We check out NINE at CQ: the sultry after-dark bar at Artyzen Singapore. Nine cocktails, nine flavour profiles. Which would you choose?
As the sun sets, Café Quenino at Artyzen Singapore slips into its after-hours persona: chic cocktail bar NINE at CQ, and we’re here to check it out.
From lighting and music to mood and menu, NINE at CQ reshapes the familiar Café Quenino, a bright and breezy all-day dining space, into a sultry and sophisticated nighttime venue.
I’ve had breakfast in this same space earlier in the day, and it’s a testament to the beautiful interior design of the hotel that it works as well as a cocktail bar as it does a breakfast restaurant.
“This isn’t just a bar,” says Marcel NA Holman, General Manager of Artyzen Singapore. “It’s a full shift in atmosphere — from breezy brunches to bold flavours, dim lights and deep beats. Nine at CQ is where the night begins. Whether you’re winding down or just getting started, it hits the right note with a little wink.”
Offering a play on the Chinese word jiu (meaning both ‘nine’ and ‘alcohol’) NINE at CQ offers a “flavour-first, sensorial experience”. The menu features nine signature cocktails, each exploring a distinct flavour profile, inspired by Asian cuisine: Sweet, Salty, Sour, Spicy, Bitter, Umami, Numbing, Smoky, and Smooth.
Each pairing features one cocktail and one small plate, thoughtfully curated to deliver contrast, depth and ‘a touch of surprise’.
My chosen flavour profile is ‘SALTY’ and my cocktail features Japanese gin infused with watermelon, topped off with soda. I’m not sure what to expect from a ‘salty’ cocktail, but it does indeed fit the profile, although it is uniquely refreshing at the same time.
The accompanying snack, a mini toast topped with tomato jam and anchovy balances out the saltiness of the cocktail perfectly.
“This is my love letter to late-night cravings,” says Sathya (aka thebeardedmixologist) Senior Mixologist at Artyzen Singapore. “It’s fun, bold, and unexpected. You think you know what’s coming—then the next flavour hits and throws you off, in the best way possible.”
Other cocktails that tempt me on the menu include:
- SMOOTH: A floral, coconut-kissed vodka cocktail that’s as soft and easy as the first sip of a good night.
- NUMB: Rum meets Lao Gan Ma and Sichuan pepper in a bold, fiery mix that leaves your lips tingling and your eyes wide.
- SMOKY: A deep, oak-smoked Manhattan with rye and bitters that lingers like a late-night conversation.
You can experience NINE at CQ at the Artyzen Singapore hotel, 9 Cuscaden Road.
Click here to read our full review of Artyzen Singapore.