Marking his first foray into Singapore, award-winning chef and restaurateur David Myers unveils his newest creation, Adrift, located in the atrium of Marina Bay Sands. Inspired by Myers’ wanderlust outlook, Adrift is a bespoke urban kaleidoscope anchored by the places, faces and flavours of his path, from California to Asia. Pairing a nostalgic spirit with a modern aesthetic, the restaurant is curated to the very last detail by Myers.”I’m thrilled to join the Marina Bay Sands family, with its history of partnership with iconic chefs,” said Chef David Myers. “Adrift is a personal ode to the vibrant experiences I’ve encountered in my many travels. It’s a colourful food culture mashup from both sides of the Pacific, a merging of old and new — small plates you can toast to, and a modern way of dining.”
Led by Executive Chef Dong Choi, the menu at Adrift blends playful snacks with raw items, and artisanal toasts with charcoal-grilled treats in a whimsical approach to East-meets-West. Cheeky nods to American classics take the form of Caramel Popcorn with Togarashi and a King Crab Melt with pimento cheese. Many of the mix-and-match small plates, meant for sharing, feature interpretations of Myers’ most beloved dishes from his travels throughout Asia. More inspirations from Myers’ travels are evident in a section titled “Nomadic”, remixing cultural traditions in dishes like the Preserved Green Papaya Soup with Maine lobster and sago, Buckwheat Battered Chicken with karashi honey mustard sauce and Foie Gras Banh Mi as well as the grilled Lobster Mochi with Ginger Vinaigrette and Cod with Chili Crab Sauce. A Robata section serves bincho-grilled items, from grilled yuba and miso-cured duck breast to Wagyu beef with Onion Jam.
The bar will also feature an East-meets-West approach, perfectly mirroring Myers’ menu.
For its launch, the restaurant has roped in bartender extraordinaire Sam Ross, who has made a mark on the New York bar scene with his venue Attaboy, as its consultant.
The result: refreshing aperitifs like the Pimms Imperial with Pimms No 1, lemon, champagne and local market fruits to reinvented classics such as the Singapore Sling, which interprets the famed drink with both aged and dark rum, Centrepiece, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters. Playful travel tributes are referenced in a section of fruit cocktails, a nod to Tokyo’s Ginza district of cocktail craft, as well as swizzles, dedicated to the notable Caribbean rum drink.
“Marina Bay Sands is excited to collaborate with David Myers on our latest restaurant project. Adrift speaks to the Centrepiece in all of us. With its diverse repertoire of innovative dishes and strong bar programme, Adrift looks set to enhance the celebrity chef programme at Marina Bay Sands. The façade is stunning and the ambience is inviting – Adrift is a must-visit for guests looking to be inspired and recharged, whether they are looking for a quick drink and small bites, or to linger over conversations and a longer meal,” said Tamir Shanel, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Marina Bay Sands.
The intriguing space is designed by Blueplate Studios, Wilson Associates’ speciality food and beverage design studio, to at once evoke the adventure of travel and the comfort of home. A unique sculptural enclosure that juxtaposes the larger-than-life atrium at Marina Bay Sands, Adrift unfolds from an illuminated wrapped wood and copper façade.
Once inside, the expansive 4,000 square foot restaurant houses a collection of spaces that cater to a myriad of dining experiences, from artisanal mixology and delectable snacks at the bar, to a convivial feast of shared plates within the restaurant, and intimate dinners with friends or business partners at the private dining room enclosure.
The Centrepiece cocktail bar nostalgically recalls a vintage Ginza-style, with diffused lighting, leather bar stools, antiqued metal screens and charred timber accents. In the ethereal garden parlour, timber benches hang from the ceiling, while subtle floral accents allude to the wall of greenery outside. The private dining room houses a surrealist library with quirky objets d’art and vintage photographs that serve as an aperitif to intimate conversations. It’s a collection of treasures that tell the story of cultures past and present, a fitting mirror to the narrative behind Chef Myers’ cuisine.
Adrift is open for bar and dinner services till late every day. Lunch service will start next month.
