Thursday, November 8, 2007

One Rochester

One Rochester

1 Rochester Park
Singapore, 139212
Telephone:
65 6773 0070
Hours:
Fridays & Saturdays 6.00pm to 2.00am Sundays to Thursdays 6.00pm to 1.00am

The first thing that strikes you about One Rochester, the stylish hangout in colonial Rochester Park, is its lush garden. Verdant and smartly-decked out, it's the perfect place to hang out with a cool drink on a stuffy Singapore evening. Inside, One Rochester continues to impress. Housed in an immaculately renovated bungalow, the space is made up of a series of individually styled areas. There's the cosy Living Room, ideal for those who just fancy an evening of amiable lounging, and the masculine Library, which has a more formal air. The Playroom, as the name suggests, is the most vibrant and lively room in the place - head here if you want to make a serious night of it. The bar is very well-stocked, with a particularly large selection wines on offer, plus numerous beers and a wide variety of sake and spirits. One Rochester makes much of its gastro-credentials and, to this end, serves an interesting menu of Asian-influenced dishes with which to accompany your drinks.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Singapore Nightlife

Singapore Nightlife

It's convenient to go bar- and club-hopping in Singapore, as the golden triangle of nightspots -- Zouk - Mohammed Sultan - Boat Quay -- are all a short taxi hop from each other. Be warned, on Friday and Saturday nights the clubbing herd comes out in full force and you may have to call for a taxi to avoid waiting in queue.

Drinks - including beer -- are fairly expensive in Singapore. Most bars have happy hours, where drinks are at a sharp discount or standard drinks like vodka tonic are on one-for-one offer. Wednesday night is Ladies Night at many bars, while some bars and clubs mark out one night of the week with a special dance or music theme. The bars serve finger food, some offer the usual pub grub like fish and chips or spring rolls, while the trendier ones have sushi or teppanyaki on their menus.

If you're hungry for a real meal after all that clubbing, there's usually an Indian roti prata stall, hawker centre or coffee shop open nearby. The Newton Circus hawker centre is alive all night, while many hotels have coffee houses that welcome the tired and hungry until the wee hours of the morning.

Singapore Nightlife Hot Spots: Orchard Road


Singapore Nightlife Hot Spots: Orchard Road

Boat Quay

This famous shopping belt also harbours some great clubs. Venom (Pacific Plaza Penthouse, 9 Scotts Road, 7347677) boasts a state-of-the-art dance floor and a sweeping view of Orchard Road. The theme changes every night, and the music ranges from pop to retro to house. The crowd -- well-heeled and chic.