New in town: 1826, Boat Quay — Riverside bar with charming throwback to colonial-era Singapore

There’s a new riverside bar in town, sitting on the bank of the Singapore River, providing us with a relaxing experience amidst laidback foliage and rattan furniture. It’s called 1826 and it’s a charming throwback to the olden days of Singapore back in the colonial era.

The name ‘1826’ might leave some searching for a hidden symbolism and it’s actually quite simple—that’s the year when the shophouse where the bar is located was built. So there’s quite a lot of nostalgia and homage paid to the rich culture of the area as one of the most important places in our nation’s history.

With all that reverence for heritage in mind, it’s no surprise to find that the menu on show here showcases inspired fusion flavours that borrow respectfully from local and Peranakan traditions, infusing these elements into both Western and Asian Dishes.

One of the most popular items on 1826’s menu is the platter of Chunky Pork Skewers (S$12 for three pieces) with a satay-inspired presentation, but it doesn’t just consist of satay but also bulgogi and cheesy, umami pork skewers. 

For a more modern spin on a dish that wouldn’t be amiss on a cafe menu, they pamper spice lovers with twists on pasta and risotto with choices like the Creamy Mala Linguine (S$15) for those who enjoy the numbing of mala and the Risotto Sawadee (S$18) if you crave the spicy and acidic kick of tom yum.

If you don’t want to waste the beautiful riverside ambience, it’s not a bad idea to bring a date along and kick back with a couple of cold ones from local craft beer mavericks, SevenDaze. Charming choices that will really immerse you into 1826’s tranquil vibes include local-themed beers like Is This Home Truly? Irish Red Ale (S$14) that will see you “sail down the river which brings us life, winding through my Singapore”.

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