Cave à Manger: Four New Wine Bars in Singapore
If you’re currently embarking on the mind-numbing cleanse that is ‘Dry January,’ my condolences, the finish line is in sight. Here’s the disclaimer: this read is for the alcohol abusers on the mend. Here at High Net Worth, we prefer to start our year with ‘Try January’—feeding our curiosity for new wine bars that have sprung up like bunnies all over the fashionable quarters of our lovely city.
2025 promises to be a big year for oenophiles and casual drinkers alike. From the newly minted Vino Tinto touting ruby red pours of Spanish wines aimed at attracting the city slickers to the fuchsia-splashed, electronic beat-thumping labyrinth of Big Wine Freaks; the new wine bars command a sort of voyeuristic kick, unlike its predecessors.
Once redolent with suited bankers swirling deep glasses of Château Margaux, which they will later expense the company; the modern wine bar is focused on serving exciting wines from small producers and lesser-known regions with a broader by-the-glass selection This creates a playful atmosphere for guests and the accompanying nosh to go with it.
Here are four new wine bars that deserve a spot on your list for an unforgettable night out.
Big Wine Freaks
Continuing to prove that people will be seduced by extravagance is Moscow transplant, Big Wine Freaks, on Bukit Pasoh Road. The bar’s effortlessly trendy vibe is a fusion of sleek urban design and 90s vintage laissez-faire charm: a mix of industrial surfaces, bar stools upholstered with rich tapestry and velvet banquettes lit by pink neon light. It’s an open wine bar, which means you might be headed there to be judged for your wine etiquette (or lack thereof); one thing I’ve learnt from the generations of French aristocracy is, when in doubt, have champagne.
The champagne list here is formidable; Frédéric Savart, Jacques Selosse, the legendary Champagne Salon, etc., but what the venue has done to perfection is to include a personal touch by portraying selected winemakers—both from Champagne and even some local sparkling wines in the mix.
Complementing the 500-label strong wine list is the kitchen’s modern food menu prepared by former Sago house and Burnt Ends chef S. Ashokkumaar. It has elements of Japanese omakase-inspired fire-kissed flavours; not the most intuitive combination but it somehow works. Get the decadent uni toast and the finger-licking good tapas-styled padron peppers, before finishing off with braised lamb shoulder, which is enough to feed a small village.
Vino Tinto
Chef Daniel Chavez and his wife Tamara Chavez have unveiled their third concept, Vino Tinto, an exciting Spanish tapas and wine bar to mark their return to their old stomping grounds—the financial district.
Vino Tinto is a like a rambunctious, around-the-clock, full-throttle party scene; except you won’t need to huddle around small table tops or suck in your gut for the privilege of tucking into some delicious tapas. With punters spilling onto the streets, the establishment respects the increasingly devalued concept of personal space, offering well-distanced seating amid a backdrop of warm terracotta walls and brickwork.
A slam-dunk collection of Spanish wines is there to quench your thirst. They range the gamut, from delicate whites from Rías Baixas in the Galicia to the elegant reds from some emblematic wineries in Rioja. From the Mediterranean coastline comes Spain’s answer to champagne —Cava. Vino Tinto has a five-star assemblage of this vibrant bubbly, think Frank Massard Cava Mas Sardana Brut NV and Pere Ventura Tresor Brut Gran Reserva NV—the perfect accomplices to the exquisite tapas-style dishes.
The Toastas Ramona ($24), a medley of crystal bread toasts, burrata cheese, dried figs, and manchego cheese will whisk you off to Northern Spain instantly. Don’t forget the Fideauà ($32), Spain’s most iconic dish from the east coast. Chef Daniel and Tamara make theirs with Iberico pork, padron peppers and chestnuts. Top that all off with saffron aioli for a delectable feast.
Vitis Wine Bar & Bistro
An excellent spot to keep in your arsenal of romantic/covert/snazzy drinking holes is Vitis Wine Bar and Bistro. Opened in mid-September last year, the beautifully crafted space designed by Emma Maxwell Studio (also responsible for Burnt Ends) stands out from other modern minimalist designs thanks to its unique material choices, with a heavy emphasis on craftsmanship. The wall coverings are hand-stitched Japanese sustainable paper, the floor is laid with solid spotted gum timber and the banquettes are crafted from vegetable-dyed material.
Similarly, the wine list highlights individuals who have invested in Asia’s unique wine-making potential. It is truly cutting edge, featuring celebrated names like the Long Dai Cabernet Blend from China’s Shandong region and the pioneers of Thailand’s wine-producing movement, GranMonte located in Khao Yai’s Asoke Valley. Founder and certified sommelier Gary Low is a walking wine encyclopedia, who aims to grow and make exceptional wines. Food-wise, expect the likes of grilled sumi ika ($28), oxtail ‘lu rou’ noodles ($28) and the luxurious abalone kolo mee($38). The former, which translates to ink squid for the uninitiated, is stuffed with glutinous rice and served with peanuts and kecap salsa, showcasing the happy synergy of various Asian cuisines.
Les Clos Wine House and Restaurant
Le Clos is one of the newest wine bars that “wears many hats”—it’s a deli, wine bar, private wine room and restaurant. Hence the ridiculously long operating hours at New Bahru. Managing to embrace its original architecture, the 70-seater wine house brings a lived-in feel with reclaimed materials, vintage furniture, and house plants. Pick a glass from the extensive list that General Manager Geoffrey Leotot (who honed his craft in France, Odette, and then Claudine) personally curates, or peruse the jugular 800-label strong temperature-controlled cellar for inspiration. At first glance, the jeroboams of Domaine Combier and Drappier champagne might intimidate you, but rest assured that the team has got all your drinking needs covered. So if it’s the late afternoon lets-grab-a-bottle sporadic kind of moment, the neat selection of fruit forward ‘glou-glou’s from Beaujolais might do the trick.
Either way, once you’ve decided, load up on some of the fantastic French fare that the kitchen has to offer. This encompasses a selection of cold cuts, small bites and larger format dishes such as the M4+ OP rib black angus steak ($17/100g) or the Japanese tuna collar kissed by fire from the Josper grill.
Keep an eye out for their special events like their upcoming Valentine’s Day which pulls together a four-course feast for two at $188++.