If you’ve ever been in the Bugis area, you might have chanced across a rather peculiar looking building. An architectural oddity- an Art Deco building nestled in the midst of angular modern skyscrapers and traditional Straits shophouses. It has often been referred to as the “Batman” building; for the Gotham City in which he lives is dominated by the modernist opulence and geometric forms of Art Deco.
The building is actually named Parkview Square, and for a long time, it concealed a well-kept secret.
In its ground floor lobby stood a very peculiar establishment, called Divine Wine Bar. Framed by the bar and a colossal wine chiller (if memory serves) three storeys high, it was just as richly decorated as the outside of the building, if not more so.
Even more unusual was how the wine was retrieved from those towering chillers. Female wine “cherubs” would make the ascent-not through stairs- but by being hoisted up by a system of lines dangling from the ceiling. Each of them was as much acrobat as bartender.
And then, in August 2016, Divine shuttered its doors to make way for a new bar.
ATLAS
Opening in March 2017, ATLAS will take Divine’s place, and will retain the opulent Art Deco aesthetic so unique to its predecessor. If you wish to rekindle something of the European and American Jazz Age, it will deliver in spades.
However, the beverage menu will change quite completely.
From what we know, ATLAS will feature a diverse, curated, collection of Gin. The juniper spirit will take the place of the wine in the soaring glass tower, which thankfully, remains the centerpiece of the bar.
Master of Gin Jason Williams included everything from 1910 London dry gins to the best of modern craft gins from all over the world. From what we hear, many of them were generously contributed by their distillers, whilst others were hand-carried from far and wide by new and old friends of the bar.
The team behind the bar will also see some large changes. Head Bartender Roman Foltán and Maître D’ Carla Davina Soares, both alumni of London’s world-class Artesian at the Langham, will helm the revamped establishment. Foltán is recognised as one of Europe’s leading bartenders and a member of the Forbes 30 Most Talented People Under 30 list. Soares will provide a unique kind of hospitality to each guest time after time; how many bars in Singapore do you know have a Maître D’?
Other than Art Deco inspired cocktails made by Foltán, the bar will also feature a bespoke rose gold walk-in Champagne Room housing the ATLAS Champagne Collection. Guests will be able to taste “rare treasures from one of Asia’s most sought-after Champagne lists”, some of which have been personally selected from the Parkview Family cellar, and others which originate from the finest Champagne houses in the world today. We look forward to trying these.
If one is peckish, Executive Chef Daniele Sperindio, formerly of The Tippling Club Group, will offer contemporary takes on classic flavours from Art Deco Europe. ATLAS will feature all-day dining, from light continental offerings in the morning, through lunch, afternoon high tea and dinner, to bar food late into the evening.
Stay Tuned
ATLAS will open in March 2017. We at Highest Spirits are raring to take an in-depth look and sharing our impressions. Watch this space!
For more information visit www.atlasbar.sg.
