Singapore’s first Latin American cocktail den and newest must-visit drinking hole Vasco has opened on Hong Kong Street.
A devilishly sultry cocktail den beckons, in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. This latest addition to the bar circuit is a brazen celebration of the lust for life that is Latin culture: vibrant, sultry, colourful and spirited, reflected in Vasco’s dashing ambience of killer cocktails, romantic hospitality and well executed bar bites freshly made in the visible open kitchen.
Brought to you by the talent behind The Cufflink Club The Cufflink Club, one of the world’s top ten high volume cocktail bars (Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2014, Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar), this is owner-founder Joel Fraser’s second outpost: a rarity in the Singapore cocktail scene. Fraser’s travels to Latin America, including a trip to Rio de Janeiro in 2014 for the FIFA World Cup, inspired him to create Vasco and bring his appreciation for Latin culture to life; an appreciation shared by Vasco partners Christian Hartmann and Andrew Walsh who also felt strongly that the South American scene was missing in Singapore.
Helming the kitchen is Executive Chef and Vasco partner Andrew Walsh, previously Executive Chef of stellar establishments Esquina and The Study. No stranger to bustling environments with top-notch food, Walsh, who is also partnering up with Fraser on a new soon-to-be-announced restaurant concept, has conceptualised a concise menu hefty with fresh ingredients and bold in flavour; making the food at Vasco a crowd-puller in itself.
Rounding up this team of some of the best in the business is Head Chef Jennifer Lee, founder of Sarnies café on Telok Ayer Street. As one of the few female head chefs in Singapore now, Lee, of Australian-Chinese descent, has worked in restaurants, bakeries and cafes all her life, and had been in Mexico City cooking and reviewing restaurants for a year prior to Vasco.
Begin the evening’s revelry with their choice of signature cocktails and Latin classics. Cachaça, Mezcal, Pisco, Rum and Tequila boldly headline the playful cocktail list here, including The Old Man & The Sea, Girl From Ipanema, Cusco Puta, Mexico ’70 and Del Monte Cartel. Making for a dangerous proposition of a decadent night out is the food, which presents a heady pleasure of more senses: try the El Cubano Sandwich, a healthy portion of pig, pickle and cheese, as well as the authentic empanadas and Peruvian inspired ceviche.
The 1,600 sq ft space with 56 seats is designed for a night of serious fun, courtesy of both Fraser and Hartmann.Expect nothing less than a lively mix of Latin beats on the stereo complete with Bossanova funk and tunes from the likes of Buena Vista Social Club to bring out the full Vasco experience.
Los Primos has re-opened with an open kitchen & bar and updated menu.
Inspired by the tradition of Spanish taverns, Los Primos (Spanish term for "the cousins") is a casual space to get-to-together and enjoy authentic Spanish food over a glass of beer, wine or Sangria. Choose from our wide selection of classic dishes, including over 30 types of tapas and variety of mains.
The owners’ who have worked and managed operations in Spain, together with the Spainish chefs, truly deliver a traditional Spanish dining experience. Situated in the heart of bustling Club Street, Los Primos with its open kitchen concept, hosts a long tapas and cocktail bar, embedded with original ceramic tiles and lit by wrought-iron chandeliers and torches from Valencia.
Situated in the vibrant and eclectic enclave of Tiong Bahru, the modern and historic juxtaposition of the restaurant atop an art-deco straits settlement boutique hotel fits perfectly with the surroundings.
Born in the year of the rabbit (which explains his choice of restaurant name), Chef Matthew has always been fascinated with cooking since young. Unlike most award-winning chefs, Chef Matthew kept his training local within At-Sunrise Global Chef Academy without any overseas apprenticeship. Similar to Heston Blumenthal, he picks up ideas from his travel experiences and interaction with people.
A combination of classic French techniques along with a touch of Asian and Singaporean flavours, Chef Matthew creates seasonal menus inspired by the 7 characteristics of ‘ENSOPHI’: Exotic, Nostalgia, Soil, Ocean, Pristine, Heritage, Impression. Each element represents a poetic and artistic expression of his dish.
Sourced from little-known boutique vineyards from all over the world, wine labels to pair with each course range from familiar regions like Barossa Valley, Australia and Bordeaux, France to newer regions like Nahe, Germany and Colchagua Valley, Chile. Watch as resident mixologist Aidil shakes up house crafted cocktails and international favourites to kick-start your meal. Enjoy Happy Hour specials and live music from Thursday to Saturday evenings.
With Chef Matthew’s forte in creating and designing, he made a full renovation to the space. The intimate 30-seater indoor dining room is formed around a semi-circle with floor to ceiling glass windows for a 180° view of the city. Complete with an open kitchen concept, diode branches of stars imprinted in the ceiling, and Chef Matthew’s sketches and art sculptures collected from his travels, the stage is set for a gastronomical and artistic experience. The outdoor rooftop terrace seats 26 but offers ample standing space for large-scale events in a lush alfresco garden setting. Chef Matthew has plans to set up a vertical garden around the steel façade. Sip some wine, savour the food and soak in the ambience. The Rabbit Stash offers a multi-sensory dining adventure with a feast for all senses.
​Located at One Farrer Hotel & Spa and open 24/7, Escape serves a myriad of local and international cuisine from its interactive open kitchen. Tuck into a sumptuous buffet of freshly-prepared dishes and watch their chefs ‘live’ in action as they whip up your culinary choices a la minute.
Unwind with a glass of wine or a refreshing soda at the Escape lobby lounge, or enjoy tête-à-tête over cakes and coffee at the cosy café area.
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