Wildseed Cafe & Bar at The Summerhouse is an outdoor suburban bar away from the buzz of the city that happens to offer a range of cocktails and other libations for a relaxing good time.

Located within a refurbished colonial-style mansion complex in The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park, The Summerhouse is almost similar in concept to the other 1-Group property, The Garage at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Like Botanico at The Garage, The Summerhouse has its Dining Room and Balcony Bar; while The Garage has Bee’s Knees as a casual bistro and bar, the Seletar venue has its own with Wildseed Cafe & Bar.

The only difference is that while one is located within a garden, the other has one – albeit a very tiny one compared to the UNESCO World Heritage Site – inside it. But that beautifully landscaped garden within Wildseed Cafe & Bar actually serves a practical purpose – chefs here regularly pick herbs and flowers to use in their dishes.

Similarly, the bartenders at Wildseed Cafe & Bar also employ the flora grown here in its garden-inspired cocktails. The creamy Sunkiss ($18+), for example, uses Chambord, Cointreau, fresh orange, cream but also rosella – a kind of hibiscus. Another variety of hibiscus go into the gin-based Flora-Lola ($18+) along with Hendrick’s Gin, ginger ale, and cucumber bitters.

Most of the other cocktails offered here are mostly fruity or floral even if they don’t use ingredients from the garden. There’s the Strawberry Sip ($18+), a zesty concoction of strawberry jam, orange, grapefruit bitters and powered by Monkey Shoulder whisky. Similarly citrusy is the Grapefruit Negroni ($18+, above left), which is put together with fresh grapefruit, Martin Miller gin, Dolin Rouge vermouth, and Campari.

For something not on the floral or fruity side – but a whole lot stronger – the Oldest Fashion ($18+, above right) of Jefferson’s bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters packs a punch.

The only downside with drinking cocktails at the alfresco Wildseed Cafe & Bar is that any kind of warm weather quickly turns ice-based drinks into a diluted slush. You’ll need to be a fast drinker; otherwise you may be better off with a glass of wine that can hold up to the heat better, or opt for a bucket of bottled beers, instead.

As for food, you’re in good hands. You can easily graze on a bunch of appetisers if you’re just feeling peckish, or have a full-on meal with a range of main courses. The Grilled Garlic and Cheese Bread ($8+) makes a great snack, a modernised version of the local bakery with a fluffy buttery buns with a cream cheese and bacon bits filling. Otherwise the Yuzu Mac and Cheese with Sous Vide Egg ($12+, above), is comfort in a bowl, with the pasta enveloped in various cheeses such as gruyere, mimolette, and percorino, while the curious use of yuzu kosho adds a burst of citrus to brighten flavours.

If you want something more substantial, the Tajima Wagyu Burger ($28+), hits all the right spots with a moist juicy patty complete with perfect Maillard grill marks sandwiched in a brioche bun. Alternatively, the locally farmed Whole Grilled Red Snapper ($59+)  can feed a small family or one very hungry person.

Wildseed Cafe & Bar may be located on a very remote part of Singapore, but the quiet, almost countryside-like surroundings is exactly its draw. That and the rather affordable food and drink there.


Address 3 Park Lane, Singapore 798387
Opening Hours 5pm to 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays, and 5pm to 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays
Tel (65) 6262 1063
Web www.thesummerhouse.sg/wildseed-cafe-bar
Facebook wildseedcafe
Instagram @summerhousesg

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