West Africa comes to the Lion City with the opening of Tamba, a vibrant new dining destination in Singapore’s Duxton neighbourhood.
There’s something seductive, almost primal, about Africa – its music, its culture, even its cuisine. Fortunately, you’ll be able to enjoy all three without forking out for a plane ticket at Singapore’s newest chic nightspot, Tamba, which has opened in Duxton.
Housed in a two-storey conserved shophouse, Tamba is evocative of African earth and terracotta, welcoming guests into a world where every detail tells a story, from its culinary offerings and cocktails to its dark, brooding interior design.
Celebrating the land of his childhood – he grew up in Liberia – Tamba founder Kurt Wagner has extends the authentic hospitality of West Africa in the guise of a throughly contemporary and intimate (there’s only 25 seats) nightspot.
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Led by international designer Virginia Pérez-Orive, the space reflects a two-year journey of research. The walls, with their intricate and rustic texture, are redolent of the effect of wind on sand, while a wooden mural crafted by French sculptor Etienne Moyat takes centre stage and resembles the soft and uneven geometric Africa. Throw in clay vessels and artefacts, a thatch roof, carved Tuareg-staff door handles and mood-setting lighting and you have a retreat that whisks guests into the balmy African night.
Helmed by award-winning bartender Joma Rivera as general manager, the venue’s menu is punctuated by beloved staples such as Jollof Rice with sofrito, Sakura chicken, and smoked pork belly; Tapalapa bread with goat’s milk ricotta, drizzled with house-smoked honey and smoked bacon butter; and grilled Angus tenderloin skewers accompanied by kachumbari (a piquant tomato and onion salad) and a crunchy smoked kuli kuli.
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Tamba also elevates the dining experience with an ever-changing assortment of signature house specials, meats, seafood, and vegetables that are smoked to perfection, offering guests a unique experience with each visit.
Tamba also showcases an imaginative cocktail menu that harnesses the art of mixology to tell a chapter of Tamba’s story with each drink, using flavours that make up the rich tapestry of West African culture. The bar boasts a collection consisting of over 60% African spirits, with a cocktail menu split into two parts.
The first is inspired by stories from Tamba’s life growing up, and includes savoury tomato cocktail Dry Boney, a tamarind cachaca cocktail, The Next Pele and a clarified milk cocktail, Vita, made with cacao butter fat-washed Mhoba rum sourced from South Africa. The second, ‘Friends of Tamba,’ include Chouti, a cognac-based tongue-in-cheek drink and agave cocktails Smoker’s Kiss and Get A Room.
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