The pick of this year’s entries for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, as selected by Time Out Singapore:
There are plenty of slick, great-looking restaurants all around Singapore, but &Made by Bruno Menard stands out from the rest as the most playful of them all, courtesy of local 360 design firm The Stripe Collective (also behind the interiors at Menard’s more recent La Cantine and several other hot local eateries). With kid-friendly Space Invader graphics and other digital cartoon-style art on the tiles and windows (along with cheeky framed black-and-white pictures of the staff on the wall) adorning the clean black-and-white decor, the entire concept is beautifully executed – with excellent service and menu options to boot.
The one-page menu (also designed by Stripe and consistent with the digitalised cartoon theme) of burgers, sandwiches and salads is simple and tempting, taking diner basics and giving them a little gourmet twist. Plus, it’s not often that Singapore gets a three-Michelin-starred chef who stays in the city to helm the kitchen – Ménard was formerly in charge at the three-starred French-Japanese fine-dining stalwart L’Osier in Tokyo. His presence here keeps &Made one of the top tables in the city.
Berwin Song, editor, Time Out Singapore
&Made. Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Road, Singapore. +65 6732 9808. www.andmade.sg.
Berwin Song, editor at Time Out Singapore, on Ku Dé Ta:
One of the top destinations to bring out-of-town visitors, Ke Dé Ta is the epitome of modern Singapore, perched as it is at one end at the top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands SkyPark (which also hosts the almost-as-iconic infinity pool, only open to hotel guests). The multi-tiered restaurant and alfresco club lounge offers a direct view looking across Marina Bay towards the city's CBD and its ever-growing skyline (and a 360 degree view from the dining room).
Designed by Elaine Jamiesonof Positive Partnership (also behind Hong Kong's Peak), the restaurant follows a simple, clean design aesthetic, with natural wood and marble tones while the club lounge offers a more cosy, mysterious look with black drapes and hidden alcove seating (there's also plenty of standing room; it gets crowded here!). A not-to-miss experience for any visitor.
Ku Dé Ta. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore. www.kudeta.com/singapore.