A Prelude of More to Come | OpenRice Singapore

"Uncle, you can drop us off at the Fullerton Waterboat House."

Image Source: TheFullertonHeritage.com

"I don't know where the Waterboat House is, can I just drop you off at the Fullerton Hotel?" the cab driver answered.

Image Source: TheFullertonHeritage.com

When we arrived at the Fullerton Hotel, we found ourselves asking bystanders and hotel staff where the Waterboat House is, but no one seemed to know. Thanks to my trusty iPhone maps, we finally found the stand-alone heritage building located at the corner of prestigious Fullerton area.

We climbed 3 flight of stairs to reach Prel.ude, the topless roof top cocktail bar at the Waterboat House. I can see why it is deemed as one of Singapore's best kept secrets. I'm saying this not just because it is located at a discreet but refined location, but also because it offers a good amount of space where you can take in panoramic views of the city's skyline overlooking Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade, and yet not many know of it yet. As its name suggests, it is a great place for a quiet night of after work or pre-event drinks. To differentiate itself from other bars, they also offer an seafood inspired selection such as freshly shucked oysters ($18 for half dozen if you offer before 8 p.m., complimentary if you order a bottle of Veuve Clicquot after 8 p.m).Their other more common signatures include the California Garlic Fries and Thin Crust Pizza. Beer enthusiasts will be glad to know that the Pre.lude management has exclusively imported Baird Brewing Beer (S$16/ bottle; $75/ bucket of six), a top artisan craft beer from Japan that will offer a experience in flavors of malt, hops and yeast. If you're interested in learning more about how this top artisan craft beer is brewed, you can head over to Chris's blog, where he chronicles the official Baird Beer experience. For the ladies, there's their range of Summer Signatures, which you can safely consume without feeling pangs of guilts for unhealthy living, because the drinks have no artificial flavors with organic honey for replacement, the alcohol used is nothing short of premium with minimally processed ingredients and it is further balanced out with natural fruit juices and muddled fresh fruits. Part of their summer signature range is the range of Cuban-Style mojitos(Classic for $14, Lychee or Berry-Twisted for $15) that are made with freshly picked mint leaves grown right on their rooftop. How is it that not many of us know about this place yet? Where you're here, you should also check out their 'verdura degustation' menu - a unique multi-course menu devoted to a bounty of colourful, seasonal vegetables. Editor's tip: The topless rooftop concept is an awesome way of giving patrons a sense of space, but might get too hot in the day-time. Best time to enjoy the premium beers, wines and handcrafted cocktails along with its seafood-driven offerings would be in the evenings to chill out after the hectic pace of Raffles Place during working hours. You can't get bored of western food with these dishes! Relax and enjoy your meal at these fine dining restaurants