Bar Reviews:
We scour the bar scene to bring you the new and noteworthy – cool new bars and nightspots for you to try. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! This month, Kel Flanders headed to The Other Roof, a new rooftop bar at Ann Siang Hill.
First Impressions:
Tucked at the top of newly renovated hotspot Ann Siang House, The Other Roof is the latest project by Dario Knox, the creator behind the iconic hidden cocktail bar, The Other Room. This rooftop bar is intimate yet open and includes plenty of seating both inside and out. The view is a great mix of old and new – terracotta shophouse roofs and towering glass skyscrapers. But, I’d recommend asking for a seat at the bar so you can watch the flamboyant and expert mixologists create a myriad of smoking, crackling, tempting cocktails.
The Other Roof takes cues from its older sibling; small chilled samplers in vials and a bowl of nibbles were placed on our table as we sat down – a nice touch while we were settling in.
The Chosen Ones:
What’s unique about The Other Roof is all their spirits are infused with tea. After an extensive search, working 1,000 tea blends down to just 80, the team, led by Knox, has crafted not only a cocktail menu, but 400 different tea-centric spirits to try.
Instead of choosing from the menu, we asked for recommendations. After we were asked about our taste preferences (fruity, spirit-forward or smoky?), I was delivered a dainty teacup and saucer; the cocktail, Whole Lotta Love ($22), was light and fruity with delicate hints of lavender. I could have drunk it all night, and I felt so delightfully ladylike with my china cup!
I do like to judge a bar by its Gin & Tonic but, instead of ordering the one from the menu, I was offered the Orango-Tango infused Tanqueray No. Ten Gin with homemade tonic ($23). It was the size of a small fishbowl, and the citrus tea-infusion helped to make the grapefruit and botanicals in the gin jump, from the first to the last yummy sip.
Bite on this:
The menu, designed to be a shared experience, includes mini beef sliders ($19), a Spanish cheese platter ($24) and sliced black Angus with a ponzu dipping sauce ($28). We particularly enjoyed the scrumptious Zucchini Bikini ($19), which is anything but boring vegetarian food – lightly toasted fingers of golden bread with juicy sun-dried tomatoes, olives, stringy mozzarella and zucchini.
From 4.30 to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, The Other Roof offers nibbles of tasty chorizo and tomato on crystal bread with every drink purchased. It’s spicy, crunchy and a perfect accompaniment to their killer cocktails. We went on a Thursday, when they also serve the ladies freshly shucked oysters with every bubbly cocktail ordered.
Last but not least:
Go for the cocktails, but stay for the service. It’s clear the team loves what they do and were always on hand to answer questions and make suggestions. Soon, they’ll also be opening up the back section of the rooftop, and they’ll also be catering for larger private events.
The Other Roof
28 Ann Siang Road
6100 2882 | theotherroof.com
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