In Need Of A Happy Hour? This ‘Atas’ Food Hall In The CBD Has A Bar That Offers Drinks For Just $5

As they say, old is gold.

This time, Singapore After Nine is casting the spotlight on an oldie but a goodie: Five Square (FIV Square) in the busy CBD.

It’ll have you covered from lunch through to dinner and drinks, and with live performances, no less!

[caption id="attachment_25082" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Outside Five Square[/caption]

Just like its name, food and drinks here go at the unbeatable rate of $5 each, every hour of everyday.

[caption id="attachment_25107" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Inside Five Square[/caption]

Take your pick between dining indoors or out at the alfresco area.

The Bar

Chill out with your pals over sake, wine or beer at just $5 a glass.

To liven up the party, have a go at Five Square’s pool table or dart booths. Sports fans will feel right at home here too, as Five Square often screens games on their large-screen televisions.

Their drink menu features an extensive selection of premium whiskies, a hundred or so different brands of wines, and various labels of icy cold beer.

[caption id="attachment_25085" align="aligncenter" width="2775"] L-R: Kronenbourg 1664 Lager ½ Pint Beer ($5), Mint and Margo Margarita ($15), Lychee Martini ($15), Mojito ($12)[/caption]

The Bazaar

Next to the bar is a large, open food hall that can hold a total of 300 diners. Home to 5 gourmet food stalls with extensive menus, take your pick from international cuisine ranging from Japanese to Spanish!

[caption id="attachment_25086" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Five Square adopts an open food hall concept[/caption]

The dishes are reasonably priced, making them a popular choice for those working in the CBD, and attracting crowds from farther away.

It’s no wonder, as the dishes beat what regular food courts can offer in terms of taste and quality, yet are not as pricey as those in upscale restaurants.

Cinqo Tapas

A take on the popular Five Tapas Bar at Cuppage Terrace, Cinqo Tapas brings on a whole host of palate pleasers.

[caption id="attachment_25105" align="alignnone" width="2880"] Cinqo Tapas[/caption]

1. Carbonara Fettucine ($9.90)

This plate of pasta was worth every dollar–and every calorie! We swear we’re not exaggerating when we say we could literally smell the aroma of the smoky prosciutto ham and rich cream while it was on its way out from the kitchen!

[caption id="attachment_25088" align="aligncenter" width="3024"] Carbonara Fettucine[/caption]

The fettucine was topped with thinly shaved parmesan slices and a glistening orb of an egg. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the rich creaminess of the sauce was complemented by the smoky ham, which was chewy and crisp.

[caption id="attachment_25089" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] In loving memory of the Carbonara Fettucine we devoured[/caption]

2. Angus Beef Cubes ($12)

[caption id="attachment_25090" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Angus Beef Cubes[/caption]

Fried beef topped with a generous smattering of golden sautéed garlic–yum! The beef cubes were well-marinated and packed a punch of flavour. Texture-wise, however, it was a tad too chewy for my preference. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it, and the fresh rocket leaves at the side were a refreshing accompaniment to the meat.

3. Bacon Mushroom ($6)

Springy, juicy mushrooms wrapped in bacon is what this dish is all about.

[caption id="attachment_25091" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Bacon Mushroom[/caption]

It was a pity the juices from the mushrooms softened the otherwise crispy bacon. Still, it was a winning combination, as the sweet taste of mushroom offset the savoury flavour of the bacon.

Just Pho Fun

Don’t let that name fool you–this place takes its food seriously.

4. Fresh Summer Roll (2 pcs, $5)

[caption id="attachment_25092" align="aligncenter" width="2816"] Fresh Summer Roll[/caption]

Stuffed with vermicelli, fresh prawns, mint leaves and assorted vegetables, these rolls were a delight to crunch into. If the rice paper wrap had been a little bit softer, it would have been perfect. Nevertheless, the sweet-sour chilli dip lent the roll a kick of flavour, and was very pleasing on the whole.

5. Dry Vermicelli with BBQ Pork ($10)

[caption id="attachment_25094" align="aligncenter" width="3023"] Dry Vermicelli with BBQ Pork[/caption]

The texture of the noodle was good, and the accompanying sweet-spicy-sour sauce was thoroughly interesting on the taste buds. However, the pork leaned slightly on the dry side and could have been more tender. A generous shower of ground nuts, fried shallots, and freshly julienned carrots and turnips added some colour to the dish and was the perfect way to round it off!

6. Rice Noodles with Sliced Beef Soup ($10)

[caption id="attachment_25095" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Rice Noodles with Sliced Beef Soup[/caption]

The rice noodles were cooked to just the right degree of springiness, and the beef slices were cooked to tender perfection. The soup was less savoury than we had hoped, but well-flavoured nevertheless!

[caption id="attachment_25097" align="alignnone" width="2445"] Free mango salad![/caption]

As a bonus, with each main dish ordered at this stall, you get a free mango salad!

Teppei

A branch-off of its renowned parent outlet at Tanjong Pagar, this stall at Five Square serves equally good grub.

[caption id="attachment_25102" align="aligncenter" width="2151"] Teppei[/caption]

Without missing a beat, it continues to spread chef Teppei’s legacy in the form of top-notch taste, quality and affordability.

7. Kaisendon, Seafood Donburi ($16)

[caption id="attachment_25098" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Kaisendon, Seafood Donburi[/caption]

The cubes of salmon and tuna sashimi were fresh and tender, well-marinated and flavourful.

Small chunks of sweet scallop were nestled in the middle of the sashimi pyramid. Along with the tobiko, which exploded with savoury goodness with every bite, they went perfectly with the Japanese rice. A lick of wasabi to the side of the dish cleared our palate in between mouthfuls.

8. Seared & Salmon Sashimi, Seafood Donburi ($16.80)

This was really, really good.

[caption id="attachment_25099" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Seared & Salmon Sashimi, Seafood Donburi[/caption]

The salmon sashimi was fresh and chopped into thick slices. Marinated with what tasted like a mixture of soy sauce and mirin, it was the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

The seared salmon, on the other hand, had just the right amount of smokiness to it. Even though we were too full to eat all the rice, we devoured every single bit of the salmon.

The Grill Knife (Western)

An offshoot of The Soup Spoon, The Grill Knife also offers nutrition-packed meals made with fresh ingredients, paired with their delicious homemade sauces.

9. Chicken Combo ($13.80)

Grilled over high heat, the chicken thigh was tender and moist, as were the Bratwurst sausages.

[caption id="attachment_25100" align="aligncenter" width="2880"] Chicken Combo[/caption]

As the saying goes, the more the merrier! This was true of the Herbivore salad that came with more than 5 different vegetables! Our only gripe was that the fried wanton skins that came with the salad could have been crispier. Apart from that, this dish was a tasty balance of protein and fibre.

Gogibox (Korean)

The Gogibox offers a unique twist on Korean cuisine, with the Gogi Taco ($6.80), and the Gogi Dog ($6.80).

[caption id="attachment_25101" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Image Credit: ckchai.blogspot[/caption]

It also sells bentos such as the Gogi Plate above ($8.50). Take your pick from fried rice, 8 different choices of meat and a salad. Unfortunately, we did not manage to sample food from the Gogibox as it was closed, but we will definitely be back to get some!

All things considered, Five Square is definitely a top contender on our list of chill out spots. Not only does it provide affordable food and drinks with great taste and quality, it’s also conveniently situated near the workplaces in the CBD.

It’s never too late for food and drinks at Five Square. Supper, anyone?

Cheers to the next round of great food and beer,

Singapore After Nine

All prices are subject to 7% GST and 10% Service Charge. 

Five Square
Address: 
1 Pickering Street, Great Eastern Centre, #01-03, Singapore 04865
Opening hours: Mon – Sat, 10am – 12am (Closed on Sundays and PH)

Also read 7 Oozy Choux Pastries That Will Have You Scrambling To Lick Everything Up

Singapore’s Late Night Eats Near MBS, Yishun And More For Pokemon Go Addicts!

Pokemon Go has taken Singapore by storm for weeks now, with throngs of Singaporeans gathering at parks, malls and even the streets of Orchard Road and Marine Bay Sands till the wee hours.

Because of this, we’ve decided to create a list of late night eats that are conveniently placed near Pokemon hotspots and places where you can catch the rarest Pokemon.

Don’t expect any fast food joints on this list, it’s all local food that is bound to fuel you up after a long night of Pokemon catching!

1. Night Safari

If you have decided to go to the Night Safari to enjoy both the real and virtual animals, you would probably have stayed long past the closing hours of the Night Safari eateries.

We found the closest eatery to this national attraction, and the good news is they’re open way past the Night Safari. The bad news? They’re a pretty long walk from the Night Safari.

Springleaf Prata (susanwong)
Image credit:SpringLeaf
Image credit: Spring Leaf 2
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Image credit: RK Eating House
Image credit: RotiPrataHouse

Image credit: RPH

Image credit: Just Go La

For those staying in the North and Central Singapore, Upper Thomson is the best place to grab some grub. With quaint cafes serving up some really good coffee in the day and small restaurants offering really affordable and delicious food by night, it’s no surprise that it’s grown so popular.

A great place to get some cheap supper? If you’re a night owl who prowls the island for late supper you would have definitely heard of the Roti Prata House. They have a wide variety of pratas including durian and milo but if you’re a little more traditional stick to the firm favourites.

Distance: 5 mins by car, 23 mins if you’re walking

Address: 246M Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370
Contact: 6459 5260
Opening Hours: 7am – 2am

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Image credit: Chef Quak

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Image credit: 353 8400
Opening Hours: 24 hours

4. Tampines West

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Image credit: Al Azhar
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Opening Hours: 24 hours

Saffron shop
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Saffron briyani
Image credit: Foursquare

A stone’s throw from Al-Azhar is Saffron’s Cafeteria, if you’re starving and need something to fill your stomach this is the place to head to. A firm favourite among patrons is the Briyani, according our sources the servings are huge, enough to fill two adults and they’re really affordable, at an average price of $6 that is a steal! Best part? It’s 24 hours! So you know where to head to when those midnight Bryani cravings hit!

Address: Blk 201D Tampines Street 21, # 01-1163, S529393
Contact:6787 6010
Opening Hours: 24 hours

5. Chinese Garden

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Image credit:
boonlay nasi lemak
Image credit: 6266 4466
Opening Hours: 6:30AM–3:30AM

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Image credit: 6345 5225
Opening Hours: 24 hours

6. Marina Bay Sands

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Image credit: MBS2
Image credit: rare Pokemons, but with so many eateries either closing before 11 or way beyond our price range, Makansutra Gluttons By The Bay is one place you can definitely have you fill under a budget.

Makansutra Gluttons By The Bay is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat no matter the company, if you’re riding solo grab some Mee Goreng from The Old Satay Club or Soon Lee’s Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee. If you’re in a big group, do supper family style, share the famous Huat Huat BBQ Chicken Wings or the Alhambra Padang Satay.

Distance: 3 mins by car, 15 mins if you’re walking

Address: #01-15, 8 Raffles Ave, 039802
Contact: 6336 7025
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs, 5pm-2am; Fri-Sat, 5pm-3am; Sun, 4pm-1am

7. Lot One

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Image credit: Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All!

Nothing Above $60 – Indulge In An Affordable Full Body Massage

Affordable Body Massages

Feeling stressed out from the hectic daily workload? Sometimes, all you need is some uninterrupted ‘me’ time. Relax, unwind, and have those sore points kneaded with a blissful, affordable full body massage. There’s no better way than visiting a no-frills massage that hits all the right spots, leaving you refreshed and recharged. With such affordable massages you can find in Singapore, you wouldn’t need to travel all the way to Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia for your relaxing indulgence.

Read on for our guide to an affordable full body massage you can find in Singapore – all for below $60. For the late night owls, or if you simply can’t get to bed, some of these open even past midnight!

Healing Touch

[caption id="attachment_8923" align="alignnone" width="635"]healing touch Image credit: silverkris[/caption]

Awarded “Best Ache Busting Massage” for their Deep Tissue Massage by Singapore Women’s Weekly in 2015 and 2016, Healing Spa aims to provide “back to nature” wellness and beauty treatments through the healing power of plants. Healing Touch creates an environment and culture where customers feel valued. Served by a team of high skilled and professional therapists, they deliver a 4P experience – right Pressure, Points, Pace (Rhythm) and Pampering experience.

At Healing Touch, there are a variety of body massages available. Choose from Asian Fusion, Deep Tissue, Thai Fusion, Shiatsu or Acupressure massage from as low as $55 ($58.85 with GST) for 60 minutes. Currently on promotion, their Asian Fusion Massage is just at $46 ($49.20 with GST) for 60 minutes. With its usual price at $58.85, this is definitely a steal! Healing Spa has many outlets from the East to West, and even one conveniently located in the heart of Orchard. Do click  (Orchard Branch)
Price: $58.85 for 60 mins of body massage
Address: 19 Tanglin Road, Tanglin Shopping Centre, #03-03, Singapore 247909
Contact:
65 6694 1181
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-10.30pm (Last appointment from 9pm)

Rule of Thumb

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rule of thumb2 Image credit: rule of thumb Image credit:
Price: $60 for 60 mins of body massage
Address: 289 Beach Road #01-01, Singapore 199552
Contact: 
65 6295 5000
Opening Hours: Daily 10am-4am (Last appointment from 3am)

JS Spa

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JS Spa Image credit:
Price: Happy hour rate at $45 nett for 60 mins, Normal hours rate $55 nett for 60 mins
Address: 33 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455293 
Contact:
65 6242 4555
Opening Hours: Mon -Sun 10am-4am

Sabaai Sabaai Thai Massage

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Sabaai-Sabaai-Thai-Massage Image credit: thebestsingapore[/caption]

You don’t need to travel all the way to Bangkok or Phuket to enjoy an authentic Thai massage. Sabaai Sabaai will make you feel like you’re in Thailand. From authentic Thai furnishing to skilled and dedicated therapists, step out of your busy routine and enter the calm sanctuary of Sabaai Sabaai.

Try their Traditional Thai Massage which involves a therapist applying rhythmic pressure using their hands and forearms to the meridians of your body. Alternatively, if you prefer a more relaxing type of massage, their Aroma Oil Thai Massage will be perfect for you.

bukit timah javanese Image credit: beau pass[/caption]

As Singapore’s first authentic Javanese massage establishment, the House of Traditional Javanese Massage offers authentic Javanese Massage for the young and old. This massage parlour has more than a hundred skilled and experienced therapists. Their prices are affordable with its Traditional Javanese Full Body Massage at $60 for 60 minutes. Members enjoy a special price of $45.

Check all the available locations  (Bukit Timah Branch)
Price: 
From $60 for 60 mins of full body massage
Address: 783 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269760
Contact: 65 6468 7855
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-11pm

Nothing like an affordable full body massage to soothe and knead those aches away. We’re all for a little pampering treat after days of hard work.

(Header image by wimbledonmassagetherapy, edited by writer)

Also read: 7 Best Happy Hour Deals In Town That Will Not Burn A Hole In Your Pocket