Embark on a delightful journey with White Shades, the new and hottest cocktail bar at the heart of Singapore on Boon Tat Street. The ingenious brainchild of JiaWei Bai – the adept co-founder of the famed Stay Gold Flamingo (#32 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars) – this unique establishment opens its doors to offer a mesmerising first-of-its-kind cocktail experience like no other.
White Shades extends across four dynamic levels, each crafting a distinctive adventure for its guests, encouraging imbibers to explore spirits in various forms – from boozy gelatos to bespoke cocktails, draft cocktails, and beer. Be prepared to be transported into a different world at each level, with a symphony of aromas, colours, flavours, and music designed to offer a feast for all senses.
Four Floors of Enchantment: Level 1, Dessert
The first floor whisks you away into Dessert, an enchanting ice cream parlour bathed in vibrance tones and whimsical charm. Relish in twelve meticulously crafted ice creams featuring a delightful mix of alcoholic, classics, sorbets and experimental flavours, perfectly paired with house-made juniper-flavoured cones (gin lovers, we share your excitement!) and a selection of low-ABV tea cocktails.
Level 2 of White Shades: Cocktail
The next level unveils Cocktail, a space where elegance and luxury seamlessly blend. Here, sophistication is key, with the atmosphere dipping into darker tones, creating a cosy space that offers intimate seating and communal areas for guests to connect and engage over expertly mixed cocktails and sumptuous fusion dishes.
White Shades’ first menu is aptly named ‘unRAW‘, which tells the captivating story of JiaWei’s journey through creating the space. Each tipple purposefully represents a space in time leading up to White Shades – like Savi Galloping ($25) , a cocktail inspired by the vivid Hermès scarves adorning the space. It’s made with Codigo Blanco tequila, paprika, lime, fire water and smoked chips and served in a dome, representing the dust stirred up by horses galloping during the venue’s construction.
We particularly liked the Bomber J. ($25), which was also named after the bomber jacket uniform the team adorns. This balanced cocktail features Suntory World Whisky AO, toasted rice syrup and Hinkoi bitters. The other cocktails also hint at the upcoming menu that changes every four months (psst, it’s related to colours!).
Food at White Shades
White Shades’ food offerings rival the exquisite cocktails too! You’ve got to try the Beef Tartare ($22) with quail yolk and sambal matah; Clams ($22) with maitake and miso butter, as well as the Double Cheese Burger ($26) with Jalamayo, caramelised onion and fries meticulously prepared by the talented Chef Hosni. The burger was so good it made me reconsider my dislike for burgers.
The desserts were a work of art, too, with the Tiramisu ($16) and Chendol ($16) being hot favourites.
Oh, and did we mention apart from the cosy outdoor seating available here, there’s a hideaway privy to only a few individuals 😉 Perhaps if you ask JiaWei nicely, he’ll let you in on this secret.
Level 3: Event
Continue your adventure as you rise to Event at level 3, a transformative canvas that adapts its ambience to suit any occasion, offering a flexible setting for intimate gatherings, parties, corporate events or even pop-ups!
The recent Maker’s Mark “Marked by Maker’s” pop-up was held right here!
Level 4: Rooftop
Your journey culminates at level 4, a rooftop oasis where relaxation and enjoyment take centre stage. Here, under the open sky and accompanied by the soothing strum of live acoustic music, guests can indulge in affordable draft beers and cocktails on tap while munching on bar bites and creating lasting memories.
We feel White Shades possesses tremendous potential with its innovative and approachable offerings that can reach out to non-drinkers and imbibers alike. These ingeniously crafted offerings, such as the delectably accessible alcoholic ice creams and tea cocktails with low ABV, serve as a gentle and delightful introduction to spirited beverages, encouraging exploration and appreciation among a broader audience.
At the helm of this venture, JiaWei consistently demonstrates a deep well of creativity and visionary thinking. Each menu item and cocktail is not merely a gastronomical delight but a narrative, carefully and thoughtfully woven with JiaWei’s innovative spirit and vision. There’s a compelling story embedded within each creation and a thoughtful rationale underpinning every operational decision, collectively conferring upon White Shades a sense of purpose and meaningfulness that resonates throughout the space, enhancing its allure for patrons. Would you visit White Shades?
White Shades
Address: 25 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069622
Opening Hours: Dessert (Mon – Thurs, 12 pm to 10 pm | Fri – Sat, 12pm to 11 pm), Cocktail (Mon – Sat, 5pm to 12am), Rooftop (Mon – Sat, 5pm to 12am)
Nearest MRT Station: Telok Ayer MRT
Reservations: Click here
Website: Click here
Disclaimer: We were guests of White Shades, but all opinions remain our own.
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