Tipsy Flamingo: Wes Anderson Meets Seoul's Pink Pool Cafe at New Bistro in Raffles City
It’s not often that malls have particularly exciting F&B concepts these days, given the influx of cafes and bars in shophouses and or upscale locations like Dempsey Hill.
Bringing some character back into the downtown City Hall district is Tipsy Flamingo, the newest offshoot of the Tipsy Collective— which includes familiar names like Tipsy Penguin, Tipsy Bird, Tipsy Bunny, Lady Wu, Takeshi Noodle Bar and more.
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Unlike the other concepts though, Tipsy Flamingo was opened in collaboration with local actors Pierre Png and Andrea de Cruz.
The spanking new bistro aims to bring a slice of tropical summer beach bar vibes to the city, as evidenced by it’s interior decked out in splashes of neon pink and other brightly coloured pastels.
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The use of bright pastels does bring to mind Wes Anderson’s sets, and the poolside theme is definitely not new as Stylenanda’s Pink Pool Cafe has graced many an Instagrammer’s feed for years, but I personally feel the decor is a little too overstuffed. Perhaps it’s the layout of the place, but it feels like there’s not much room for any of the stylistic choices to breathe.
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Not that most will mind, I’m sure.
Food here is a curious mix of influences, and you’ll find an eclectic menu featuring everything from Thai Basil Pork Shabu Shabu (S$16) to Hyogo Japanese Oysters (S$24), Truffle Moonlight Hor Fun (S$23), Abalone Pasta with Kawa Ebi, XO Butter & Kombu (S$32), and 650g Fried Beef Rib (S$60) etc.
We had the Crispy Chicken Katsu with Housemade Balado Chilli (S$16), which was served on top of a bed of quinoa, complete with cucumber salad and a 63 degree poached egg. I opted to have the balado chilli on the side since I knew it was going to have a kick for me even in small doses. Everything was done pretty well, so an easy crowd pleaser here.
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Moving on to the Tipsy’s Lobster & Crabmeat Roll (S$29), this featured fresh lobster marinated in classic mayo sauce and topped with orange tobiko and smoked herring caviar, finished with salad and truffle fries. It was decent but not better than what Burger & Lobster can offer.
We decided to share their Tiki Tapas 2 for S$18 deal, and went for the Fried Ravioli with Parmigiano and Pork Sisig Tacos. Of the two, we preferred the ravioli which was deliciously cheesy and an easy snack that we wiped clean quickly. I was less impressed with the pork tacos (spot the broken taco shell that was served) but that’s not to say that it was bad, just average.
Overall, I’d say Tipsy Flamingo is more a place to get together with friends over drinks and to have some bar bites, rather than a place I’d recommend for a satisfying meal. Food is pricey, and much of it is just okay considering what you can get elsewhere.
Best saved for an after work catch up over pints, I think!
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WHERE | 252 NORTH BRIDGE ROAD, #01-17A, RAFFLES CITY SHOPPING CENTRE, SINGAPORE 179103
