Stay Gold Flamingo is the new kid on the bar and café scene in Singapore. Founded by homegrown bartending mavericks Jerrold Khoo, former head bartender of Jigger and Pony; and Bai JiaWei, former bartender at Employees Only, the dynamic duo has chosen to break away from the traditional bar concept, to create a ‘third place’ for the community in celebration of life, libations and music. Or as they say, “it’s the kind of place you can bring your boss to talk about life, and your friends to talk about work“.
In the day, you’ll be greeted by Flamingo, an inspiring, dynamic all-day cafe serving up light bites, coffee and funky cocktails. The team uses their own house blend of beans that have hints of fruits and are bright on the palate, similar to the vibrant Flamingo embellishing the coasters and walls.
Fun fact: The coasters were upcycled and handmade from the employees’ old jeans! We’re all for this effort at sustainability!
As you step through the curtains at the back of Flamingo, you’re transported into Stay Gold, an unapologetically fun and street-posh bar serving craft tipples and elevated comfort food. Don’t get us wrong, the classic cocktail bar elements still remain, but with a fun twist! Unique spaces such as The Rockstar corner was designed for guest bartender takeovers, and the unique booths are great for groups.
Stay Gold Flamingo’s Drinks: The Holy Trinity – Spirit, Modifier, Enhancer
The mixology at Stay Gold bridges the creativity of American bartending with the elevated precision of the craft of Japanese cocktail making. Each cocktail was designed based on the trinity concept, with two different types of cocktail menus, each displayed on a spectrum of strong to light tipples and vice versa.
Stay Gold harks back to familiar, classic cocktails, and Nothing Gold Can Stay, is perfect for the adventurous tipplers keen to explore a cheeky and modern take on classic cocktails.
Some of our favourites include:
Wild Fresh Sawa ($23++) is a definite crowdpleaser. Light on the botanicals from the beefeater dry gin, coupled with the refreshing citrus notes from the yuzu, and the refreshing aromatics of the chamomile and basil leaf, this cocktail is the perfect way to start your night.
Intro to Absinthe ($23++) sounds intimidating but is the complete opposite. The whole idea was to create an absinthe cocktail that was approachable for those unfamiliar with this potent spirit and it’s safe to say they’ve hit the ball out of the park with this one! The herbaceous absinthe, combined with freshly-made sparkling coconut water and aromatic earl grey gives rise to a light, refreshing and balanced cocktail.
Twiggy ($23++) was created as a tribute to the fashion icon herself and the cocktail is sweet, bold, and elegant. Made with Brass Lion Distillery Gin, Oloroso sherry for a little oomph and blackberry umeshu.
Other cocktails that we thoroughly enjoyed: A Perfect Sazerac ($23++). From Flamingo, the Espresso Martini ($19++), and Pink Guava Bellini ($19++).
Nahm Prik Wings
We started the night with the Nahm Prik Wings ($18++) – deep-fried wings, topped with chopped peanuts and coriander cress. This one-upped your usual chicken wings. Lightly fried and well-seasoned.
Not So Stinky Tofu
Next up, the Not So Stinky Tofu ($16++), which was… Indeed not stinky! The dish comprises crispy pig ears, tau kwa and pickled cabbage on the side. Thumbs up for the pig ears – no gamey taste or smell at all. In fact, it reminded us of fried pork belly. The batter was flavourful and savoury as well, with the picked cabbage balancing out all the flavours.
P.s. Jerrold and JiaWei highly recommend pairing this dish with A Perfect Sazerac ($23++), a boozy cocktail made of Remy Martin VSOP Cognac, Michter’s Rye, sugar, Aromatic Bitters, and a spray of Absinthe.
Sambal Matah Fish Tacos
Moving on to mains, we had the Sambal Matah Fish Tacos ($20++), made from a deep-fried local golden snapper, sambal matah slaw, on a soft corn tortilla. The golden snapper was so tender and moist, with meat coming apart easily – now that’s fresh. The sambal matah slaw really brought the heat, but man, was it addictive.
Garden
To end off our meal, we had Garden ($20++), which honestly was the best-looking bunch of vegetables we’ve ever seen on a plate. In the dish, you have vibrant roasted vegetables, on a bed of miso peanut pureé which brought out the smokiness from the charred vegetables, and Togarashi sprinkled all over for a little heat.
Whether you’re new to cocktails or an adventurous tippler, we highly recommend paying Stay Gold Flamingo a visit for their well-crafted cocktails and comforting bites.
If you’re lucky, Jerrold and JiaWei may even craft a cocktail customised to your preferences on the spot!
Address: 69 Amoy Street, Singapore 069887
Opening Hours:
* Flamingo — 10am to 5pm (Monday to Sunday)
* Stay Gold — 5pm to 10:30pm (Monday to Saturday; Closed on Sunday)
Nearest MRT Station: Telok Ayer MRT
Disclaimer: We were guests of Stay Gold Flamingo, but all opinions remain our own.
No Comments