our location has actually worked in our favour. It's also near town and not as saturated as some of the other more established dining clusters.'

Most recently, Chinatown has also managed to entice hip Michelin-starred London chef Jason Atherton to open tapas concept Esquina (Jiak Chuan Road) together with his Singapore partners including boutique hotelier Loh Lik Peng.

'I love the Keong Saik area,' exclaims Loh. 'We already have two hotels and three restaurants in the locale and they are all doing very well. It's slightly rough but it has great character which is just perfect for a little tapas bar like Esquina.'

On whether he wants to open another concept in the vicinity: 'Well, if I found a nice site for sure,' says Loh. 'Nothing on the horizon right now but Duxton is just five minutes away and I'd love to do something there one day.'

Adds Ross-Watson: 'I haven't heard anything on the grapevine about who might be coming to the area next but as it's a promising area, I believe it presents lots of opportunities. I am quite sure we will continue to welcome some new names in the neighbourhood come 2012.'

>>Next: Marina Bay financial district

Marina Bay financial district

A whole lot of banging and drilling has been going on behind hoardings at the Marina Bay financial district this year - but these were merely the signals of more exciting things to come.

New skyscrapers mushrooming all over the city's newest financial area since the beginning of the year gave birth to a spate of restaurants with stunning rooftop views. Add to this the glitzy integrated resort and the calming waters of Marina Bay, and you have a promising lifestyle hotspot.

The wave started with LeVel33, a craft-brewery and restaurant on the 33rd floor of the new Marina Bay Financial Centre's Tower 1, which opened in January 2011. Soon after came a string of casual eateries and bars at the Marina Bay Sands promenade, which is now complete with eight food and beverage outlets - in addition to its already star-studded line-up of celebrity chef restaurants within.

The recent completion of the 43-storey Asia Square Tower 1 (home to big names like Google and Citibank) lured in more F&B operators eager to feed the 18,000 office workers in the building.

Asia Square is now home to a sprawling 5,000 sq ft Australasian brasserie and bar (below) run by F&B consultants, Tadcaster Hospitality, artisanal pizzeria Extra Virgin Pizza by the Lo and Behold Group and the 600-seater upscale food court, Food Garden.

Further up in One Shenton, which faces the main Shenton Way thoroughfare, diners are spoilt for choice with international cuisine ranging from Western fare from UK-style The Bank bar and bistro, the British Indian cafe, the modern Japanese Kohii and independent coffee joint Jewel Coffee.

Crowning this is the 305-room Westin hotel, due to open in Asia Square's Tower 2 in 2013, which will attract more tourist dollars to the area.

The Marina Bay financial district is definitely hotting up as the dining destination to watch, and having a night out in a suit has never been sexier.

>>Next: Goodman Arts Centre

Goodman Arts Centre

The East may not be one's first port of call when it comes to the arts but all that changed this year when over 40 artists and arts group came together as tenants at the Goodman Arts Centre (GAC) (below) - a pilot of the National Arts Council's New Framework for Arts Spaces - breathing new creative life into the vicinity.

The premises - formerly occupied by the Tun Sri Lanang Secondary School between 1963 and 1991, then LASALLE College of the Arts from 1992 to 2007, followed by School of the Arts (Sota) from 2007 to 2009 - now houses the NAC alongside a diverse range of tenants from the visual, literary and performing arts such as independent arts collective Artists Caravan and Young People's Performing Arts Ensemble.

Food-wise, GAC has even got a classy Italian restaurant-helmed chef Michele Sorrentino who used to helm the one-Michelin star restaurant Antica Trattoria Botteganova in Sienna, Italy.

Some of the high profile community activities held at the location include the Goodman Arts Centre Open House on Sept 11 that saw over 2,000 visitors taking part in over 100 arts programmes by 50 artists throughout the day.

For 2012, planned programmes initiated by GAC include a School Outreach Programme for Youth-At-Risk, School Arts Fest as well as another instalment of the Goodman Arts Centre Open House.

'Goodman Arts Centre opened its doors with a vision to be a youthful and energetic centre providing a wide range of arts offerings, and serves as a place to bring in the different communities to experience and be engaged through the arts in an intimate manner,' says Tan Tee Tong, director of Place Management for The Old Parliament House, which manages Goodman Arts Centre.

'Set within a beautiful and charming ground amongst old school buildings and lush greenery, Goodman Arts Centre provides the perfect setting for inspiration and creative work.'

Not to mention a cool hangout for arts aficionados looking to indulge themselves aesthetically and have a nice meal at the same time.

>>Next: Malls in the east

Malls in the east

Shopping in the east of Singapore has never been quite as good as this year, thanks to some key malls opening up in the area in 2011.

For the longest time, the fort was held by Marine Parade stalwart Parkway Parade and over the years, the mall has constantly upgraded itself to meet changing consumer needs, even winning the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award in 2010 for its eco-friendly initiatives. Other east-based malls such as Tampines 1 also managed to garner attention for the area with its launch of the first local Uniqlo outlet back in 2009.

The opening of Bedok Point in December last year set the stage for what was to be a good year for mall shopping in the east in 2011, and much attention has been placed on the recent openings of 112 Katong (right) and Changi City Point.

112 Katong is an upscale mall, complete with a series of firsts in the east with tenants such as Canton Paradise, T.G.I.Friday's, Din Tai Fung with its flagship duplex restaurant as well as Market Place and the piece de resistance, Golden Village, the world's first Peranakan-inspired boutique cinema that includes two super-luxurious Gold Class auditoriums and a Gold Class lounge.

'In view of the relatively affluent crowd living in this area, we thought it was a good idea to provide them with an alternative shopping experience,' says Pua Seck Guan, executive chairman of Perennial (Singapore) Retail Management Pte Ltd that operates the mall.

'Katong is an area known for its food but we wanted to up the F&B ante here by offering them places where they can have a nice meal after they watch a movie. The aim was to allow residents to shop, wine, dine and entertain right at their doorstep without the need to travel to the city.'

The latter - Changi City Point (a Frasers Centrepoint mall) (below)- has also been making waves. Situated in the heart of Changi Business Park, it was designed as a mall for office workers and families to chill out and relax and offers several dining options, catering to employees of Changi Business Park for their daily essentials and the nearby residents for their groceries and dining options.

Says Christopher Tang, CEO of Frasers Centrepoint Commercial: 'Changi City Point seeks to be an integral part of the eastern community and is also a new choice venue for those living in other areas when they require a 'weekend getaway' or just a place for a refreshing shopping experience.'

Other than the office tower, the mall is also integrated with a business hotel aimed at a younger generation of mobile businesses travellers which will be ready next year.

'The hotel is a fusion of business and leisure and offers a casual, innovative and fresh environment with a unique contemporary attitude,' reveals Mr Tang. 'With the room rates being around 20 per cent lower than other properties, the hotel is expected to attract a large pool of guests visiting the EXPO, Changi Business Park and the upcoming fourth university.'

>> Next: 2012 up-and-coming hotspots

2012 UP-AND-COMING HOTSPOTS

Gardens by the Bay

Helping to bolster Singapore's reputation of being a garden city is Gardens by the Bay - 101 hectares of prime land at Marina Bay that is made up of three gardens, namely Bay South (the largest at 54 hectares), Bay East (32 hectares) and Bay Central (15 hectares).

See also:
Food and flora at Gardens by the Bay

A first glimpse of Bay South Garden

'New crown jewel' of Marina Bay

Sights within Bay South (which was recently opened for a sneak preview during the 20th World Orchid Conference in November) include the Cooled Conservatories (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest), 18 Supertrees, F&B outlets and Horticultural Themed Gardens. At the moment, Bay South is closed and will officially open to the public in June 2012.

Currently, Bay East - which is located across the Marina Reservoir - is opened to the public as an interim garden. While full development of Bay East will take place at a later stage, visitors to Bay East are, for the time being, already able to enjoy the waterfront garden with basic amenities provided such as parking spaces, toilets, paths and lush greenery.

Also worth looking out for is the launch of a series of unique dining joints - a number of whom will be incorporating elements of the gardens into their designs and concepts.

There is, for instance hip British chef Jason Atherton's restaurant Pollen. It will serve Mediterranean-influenced modern European cuisine, featuring herbs grown within its own premises and is sited within the Flower Dome (the larger of Gardens' two cooled conservatories).

Two other food outlets to watch out for include the Supertree Grove casual dining space offering visitors an affordable menu of local and international cuisines from popular eateries such as Peach Garden Noodle House and Hill Street Coffee Shop as well as Satay by the Bay - a throwback to the old Satay Club, comprising over 20 food stalls serving local delights set beneath canopies of green roofs.

>>Next: Gillman Barracks

Gillman Barracks

Turning a former military camp into a lifestyle hub is practically de rigueur in Singapore these days but when Gillman Barracks (top photo) makes its debut in 2012 after a major makeover, lifestyle junkies with a penchant for contemporary art will have more than a few reasons to be excited. That's when the site takes on its new role as a destination for contemporary art, complete with international art galleries, a dedicated centre for contemporary art and several food and beverage outlets.

Gillman Barracks was first built to house a British regiment before the Singapore Armed Forces took over the premises some 40 years ago. In 1996, it was renamed Gillman Village and converted to a sleepy commercial outpost, housing a variety of bars and restaurants, antique shops and furniture stores. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to redevelop Gillman as part of its long-term plan for Singapore to be at the forefront of a fast-growing visual arts scene in the region.

Feelers were put out to well-known art galleries around the world, inviting them to establish a base in Singapore. During the first phase, an initial group of between 10 and 15 galleries from Japan, China, Korea and South-east Asia will be in place by the end of April, according to Eugene Tan, programme director, Lifestyle Programme Office at the Economic Development Board (EDB), which is managing the Gillman Barracks project together with Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and the National Arts Council (NAC).

Details of this initial group - which is rumoured to include galleries like Kaikai Kiki, the art production company run by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami - will be announced during international art fair Art Stage Singapore, which will be held next month at Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre from Jan 12 to 15. Gillman Barracks will no doubt generate plenty of buzz and be the subject of much discussion during Art Stage.

Meanwhile, a further 20 galleries or so from places like India, Europe and the United States are in the process of being selected and are projected to arrive by the end of next year. Gillman Barracks is scheduled to have its official opening in September 2012 and by the end of the year at least three F & B outlets will be in place.

The entire development will be anchored by the new Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Singapore, which will offer exhibition, residency and research programmes and serve as a gathering point for artists from around the world. 'When (Gillman) opens, it will transform the contemporary art scene in Singapore,' says Mr Tan.

File photos: BT, ST, The Exchange, Goodman Arts Centre, Open Door Policy, VisualVerve.SG, Zsofi Tapas Bar

This article was first published in The Business Times.

2011 hotspots and up-and-coming cool spots for 2012

By Melissa Lwee-Ramsay, Debbie Yong & Geoffrey Eu, The Business Times | Sun, Jan 1 2012

A recap of the hot lifestyle spots of 2011 and let's find out which are some of the up-and-coming spots for 2012.