Sweet Escape: Six Quirky-Themed Cafes in Singapore You Must Check Out

Singapore may not be home to many natural cave formations, but there is a way to experience being inside a hollow cavern by dining at its first “cave-set” restaurant set to open this March!

Rainforest Wild ASIA, Singapore's fifth zoological park under Mandai Wildlife Reserve, announced that the Cavern Restaurant by TungLok Group is officially opening to the public on Mar. 12, 2025, providing a one-of-a-kind dining experience. 

This new dining spot is Singapore’s first and only restaurant in a cave setting, inspired by the Mulu Caves in Sarawak. Reports say that designers visited the UNESCO heritage site to 3D-scan the interiors and digitally modeled them before being sent to the Johor factory to be prefabricated in panels. So, you’ll truly feel like you’re in an actual cave with its textured walls, high ceilings with stalactites and stalagmites, and lighting effects. The best part about it is that you get to enjoy a good meal in a clean and air-conditioned space, unlike in an actual cave with humidity and dripping water.  

The Cavern Restaurant will be open from lunch through dinner and is set to become a lively hub of exploration with a capacity of over 150 seats. It’s also headed by Chef Sheng Lim, who has over a decade of experience from JAAN, CURE Concepts, and Cé La Vi Singapore. The menu offers a blend of International Western flavors, highlighting dishes such as the Crystal Cave Salad (S$22) featuring a mix of red and gold beetroot with Spanish burrata on top, the Stone Age Burger (S$20) with its juicy grilled patty and thick-cut fries, and the Caveman’s Meat Skewer (S$38) packed with tenderloin and veggies. 

Looking for your next dining venue? The Cavern transforms into an elegant evening space perfect for intimate date nights or hosting corporate events and celebrations. 

Reservations are now open and can be booked via Chope. The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM for lunch (last order at 2:30 PM) and 4 to 9 PM for dinner (last order at 8:30 PM). Mandai also provides complimentary parking from 6 PM onwards, with the nearest parking spot located at P1 West Carpark. 

For updates, follow Cavern Restaurant Singapore on Facebook and Instagram. 

Location: Cavern Restaurant, Rainforest Wild ASIA #02-32, 20 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729825

Opening Hours: Daily from 11 AM to 3 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM 

Asia's got a knack for knowing the best ways to unwind, and we're diving into that vibe with "All Mixed Up." You'll find us in cool bars, drink in hand, escaping the tropical heat and spicing up our nights. With this series, we're exploring Asia's hottest bar scenes, chatting with the wizards behind the concepts and drinks — mixologists, bartenders, brewers, and more. Whether you're a cocktail whiz or just curious about the craft, we're serving up the stories behind the faces that fuel our nights out. So grab a drink and relax as we uncover the secrets behind our favorite bars. Trust us, these stories are best served chilled!

Singapore is a city that knows how to drink. Because while the island is known for its urban landscapes, traditional Peranakan houses, and incredible hawker food, it is also known for a rich cocktail culture. The city’s bars are award-winning, consistently placing among bodies such as Asia’s 50 Best Bars. And of course, who can forget the Singapore sling? Beloved worldwide but invented in the city, this gin-based cocktail is reputed to have first come about in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. Needless to say, it has become a worldwide favorite. 

Among the many innovative bars in Singapore is Neon Pigeon, a chic izakaya that finds its home on Carpenter Street. Known for “disruptive” Japanese food, Neon Pigeon reinvents Tokyo classics to create vibrant dishes that truly stand out. Of course, they also serve drinks. 

Presented on a menu that plays with manga-themed art, Neon Pigeon experiments with cocktail flavors and alcohol levels. There are tipples made with yogurt liqueur, calamansi, Sakura, and tea. Customers also have the option to choose between full proof drinks (traditional, boozy beverages), half proof sips (with half the amount of booze), and zero proof glasses (no alcohol), making for a comprehensive drinking experience that anyone can enjoy. 

The man behind the bar – whom you’ve already probably met, should you have any experience at Neon Pigeon – is Mario la Pietra, an Apulia native who’s travelled the world studying drinks and drinking culture. 

Originally a chef in training, Mario first fell in love with cocktails as a teenager when, during his second year at a Hotel and Catering School in Italy, he entered a cocktail competition with zero knowledge of cocktails. Albeit a disaster, Neon Pigeon’s future Bar Manager and Creative Beverage Director was inspired. “I want to do this,” he said to himself. 

Fast forward 23 years and Mario has learned plenty. He is no longer a stranger to the bar scene and has worked in major cities around the world. He’s trained in his home country of Italy, serving at the Maison Moschino Hotel in Milan before moving over to the Corinthia Hotel in London, where he acted as head bartender. His resume in London also saw him at the Salvatore’s Bar in the Playboy Club of London and at The Luggage Room in Marriott at Grosvenor Square. 

In 2014, he embarked on a new adventure in Australia, where he spent time between Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. He then headed off to Latin America, traveling around the Rio Negro in the Amazon with his brother. During the COVID-19  pandemic, he settled down for a few months in Sao Paulo Brazil before moving to Hong Kong and joining The St. Regis Bar. 

“I lived in London for four years. I also spent a total of four years in Australia, between Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, followed by a stint in Hong Kong for three years. Telling you more about it will need a Netflix series,” he jokes. “But I learned to be open-minded through my travels.” 

Among his most recent sojourns is his January 2025 trip to Manila, where Neon Pigeon held a collaborative dinner experience with Uma Nota. 

The first collaboration for the Manila-based restaurant brought Mario’s skill behind their marble countertop bar where he expertly crafted a menu of tipples, smoothly pouring, shaking, and mixing drinks while chatting up guests – all without breaking a sweat. 

“The two-day pop-up at Uma Nota was such a great experience! We had a great turnover of people,” he shares proudly. “Unfortunately I didn’t spend a lot time there as we were only in town for three nights, but I’ll definitely come back to discover what this great city has to offer.” 

Today, the Italy native calls Singapore home, joining Neon Pigeon’s dynamic team and elevating the experience for customers every day. "Neon Pigeon brought to me Singapore. It appealed to me because it seemed more dynamic compared to what I was during back then at The St. Regis Hong Kong," he shares.

Needless to say, Mario believes strongly in the other talents that Singapore home, and urges people to try as many bars as they can simply because there are so many great ones. 

For himself, he’s a big fan of Neon Pigeon’s Singapore (Rie)sling, which is a reimagined tribute to the Singapore sling. The drink is fruity, tropical, and smooth, made with citadelle gin, Ferrand 1840 cognac, Planteray pineapple rum, cherry, almond, coconut whey, and peanut aerosol. The sweetness comes with an edge from the liquor, tempting drinkers with a fruity fragrance. 

Mario has also recently invented a fun drink he likes to call the “MargaRuta." Citrusy, vibrant, and fresh, this new tipple combines Nardini Grappa alla ruta, which is rue-infused grappa, Ocho Blanco tequila, Nardini Acqua di Cedro (liqueur made from lemons), lemon juice, and lemon sherbet. 

But for a seasoned professional like Mario, greatness doesn’t just lie in the flavor of a drink. 

“Balance makes a good drink, but it’s also everything that happens before,” he points out. “The atmosphere, the vibes, the surroundings – it’s everything you experience even before the bartender starts to mix the ingredients to serve you.” 

An expert in his field, Mario’s passion for a good drink – and a good time – has brought him to places he least expected. It only proves one thing: that there is a universal love for social connection, good food, and good drink and Mario is here to provide it. 

"I love how Neon Pigeon has me on the road for guest shifts, pop ups and collabs with different bars," he shares. "I get to attend trade shows and events worldwide and there are always plenty of interesting people to meet [around the world]." 

Should you like to visit, Neon Pigeon welcomes guests to make their reservations online through their website. They are located at 36 Carpenter St, #01-01, Singapore 059915

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous All Mixed Up profiles here.

Taste the beauty of elevated Cantonese cuisine, 55 floors above ground. 

Fine dining Cantonese restaurant Jin Ting Wan will be opening on the 55th Floor, Hotel Tower 1 of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) in the summer of 2025. 

It is the first and only Chinese fine-dining restaurant fully developed, owned, and operated by Marina Bay Sands. 

Combining sky-high luxury (literally) with timeless recipes honed through generations, Jin Ting Wan assures an experience filled with warmth and generosity that feels close to home, but in a grand, opulent setting. 

The interior of Jin Ting Wan is regally framed with Song Dynasty-inspired architecture and lush palettes of deep blues and gilded gold accents. Bespoke dragonfly motifs can be seen intricately woven into the décor, and the private dining rooms and tea lounge resemble a modern-day mountain villa for Chinese nobility. 

The name ‘Jin Ting Wan’ is a nod to Marina Bay Sands and its surroundings—‘Jin’ means gold, a representation of the hotel’s status around the world, ‘Ting’ is a dragonfly, a creature often seen around the area and is a symbol of gracefulness, and ‘Wan’ means bay, reflecting key elements in Cantonese culture.

While the menu hasn’t been revealed yet, Marina Bay Sands says that Jin Ting Wan will be serving “premium seafood delicacies to delicate dim sum and roasted meats,” and that “each dish is a harmonious balance of seasonal flavors and textures.”  

Jin Ting Wan will open its doors in the summer of 2025. For more information and updates, visit the Marina Bay Sands Singapore website and follow their Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram pages. 

In a world where ultra-processed food has become the norm, eating fresh, farm-to-table meals has become a rare treat. Because of Singapore's heavily compact and urbanized landscape, farms and farmers are often relegated to the back of one’s mind; everyone is simply too mesmerized by the cosmopolitan treasures of this modern city-state. 

Though the city-state is home to nearly six million people, Singapore only has an area of 719 square kilometers (compared to Malaysia's 330,803 square kilometers or Taiwan's 36,197 square kilometers). In 2021, only 1% of its land use was dedicated to agriculture. As such, Singapore is heavily reliant on food imports; in fact, 90% of its food supply comes from other countries. 

Yet, one restaurant stands out as a proponent of the farm-to-table movement, supporting local farmers and fresh food supplies, even creating unique Singaporean dishes within his kitchen for all to enjoy. 

Adrian Chu is the chef who helms Rustica, a Singaporean restaurant that proudly touts the hashtag #localsupportlocal. Produce supplied by local farmers drives most of their menu and every dish is meticulously thought out to ensure locally sourced ingredients take center stage. 

Some of their best dishes include a “satay” duck made with duck breast from Senoko’s YSH Farm and royal trumpet mushroom from Jalan Tenteram’s Spore Garden. Both are proud Singaporean food suppliers. There is also Rustica’s version of kaya toast, which is made with ricotta cheese, housemade kaya jam, and gula melaka syrup atop a thick slice of brioche toast. Best paired with coffee from local coffee supplier, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, this breakfast combo is one that many come back for. 

“We have a list of our local suppliers at the back of our menu and if you look into it, you’ll realize that many of them are small, independent farms,” Adrian says. “These farmers are very specialized in the things they do. This makes it easier for me to ensure that I get the best produce they have.”

As a chef, Adrian faces no fear when experimenting with food and constantly creates new recipes to add to his restaurant. 

“I’ll first think of the dishes that I enjoy eating and then I’ll figure out a way to make it unique, while also putting the spotlight on local ingredients,” he shares. 

As of late, the chef-owner of Rustica has been experimenting with locally grown clams from Ah Hua Kelong in Changi. Customers can taste them by ordering the restaurant’s Coconut Curry XL Clams. “Some as almost as big as a human palm!” Adrian says. 

He's also been enjoying fresh lion’s mane mushrooms from GoldenCap Farm in Gambas Cresent. “Commonly [found] in Singapore, lion's mane is found in Chinese cuisine [but] they mostly use imported dried lionsmane. But now, at Rustica you can get to taste fresh locally grown lion’s mane [by ordering our Mushroom Murtabak],” he adds excitedly. 

For his own restaurant, Adrian is meticulous in ensuring he gets the best of the best. Some laypeople may not know that a handful of “local farms” in Singapore are in fact big companies in disguise that grow their produce in Malaysia or Thailand. “I want to avoid getting produce that might be mislabeled,” Adrian shares. “That’s why I always request to visit the farm before we commit to anything.” 

This is because for the chef, the “support local” culinary movement isn’t just a fad, it’s a lifestyle. He was first inspired by the farmers’ markets he visited on a trip to Northern California. “They are so passionate about supporting local,” he recalls. “I became determined to bring this passion back to Singapore.” 

Aside from supporting local farmers, Adrian points out that consuming local goods also helps reduce waste: both the production of carbon monoxide required in imports and exports, as well as the production of packaging waste.  “People nowadays are already extremely conscious about their health, and by supporting local, they can enjoy healthy, organic products at a better price,” Adrian points out. 

Today, Adrian has built a trusty network of farmers, fishermen, and suppliers that he both trusts and supports. “Many farmers in Singapore are very creative and think out of the box,” Adrian notes. 

Due to Singapore’s limited land space, producing food might seem a challenge, but the chef has witnessed how resourceful his fellow Singaporeans can be. “Some produce locally grown mushrooms in a studio. Farmers are using empty carpark lots to grow vegetables like tomatoes. Now, it’s just a matter of persuading consumers – whether chefs or home cooks – to purchase these locally grown ingredients.” 

Fortunately, there also seems to be a growing number of farmers based in Singapore. When in 2019, Singapore only had 221 local farms, in 2021, the number had increased to 260. Of these, 150 were land-based food farms and 110 were sea-based farms. This is promising for many Singaporeans, as the country plans for long-term food stability.

Another challenge that local food suppliers face is fierce competition. As of late, the local government has been helping grassroots food suppliers to market their produce but as Adrian reveals, for many years, Singapore had been relying on imported ingredients from overseas. 

“It’s hard to deny that we have limited land space. We also do not have many natural resources and yet we are hoping to be more independent in our food source,” Adrian points out. I’m sure if local chefs work together with our farmers, fishermen, roasters, and producers, we will find a way to do it.” 

Today, Adrian does his part by introducing unique dishes into his menu, highlighting Singapore’s rich palate and produce. Aside from an ala carte menu, Rustica also offers four-course and six-course meals that feature foods such as a Laksa Prawn Puff and Crab & Potato Cake. 

But ultimately, it seems as if Adrian’s end goal isn’t in virality or popularity. “I think standing out is objective,” the chef muses. “What people think is interesting or unique might not be the case for others. What we want to do in Rustica is to provide great hospitality and quality food. Standing out is not the most important thing for us. What matters most is that our guests enjoyed their time dining at our place.”

Rustica is located at 462 Crawford Ln, #01-65, Singapore 190462

Kisses are sweet and all, but nothing beats a bite of a decadent chocolate cake! QT Singapore is coupling with the world-famous Australian patisserie, Black Star Pastry, to launch two exceptionally indulgent cake delights that will surely make your Valentine’s Day sweeter.

From Feb. 14 to Mar. 13, discover love at first bite with their limited-edition cakes inspired by the woes of modern dating. There’s the “Love Bomb,” a creamy, chocolatey explosion with layer upon layer of velvety cake, creamy crémeux, delicate sponge, a gooey ganache, and topped with streusel crumbs and raspberry chocolate shards. 

Ghosting may be all about disappearing, but trust us, you’ll want to be present for “The Ghost” – a heavenly berry sponge cake with vanilla mousse smothered in a coconut veil. If you’re a fan of Black Star, then this offer might remind you of their famous Watermelon Strawberry cake which was once named the world’s most Instagrammed cake.

But wait, there's more. QT Singapore also announced that guests can win a night’s stay for taking a bite! One winner will be revealed every week through a love note accompanying the cakes. Now, isn’t that romantic?!

Dine-in orders will be served at the hotel’s restaurant bar, Cygnet by Sean Connolly. You can reserve a table here. Planning a more private date night? Hotel guests can also order the cakes for room service. Visit their official website for room reservations. 

Follow QT Singapore on Instagram for hotel deals and other exciting offers. 

Location: QT Singapore, 35 Robinson Road, Singapore, 068876

The Vinexposium group is delighted to announce the return of Vinexpo Asia 2025 to Singapore.

Taking place from May 27 to 29, 2025, and set at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, it will be making its comeback as an even more dynamic and robust trade show, offering three days of unrivaled business prospects for wine and spirits professionals, associated businesses, and journalists.

This edition will bring together 1,100 exhibitors from over 20 countries, and welcome 11,000 professional visitors from 70 countries. It will include diverse top producing regions such as France, Italy, and Australia, along with Spain, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, United Kingdom, to name a few. 

Asian producers are stepping into the limelight with China and Japan set to make a significant splash at the event. Meanwhile, South American flavors will shine bright with standout contributions from Argentina and Chile, adding a rich, diverse touch to the lineup.

And let’s not forget the spirits! This year’s showcase will feature a robust selection from Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, France, and China, putting the spotlight on the latest trends and innovations in the world of spirits.

Making its debut in Singapore, the Welcome to the Organic World (WOW!) section is a brand-new highlight that’s all about sustainability and flavor. Here, visitors can dive into a curated selection of organic and biodynamic wines from around the globe. Whether you’re a fan of eco-conscious sips or just curious about the latest trends, WOW! promises to be a refreshing addition to the lineup.

But that’s not all — Vinexpo Asia 2025 is also introducing the Wines Unearthed collective to the stage. This award-winning initiative is making its first appearance at the event, offering a unique platform for boutique winemakers to connect with distributors in the region. Think of it as a one-stop shop for discovering hidden gems and small-batch producers who are ready to make their mark. As usual, visitors can also experience insightful high-level masterclasses from spirit professionals, conferences, and discovery tastings.  

Pre-registration is required here to order your badge.

Location: Floors L1 and B2, Marina Bay Sand, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Thursday 29 May from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. 

For more information, visit their website, or check out their Instagram and Facebook.