There’s a case to be made that Me@OUE has one of the three best views around the Marina Bay area, part of trio of sky high bars that include LeVel33 and Ce La Vi. Although Me@OUE has the slight advantage – and bragging rights – of having three kitchens serving French, Chinese and Japanese cuisine and bar snacks. These dishes didn’t have to necessarily pair with the choice cocktails – they were delectable in their own way – and there was enough variety to satiate. Besides, rooftop bars will never pass into senescence.

And of course there’s our raison d’etre: Happy Hour cocktails (S$15 nett 6pm-8pm; S$20 nett after 8pm), a deal for real. The concoctions by bar manager Awi include:

Looking Sharp: a welcoming gin tipple with tropical flavours, raspberry and peach mixed with mint leaves and shaken with St. George Botanivore Gin and lemon juice topped with East Imperial Burma Tonic. Looking sharp is the way to start.

Old Tom: Shaken with Tanqueray 10 Gin, thyme liqueur, passionfruit syrup, fresh passionfruit slices, egg white, kinome leaves, mint leaves, sprinkled with black pepper and aromatic bitters. It’s clear and refreshing, not quite a palate cleanser but works a treat.

Grilled Whole Squid with Lemon: What’s always had to get right is the texture, and getting the sauce to stick to the squid without being runny. This one gets it an eight thumbs-up. Will go with any whisky-based cocktail, especially Islay whiskies for its briny taste. Or this:

Delirious: Cyrus Noble American Whisky stirred with La Quintinye Rouge Vermouth, with a touch of Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac and a spoonful of dark cassonade sugar.

Or the Old Embury, Awi’s tribute to the Old-Fashioned, made with 12-Year-Old Singleton Scotch Whisky shaken with AppleJack, Carpano Blanco topped with fresh slice of Gala apple and a dash of Angostura Bitters. The apple is a smart touch, a servile balance to the spirits.

Did I have a favourite? The style of the drinks varied, but the crisp quality was consistent and it helped to have some really good snacks, which also included the Crispy Salmon Skin with Salty Egg Yolk (the latter is everywhere now, isn’t it?), Beef Tartare on Toast, and the Shishamo Tempura with Tongarashi Mayonnaise dip.

We ended our night with an El Presidente (mixed with a drier Lillet), a reminder to plan our trip to Cuba before The Donald becomes the chief. The lighting in the Me@OUE lounge could use some work, I know they’re going for intimacy, but it’s a little dark and you can’t really see your food. But I had no fault with both the dishes and the drinks, definitely will be back for more.

Me@OUE Lounge OUE Bayfront Rooftop, 50 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049321. Tel: +65 6634-4555
Mondays to Saturdays 6.00pm until late, Sundays Closed

Like this? How about a happy hour involving oysters?

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