SINGAPORE, May 4 — Fancy sipping a glass of wine while admiring art pieces in a… bar? We check out two hip and happening restaurant-bars — Moosehead Kitchen-Bar and Mad Nest — that double as art galleries.

Moosehead Kitchen-Bar

When Moosehead Kitchen-Bar opened its doors at Telok Ayer Street two years ago, what left an impression on customers wasn’t just the delectable Mediterranean cuisine it served, but also the so-cool-it-hurts ambience, thanks in part to the beautiful sprawling murals adorning the walls.

The collage-like murals of stylised motifs of Peranakan tiles and closed-circuit TVs by local street artist “Sticker Lady” Samantha Lo were eye-catching to say the least. A stately-looking moosehead, painted by former Moosehead chef Manuel Valero Ruiz, completed the edgy vibe.

Founded by father-and-son team, chef-partner and culinary consultant Glen Ballis and owner-operator, Daniel Ballis, Moosehead recently revamped its menu with the help of new head chef Drew Wilson, who took over the reins from Manuel in January.

The menu now features more vegetables, fruits and juices, and dishes are lighter in taste. An example is the dish of scallops lightly marinated in mirin and mitsukan, served with an orange and olive oil emulsion and seaweed, and topped with a frozen apple.

The collage-like mural of stylised motifs of Peranakan tiles and closed-circuit TVs was created by local street artist ‘Sticker Lady’ Samantha Lo. — TODAY pic

In a way, the change of chef and menu is in line with Moosehead’s “freestyle and global concept that takes inspiration from the kinetic energy of the street”, and which seeks to connect people through music, art, pop culture and food.

“Be it cuisine, artwork or music, these elements embody the energy of the street. It’s always creative and spontaneous and constantly evolving,” said Daniel. “We conceived Moosehead as a living, breathing project, centred on the social environment as a whole, encompassing food, music and art. Each influences the other; it is never independent.”

According to Daniel, bars are a particularly good medium of art as they provide an environment where diners are relaxed and open to new experiences.

“We wanted Moosehead to be a place where guests can let their hair down and be themselves,” he said.

In February, Moosehead collaborated with Singaporean street artists Sheryo and The Yok on a fresh mural. Now, one of its walls boasts a grinning moose with funky shades and old-school slippers lounging on the beach.

“Quite a number of people have stopped by to check out the artwork and asked about the tropical theme of the artwork, the relaxed moose on the beach, and the artists,” said Daniel.

The artwork by Sheryo and The Yok was also used to create limited-edition Moosehead T-shirts and tote bags, and sales have been brisk.

Acknowledging that the restaurant thrives on creative collaborations with like-minded individuals, Daniel reveals that Moosehead plans to do new artist collaborations every quarter.

“We are always on the look-out for anything interesting and unique, be it food or art — anything that’s edgy, freestyle and global that ties in with our concept,” he said.

Customers can buy the framed pieces of artwork at Mad Nest. — TODAY pic

Mad Nest

At Mad Nest, a cosy restaurant-bar at East Coast Road, framed pieces of artwork line the walls, and customers can choose to buy any that catches their fancy.

The art pieces are contributed by a rotating lineup of local artists.

“We wanted to create a platform where emerging talents are given the opportunity to shine,” said Jerome Wang, owner of Mad Nest.

The 33-year-old shared that one of the many remarkable artists Mad Nest has featured is Adeline Tan, who helmed its “I Love You So Mutt” exhibition in 2013. Aimed at raising both funds and awareness for the dogs at a shelter called Gentle Paws, the exhibition featured illustrated portraits of pooches.

Mad Nest also holds art workshops regularly. To Jerome, these workshops serve as a finale to wrap up an exhibition.

“Friends of Mad Nest are able to join us in the workshop to experience art themselves, and create a masterpiece that they can call their own,” he said.

The most memorable workshop in Jerome’s eyes was What She Gave To Me, held last November, which showcased the intimate ties between nature and man. Six local florists created exclusive flower pieces for the exhibition, which were then styled and photographed by nine young and upcoming photographers. The artists were given the opportunity to share about how nature affects them, and a charity plant drive was held concurrently with the exhibition.

Mad Nest serves a variety of beers on tap, premium ciders, assorted wines, Japanese sake and whiskeys, as well as cocktails. — Picture courtesy of Mad Nest via TODAY

In another workshop held in September, ‘#EatDrinkArt”, 14 artists were tasked with incorporating ingredients and spices from Mad Nest’s menu into their art pieces. A range of techniques was used, including embroidery, watercolouring and food stamping.

At Mad Nest, it seems that food and wine and art are natural partners.

“We wanted to bring art closer to people in a space that is not intimidating,” said Jerome. “With food served up to midnight and the restaurant closing at 1am daily, our customers are able to wine, dine and appreciate art in the wee hours. They are free to tour the gallery with a drink in their hands, without any restrictions of a regular gallery.”

Like the artwork at Mad Nest, the menu is updated frequently. Jerome revealed that he plans to add Western cuisine to the current mix of Thai, Japanese, North Indian and Italian-Asian dishes.

So, does Jerome consider art a side order or a main course at Mad Nest?

“Art is definitely a main course at Mad Nest,” he said. “Art makes up Mad Nest and us.” — TODAY