After hours at Robertson
Robertson Quay's quiet, tree-lined stretch is the perfect chill-out haunt
By cheryl wee
-- PHOTOS: EM BY THE RIVER, LAURENT'S CAFE AND CHOCOLATE BAR, CDL, GRAND COPTHORNE HOTEL
Strolling from Clarke Quay to Robertson Quay, the pace of life slows down. It is less crowded along the river at this stretch. Instead of waterside restaurants and pubs, sturdy-looking trees lean out towards the Singapore River while patches of grass replace concrete banks in some parts.
Occasionally the sight of men perched by the river with their fishing rods greets the eye. They lower a hook from a small rod and use bread chunks as bait - reminiscent of fishermen from the past who used to travel down the river.
The greenery extends to the eateries in the area, at places such as eM By The River with its wooden floorboards and trees sprouting up in the middle of the alfresco dining area.
Lamps adorn the tree branches, providing ample light for a quiet after-dinner drink.
Finance executive, 25-year-old Grace Poh, likes the atmosphere of the place. She said: 'We spend most of our time indoors, be it at work, school or at home, we are always in a building. It is a good change to be dining outdoors, to get a breath of fresh air and closer to nature.'
But it is a different story inside Robertson Quay. The restaurants and bars that ring the courtyard attract late-night revellers.
Robertson Quay is also popular with joggers and, on weekday evenings, they can be spotted along the river.
Mr Shuan Sonja and Ms Jacinta Sonja, who are both in their 30s, felt the calming atmosphere was suitable for their store called Workshop, which rents out and sells vintage bicycles as well as design books.
Ms Sonja said: 'You have the waterfront and the wide promenades. It's a very friendly and nice neighbourhood.'
The tranquil area also attracts nature lovers.
Mr Tan Zi Jie, a 21-year-old student, said: 'I am a nature-loving kind of person and it's nice to be around trees when you eat. It calms me down. With trees around, the pace of life seems slower and more relaxed.'
Here are 12 places you can visit by the river.
1 Reed Sculpture
What: Tall grass-like plants can no longer be found along the banks of the Singapore River but Peter Chen's 6.5m sculpture evokes these plants.
The pipes that make up the cast bronze sculpture counterbalance and shift in the wind to produce musical sounds.
The work of art won the inaugural City Developments Limited Singapore Sculpture Award in 2003.
Where: The Pier along Robertson Quay
2 Orihara Liquor Shop
What: A sleek, minimalist interior belies the wide range of sake available at this standing-room-only bar. Choose from hot sakes, aperitif sakes, digestif sakes or sakes to accompany food. Also on offer are various shochus, umeshus, whiskey and imported Japanese beer. You can also buy exquisitely crafted sake cups from Japan.
The store at Robertson Walk is the Orihara company's first overseas branch, and the company can be traced to a specialist supplier of alcoholic beverages established in 1924 in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
Open: Mon to Wed, 7pm to midnight, Thur to Sat, 7pm to 1am, Closed on Sun
Where: 11 Unity Street, Robertson Walk, 01-02
Info: Call 6836-5710 or 6836-5680
3 Kim Seng Road To East Coast Park bicycle trail (15km)
What: Begin the scenic route at Kim Seng Park and ride along the promenade by the Singapore River, past Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and the Asian Civilisations Museum.
Cycle down Queen Elizabeth Walk and turn right to follow the Marina Promenade on the bay front until you hit Crawford Street. Cross Rochor River near Block 4 in Crawford Street to reach the Kallang Park Connector at the Kallang Riverside Park and head towards Stadium Road on the opposite bank.
Following that, go past the Singapore Indoor Stadium to the Tanjong Rhu bridge, where you can ride over into Tanjong Rhu Road. This will lead you to Fort Road and the East Coast Park.
4 Cafe Brio's
What: Outdoor tables here are mere metres away from the Singapore River, allowing you to enjoy the tranquillity of its waters while seated snugly in wicker chairs.
The buffet spread boasts a mixture of international and Asian fare from duck confit and braised oxtail stew to mee rebus and lor mee. Its speciality is a dish called Super Laksa ($26.50) which is traditional Singapore laksa served with chunks of lobster, prawns, scallops, slices of fish cake and bean cake and garnished with bean sprouts.
Open: Mon to Sun, 6.30 to 10.30am (breakfast), noon to 2.30pm (lunch), 6.30 to 10.30pm (dinner)
Where: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, 392 Havelock Road
Info: Call 6233-1100
5 Re-visiting Chua Ek Kay - Tribute To The Ink Master
What: Elegant brush strokes of traditional Chinese ink painting fuse with contemporary Western art in the works of the late Cultural Medallion recipient.
Featuring 26 art works from the series Singapore Street Scenes, Lotuses, Water Village and Archipelago, the exhibit explores his artistic journey beyond the confines of traditional Chinese ink painting.
When: March 5 to 20, Mon by appointment only, Tue to Sat, 10am to 6pm, closed on Sun
Where: Singapore Tyler Print Institute, STPI Gallery, 41 Robertson Quay
Admission: Free
Info: Call 6336-3663 or go to www.stpi.com.sg
6 Waterfall Lounge at Furama RiverFront
What: Set amid lush greenery, water cascades down from a 6m waterfall while customers munch on light snacks, sip cups of coffee or surf the Web.
Live bands at the lounge provide nightly entertainment.
Open: Sun to Thurs, 11am to 12.30am, Happy Hour, 3 - 8pm daily, Fri, Sat and eve of public holidays 11pm to 1.30am
Where: Furama Riverfront, 405 Havelock Road, Lobby
Info: Call 6739-6538
7 Brussels Sprouts
What: Priding itself on freshness, only live mussels and, depending on the season, imported shellfish feature on the menu.
The place also boasts 25 different flavours of mussels, each served with a free flow of fries. Other favourites include Grey Shrimp Croquette ($14) and Toast Cannibal: Steak Tartare On Toast ($9.50).
To accompany the ample seafood dishes are 120 kinds of Belgian beers ranging from fruit beers, White Beers Blonde Beers and Brune Beers to name a few. All beer are imported and about 70 of them are unique to the restaurant.
Open: Mon to Thur, 5pm to midnight, Fri to Sat, noon to 1am, Sun, noon to midnight
Where: 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, 01-12, The Pier@Robertson
Info: Call 6887-4344
8 Laurent's Cafe And Chocolate bar
What: Outdoor wicker sofas and chairs upholstered in hues of brown that resemble the many different types of chocolate sold here make up the outdoor area and a push cart offers homemade ice cream from Laurent's just beside the cluster of chairs.
It specialises in all things chocolate from fluffy souffles ($16.50) to hot frothy cups of the stuff ($8). Pieces of prettily decorated premium chocolate can also be bought in boxes trimmed with ribbons.
Open: Mon, 6 to 11pm, Tues to Thur, 1pm to midnight, Fri to Sat, 1pm to 1am, Sun, 1 to 11pm
Where: The Pier at Robertson Quay, 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, 01-11
Info: Call 6235-9007
9 The Book Cafe
What: Sink into an overstuffed sofa with a magazine or book picked from well-stocked shelves.
The breakfast menu is served all day - a popular dish is Chipolata And Bacon which comes with sunny-side-up egg, toast and harsh browns ($14.95) - and wireless Internet access is available.
Open: Sun to Thur, 8.30am to 10pm, Fri and Sat, 8.30am to midnight
Where: Seng Kee Building, 20 Martin Road 01-02
Info: Call 6887-5430
10 Kith Cafe
What: Enjoy crisp slices of toast spread with an assortment of toppings from vegemite to avocado, all day.
A fry-up of toastie with bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar ($5.50) as well as a healthy serving of muesli topped with fresh strawberries and covered with vanilla yogurt ($6) are also offered, allowing customers the comfort of these breakfast food items even in the evenings.
The cafe serves a wide selection of drinks such as milk shakes, tea, coffee and fresh juices, alongside soups and sandwiches that change daily.
Open: 7am to 7pm daily
Where: 7 Rodyk Street, Watermark@Robertson Quay, 01-33
Info: Call 6341-9407
11 Workshop By Angelus Novus Studio
What: Rent restored French vintage bicycles in pretty colours outfitted with a woven white basket in front. Charges range from $10 an hour to $50 for six hours or $70 for a whole day on weekends.
Special Velo snack packs are brown paper bags packed with a regular sandwich and an iced tea from Kith Cafe are available ($11.50) with any bike rental, and allow you to ride away for a picnic down Robertson Quay.
The shop also sells restored vintage steel frame bikes, acquired from private collectors, museums and private auction houses abroad.
The sturdy frames are of British, European and Japanese makes from the 1950s to 1980s.
Adding to the rare finds are vintage stationery and limited-edition design books from abroad.
Open: 1 to 8pm on weekdays and 11am to 9pm on weekends. Bikes are to be returned by 7.30pm daily and 8.30pm on weekends with the exception of overnight rentals
Where: 7 Rodyk Street, 01-30, Watermark Robertson Quay
Info: Call 6835-7228 or go to www.work-shop.com.sg
12 eM By The River
What: Dishing out eggs over-easy and bacon in the morning and hearty meals at lunch, the eatery transforms into a laid-back bar in the evenings, with live music every Friday night.
Set in a little cluster of trees, diners have the luxury of lounging there into the wee hours of the morning, as the place stays opens till late every day.
Open: Mon to Thur, 9 to 2am, Fri & eve of public holidays, 9 to 3am, Sat, 8 to 3am and Sun, 8 to 2am
Where: 1 Nanson Road, Gallery Hotel 01-05
Info: Call 6836-9691
cherylw@sph.com.sg
Next week: Check out the cultural offerings around Empress Place
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