Dining/Drinking

Mondrian Singapore Duxton bars review: The hotel’s location – a part of China town – has no shortage of waterholes, where the Duxton Hill neighbourhood features barista cafés, Michelin-starred eateries, bars, art galleries and more. And at the area’s new flagship design hotel Mondrian Singapore Duxton alone there are four outlets where to drink, dine and socialise – the destination for this discovery review.

 

The arrival to the hotel takes place by foot, from a nearby MRT station, as one of those sudden and frequent evening thunderstorms erupts in tropical Singapore. It helps then that the Duxton low-rise district is intact when it comes to those heritage-smart five-foot ways as shelter from the rain (or the hot sun). So upon arrival it’s a rush to get indoors as quickly as possible. But a few things one cannot avoid noticing are that the new hotel is situatated up on a hill (which – it will become evident – has its particular advantage especially here, for the rooftop pool view!) and also that it has a large striking bronze statue outside its entrance. This is the contemporary ’What Party’ (which reminds of the Michelin man logo) statue made by Kaws (aka Brian Donnelly) – a New York-based artist.

 

This 6-metre sculpture is on permanent public view and forms the centrepiece of the Mondrian Singapore Duxton Art Collection and intended as a new landmark in Singapore’s Chinatown. It is representative of the eclecticism of the Duxton street culture, standing side by side with heritage Singaporean Shophouses, and the Pinnacle HDB public housing, while looking to the future with the hotel’s Mondrian Singapore Duxton views of the CBD (Central Business Disctrict) skyline.

 

The Pinnacle public housing is in itself also a landmark that can be used to find one’s bearings, because it is a 50-storey residential development in Singapore’s city centre, next to the business district. It cannot be missed on the skyline. And all its seven connected towers are collectively the world’s tallest public residential buildings, and featuring the two longest sky gardens ever built on skyscrapers!

 

Mondrian Singapore Duxton arrived on the Singapore hotel scene in July 2023 as a fresh injection, and everything about the hotel so far signals a fresh new breed; that it is strongly design-driven and comes with glamour and culinary flair. Mondrian is also quite unorthodox in how it sources employee talent from a wide range of creative sectors, including design, fashion, nightlife, and art. Thus, one of the bartenders at the rooftop bar does not come from a hospitality background at all but being someone who has switched to bartending from a business job by joining this hotel!

 

The Mondrian brand (by Ennismore) is commitment to creating boundary-pushing, immersive experiences, rooted in art, design and culture. Its Singapore 302-room property seamlessly blends the local rich heritage with modern sophistication alongside the aforementioned art collection.

 

This Happy Hour Asia visit is far from any comprehensive coverage but focused on browsing of Mondrian’s own four dining and drinking outlets; hopping from bar to bar and focusing on trying out the cocktails and getting a feel for the evening vibe!

 

So let’s see what the excitement at Duxton Hill hotel’s eclectic collection of outlets has on offer! Upon entering the doors, it is easy to start with off with Christina’s Duxton Hill, which is situated right there on the left!

 

Low-lit in the evening, a bar is place in the back of a relatively small room, with low, oval pink-reddish marble tables and vintage table lamps. At the bar there is a row of floral upholstered high peg chairs. The interiors feature two wide rose gold square pillars and a rose gold entrance, with white drapings.

 

Mondrian encourages guests to “dress up or down and assemble your entourage for some night moves over a grill-inspired feast that spills over into evening.”

 

Mornings at Christina’s, the hotel informs, are all about coffee, served by an award-winning barista team using a Slayer coffee machine and signature blends by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.

 

By day, the restaurant’s beautiful light-filled space is perfect for catch-ups and long lunches, featuring the ceiling art installation ‘Crystalized’ by New York-based studio SoftLab and part of the Mondrian Singapore Duxton permanent art collection.’

 

Christina’s welcomes creative minds to linger longer, where a long afternoon session can seamlessly extend into the evening 

 

Food-wise Christina’s hearty wood-fired menu is crafted with a “blend of Mediterranean nuances and Asian flavours.” The evening tapas-style menu is “inspired, eclectic and full of surprises.” Christina’s also has a superb selection of natural wines, craft beers and locally-inspired cocktails. 

 

Its natural wine selection includes: Unico Zelo ”Un Petit”, Sauvignon Blanc, Aus; Good Intentions, Mt. Gambier, S. Aus; and Bolter Puglia Primitivo Organice Zinfandel. Puglia.

 

Happy Hour at Christina’s is available daily, 4 – 8pm, including a bottle of white or red wine at $70; Unico ‘Un Petit’ Adelaide Hills, Australia or Botter Puglia Primitivo IGT Organic, Puglia, Italy. Christina’s Signature Cocktails on offer for $22 each include ‘Solero Daiquiri’ (Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, clarified milk syrup, lime, vanilla foam); ‘La Fresa’ (Orientalist Gunpowder gin, strawberry, moscati d’asti); ‘Christina’s Spritz’ (Cocchi rosa, sauvignon blanc verjus, cranberry, rosé); ‘Laughing Buddha’ (Bombay Sapphire gin, Brass Lion pahit pink,  mandarin skin ambrato, Salers) and more.

 

With one drink at each outlet the choice falls on ’Asam Boi Highball’ (in a ”signature bittersweet symphony” of Asam Boi salted plum vodka, peach honey and coconut, and the Straits Spritz, with Ondeh Ondeh Soju, salted pina tepache, Pét-nat sparkling wine, and citrus beets) – for the sake of being curious about locally-inspired drink recipes.

 

It’s visually slightly “lab-looking” with the Asam Boi (a salted dried plum) floating around in the completely transparent highball glass drink.

 

Next, with the short rain already over, Happy Hour Asia moves up in the lift to the rooftop, where guests will be in or a surprise at the Canyon Club, with the showcase pool. Here guests are in for a wow surprise: walking out and to the far end of the pool there is a completely unobstructed panorama view stretching more than 180 degrees, including the entire CBD in view. Thanks to the location on the hill and the intact low-slung shop houses nearer to the hotel this view is pretty certain to remain like this also for the future.

 

So if one wants to impress on friends with a cool and less crowded view of the city, the Canyon Club is it! With its Los Angeles 1970’s vibe and poolside cabanas this poolside sanctuary is also open for outside guests now, offering Californian-influenced food and drinks based on west coast hospitality. “Colourful tropical sundowners, champagne-soaked spritzes and re-imagined disco drinks lead the charge on a cocktail list designed for luxury poolside sipping.”

 

’Catalina Wine Mixer’ feels like an appropriate choice for this setting, with Aperol, Veuve Clicquot yellow label and Cocchi Rosa Americano Rosa (a flavourful aromatised wine bringing a new style to Aperitivo drinks).

 

 

‘Godfather Part II’ (Dewars 12, Disaronno Amaretto, Ardbeg 10; ‘Let’s Go Bananas’ (Bacardi Cuatro, Banana Bread Rum, Aperol, Cocoa Bitters) are other cocktails that may appeal to you. 

 

Or ‘Slushies’ such as ‘Wild Strawberry Daiquiri’ (Bacardi Carta Blanca, Bottega Brut, Wild Strawberry, Lemon Sherbet) or ‘Seasonal Slushie’ (Rotating Guest Shift Specials)

 

On the Wine & Bubbles front, on offer are Rose: Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel (by glass or bottle); White: Domaine L&C Poitout Chablis, Schlumberger Riesling Les Princes Abbes; Red: Tenuta San Guido Le Difese, Tuscany, or Terrazas Malbec Reserva – all by glass or bottle

 

Next, the bar hopping continues with the modern tropical Jungle Ballroom, a really well thought-out jungle-inspired concept, celebration wild nature in the sparks and flashes of dynamic colours, ingredients, and patterns found in Southeast Asia. Secretive as one might want to be with an escape out in the wilderness Jungle Ballroom has two covert entrances: a) via a ‘secret tunnel’ wrapped in vines b) through a curtained entrance within the hotel.

 

Inside there is a robust bar with a ruby-veined marble counter and bar seats, while the rest of the room has the feel of a nightclub. And this venue is open until 2 a.m so that assessment is probably right… join a “tropical disco” with a trek through the wilds!

 

Use the menu as guide, while trekking through the ancient jungle in the form of drink themes. Now this concept does certainly build up some expectations about cocktail sensations!

 

After much menu-studying the choice of Jungle Ballroom drink for the night falls on a Canopy-themed drink: A space for shelter from sunlight and tropical rainfall, nestled high up in the treetops and soaring towards the sky. These cocktails lean toward the elements, sights, and flavours found here.

 

The drink is appropriately named: ‘Queen of the Jungle’, made with rye whisky, Barolo Chinato, and walnuty New Orleans bitters! Barolo Chinato!? Have to look that up… It’s an Italian aromatized wine produced with Barolo DOCG, enriched with cinchona calisaya bark, rhubarb and gentian root and the precious cardamom seed. The cocktail is described as follows: ”a velvet smooth sipper, perfect night cap with barbecue note & green walnut.” This is a quite long-lasting drink, perfect for late conversations and indeed as night cap!

 

Another one from the Canopy is locally-inspired ‘Views from the treetops’, made with Singapore dry gin, bianco vermouth, citrus, cacao, persimmon and black sesame. “A refreshing elixir to start your journey, with cerbs, chocolate, citrus & aromatic spice.”

 

Themed as ‘Understorey’ the menu continues with drinks taking inspiration from the jungle zone just below the treetops, where new life emerges, and jungle animals roam amongst the diffused light and subtle breezes that penetrate the interwoven canopy. This section teems with spices and a fair amount of fizz.

 

’The Shrub’ is made with India dry gin, Rosso vermouth, bruto americano, nashi (pear), fennel fronds and vinegar. This is ”the humble negroni brought to life with crisp juicy pear and a touch of souer fragrant anise!”

 

Fennel fronds is an ingredient waking curiousity! it looks like dill have a fresh, subtle licorice-y flavour. They are gorgeous as a garnish but also add flavour to vegetable side dishes, salads, soups, and salmon. From roasted carrots and onions with fennel fronds and honey to an Italian sausage pizza that’s topped with fennel fronds, get inspired with these seven sensational recipes that show you some delicious ideas for using fennel fronds, informs google!

 

‘The Monkey Cup’ is another cocktail with appeal. Made with pineapple rum, apricot brandy, rose, seared passionfruit, orgeat, citrus sun-drenched fruit, brandy, tropical aged rum, and “clarified with a hint of effervescence.”

 

Then, down it goes to the Forest Floor; a place where young herb roots take hold in the nutrient-rich soil, and land-dwelling animals find nourishment to survive. A section featuring fruit and native herbs.

 

To pick a few from this section, ‘The Root Of All’ is made with Agave spirit, banana, pineapple, lemon, jungle ballroom spices, and longan.  “Jungle Ballroom’s unique Indonesian spice blend is the backbone of this sultry sipper.” ‘The Lost Ruins’ is a mixture of Pahit gin, secco vermouth, racilla, fennel, champagne vinegar, orange & mandarin bitters. This is the “jungle martini with added funk, a touch of bitter, a hint of acidity and a botanical finish.”

 

And finally from the Ballroom: the beating heart of the jungle. “Your hidden oasis where magic happens, music plays, and drinks flow liberally. The prize for venturing here is unforgettable revelry.”

 

Intriguingly, many drinks are really hard to imagine in terms of taste before tasting, but Bar Manager Adrian Besa and his team will be able to help you with hints about the aromas to expect from their concoctions! ‘The Phantom Rickshaw’ is made with absinthe, crème de menthe, mandarin skin, mint, cucumber, yuzu, sour plum, described as “a menthol & citrus lace pick-me-up, that is the perfect respite from the jungle heat.”

 

There is also Faux Abv: a crafted selection of non-alcoholic cocktails containing a thoughtful representation of the region’s bountiful spices, fruits, and produce.

 

The final bar stop for the evening is Bottega di Carna: a modern Italian eatery with a rebellious spin and a touch of Tuscany. Expect a playful gastronomic experience and Italian classics with elements of butcher chef Dario Cecchini rebellious spin. Again, it’s a dimly lit restaurant in evening time.

 

And this time it’s about browsing the drinks menus and what can be highlighted on this front is certainly Bottega’s Aperitivo Hour, served daily from 5 – 7pm with a charcuterie board and a choice of drink.  Available wines are: Brancaia chianti classico doc, Silvio carta su puddu vermentino di sardegna doc 2021, Minuty m (rose) Bottega prosecco millesimato brut. And cocktails: Gin e tonico, Bottega di carna spritz (House peach white wine cordial, aperol, house limoncello, prosecco) or Negroni (bombay sapphire, campari, martini rubino).

 

The Bottega take on Gin & Tonic (”gets an upgrade with a splash of bitter campari and our house made limoncella wiht London Essence tonic water, fresh citrus”), Gin E Tonico becomes the last drink of choice this evening, consisting in Bombay sapphire, campari, house limoncello and tonic), also served at a wide ruby-veined marble bar counter.

 

Another ‘Secondi’ is the ‘21st Century Bellini’ with the irresistible ingredients Prosecco, Peach & White Wine Cordial, and Martini Ambrato! “Our reimagining of the Venetian Staple, white peaches simmered slowly with Italian white wine and herbs, then paired with aromatic vermouth and a healthy splash of fizz. Served straight up.”

 

On the wine front Bottega Prosecco Millesimato Brut; Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV; Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel, Provence, France and more are also on the menu.

 

This was the first visit having drinks at Mondrian Singapore Duxton, but – as in the name of one of the cocktails at Canyon Club – it certainly ‘WON’T BE MY LAST’ (ingredients: Bacardi Carta Blanca, Le Blance Calvados, Velvet Falernum)!