Hotels are designed to function as a home away from home and the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hopes to welcome guests into its stately property – by way of its newly refurbished East Wing. The area, designed by Tonychi Studio (also responsible for Colony and Summer Pavilion), seeks to capture the same intimate and elegant charm of a private residence.
Choose to unwind at the Library Reception, flanked by grand bookshelves and oak floors; or head to the adjacent Lounge. The majestic sitting room-inspired space feels luxurious and lived-in all at once – with plush seats, warm lighting, and dramatic chandeliers. Savour light bites from four vitrines displaying treats of cakes, cheeses, caviar, and more; or enjoy an afternoon tea experience with a book in hand.
And as the sun settles, the stories of yesteryear are brought to life at Republic. Major pop cultural references to art, cinema, fashion and music from the 1960s are peppered throughout the space – think vintage posters and vinyl records lining the walls and tunes from the era playing through the speakers.
The same 1960s spirit is weaved into its extensive Volume Three cocktail menu which debuted in July 2024. This time, we see a sharper turn towards the bold ideas and expressiveness of the period, with some interesting nods to local pioneers and cultural events across four sections: Icons, Media, Aesthetics, and Innovation.
Under Icons, Republic pays homage to the nation's founding father Lee Kuan Yew with the drink Founding Father. No surprises that it's fashioned around Singapore's national flower, the orchid, tempered by rum and sparkling wine for an elegant and deceptively easy-to-drink tipple. Other luminaries celebrated in this section are Elvis Presley with the old-fashioned inspired Fool's Gold, Muhammad Ali with honey-sweetened Boulevardier The Greatest, and Twiggy, an espresso martini variation for the British mod-fashion icon.
Media captures the transformative shifts in publications, film, and media through four bold cocktails. Singapore's first women's magazine Her World Singapore gets a nod in the Woman of the Year, a gin and sparkling wine-based cocktail given a spicy kick with ginger chilli honey and a galaxy of edible gold stars. Another standout from this line-up is the Headliner, an update to the Republic's beloved Irish Coffee from its volume one menu. Each decadent sip of this drink comforts with notes of milk chocolate and cream cheese.
Discerning aesthetes will appreciate the artistic visions underpinning Visions of Stella, Psychedelia, Layer by Layer, and Egg Chair in the Aesthetics section, spanning the abstractions of Frank Stella to the simple functionality of Danish architect's Arne Jacobson's designs. The drink Layer by Layer is the most intriguing of the lot, celebrating Nanyang artist Cheong Soo Pieng's pioneering vision with unexpected components like pickle juice, celery, wasabi foam, and radish. A surprisingly harmonious drink for the adventurous at heart.
Finally, journey through the impactful innovations of the 1960s, be it the Concorde jet or the spaceflight programe Project Gemini. We like Bullet Train, a delicate matcha-infused sake garnished with a seaweed rice cracker that's as sleek as the high-speed shinkansen.