COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Nestled in a quiet spot among fields of greenery at the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a conserved 1920s Art Deco garage called, well, The Garage. Now home to two new eateries — Botanico and Bee’s Knees — the two-storey historic building was once used as a parking and residence space for college professors, then a school for ornamental horticulture, and later, an office space for the Horticulture department.
On the ground level, occupying the former garage bays, sits Bee’s Knees. Decked out in graphic shades and botanical designs, the pet-friendly garden cafe gives off cheery and laidback vibes — ideal for family brunches on weekends or casual get-togethers with friends. Perch on one of the bar stools or gather around the tables to dig into a breakfast menu of waffles, eggs, house-made cereals and cakes, or try the pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches if you’re popping by for a lunch stop.
Once you head upstairs, the atmosphere changes as you enter the sleek, sophisticated restaurant. Unlike Bee’s Knees, where lively groups are more than welcome for an afternoon of merrymaking, Botanico is all about elegance and gorgeously-plated dishes that you’ll want to take your time to savor. Its windows overlook the lush greenery, but you can also soak up the beauty of nature at the canopied outdoor terrace and mingle over cocktails like thyme lemonade and blackberry lychee mojito.
Botanico’s menu — helmed by Spanish-born chef Antonio Oviedo, who’s worked in the kitchens of the late three Michelin-starred chef Santi Santamaria and the Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca — serves up vibrant, experimental dishes that are based on seasonal ingredients.
Start off with addictive bites of tempura-coated, deep fried baby squid ($12), then move on to smoked Idiazabal cheese croquettes ($14) stuffed with slices of chorizo for a blend of creamy and crispy in each mouthful. If you’re after a light appetizer, order the sprightly Botanico salad ($18) served with heirloom tomatoes, cañarejal cheese, pickled beetroot, black radishes, charred cucumber, figs and edible flowers.
As you slowly work your way up to the mains, try the lamb tartare ($20) with pickled onions, black olives arlette and mustard ice cream.
For the highlight of your meal, we’d definitely recommend the chargrilled carabinero ($34) — it’s an aromatic plate of scarlet prawns served with saffron aioli, mellow rice in a rich prawn bisque, and crispy pork crackling. Alternatively, go for the simple but flavorful dish of Japanese scallops ($27) with artichoke purée. Another can’t-go-wrong option is the roasted pigeon ($27) — think tender slices of medium rare pan-seared pigeon breast with sous vide pigeon leg, parsnip brown butter purée and smoked walnut shavings.
To end off on a zesty note, get the deceptively simple-sounding tropical fruits plate ($14) of laksa leaf ice cream, white chocolate turmeric ganache, palm fruit, jackfruit, longan, meringue and deep fried laksa leaf. It’s light and refreshing enough that you won’t feel the beginnings of a food coma even after the very last spoonful.
All that said, it’s a good thing The Garage is hidden in its tucked away spot in the gardens, ’cause you’ll have the perfect surroundings to stroll through for a peaceful walk after your meal.
The Garage is at 50 Cluny Park Rd, 9831-1106. Botanico is open Wed-Sun, Bee’s Knees is open Mon-Sun.
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