Cafe above par

If you’re interested in seeing a microcosm of what’s good and bad about Singapore, Cafe Del Mar at Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island is a pretty good bet.

I recently spent a languid Saturday afternoon whiling-away the hours in this Ibiza transplant and enjoyed myself even though I was alone, sunburned and moderately hungover.

What made it so interesting was the ever-changing clientele. Early in the afternoon young families swam in and around the pool or wandered down onto the beach while middle-aged European men sat awkwardly holding hands with their young local girlfriends, mistresses or day’s paid entertainment. In the background, a fairly awful mix of beats laid waste to Cafe Del Mar’s reputation for cool sounds. But at around three in the afternoon, the mood changed.

A younger, hipper crowd moved in and a real live DJ stepped up to the desk and started to deliver some really great music. The awkward couples moved out while the families stayed and the place really picked-up.

I sat contentedly staring out across the beach and water to a long line of freighters and tankers sitting in the South China Sea waiting to disgorge their cargoes in Singapore. And it’s here I happily sat with a bucket of ice-cold Heineken and a fairly mediocre tuna nicoise until the sun went down.

It was smooth, the sleaze had moved and the DJ was pushing out some pretty exquisite summer grooves. Sure the service was pretty slow but I sensed the staff weren’t really trained to serve unless summoned by semaphore.

Away from where I sat, young couples reclined on sunbeds as the sun eased itself below the horizon and kids quietly played in the sand. I was close to being in my happy place. The food needed to be better even though the menu touted the restaurant as an award winner as late as last year.

And speaking of the menu, I hate pictures in a menu anywhere. You might be in a cool position on a beach with a great bar and outdoor venue; you could have Jamie XX behind the turntables but as soon as pictures appear in the menu you’re jostling with Tony Roma’s and TGI Friday’s on the dork-meter.

Great position and laid back beats though … it just needs a few tweaks.

Mark Eggleton

Cafe Del Mar

40 Siloso Beach Walk, Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098996

www.cafedelmar.com.sg

(+65) 6235 1296

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