I’m still feeling the happy vibes from the 2010 Singapore Sun Festival’s Opening Gala Concert. It may have fed my uncultured soul, but this foodie needs to eat to be truly satisfied. Salta (#01-56 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng St., 6225-8443) has been open for a while and I’d heard good things, but it wasn’t till I had a real hankering for honking slabs of meat that I decided to heed the call of my tummy and head down for what I foolishly thought would be a quick lunch. Of course, that didn’t happen. It’s hard to find Argentinian cuisine in Singapore, so we like that they’re doing something a little different, and well too. Their Jamon Ibérico ($20) is outstanding. Don’t believe me? Hop to it and have some for yourself. You’ll be inclined to agree. My other favorite was the Entraña—beef skirt ($27), juicy, flavorful and succulent. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. And I couldn’t pass on dessert (when do I ever?). The Panqueque ($10) was a sinful crepe tunnel filled and smothered with dulce de leche milk caramel made from condensed milk (yes, it’s as good as it sounds), with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Another place that I’d recommend if you’re on the hunt for some tasty Thai is Soht & Baay. For the month of Nov, chef Apasara has added light and fresh salad options such as an unusual coconut shoot one done in “Som Tum” style with charcoal-grilled jumbo prawns, papaya strips accompanied by fried chicken wings and crunchy julienned cucumbers that contrast beautifully with crispy soft shell crab (from $15.90). If you’re not really a veggie person, there are some scrumptious crab dishes including fresh blue crab in an intoxicating turmeric gravy, addictive black pepper soft shell crabs tossed with kaffir lime leaves and yet more crabs in a coconut milk-based sauce of red onions, chili and tamarind.

After five too many beers at the newest Boulevard (#01-23 Millenia Walk, Times Square, 9 Raffles Blvd., 6883-2033), take your pick from Summer Ale, Wheat Bier and Bohemian Lager, I stumbled on Sarong Grill & Chill (#01-03 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Blvd., 6837-2728). While I was a little too inebriated to dine at this Indonesian restaurant (it’s hard to stomach food when your belly’s full of beer), I did have a quick glance at the menu and that certainly looked promising. Also newish is PS. Café at ASH Park (45 Ann Siang Rd., 9797-0648). I’ve been too busy to venture to that part of town recently, but it’s going on my list of places to check out.

There’s so much to love about Spain and its amazing culture, not to mention the sultry men and women. But what we crave most of all, is the spectacular food and drinks. We trooped around to source for some of the best Spanish restaurants in town, so you can get right down to business.

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant
#01-02 Blk. 7 Dempsey Rd., 6476-2811.

They’ve already established themselves as one of the leaders in Spanish cuisine at their original Lorong Kilat outlet, as the throngs of Spaniards would happily attest to. In August this year, they opened up another in Dempsey (good news for those of us who live in the city). Brace yourself for an onslaught of tapas, and in this case, that’s a very good thing. The meatballs with apple sauce ($12) were firm and lightly sweetened, with wedges of stewed apple and pine nuts, while calamari ($11) was light and crisp. Rabo de Toro ($34) is a hearty oxtail stew that features meat so tender it’s falling off the bone, with carrots, potatoes and garbanzo beans. Their paellas take anywhere from 25-35 minutes, so we’re telling you now to order them once your bottom grazes a seat. The Arroz Negro (from $30) was one of the best paellas we’ve had in a long, long time. Fresh seafood nuggets of squid and prawn nestle in a jet-black squid ink bed of rice, topped with cubes of tomato. Be sure to have it with their aioli (garlic mayo) for an extra spicy kick. And ask for extra lemon wedges, the tangy citrus flavor really complements the richness of the dish. Desserts here are noteworthy, so do yourself a favor and give them a go. The Leche Frita ($9) is a square of golden brown battered fried milk with cinnamon syrup. But if you only have space for one treat, let it be the Bomba de Chocolate ($19). This incredibly decadent chocolate fondant is made from 55 percent Spanish chocolate and is well worth the calories (just don’t tell us how many). We could almost do without the giant scoop of vanilla ice cream it comes with. They even launched an all day breakfast menu last weekend, featuring items including a Madrid classic, Broken Eggs (scrambled eggs with garlic, chorizo and baby potatoes), Eggs Benedict/Royale with Seranno ham or smoked salmon and torrijas (a Spanish bread pudding) from 9am-4pm every Sat and Sun.

Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar
#01-08 Blk. D, Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6837-2938. 

Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar is yet another restaurant cum bar in the Clarke Quay vicinity (stifle those groans). And while we’re usually averse to the crowd and noise, this is a worthwhile bet if you want to get your drink on, with tasty bites to match. There’s an alfresco area, which like the rest of the lot, is modeled after the deck of a ship. It comes with lifebuoys, railings and wood-planked floors (captain not included). Take it all in, with a liberal dose of sea salt. And consuming jugs upon jugs of sangria always works for us. Alternatively, the indoor area with burnt tangerine hues and dim lighting is made for cozying up with a special someone (if only for a night). If you’re lucky, their resident band, Ent-Marisol, will be belting out some soulful tunes for maximum romancing. If you’d like to go the traditional route, they’ve got red and white sangria (from $14/glass; $65/jug). But we strongly suggest shaking things up and sipping on their fruity blackberry one ($15)—made with crushed blackberries and white wine, or the sparkling version ($16). Then again, you could take a cue from us and have them all. Let’s not forget the nibbles. They serve chicken meatballs in a mild almond sauce ($13.50), tender grilled squid in a balsamic vinegar reduction ($15.50) and black pepper-specked pan-fried red snapper with Romesco sauce (a blend of almonds, pine nuts, tomatoes and red wine). Don’t leave without a taste of their bacon-wrapped flash-fried shrimps ($14.50)—everything really is better with bacon—and their roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with minced chicken ($14). And yes, there’s paella. We reckon the Marisco’s (from $38) is an all-round crowd pleaser, with prawns, squid, mussels, snapper and some veggies thrown in. To seal the deal, get some sugar with their churros ($8.50)—deep fried dough sticks served with a sticky chocolate sauce. The cherry on top? They’re open till late. 1am on weekdays, and 2am on Fri and Sat, so you have even more time to work your magic.

The Club Tapas
B1 (bar), 1/F (restaurant) The Club Hotel, 28 Ann Siang Rd., 6808-2188. 

One of the newest Spanish establishments, having opened in September, The Club Tapas is set in the boutique Club Hotel by Harry’s Hospitality. They’ve got a nice alfresco space if you’d like some outdoor action, or head down to the basement for an intimate evening, with warm tones and a splattering of red accents. Classics such as patatas bravas ($12)—fried potatoes with a tangy tomato sauce—fried calamari rings ($15), 24 month cured Jamon ($20) and a cheese platter including Manchego and Mahon ($18) are all decent options, while their paellas are a little pricey from $40. The tuna empinadas and chicken croquettes are manageable bites if you’re not in the mood for anything too filling (both $12). Go a different route from a standard sangria and choose from their array of wines from Spain.

more Spanish restaurants in Singapore

Affordable Art Fair
Nov 19-21. F1 Paddock Building, Marina South. $10 at the venue.
Always wanted to buy an original artwork, but thought you could never afford one? Well now you can at the inaugural Affordable Art Fair, where over 60 galleries will be showcasing works from emerging and upcoming artists, with the price of works ranging from $100 to $10,000. “Affordability is always very important for people and AAF is all about reaching out to people to demystify the perception that you cannot afford unique, original artwork at a price that is affordable to your budget,” says fair director Camilla Hewitson. “We currently have AAFs in many different cities around the world such as London, New York and Sydney, but never before in Asia. Singapore, with its diverse museum and gallery scene, growing arts industry and strong economy, is the perfect place to launch our first Asian edition.” Local galleries such as Utterly Art, Vue Privée and OVAS Art Gallery will be exhibiting alongside international galleries such as Spain's Villa del Arte bringing forth a wide medium of works from the likes of Singapore’s Pop artist Justin Lee and France’s Francoise Nielly in the form of sculptures, paintings, photography and screen prints. 

MADE FOR SAM
Ongoing. Singapore Art Museum. 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222.
OK, for those who really can’t spare even $100, there’s still hope. The Singapore Art Museum recently launched the MADE FOR SAM project in partnership with 40 local visual artists and hip designers including Donna Ong, Justin Lee, Colin Seah (Ministry of Design), Little Ong (fFurious), Chris Lee (Asylum) and Jackson Tan (Black Design). Available for sale are limited-edition conceptual works in the form of tote bags, greeting cards, erasers, pencil cases and mugs—not exactly high art, but hey, these objets d’art (prices range from $5-108) are as affordable as it gets. “This is an out-of-the-box way of thinking about the museum,” says SAM’s director Tan Boon Hui. “MADE FOR SAM expands the footprint of the museum by bringing the art of contemporary life into the walls of the museum.”
 

Trans-cool TOKYO
Nov 19-Feb 13, 2011. Singapore Art Museum. 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222.
If you’re a fan of the likes of Takashi Murakami and all things kawaii in the Jap art world, the upcoming Trans-cool TOKYO is an absolute must. With over 40 works curated from the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo across painting and sculpture, to performance, photography and video, the works by masters like Yoshitomo Nara and Yayoi Kusama (see this week’s cover image) explore the Japanese identity in response to the onset of the information age and the greater freedoms and uncertainties that are available in contemporary society.
 

Art Stage Singapore
Jan 12-16, 2011. Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868. www.artstagesingapore.com
Promising cutting-edge and forward-thinking contemporary artworks in the form of photography masterpieces by American fashion and art photographer David LaChapelle, alongside Asian masterworks from the collections of Indonesia’s foremost collectors Deddy Kusuma and Budi Tek and China’s Yang Bin and Qiao Zhibin, Art Stage is the brainchild of Lorenzo Rudolf, whose previous engagements include Art Basel and Art Miami. “It will be a show which puts the art in a context,” he says. “The main criteria will not only be trends and easy saleability. Art Stage Singapore shows the art in an Asia Pacific context by presenting interesting and stunning artistic positions and galleries from all over the area and supporting the best Asia Pacific emerging galleries. It will be Asia’s meeting point and get-together of the art world.”
 

Singapore Biennale 2011
Mar 13-15, 2011. National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659; Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222; Old Kallang Airport, 9 Stadium Link.
This is what art enthusiasts have been waiting for the last two years. The third installment of the Singapore Biennale under the latest artistic direction of Singaporean Matthew Ngui promises another round of diverse regional and international contemporary artworks that promise to engage the senses, set in three distinct venues, most notably the Old Kallang Airport, which should add more context to the artworks. “We are working to present an eclectic mix of artists and works that we hope will engage the public on a number of levels,” says Ngui. “The process of selecting artists involves looking at their practice, from the artists’ initial seeds of idiosyncratic thought through their creative development of this, given the time, space, collaborators, materials and resources.” Highlights include Danish artist Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian artist Ingar Dragset’s collaborative site-specific installation works like Short Cut, which explore the power structures in architecture, institutions and public space; and Tatzu Nishi’s Engel installation view, which challenges the perspectives of the ordinary and the perceived by building hotel rooms in
unexpected places.

:Phunk Studio
These graphic designers turned visual artists are one of the hottest sellers in the scene, with their funky graphic screen prints and original works already snapped up at art fairs like ARTSingapore, as well as through commercial galleries like Art Seasons, where their works are being picked up by younger collectors from Beijing to New York. Their recent collaboration with cult Jap master Keiichi Tanaami for the collaboration show Eccentric City—Rise and Fall was another major coup for the foursome as well, with the quartet repeatedly selling out in Tokyo, Shanghai and New York.

Matthew Ngui
Before his appointment as the artistic director for the third edition of the Singapore Biennale next year, Sydney-based Singaporean Matthew Ngui was the man responsible for some of the most arresting video art installations in the city, like his Point of View solo show at the National Museum in 2008, which explored the continuum of time through a life-sized cross section view of an Olympic pool—delivering beautifully in terms of concept, scale and resonance. Ngui has exhibited extensively in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, and represented Singapore at the São Paulo Biennial in 1996 and the Venice Biennale in 2001.

Ming Wong
Fusing his love for world cinema with a tongue-in-check sense of self-benevolence, the critically-acclaimed Venice Biennale stalwart Ming Wong is the man responsible for the ongoing Imitation of Life video installation show at the Singapore Art Museum, where he takes on multiple roles (especially female ones) to convey the transient nature of language, race, gender, age and nationality. And his large-scale cinema billboard canvasses, a commission work with the last billboard painter in Singapore, Neo Chon Teck, is certainly a fun and curious effort.

Vertical Submarine
These Presidents Young Talents recipients create quirky contemporary artworks that manages to be playful yet cerebral all the same. Take for example, their brilliant A View with a Room installation from 2009 at 8Q Sam. Cleverly merging written textual works from the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Alain Robbe-Grilleton on a wall which then led viewers to a room that was only accessible through a closed wardrobe (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, anyone?), the trio of Justin Loke, Joshua Yang and Fiona Koh continue to intrigue and engage with their cheeky interpretations, including like their recent frolicking Abusement Park: Abusing Amusement work at SAM during the Night Festival.

Zai Kuning
He sings, he writes, he plays a multitude of instruments (from guitars to violas) and he dances too. Multi-disciplinary artist Zai Kuning defies categorization, and his constant musings and performance art works (with a strong underground cult following from Indonesia to Malaysia), drawn from South East Asian rituals, continue to fascinate us with their depth and honesty.

On the surface, our local visual arts scene seems to have most things down pat. Our local museums are some of the most active in the region (if not the world), with the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) putting on an average of 10 mid-sized shows and one blockbuster show annually; there are a slew of major international art fairs and exciting exhibitions like the Singapore Biennale 2011, Art Stage Singapore and Affordable Art Fair coming up over the next couple of months (see page 8 for full lineup), we have an abundance of commercial art spaces that are doing fairly well with some fantastic periodic exhibitions like the Art Beyond Limits show at Opera Gallery featuring original of-the-moment works by international art stars like Mr. Brainwash (who’s being touted as the new street art star after Banksy) and Damien Hirst; heck we even have quite a few underground indie art spaces in the mix. So just what are we not doing right?
In a crowded and competitive scene such as ours, perhaps it is not enough just to have a few good shows taking place periodically. We need to have big blockbuster shows on a more regular basis to build a more sustained hype and buzz for the scene. For the recent Artists’ Editions for PARKETT show which took place in May at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI), for example, and featured works by international art stars such as Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Maurizio Cattelan and Richard Prince—the gallery reported a record 12,000 visitors, “the highest number of visitors for a summer exhibition in the history of STPI,” according to its curator Nor Jumaiyah. “Though the show was a very unconventional format featuring contemporary artists’ editions as interactive sound pieces, installations, videos and objects, the numbers are indicative of the appetite for more interesting contemporary artworks.”

Which is why we welcome blockbuster international art events like Art Stage, which will take place at the Marina Bay Sands in January next year under the artistic direction of fair director Lorenzo Rudolf, who previously helmed Art Miami and Art Basel. One of the highlights will be the photographic artworks by American photographer David LaChapelle (see main picture above) which will certainly draw not just regular artgoers, but trendsetters, design students, fashion followers, photographers and even curious passersby with its striking yet accessible images. “The arts scenes in Europe and the US are more open and function as an integrated community; while Asia might be developing very fast, the market remains fragmented with many individuals doing their own things, especially in Japan, Australia and much of Southeast Asia,” says Rudolf. “Singapore especially, is still conservative and a bit hesitant compared to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai or even Jakarta. The local market has to be opened up and brought together, and this is only possible through top international art fairs like Art Stage. During my tenure at Art Basel for example, the fair transformed from what had been a normal trade show into a template of what art fairs are today, which includes sponsorships, special marketing initiatives targeted at VIPs, and of course, lots of glitz and glamour with social events built around the fair. With globalization, the art world should become a lifestyle.”

Learn more about the city's most interesting and promising visual artists and arts collectives.

The upcoming Singapore Biennale will be the next big art event to look out for, although compared to the last two editions which featured more well known names like Jenny Holzer and Shigeru Ban, the 2011 edition seems a tad tepid and obscure with no major artists headlining.

“There is no one common thread that runs through the selected artists for the Biennale show,” says Tan Boon Hui, director of the SAM, which is organizing the Biennale. “Instead, there will be an eclectic mix of artists and works that the curatorial team, led by Matthew Ngui, hopes will engage the public on a much broader level. When selecting artists, they are interested in looking at the entire process of art-making; from sowing the seeds of thought, to negotiations with the curatorial team, to the artists’ own research and practice and the use of the spaces available; the curatorial intention is to assist the artists in pushing boundaries and in germinating ideas.”

While we’re all for generating and building more new content for the local art scene, we wonder if such a curatorial process might actually inspire further insularity among our artists, artsgoers and the art scene overall. After all, to create a more sustained and tangible scene, it is as important to appeal and cater to the masses as it is to assist the artist. One of the other alternatives might then be for us to build more local art superstars whom we can call our own from the ground level up. See previous page for a list of our most interesting artists. Some, including art-design collective :Phunk Studio, multi-disciplinary artists Ming Wong and Zai Kuning, and performance artist Lee Wen, are already lauded in their various fields in cities such as Venice, New York and Berlin. But they are few and far between and remain mostly on the periphery of a segmented or targeted art market and out of the (local) mainstream scene. Hands up if you’ve actually heard of Lee Wen, a Cultural Medallion recipient who’s well regarded for his Yellow Man performance works—thought so.

Save the date: Check out the city's best ongoing and upcoming art shows.

“Hype is manufactured by the media and market, but it’s a concrete manifestation of the things happening on the ground,” says Mayo Uno Martin, arts reporter for TODAY. “You can’t create excitement out of nothing, but you can magnify. The allure of contemporary Chinese art is not just about the art per se but everything that surrounds it. Even Jap art star Takashi Murakami’s Superflat works came at a time when there was a growing obsession with Japanese pop culture,” he adds.

So perhaps generating more buzz for our local visual artists and championing them on the same pedestal as bigger international art stars might just be the next big step forwards. “I think there are really good Singaporean artists, but they can only grow if they’re put in competition with the rest of the international artists and not overly protected,” says Art Stage’s Lorenzo Rudolf. “Singapore has artists who absolutely have the talent to go onto the international level, but the city also has to open doors for international artists and galleries to bring them into a dialogue. Singapore has a habit of over-protecting its artists, and I don’t think that it helps them in the long run.”

The Peninsula 

Our favorite brunch, being outdoors, is finally open again this month after a long hiatus. You can expect unparalleled views of the river, excellent free-flow Champagne, impeccable service and a spread that looks a bit smaller than other hotels but still covers all the favorites.
Brunch. 333 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-861-2888.

Ciao

Flanked on one side by the gardens of the Author’s Lounge and by the twinkling lights of the Chao Phraya River, the Mandarin Oriental’s seasonal restaurant Ciao is open again, offering Old World Italian food and matching colonial charm.
Italian. Mandarin Oriental. 48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. Open daily 5-11pm

Sky Terrace

Re-launched to take advantage of the chilly breezes, the picnic option at Sky Terrace allows views, not just of the river but of the stars, weather permitting. The terrace is done up like a candle-lit garden and they offer picnic hampers for couples, with special hampers on full-moon nights.
Picnic. 31/F, Millenium Hilton. 123 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-442-2000. Open daily 5pm-1am

Calisthenics in the Park                     Back to top of the article

After indulging in all of those decadent pastries, entrées and drinks, you’re going to need a work out. Ditch the monotony of the air-conditioned gym and find your way to an easy, breezy beautiful park.

Join a class that will offer both fun and fitness. Tai chi classes take place in both the early mornings and the early evenings at Benjasiri Park (BTS Phrom Phong), right next to Emporium. Afterwards, you can lift some shopping bags for strength training.

Not into following a class? Go for a run at Lumpini Park (MRT Silom) where you are guaranteed encouragement and healthy competition from your fellow joggers. And the long 2.5 km loop here means there’s no giving up halfway—in-built motivation.
Cycling is also an option, and even if you don’t own a bike. Suan Rot Fai (BTS Mo Chit, MRT Chatuchak Park) has the best rental deal at only B20 for the entire day. You can even make it into an all-day affair, complete with a picnic-perfect setting and a spot of shopping just around the corner

Bored by the conventional park visits? Then make the ten minute walk from MRT Queen Sirikit to Benjakiti Park, which boasts a large lake at its center. Here, you can hire a pedal boat or row boat and glide across the lake amid the dying rays of the sunset.

Previous 10 pages                           Luxe Seasonal Treats

Winter has finally arrived, which means we can come out from our air-con-chilled hiding places and live it up. Don’t worry, we’re not going to make you undertake camping or hard labor. We’ll still do the things we love: eat, drink and chill—except it’s all going to be outdoors. Here we round-up 50 of our favorite restaurants, bars and cafes in Bangkok to enjoy the city's cooler climes.

01. 36-24-36

A big house with black-trimmed windows, spacious deck, looming trees and DJ-spun electro pop on most nights. That, and most dishes are under B100.
Thai. 36-24-36, 23 Soi Napha Sub 2, Sukhumvit Soi 36, 02-661-5636. Open daily 6pm-2am

02. Agalico 

A bright, Jane Austen-esque tearoom for weekend scones and desserts. With a greenhouse-like vibe, Agalico also boasts a Romanesque garden complete with a gazebo and statues.
Agalico, 20 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-662-5857 ext. 11. BTS Thong Lo. Open Fri-Sat 10am-6pm

03. Al Majlis

Moroccan-themed restaurant and tearoom done up like a sheikh’s house party with high ceilings, flowing fabrics and pewter knick-knacks, not to mention a sprawling garden for shisha, mint tea and wine.
Al Majlis, 83/8 Ekkamai Soi 12 (Soi Charoenchai), 02-392-2345. Open daily 12:30pm-12:30am

04. Al Matum

A house-and-garden Isaan joint with underlit bushes and bamboo recliners. Also featuring a DIY somtam dish, complete with mortar and pestle, and large cartoon doll sentries looking down from the second floor.
Al Matum, 7 Pridi 33, 02-381-2842. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight

05. Ambience

Trees, ponds and fountains paired with pop-art graffiti and color-splattered white furniture. Live acoustic tunes every Friday and Saturday.
Ambience, 92/14 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-259-9869. Open daily 6pm-2am

06. Aqua

A garden-style courtyard in the middle of the Four Seasons’ ground floor, Aqua is a cocktail bar that also does a mean brunch serving highlights from the hotel’s other food outlets on Sundays.
Aqua, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, 155 Ratchadamri Rd., 02-254-1137. Open daily 11am midnight. BTS Ratchadamri

07. Aquatini

Chunky tables loosely spread over a spacious, riverside deck, right by the Phra Athit Pier. Casual vibe, thanks to the breezy bossanova tunes and flickering candle light.
International. Aquatini, Navalai River Suite, 45/1 Phra Athit Rd., 02-280-9955. Open daily 6:30am-1:30am

08. Baan Rie Coffee

A sprawling, village-themed restaurant, café and beer garden just down the stairs from BTS Ekkamai, Baan Rie lends a touch of foresty calm in the middle of the city. Live music in the evenings.
Baan Rie Coffee, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 63 (Soi Ekkamai), 02-391-9784. Open 24 hours.

09. Baan Tak R kad

A garden lounge embellished with a camping theme. There are even a couple of waterproof tents pitched in the grass. The less adventurous can enjoy the fish-filled ponds and live music.
Baan Tak R kad, 455 Praditmanootham Rd., 081-432-3173. www.takrkad.blogspot.com. Open Daily 6pm-1am

10. Balco

This spacious rooftop bar not only provides comfy seats and sofas, but one of the best river-front views at a fraction of the price of nearby five-star hotels (Cocktails B180, beer B80, whisky B1,200).
Balco, 5/F, River City Shopping Complex, Charoen Krung Rd., 08-4928-6161. Open Tue-Sun 7pm-2am

                   Next 10 places

ISAO

Spicy Tuna Sandwich, B300
The roll: We adore the repackaging of this American college student favorite, the spicy tuna roll, into a sandwich cut into little managable triangles. A thick layer of tuna, salmon and spicy sauce is perfectly proportionate to the two layers of rice and seaweed, and the slight bite of the scallion and pop of the ebiko jazzes up a familiar, comforting roll.
The place: Narrow and cozy with only a handful of tables and a sushi bar, ISAO has the vibe of a well-kept secret, even though it’s often packed. Trained by a sushi master in Chicago, the owner offers rolls with an American, indulgent slant.
Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-258-0645. Open Mon-Fri 11am-2:30pm, 5:30-10pm; Sat-Sun 11am-10pm

In the Mood for Love

Sweet 16, B400
The roll: Even though this massive roll is somewhat against Chef Run’s philosophy of simplicity, it’s hard to complain when the initial tartness of strawberry mixes with the cold fattiness of tuna, before giving way to the sweetness of the eel and ending with the crunch and grease of the tempura flakes in the centre of the roll. It’s easy to see why the Sweet 16 is their bestseller.
The place: The decor is inspired by the Wong Kar-wai film of the same name and is reminiscent of 1960s Hong Kong, with lots of floral prints and hanging wicker lamps. Perfect for an ambient date.
9/9 Sukhumvit Soi 36, 02-661-5076. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-12:30am

Rainbow Roll Sushi

Maguro Roll, B350
The roll: The simple business of American-style, inside-out maki rolls is elevated by some wonderful surprises in this hearty and textured maguro roll which contains not just shrimp, but also tempura flakes, jalapeno and mayonnaise and comes topped with generous slices of tuna. The secret here is slices of eggplant in the centre, which, while not too seasoned, give a lot of body to the roll overall, making it hearty and toothsome.
The place: Even though it’s in the middle of K.Village, the place retains its own integrity, with high ceilings and large windows overlooking the street. The high, marble-top table backed by tall shelves of shochu and sake bottles is good for large parties.
2/F, K.Village, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-661-5052. Open daily 11am-2pm, 7pm-midnight

KOI

Dragon Roll, B580
The roll: An original take on the decadent and comforting dragon roll, the version at KOI, while using the usual crab, eel, shrimp tempura and avocado, does away with the nori seaweed and instead uses a tofu paper wrap. The result is a less salty, sweeter roll that is also less chewy and very crunchy from the blanket of tempura flakes. We also like the drizzle of Sriracha sauce that gives a spicy edge. Chef Grimes suggests not dipping this roll in soy sauce as it already comes topped with a sweet, eel sauce. And if B580 seems kind of steep, know that it comes with a little side of a refreshing seaweed salad.
The place: A dimly-lit lounge with a black and red motif, being at KOI, in the ambient lounge, makes you feel a bit like an LA celebrity. The casual-chic eatery does American-style Japanese sushi, sashimi and some inventive raw fish entrees.
26 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-258-1590. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight

Rakuza

A la Diavola, B320
The roll: The diavola mixes things up by having largely cooked elements. The maki roll comes topped with an oven-baked, chunky concoction of spicy sauce, diced avocado, salmon and assorted seafood. The exciting part is how the chef balances this combination and rescues the overall experience from soggy goop by rolling crunchy pieces of baby corn and bell pepper into the rice and seaweed. The sweetness goes nicely with the spiciness.
The place: Tucked behind the facade of Grass, Rakuza is a two-story semi-casual eatery that imports high-quality fish from the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. They have a Japanese and Western tapas list, as well as some fusion meat entres.
G/F, Grass, 264/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thong Lo), 02-714-9897. Open Tue-Sun noon-2pm, 6pm-1am

The buzz: The Pink Parlour waxing chain is already well known for its complete menu of hair removal services and even more so for its gaudy, boudoir-like premises.

The vibe: The interiors will either make or break your beauty session. If you’re the catty sort who likes a lot of black and pink, plush carpeting and blinding baubles, the décor will probably help ease you into getting waxed off. However, if you’re not into the whole Showgirls aesthetic, we suggest you opt for a more relaxing session, such as a facial treatment.

The facilities: This new flagship outlet spans over 1,500 sq. ft. of space divided into three private rooms, one cozy en suite room and even a couple’s waxing room (though we think this will be more popular with giggly girlfriends than straight couples, to be honest).

Why you’ll be back: The same reason why all the ladies go back to Pink Parlour despite it being so in-your-face—everything you need to pretty yourself up is available here, from waxing and spray tanning to body polishes and caviar hand treatments.

#03-19/20/22 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd., 6238-1051. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-9pm, Sun 10:30am-7pm.