Feast & Drink at Farrer Horse, Singapore Race Course-Inspired Bar

CONTENT: Michelle Ng
IMAGE: Farrer Horse

The Farrer Park Racecourse remains but a snapshot in Singapore’s history except for a select few. Inspired by Singapore’s first horse-racing venue in the 1840s, Farrer Horse was created by Ayyakannu Srinivasan from the memories of his childhood home along Racecourse Road.

The equestrian-themed dining concept is split into two – a Dining Room with sleek and elegant seating, and Stable on the second floor, a bar with balcony seating overlooking the streets.

The Dining Room is aptly named, with a menu that is as diverse as the ethnic races in Singapore. As second generation owner of Muthu’s Curry, we’re not surprised that Srinivasan has created dishes that are a fusion of Indian, Chinese and Malay flavours.

Start your meal with the Papad & Dips, a basket of fresh papadums that comes with three dips, a zingy Raita with sliced grapes; a minty green chutney, and spicy bloody Mary salsa. We couldn’t get enough of the Nyonya Pie Tee which came in two fillings; prawn or duck stuffed together with a homemade slaw in the little pastry cups that disappeared way too quickly in two bites.

The mains are equally exciting, with fusion creations like the Otah Ravioli. The ravioli was stuffed with otah that didn’t have that overly fishy taste and served with a creamy curry and chilli padi sauce. I loved the addition of cucumber bits, tomato chunks and fried wanton skin that gives every mouthful a lovely crunch of refreshing flavour that just added to the complex curry.

Meat lovers can tuck into the Lamb Chops, seared with just the right amount of char and marinated in a homemade kecap manis sauce, or the Kapitan with Nets, chicken curry cooked Nyonya-style and served with crispy roti jala to mop up the curry after you’ve picked the drumstick clean.

Stable exudes the grandiose and luxury with plush velvet sofas deck in plenty of emerald green and wooden slats, decorated with black-and-white photos of the Farrer Park Racecourse during its glory days and a highlight wall of used equestrian accessories like a leather saddle and stirrups. We almost couldn’t decide if we wanted to kick back with a cocktail at the bar or to people watch on the alfresco seating.

Over at Stable, the bar serves up 6 fun cocktails that is horse-themed. And we’re not just talking about classic stable drinks; the cocktails are designed by The Compound Collective and incorporates ingredients from a horse’s staple diet. Equestrians might also notice that the cocktails are also named after famous race horses, paying homage to the sport in another subtle touch.

A fan favourite was the Secretariat, a twist on the Kentucky Derby’s official cocktail Mint Julep by using a hay-infused bourbon with had maple and apple for a sweet finish. The cocktail is a great one to pair with some bites or to kick off the night as it was full of flavour, yet refreshing with the mint garnish. Follow up with the Man O’War, a spin on the old fashioned with earthy notes of coriander, fennel and cumin.

Eclipse is a love-it-or-hate-it drink, with an interesting mix of tequila, sherry, lime, pomegranate, celery, and coriander. I’m considerably sensitive to coriander, so the strong notes turned me off almost immediately, but it was definitely an adventure for the tastebuds! Those who prefer something easier on the palate will like Inferno, a rum and black tea cocktail infused with peach and lemon. It was like I was drinking spiked black tea, and my drink was gone in no time.

If you’re not feeling like a tipple, there’s also four mocktails to choose from like Affirmed, a light and zesty cucumber cordial mixed with lime and tonic, or Seabiscuit, a sweet pairing of Lyre’s American malt and carrot syrup.

Farrer Horse
The Sultan Hotel, 101 Jalan Sultan, #01-02/#02-00, Singapore 199002
Closed on Mondays