Ms Skinnyfat

A Food & Travel Blog from Singapore

Since we can't traverse the Mediterranean sea, the next best option right now is to hang out at Tanjong Pagar's hottest rooftop bar Levant, which is possibly the first cocktail bar that explores the Mediterranean with experimental drinks made from quality spirits and mixers from the region. 
The secret bar is tucked on the 4th floor of the newly-built co-living hotel ST Signature on Tras Street. You have to take the lift to the 3rd floor and then up another flight of stairs. There, you'd be greeted by the club vibes of Beirut/Athens with groovy beats and a spectacular view of the Tanjong Pagar skyline. Quite perfect for some all-night outdoor dancing when conditions permit but we also liked the intimacy the venue offers when it's quiet. 
The cocktails are certainly adventurous, far from the typical flavors we're used to, like a combination of star anise and bergamot in the Amber Constellation (which i'd never try). I started with the way too easy Sangaree Rose ($18) which uses Mirto, a myrtle liqueur, with Cocchi Americano Rosa as base. There are hints of cinnamon in this, and overall was like a really light apple spritz. It's refreshingly sweet but not quite my cup of tea. Well i guess i'm more of a stiff-drinks kinda girl. The Athena’s Olive Branch ($24) was more my thing, which is some kind of Martini made with Gin Mare, Madeira, with a touch of Amalfi lemon and garnished with an olive.
For Sours lovers, the iL Rhubarb Sour ($18) spices things up with cinnamon and hibiscus. My other favorite of the night was the Greek Forest ($18), with Greek honeycomb-infused Tsipouro, mountain pine liqueur, Greek Vermouth, and Maglini lemon. 
Let's face it, wine can be intimidating. And we're lucky to have the daring Rebel Rebel (and RVLT) which breaks down the stiffy French attitude and promises a ton of fun and adventure with their selection of down-to-earth, small-batch, and handcrafted wines that are terroir driven. Fret not if you're a newcomer to the wine world, Rebel Rebel offers wine by the glass and has a good mix that is rotated weekly, so you'd be able to try something new without having to commit. There's a curated range of over 200 wines priced from under  $100 to over $200 range if you wish to stick to the bottles. 
The bold wine-bar concept is supported an equally daring food menu by Burnt Ends alumnus Deborah Yeo, who throws together a exciting fusion cuisine. We started with slices of sourdough ($8) because we needed something to dip into the Pork Fat ($6), a translucent cream that is whipped fat topped with topped with crunchy farro and barley and some honey for a touch of sweetness. Something must have been wrong with my taste buds that night because i couldn't taste the gaminess ("porkiness") of the fat until i was almost done with the bread. It was enjoyable for me till then. You either love lard or hate it. 
We then went with another toasty snack, the Prawn ($14/2pcs). This smelled exactly like Otah but tasted more like a Thai prawn cake. While reading the reviews, i originally decided not to add on the uni to the toast because the overall spices would overpower the fresh sweet uni. Also, i thought the price was a tad pricey ($28 add on for 2 toasts) for a few pieces of uni. Well, all willpower vanished when the server asked if i'd like uni. So yes, it was a regretful move but i made sure to savor the uni on its own. 
Pick the Hamachi salad ($24) if you're looking for a refreshing plate in between the heavy ones. This Asian salad with Kumquat is almost like the Chinese Yu Sheng that we eat during Chinese New Year, but less diabetic. The bright salad was adorned with fresh slices of yellowtail. We could certainly do with a bigger portion.