South Beach Avenue – The New After-Work Hangout

Spanning 32,000 sqft across the basement, street level and conservation buildings, South Beach Avenue is set to become the entertainment centre of the Civic District. Apart from JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, the lifestyle enclave has a dynamic mix of 16 dining, beauty and entertainment options.

Here are some of the awesome restaurants and bars you can find in South Beach Avenue. You are very welcome.

Atmastel

Dedicated to serving rustic home-cooked Italian food, Atmastel emphasizes on drawing the best natural flavours from the freshest produce. Helmed by Andrea Tarini, a chef with a 3-michelin star background at ULIASSI in Senigallia, Atmastel wants to let locals have a taste of real Italian food.

Together with Chef Matteo Fabbian, who heads Atmastel’s Pizza Section, Chef Tarini uses a variety of artisanal ingredients ranging from San Marzano tomatoes, to San Daniele prosciutto to fresh burrata air flown weekly from Puglia, in all of Atmastel’s offerings.

Chef Fabbian’s Seafood Pizza ($38) speaks clearly about the flavours of the sea. Buttered with San Marzano tomato sauce, the homemade pizza dough is topped with clams, squids, prawns, garlic, chilli flakes and parsley. Made from 100% stone-milled flour, the dough is given 48 hours to ferment, resulting in lighter, crispier and more aromatic bakes.

Tiger Prawns in Catalan Style ($48) features fresh butterfly tiger prawns stewed with cherry tomatoes, red onion, Taggiasca olives and homemade light pesto sauce. This is best paired with Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Cuvee Brut, a lively Italian sparkling wine with nuances of sweet ripe fruit (Decana pears), and subtle hints of chlorophyll and vanilla.

For desserts that tread a fine line between tradition and innovation, the Nutella Pillow ($22) comes highly rated. Oozing with hot Italian Nutella and topped with smooth madagascan vanilla ice-cream, raspberries, toasted almond flakes and mint; this dessert pizza is a spectacular way to complete your meal at Atmastel.

Alchemist Beer Lab

Alchemist Beer Lab is the first beer infusion bar in the Asia to house a total of 16 sleek and state-of-the-art towers. While infusing beer is not new, the bar extracts the flavours of its ingredients using a fusion chamber to achieve an optimal flavour extraction and fresh results.

What’s most special is the Obama stout with toasted marshmallows, vanilla pods and mint leaves. It’s bold, rich and a little sweet with minty hints to cleanse the palate in between sips.

Ladies will love the Honey Trap with London mead infused with lemongrass and ginger. Get the Head Bartender Barnaby Murdoch to pour out sample-sized shots from the taps to let you have a taste.

Even though they’re more of a bar than a restaurant, they do have some good food as well. Executive Chef, John Edwards, has thoughtfully conceived a modern European tapas-style menu to accompany the extensive array of drink options.

The Sticky Thai Chicken Wings ($10 for 3 pieces) are marinated for 3 days with tom yam spices and honey before they are barbecued till slightly charred. Served with a tangy Vietnamese-style chilli dip, it is an essential grub.

If lady luck is on your side, go for the Duck Confit ($32) which is a special on the menu. The mildly crispy duck confit is served atop a portobello mushroom tart with black cherry relish in hoisin jus. Love the balance of East and West flavours all in a plate!

Fasta

Fasta is a no-frills eatery which serves interesting pasta dishes catered to busy office-workers and casual shoppers in South Beach Avenue. 22-year-old Rayson Ling got bored of the usual pasta served in restaurants and came up with a creative range.

There are two menus: Warm Bowls and Cold Bowls, and you can also choose from a range of pastas, grains, meats and sides to create your own fun Fasta bowl.

The most memorable dish was the Siow Ba Mee ($13). The homemade roasted pork is first marinated with sweet sauce and sugar before it is roasted with rosemary and thyme. Crackling skin, checked. Tender meat, checked. Even though the pasta with sweet sauce was a tad too sweet for my palate, we enjoyed the caramelized meat totally.

On the other hand, I liked the refreshing Tuna Poke ($14). Served chilled, the pasta noodles come with tangy roma tomatoes and yuzu sauce. The Scallop Wallop ($16) comes with generous amount of crab meat and diced roma tomatoes, drizzled in yuzu sauce.

Harry’s

Harry’s, the cosy bar, is home to many – the football fanatics cheering on their favourite teams, colleagues unwinding over chilled beers and delicious bites, and even families spending quality time together.

If you can’t decide which appetizer to order, go for The Harry’s Seven ($36.90). Think Harry’s Signature Wings, Chicken Satay, Spicy Chicken Sausage, Otah Toasties, Onion Rings, Fish Cracklings and Crispy all in one platter. Perfect for sharing! Harry’s signature wings are dressed in their secret spice and paired with homemade chili jam.

You definitely won’t go wrong with their Chicken Masala ($23). Have a taste of their toasted charcoal bread dipped into the flavourful chicken masala, and you will understand why this dish is worthy of its loyal following.

Beef lovers should order the Soy-Glazed Beef Cubes ($18.90). It is best enjoyed with a glass of cocktail. I enjoyed the Dirty Harry ($16) most. This signature cocktail is built with vodka, brown sugar and lychee liqueur.

Vatos Urban Tacos

One of Korea’s hottest restaurants, Vatos Urban Tacos, is in Singapore! Derived from a Mexican slang which means “dudes”, Vatos is opened by three Korean-American friends living in Seoul who were homesick for a taste of their childhood.

Take a quick glance at Vatos’ menu and you’ll know exactly what we mean. Their dishes are influenced by Mexican street tacos in Los Angeles and home-cooked Korean meals. Think Kimchi Carnitas Fries, Galbi Short Rib Tacos, and Spicy Chicken Quesadillas.

Yes, you heard it right. KIMCHI CARNITAS FRIES ($18)! Named the No. 1 dish in Korea by 10 Magazine, the Kimchi fries bring together American (french fries), Mexican (pork carnitas) and Korean (kimchi) ingredients to create a balanced and harmonious dish. Drizzled with melted cheese, sour cream, Vatos hot sauce, cilantro and onions, doesn’t this just sound delicious?

The Honey Tequila Chicken Wings ($18) are coated in a sweet and spicy honey tequila sauce, and served with deep fried masa-battered jalapenos and blue cheese dipping sauce. Don’t forget the Galbi Short Rib Tacos ($13 for 2/$18 for 3) featuring crispy corn tortillas stuffed with marinated short ribs, ssamjang aioli, Asian slaw, cilantro, chopped onions and roasted sesame seeds, on a soft handmade tortilla.

Need a drink? Go for the Vatos-Ritas ($29) – a famous combination of frozen margaritas and beer that put Vatos on the map. We tried the Sexy Sanchez -a concoction of strawberry margarita and cider. They also have apple, mango, lime, passionfruit and peach flavours as well. End your meal with Nutella Nachos ($10) – a basket of crispy tortilla dusted with cinnamon, sugar, Nutella sauce and topped with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Armoury

From craft beers to fusion dishes, The Armoury offers a gastronomical adventure of East-Meets-West cuisine in the heart of Singapore’s up and coming South Beach Quarter.

A café by day and a bar by night, the most discerning alcohol aficionados will be impressed by its extensive selections. Chef Ben combines traditional European and Asian flavours to create well-loved dishes through innovative culinary techniques.

The Armoury Burger ($19) comes in thick and succulent wagyu patty sandwiched in between brioche buns. Chef Ben loves to combine traditional European flavours and Asian flavours to create tasty dishes such as Salted Egg Chicken Burger ($19) and Armoury Manto ($14) which comes with pulled short ribs and foie gras. They have Curry Chicken Prata Taco ($6) as well. When you can have both curry chicken and prata at the same time, why say no?

For drinks, there are craft beers from countries like Germany, United States and United Kingdom, cocktails, spirits, wines, champagnes, and more.

Fynn’s

Fynn’s, a casual modern Australian restaurant where food and drinks are at their uncomplicated best, launches a new dinner menu. The new dinner menu’s distinctive flavors are infused throughout the starters, homemade fresh pastas, and other main plates.

Mains range from homemade fresh pastas to meat plates. The unique Cavatelli pasta sees in broken pork sausages, red-wine braised octopus, parmesan and fennel seeds come together in a savory tomato-based sauce. The Spiced Iberico Pork is glazed with fermented garlic and served with oven-baked Brussels sprouts and celeriac puree.

Finish your meal with the Chocolate Semifreddo which is a bitter chocolate lover’s oasis. Expect 72% Venezuelan chocolate semifreddo, bitter chocolate mousse, cocoa nips, milk chocolate crunchy sponge.

Starters range from $6 to $17; homemade pastas from $23 to $26; main plates from $26 to $32.

Quaich Bar

Here’s one for the whisky connoisseurs. Quaich Bar is one of the most exquisite whisky bars that you will find in Singapore. The outlet stocks over 500 expressions, 95 percent of which are Scotch. It also has ultra rare bottles, like the Yamazaki 50, which costs in excess of $120,000, and small-batch bottlings from Kilkerren (from $37/dram), one of only three distilleries in Campbeltown.

With more than 300 types of whiskies at the Quaich Bar, you will be spoilt for choice. If you are a newbie like me, order an introductory flight. I tried the Springbank Aged 15 Years, Benriach Aged 12 Years Sherry Wood Matured, Kilkerran Work in Progress 6 Sherry Matured and Tomintoul Aged 12 Years Oloroso Sherry Cask finish.

I like the Springbank Aged 15 Years the most. Well loved amongst whisky connoisseurs, Springbank is produced using peated barley that adds depth into the drink. Matured in 80% sherry casks, this is an after-dinner drink that’s full of sweet and rich flavours like dark chocolate.

Other than whiskies, they also offer a variety of beers, wines, tequilas, rums, vodkas and other waters of life.

This post was brought to you by South Beach Avenue. Visit www.southbeachavenue.com for more information.