Crossroads Bar isn’t your typical hotel lobby bar. Located in the city’s best spot for a tipple or two, Clarke Quay, Crossroads Bar also offers afternoon tea sets and an Asian-inspired tapas and drinks menu by IKA Culinary Olympics award-winning chef Louis Tay. Pick a cosy spot under the grand chandelier and settle in for an array of gastronomic treats.
Try the signature Straits Afternoon Tea ($38/person, minimum two to dine) that’s packed with Peranakan favourites like tender braised pork belly in a steamed lotus leaf bun, otah otah on toast and a sambal ayam panggang sandwich that’s bursting with rich flavours. There’s also kueh pie tee, yam cake with XO sauce and Nyonya chicken curry puffs for a hit of spice. Your sweet tooth won’t be neglected, either – think pandan chiffon cake, kueh lapis and a host of other homemade Nyonya kuehs.
For a more classic afternoon tea experience, opt for Crossroads’ English Afternoon Tea ($38/person, minimum two to dine). Aside from homemade buttermilk raisin and plain scones that are served with jam and clotted cream, you’ll find an assortment of sandwiches like smoked salmon and dill, chicken breast and avocado, and truffle egg mayo. Save room for the collection of French pastries and desserts like macarons and lemon curd tarts, too.
If you’re looking for something stiffer than tea, the bar offers bespoke cocktails with hints of local fruits and spices, some sourced from the hotel’s very own urban garden. Sip on its signature smoked nutmeg cocktail, Chinatown Rumble ($20) or the sweeter Jaded Silk ($20), a vodka-based drink that’s infused with melon. Feeling peckish? Pair these drinks with chef Tay’s Asian-inspired tapas – don’t miss the beef cheek rendang ($16) and Cold Drunk Chicks ($12), chicken marinated in Shao Xing wine that’s poached and served with a ginger and scallion sauce.