Social Hour At Marina Bay Sands Is A Great Excuse To Hit The Bars Early

We all wish the weekend would arrive sooner. But you don’t have to wait that long to imbibe your favourite cocktails, especially when it’s Social Hour at Marina Bay Sands on Tuesdays. From 6 to 9pm, guests can enjoy a wide selection of cocktails at 15 participating bars at half the price.

That’s exactly what social influencer, former DJ and actress Rozz Lee and her friends, indie singer Nikolai David Kea and actor/model Aaron Mossadeg, recently did when they swung by to experience what everyone’s been raising their glasses to.

First stop: Adrift by David Myers, where they gained new insights into making the most of the opportunity. “We don’t believe in signature drinks because it always boils down to your taste preference,” says general manager Gibran Baydoun. Which is why all its cocktails can be had at 50 per cent off during these golden hours.

(Related: Happy Hour With… Gibran Baydoun)

Above I Hear Banjoes

Seated at the bar, which is the best place to watch bartender Vojtech Bazant in his element, Rozz tried the New York-inspired Diamonds & Pearls—a sweet and sexy drink made with vodka and hints of coconut, while Nikolai had the apple and bourbon-flavoured I Hear Banjoes that was presented with a smoky flair. Whisky lover Aaron opted for the rum-based Tuk Tuk Thief garnished with freshly-made chocolate, which he shares he also loves because “you can taste the alcohol but it’s not overwhelming”.

Above Designing your own martini is as easy as choosing your base, style and garnish

The next stop was Renku Bar & Lounge. Known for its glorious afternoon tea spread and locally-inspired tea flavours, it also has an interesting D-I-Y martini programme, where guests can design their own, simply by choosing the base (gin or vodka), style (bone dry, dry, wet, vesper or dirty) and garnish. Aaron preferred a dry martini accented with lemon peel for a refreshing finish, while Rozz, who says that she doesn’t get drunk, chose a bone-dry martini with flowery notes. Nikolai’s, in contrast, was a wet martini made with a powerful concoction of vermouth and gin.

The executive chef recommends pairing these with gourmet bites that he has prepared, including chilled tsarskaya oysters that brim with freshness, served topped with luxurious caviar; these paired well with a tangy Granny Smith apple salad and chilled cucumber soup, and were lapped up in only minutes. “You don’t say no to (these) oysters,” adds Aaron, who also enjoyed the lobster hash with crunchy, deep-fried croquettes.

The Bird Southern Table & Bar was the last stop, which was an ideal place to end Social Hour, as the bar offers sweeping views of the bay—that are especially impressive at night. And so were the bar bites, in particular the fried Oreos, which everyone said were “so good”, as well as the well-crafted drinks. The favourite was, hands down, the Watermelon Sling, which was refreshing and perfect for our humid weather. Adds Rozz: “The sweetness of the fruit pairs well with the alcohol, so it was a pleasant surprise”.

We’ll toast to that.