In Singapore's Bugis neighbourhood there is an imposing building that looks like it has come straight out of Gotham City. I had heard many stories about it, most intriguingly that wine "fairies' live there! So when I found myself walking past the building recently I had to go in and explore
The major part of the building, actually called Parkview Square, was completed in 2002 and reportedly houses some of the most expensive office space in Singapore. I walked through one of the entrance gates, (each of which is topped by a huge sculpture) and stepped into an spacious, courtyard garden
The courtyard is adorned with an art deco inspired facade and many interesting statues
The statue below is by Fernando Botero and called "Dressed Woman"
This statue by Salvatore Dali called Snail Queen
There were also sculptures from a temporary exhibition highlighting the environmental issues facing the oceans due to mans activity and the impact on shark populations, including the horrible practice of shark finning. I found it interesting that this should be addressed here in Singapore where shark's fin soup is a popular and relatively easy to find dish
Inside the entrance foyer the art deco adornment continues
on the floors, walls and ceilings
and then I found the bar, sadly closed (it was Sunday) but even more sadly the concierge told me that the bar had recently changed hands, been renovated and is no longer inhabited by wine fairies!
To explain- wine fairies was the nickname given to the waitresses dressed in sequinned outfits who would fly up (hoisted by ropes) to collect bottles of wine from the wine fridges which used to be from the floor to the very high ceiling in the middle of the bar.
The fridges looked like they still had bottles inside, I wonder how they reach them now?
The bar is now called Atlas and must be one of the most decorative bars in Singapore, I hope to return one day when its open and have a drink in these lovely surroundings
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