Everyone’s favourite pastime, none other than grocery shopping, has been made even more enduring thanks to the introduction of The Grocer Bar concept by FairPrice Group.
First introduced in Orchard Road within FairPrice Finest at The Centrepoint, then at their outlet at Ang Mo Kio Blk 712, the concept is as charming as it is straightforward – a bar found within a supermarket.
The third and latest showing of the ubiquitous supermarket brand’s in-house bar has got to be the best one yet. Found within FairPrice Finest at The Woodleigh Mall (in itself a highly anticipated mall opening, especially by the young residents of nearby Bidadari housing estate), The Grocer Bar here sits as a 15-seater centrepiece surrounded by a host of accompanying food and bakery offerings.
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Its drinks offerings are vast, given that literally whatever is on supermarket shelves can be enjoyed there and then. A simple S$8 corkage fee applies to bottles above 500ml (such as wine and spirits) and S$2.50 for drinks 500ml and below – which kinda means the more premium offerings offer greater value to drink-in.
Or simply order directly from the bar menu. They make cocktails here (S$12-S$15), with bartenders slinging out selected classics as well as two signature concoctions: The Woodleigh Club and FairPrice Smash. The former is a take on the Clover Club, while the latter is a twist on the Gin Basil Smash.
There are craft beers on tap too, supplied by local brewery and gastrobar Red Dot Brewhouse. A glass goes for only S$7.90 (wow), or opt for the crowd-pleasing craft beer tower (S$55) if clinking pints with a group of friends.
The food offering is even more varied. On the bar menu are items from the surrounding cooked food and ready-to-eat kiosks and shelves. You can’t go wrong with the Signature Cheese Platter (S$15/S$25; or choose to DIY one) and Potato Fries (S$4.80), but trust us and order from the roasted delights section too. The half Crispy Pork Knuckle (S$10) is sublime bar food.
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Or just pick up and enjoy whatever you want from the supermarket, including fresh fish and mussels that you can have them cooked and prepared on the spot for an S$8 fee (look out for the ‘Pick ‘n’ Cook’ tags), that comes inclusive of rice and soup.
Be sure to check out The Grocer Cafe too, found right beside the bar. There, brews from local favourites Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee and bakes from natural bakers The Bakehaus awaits.
One last thing to take note of. The FairPrice Finest here opens 24/7, which is great news for those having the midnight munchies. But the bar opens from 10am-10.30pm, which ain’t too shabby, and makes it one of the earliest opening bars out there.
The Grocer Bar is located within FairPrice Finest, The Woodleigh Mall, #B1-32/33, 11 Bidadari Park Drive, Singapore 367803. More info here.
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