Not to sound clichéd or whatever but Enclave bar is truly an enclave in its own right. Tucked between what seems to be an underpass in the downright forsaken Golden Mile Complex, you really just don't stumble upon such a spot.
Beyond a doubt, it's that type of hush-hush hang out where you probably heard it from somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody. Walk too fast and you might just miss it. Behind the graffiti licked walls and black tinted glass panels lies a cosy hideaway that screams of your cool cousin’s garage band hangout where he tokes and pokes.
Persian rugs, plush granddaddy couches, wooden furniture, neon signs, fanciful vintage trinkets and art frames plus a giant Bohemian-inspired mirror. No, that isn’t your hipster friend’s coming-of-age room makeover shopping list but what you’ll see when you first step foot into Enclave. Definitely not your average stiffy cocktail bars with all the pretence.
What comes with the ratchery of Golden Mile Complex is soon tossed in the backseat of your mind as whiffs of wok-kissed Thai stir-fry will soon overwhelm your senses. Think familiar favourites such as Thai Basil Pork ($9), Phad Thai ($9), Pad See Ewe ($9), Fried Garlic Pork ($9), Thai-style Spicy Seafood Stir Fry ($9) and other snacks.
Our favourite was the Pork Jowl Salad ($18) where each explosive bite brought us back to the streets of Bangkok. Expect juicy pork collar fried to a crisp and served atop a bed of spicy fish sauce together with crunchy greens, onions and tomatoes.
Considering the wretched shortcomings that you’ll most likely be served in most “bars” in Golden Mile, tipples here ain’t too shabby. Blessed by the locale with heaps of fresh produce from Thailand, what’s exciting is that it allows the bar to treat guests with a seasonal cocktail menu that rotates on a monthly basis. Expect nothing short of crafted cocktails with a cheeky Thai touch and twists of classics, made affordable.
For a light refreshing start, go with the Thai Mint Elderflower ($18). But if you’re looking for stiffers, your best bets are the herbaceous White Negroni ($18) and the bittersweet Nonhattan ($18) – a twist of a Manhattan.
Owned and run by brothers, Ritz and Rush, who happen to be second-generation Thai-Singaporean musicians. It's no surprise Enclave sits right up there with the time-tested giants and Thai discotheques of Golden Mile where a microcosm of the rich tapestry will soon be forgotten with the upcoming en-bloc.
