MOGĀ at Pullman Singapore Hill Street has never been about tradition. The name itself, is short for "modern girl" or modan gāru (モダンガール), which refers to the women who adopted Western stylings after WWI (a war that definitely does not deserve a sequel). In those days, these women were seen as defiant, going against the societal and gender norms of Japan’s Taisho era; which is the sort of spirit that MOGĀ wants to uphold, especially with its new menu, Breaking the Norm.
The brainchild behind the menu is bar manager, Gavin Teverasan, who has a decade's worth of experience working at many illustrious local bars like 28 HongKong Street, Neon Pigeon, Nutmeg & Clove. With the new menu, Teverasan wants to spark "curiosity and excitement among guests”.
The "Breaking the Norm" menu presents eight "Izakaya" cocktails that showcase a reimagining of the classic flavours of Japan. There's the Martini with a Japanese twist: the Dirty Saketini. This sake-shochu martini is laced with house-made pickling brine, which leans into its saltiness.
Then, there's the Frozen Drink, which wins no awards for originality for its name and looks like something from a '70s diner but will hold the interest of the adults thanks to its alcoholic properties. It's a whisky milkshake that blends taro liqueur, cream, azuki beans, and matcha; there's even a wafer biscuit and a Pocky stick to chew on. Speaking of munching…
Leon Quek, MOGĀ's head chef, complements the "Breaking the Norm" menu with some new bar snacks like the Spicy XL Clams that bring layered heat with chilli bean paste, saikyo miso, and coriander. There is the Crispy Squid, an unassuming dish; dusted with sansho-spiked fish sauce, kizami yuzu, and green chilli, it cuts straight through with its sharp profile.
(Aside from a new menu, expect guest shifts at MOGĀ as it hosts some of the biggest names in the region like Vender from Taichung and The Curator from Manila.)
We see what MOGĀ is doing with its menu. We don't know how much of the envelope the place pushes but it's a start. And besides, nothing like bucking conventions other than with a whisky milkshake in a bar setting.
MOGĀ is located at Pullman Singapore Hill Street, 1 Hill Street, Singapore 179949.
Look, I work hard and I provide for the family; I do right by them but has anyone done right by me? It feels narcissistic to write this. I'm not the sort to make a hullabaloo about my birthday, let alone, Father's Day. But times are changing. Credit needs to be given to where credit's due. As a father, I suppose, it's okay to indulge a little.
So, colour me surprise when Pullman Singapore Orchard has a promo for the dads. After the hotel's "Pull-Mum" Singapore Orchard Getaway, Pullman Singapore Orchard decided to be an equal opportunity rewarder and do something for the daddies (I'm assuming the getaway applies to the "baby" and "sugar" variety). This Super Dad Father’s Day Getaway is a 28-hour experience that involves a stay, food, swimming and cocktails.
Every Super Dad Father’s Day Getaway lets you check in at 10am. That's right: 10 in the morning. And you can also have a late checkout at two in the afternoon. And the room that you check into is a Deluxe Premier Room—a 32 sqm space that has a king-sized bed and a smart en-suite bathroom with a bathtub and shower (our room faces Orchard Road; Mandarin Gallery, specifically). Step into the room and you’re greeted with a selection of macaroons and chilled, locally-brewed Trouble Brewing beers.
With SGD50, you can spend it at Eden Restaurant, PSO Beach Club or Atelier Lounge. If you're feeling peckish, head to Eden Restaurant that's fashioned to look like a glasshouse. With light streaming through louvres, it bathes the place in a natural and appealing hue. Currently, there's a special on lobster dishes. We had a Boston lobster that's cooked in a Shaoxing wine and comes with lala and mussels. Of course, you have a side of sourdough bread for the sopping up of the sauce. There's also a complimentary glass of Guinness or red wine.
You can relax at the pool at PSO Beach Club. Or, if you're like me, you can partake in the two-hour cocktail master class at Atelier Lounge. Situated next to PSO Beach Club, the bar is tended by Presh, showed us the finer points of drink mixing. She walked us through how to whip up a few specialty cocktails like the Eden's Affair (The Botanist gin; rinquinquin; lemon juice; basil leaves and Sprite) and a PSO Fig Sling (The Botanist Gin; Cointreau; Capano Antica Formula; pineapple juice; lime juice; orange bitters; a fig). There's nothing like shaking up the drink and sipping on your handiwork (and free-flow bubbles, cocktails, wines and mocktails) while watching a stately swan floatie gracefully glide across the window.
We haven't got to the best part yet.
In the morning, instead of dragging your feet down to the restaurant fro breakfast, you can opt for BREAKFAST IN BED. That's right. For the Super Dad Father’s Day Getaway, you can choose from a several breakfast items and have them delivered to your room. Sure, there's that risk of the child, accidentally spilling juice all over the duvet but BREAKFAST IN BED. It seems odd that we are easily excited about this but BREAKFAST IN BED is such a Westernise concept that we romanticised in our head to the power of seven that we couldn't pass up on.
If you want to upgrade the Super Dad Father’s Day Getaway package, you can get a car transfer at SGD85 per trip or add SGD70 for access to the Archive Club, which is kinda-like an executive lounge, where you get to nosh on specialised all-day offerings and free-flowing Maxime Blin Champagne. At 5pm, Archive Club will dole out a selection of 12 wines that you can choose.
The Super Dad Father’s Day Getaway at Pullman Singapore Orchard runs until 30 June, 2024.
