Orchard Hotel Singapore’s Bar Intermezzo reinvents itself with a new concept and cocktail menu that celebrates Orchard Road’s botanical heritage.
You don’t think of Orchard Hotel Singapore harbouring a premiere drinking hole along Singapore’s prime shopping belt, but after a recent rejuvenation it just might. Its lobby lounge Bar Intermezzo, previously a ubiquitous hotel, sees new life as a legitimate cocktail bar after a full refit and concept change. It’s certainly a far more enticing contemporary hotel lobby bar now.
One of the biggest changes – aside from the cosmetic upgrade – is its cocktail programme. Orchard Hotel has worked with bar consultancy Proof & Company to give the space an actual identity. The new concept at Bar Intermezzo harkens back to Orchard Road’s roots as, well, as an area littered with plantations ripe of tropical fruit and spice; it’s one not unlike that of Origin Bar over at Shang-rila Hotel Singapore.
Bar Intermezzo – a cocktail taste of Orchard Road’s legacy
There’s the like of Coconut (S$24++), a luscious tropical influenced rum-based Old Fashioned made with coconut fat-washed Plantation Original Dark Rum, Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac, and a touch of bitters. Or how about Pepper ($24++), which sees a combination of St George gin, green Chartreuse, pink peppercorn syrup, cucumber and a touch of lemon?
If you’re looking for something more interesting, Clove ($22++) may fit the bill. It sees Ford’s Gin infused with cloves tempered with freshly squeezed lemon and grapes as well as a splash of green tea. For something definitely tropical, the Punch that is Pineapple ($22++) – made with Plantation Pineapple rum, five spice syrup and fresh juice – is sure to please.
If you’re sugar-averse though, you may want to be careful here. All the drinks we tried at Bar Intermezzo veered on the sweet side. We reckon it’s unlikely that Proof & Company would have composed or recommended recipes so saccharine, so it’s evident someone behind the stick has a sweeter palate than usual.
Once Bar Intermezzo tweaks those cocktails to be more balanced, it may just establish itself as a stop on the Orchard Road circuit along with the likes of Manhattan Bar, The Other Room, and Origin Bar.
Bar Intermezzo
Address 442 Orchard Rd, Orchard Hotel Singapore, Singapore 238879 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 10am to 1am daily
Tel (65) 6739 8888
Web www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/orchard-hotel-singapore/intermezzo-bar/
Facebook OrchardHotelSingapore
Instagram @orchardhotelsingapore
