Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

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November 15, 2010 By cheryl

Lantern: A Tranquil Beacon


Lantern1

Singapore can feel so densely packed and swathed in concrete that it's hard to find a place that's truly tranquil.

The moment we stepped out into Lantern, the rooftop bar at the newish Fullerton Bay Hotel, however, we knew we'd found one. The 360-degree view of the city — with the Marina Bay waterfront on one side and Singapore's towering skyline on the other — was breathtaking. The blue glow emanating from the hotel pool was immediately calming. I could almost feel my heartrate slowing as I heard the sound of the live band's strumming guitars drifting over. 

Just minutes before, I was outside the hotel, tiptoeing between cars and nudging my way past financial district pedestrians to get to the hotel. But now, just minutes later, my friend Vino and I found ourselves in idyllic waterfront bliss.

We decided to stay for a moment to check out the scene…

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Filed Under: Boites, Singapore, Tales From the Road Tagged With: Angostura bitters, Bar, Bay, Clifford Pier, Cocktail, Cointreau, Cucumber, Financial District, Fullerton Bay Hotel, Honey, Lantern, Lime, Merlion, Pomelo, Red Lantern, Sang Nila Utama, Singaporean, Skyline, Tequila, View, Water, Watermelon

October 19, 2009 By cheryl

Orgo: Mile High Martinis


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I have been known to enjoy a cocktail now and then.

My requirements for boites, they’re generally basic — a clean seat, a friendly-bordering-on-flirty bartender and a decent wine list are all I need to be golden.

A fabulous view, however, now that’s a quality that never fails to keep me coming back. And in Singapore, I recently discovered a boite with an exquisite one: Orgo, a calculatedly hip restaurant and bar that’s perched atop the waterfront Esplanade arts center and has a sweeping view of the city skyline.

Now, as far as my three basic needs go, this place meets one — the seats were clean. 

The staff, it was perfectly perfunctory, if a little drowsed and unhurried. (Particularly unforgiveable given the place was almost empty on the nights we were there.) And the wine list — well, by the glass, you have two options: House white and house red.

But, what can I say? I’m a sucker for a bar with a view.

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Filed Under: Boites, Cocktails, Restaurants, Singapore, Tales From the Road Tagged With: Apple, Banana, Clove, Cocktails, Dragonfruit, Japanese, Mango, Margarita, Martini, Orgo, Paella, Passionfruit, Rosemary, Salt, Shiso, Singapore, Skyline, Soursop, Tomoyuki Kitazoe, Vanilla

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