on the Go with Bo!

The Pump Room - Clarke Quay

 A great band is really what makes a fantastic party!  And of course the ambience comes a close second.

After seeing Victor Victoria last night at the Esplanade, we headed to The Pump Room at Clarke Quay for some late night entertainment :-)

Funny enough, I was there a few days ago, for a fashion show and charity event … but last night, it was all about jumping around, drinking and being with a great crowd.

And it's the band that made the evening.  Jive Talkin' is a local band that simply knows how to get the crowd going, combining a mix of top 40's, great pop and rock classics.  And the place was packed … inclusive of some rowdy Ozzies on a stag night and two hen parties.

And to the end the evening, I highly recommend their mini-burgers.  WOW … plus don't forget to combine that with fries, calamari, tortillas and a delicious chocolate dessert with hot oozing chocolate in the middle.  How about that for a grand finale!

Orgo ... the new rooftop bar at the Esplanade

Rooftop bars seem to be the new in- thing in Singapore.  I've always loved them for I like to be outside, contrary to many locals who often prefer air-conditioned spaces :-)

So the latest rooftop bar that I've been to is Orgo, on the rooftop of the Esplanade Theatre.  The setting is great, you can sit outside under the stars or inside air-conditioned glass cubes (not joking!) ... whatever you fancy.

What's missing though is some atmosphere ... for example, the music needs to be a bit louder to create a vibe.  But since it's brand new ... I imagine they're going to iron-out these issues shortly ... right?

Feel the Breeze at the Scarlet Hotel

Saturday night we were looking to do something special.  We were celebrating new beginnings with a friend from Switzerland, an Indian couple and a Singaporean girl.

I wanted something outdoors for I love tropical evenings.  After having lived in Belgium and Holland for several years, where being able to sit outside happens 6 times a year ... I tend to saviour every tropical evening.

The Breeze Restaurant at the rooftop of the Scarlet Hotel fits that bill perfectly.  Al fresco dining under the stars!  It's not a large place, and just like the hotel, feels somewhat boutique-ish.  For larger groups they have these canopied tables that feel very lush.  The champagne came in very funky flutes and the seafood platter for two was very fresh.  To end the evening we had a chocolate fondue, which put my taste buds into over-drive.

Since we didn't want to go home yet, we went for drinks to the Loof Bar at Odeon Towers.  It was packed when we got there, with groovy music and a great view overlooking the Raffles Hotel.  It's a perfect rooftop terrace for drinks after dinner.

We came home with a sense of mission accomplished.  And drunk!

The opening of the New Asia Bar

Last night was the opening of the New Asia Bar, located on the 71st floor of the Swissotel in downtown Singapore.

I remember going there one of the first times I came to Singapore and having a fantastic evening.  So I thought, let's get a little group together, get ourselves on the invitation list ... and go!

As we walk into the Swissotel there was a long red carpet starting right from the taxi drop-off area.  The lights were on, cameras out, gorgeous models in sexy red dresses everywhere ... as we got slowly ushered to the elevator which takes you to the top of the building.  As we get to the top, we enter the new expansive area and of course the first thing you notice ... is the view!  Singapore does look spectacular from up there.

View first ... champagne second.  We make a bee-line for the bar to grab some Moet.  Wonderful!  We're all happy.  The only thing that was odd was that there were not that many people there.  I thought it strange that they made such a big fuss downstairs when you arrived, and then you came to the actual bar and there were 2 people gyrating on the dance floor.  We thought that perhaps we're still early.

So we proceed to a table we found in one corner and sat down.  We're chatting, the girls are re-filling our champagne and bringing us hors d'oeuvres.  We look around ... still not many people.  OK ... let's have another glass of champagne.

At one point, my friend Nicky decides to go to the bathroom ... and comes back screeching 'we're in the wrong place!!!!!'  We have to go upstairs!  So we head across the empty dance floor, walk up some stairs ... and then ... we find ourselves on the rooftop of the Swissotel, under the stars and full moon, full of people drinking and chatting, music spinning ... and with an absolutely AMAZING 360 view of Singapore from the 73rd floor.  WOW!!!  It was a stunning setting.

We had to laugh at ourselves, for how stupid would it have been if we had just stayed downstairs, had a few drinks and left because the opening was a dud with no guests!!!  Thank god for Nicky and her bathroom breaks.  I knew women discussed intelligent things as they go in droves to the restroom :-)

And although you won't be able to go to the rooftop every time you go to New Asia Bar, you will still have a stunning view and a great setting from the dance floor, grooving high above Singapore.

Screening the Singapore skyline from a rooftop terrace

It's Friday night and everyone needs a drink by now :-)

So where is one to go to get a spectacular setting, a great choice of cocktails and to feel a bit groovy?  The Screening Room.  Located on Ann Siang Road in Chinatown, this a wonderful bar to start off your evening.  Although you can also eat here and watch movies too, I've only come here for drinks.  The roof-terrace is modern and hip, and has a great view of the Chinatown rooftops in the vicinity and the Singapore Skyline right behind.

If you're heading to Chinatown for dinner, or to any another restaurant for that matter, this is the place to start off your evening.

Hang out with 'supermodels' at Mimolette

Last Friday we were invited to go out to Mimolette, a restaurant/bar deep inside the old Singapore Turf Club. To be honest, I had to even look-up what a turf club was! Little did I know it had to do with a horse race-track.

The old Turf Club is a large oasis of green in the Bukit Timah area of Singapore. Currently the grounds are used for training horses, etc. But deep in its grounds you will find a very fashionable place, where one comes to be seen.

Mimolette is an old black & white colonial-style house, which holds a restaurant and bar. Best of all, it seems that only tall and beautiful people come to hang-out here. Everyone was super-dressed ... especially the women. Add to that a great outdoor lounge area under plush foliage, grooving music, martinis ... and you've got a recipe for a great evening.

If you don't want to stand in line, come early ... around 2100-2130 ...

Morton's Martini Bar

Monday ... what is one to do to cheer themselves up? Go to a martini bar ... yeah baby!!

Nicky and I showed up promptly at 1700 (opening time) at Morton's Martini Bar at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Of course there was no one there. 1700 on Monday!!! But then we ordered a appletini and a lychini and a cosmopolitan ... and then the waitress brought us some free steak sandwiches ... and there were some crooners playing in the background. And the next thing you know we're drunk ... and the place is packed!!!

It's a great way to start the week :-)