The range of wine-and-dine places in Singapore has expanded significantly and we are spoiled for choice in terms of the type of cuisine and ambience. However, entertainment budgets have also shrunk due to challenges in the financial industry as margins are squeezed and due to tighter regulations.
Getting Older
Who?
Mark Matthews, Managing Director and Head of Asia Research at Bank Julius Baer & Co., Singapore
Where?
The Singapore Cricket Club is lovely because the food’s not expensive and you have a nice view over the Padang. People enjoy going there because it does feel like a little bit of a step back in time. It’s a good place to take people from out of town. They’ve got lots of local dishes like laksa, Indian food, very good roti. Favorite food is mutton dry and ikan bilis (dried anchovies).
What’s changed?
Generally there’s been more consciousness toward costs. There used to be a lot of drinking, not just dinners. Asia finance, until recently, was very youthful. Because it was young, there was a lot more excess but now, as the industry matures, people in it are maturing too so they don’t want to go out partying until 5am. Twenty years ago most people in the business would have been young westerners. Now it’s become local.
Office Party
Who?