Watering Holes

Raise a Glass at Singapore's Best Lounges and Bars

by Elizabeth Butcher

While the theme of wellness might not be an intuitive pairing with Watering Holes, some brave and curious friends and I decided to try to reconcile the two. First, we explored the conventional wellness philosophy of alcohol-free drinks. Then we set out to find a watering hole that could help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. I can now recommend both.

Amanda Culhane and Jeanne Buechel

AWA members Amanda Culhane and Jeanne Buechel bravely joined me at home for “dealcoholized” cocktails and dinner. An internet search had led me to the online shop Free Spirit, “Singapore’s Only Alcohol Free Bottle Shop,” founded by Rebecca Forwood (The Fishwives) and Emma Pike (Farmer’s Market). The website has a thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits. My order was delivered within two days.

When the ladies arrived, I opened a bottle of Noughty Sparkling Rose with a loud “pop.” The sparkling rose is an alcoholfree, organic wine from “sandy and calcareous vineyards” in southern Spain. The pretty pink, effervescent beverage tastes slightly of apple but is not overly sweet. This is because it has about half the sugar of other non-alcoholic sparkling wines coming in at 18calories/100ml. Served in champagne flutes it made for a festive welcome.

Non-alcoholic gin and tonic

Next, we tried my first ever gin-less Gin & Tonic. I had been seeing Seedlip’s 0% Alcoholic Spirits around for a while with their gorgeous label artwork amalgamating all the ingredients into the shape of animal heads. I elected to serve the Garden 108 made from peas, hay, spearmint, rosemary, and thyme. Served over ice with Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Tonic, a wedge of lime and a slice of cucumber it was as pleasant as any well-made G&T. The botanicals give the gin a fresh flavor, but no single ingredient dominates. Not only is the Seedlip G&T delicious, according to the Seedlip website, it is sugar- and calorie-free.

To accompany our dinner, I opened a bottle of Ara Zero Sauvignon Blanc from Marlboro, NZ. The Ara Zero is fresh and dry with a slight citrus finish. It paired perfectly with salads and light fish and weighed in with only 23 calories/125ml. In summary, I was delighted to see how many good options now exist for someone choosing not to drink alcohol or just wanting to try something new.

As for the alternative wellness approach of combining alcohol and rejuvenation in a scenic watering hole where you can escape, relax and recharge: look no further than a weekday afternoon on Sentosa Island. (NB: Weekends get quite full and trade the relaxed atmosphere for a more festive, dynamic feeling). AWA board member Anita Young and I spent a beautiful Tuesday biking around the beach clubs of Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong. Each of the clubs (no membership required) has a distinct vibe – sporty, sophisticated, party all day, family friendly - and are worth a visit.

Tanjong Beach Club

To me the Tanjong Beach Club (channeling 1960s Cote d’Azur) felt the most inviting and relaxing. In addition to excellent service, they offer indoor and outdoor dining as well as a pool deck, oceanfront day beds, a full bar and both light and filling fare. I can think of few things more relaxing than a healthy lunch on the shaded patio followed by an afternoon of rest and rejuvenation in an oceanfront daybed sipping their famous Malayan Mai Tai or Tanjong Spritz. To learn more about Free Spirit or the Tanjong Beach Club, visit their websites.

Elizabeth enjoys exploring Singapore from Pulau Ubin to St.John's and all the watering holes in between.