New drinking playgrounds

Bar & Billiard Room at Raffles Hotel receives its much anticipated makeover as a whisky and whisky craft cocktail specialist bar. Over 400 new-to-Singapore Scottish single malts, including a 50-year-old Balvenie, have been sourced by Christoph Nyfeler, managing partner of Whisky World, while familiar whisky and bourbon brands are also available. Connoisseurs can imbibe a wide range available by glass, such as Isle of Jura 15y Islands ($16 for two drams), along with a specially curated food menu. Of the beautifully presented whisky, gin, vodka and rum cocktails ($22 to 26 each), the lively Boston Sour stands out with sweet prune foam and Black Mission figs. Look out for weekend live jazz performances as well as whisky dinners and workshops after the official launch in mid-April. Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road. Tel: 6412 1816

At LongPlay – the name refers to LPs, or analogue vinyl records – its 3,000 strong vintage collection is played on state-of-the art Wilson Benesch turntables in a silky smooth aural dispersion. Old meets new is the vibe that permeates: mid-1900s music all the way to stylish food and drinks. The open concept kitchen and bar allows 15 seats for lively interaction with the counter crew, while lounge seating for 35 provides intimate partitioned spaces for small groups to chat. Sip on sonically inspired cocktails ($20), such as floral gin-and-Riesling Fred Ast’air’e, and an absinthe-harmonised Rock Island Iced Tea where gin, vodka, tequila, rum and triple sec mingle. The food menu is limited for now (with plans to extend later) but of high quality under the direction of chef Colin Buchan of Pollen; don’t miss the perfect pork sliders, classic mac & cheese, and house marinated olives with manchego and almonds. 4 Haji Lane. Tel: 6291 3323

Excerpt from the April 2015 issue of epicure.