What it is: British barracks during the colonial days. Between 1972 and 1989, used by the Central Manpower Base as the site where young men went to enlist.
Later became home to Samy's Curry Restaurant and several furniture shops. Things took off in 2003 when two wine bars - Wine Network and The Wine Company - opened. Now, there's a whole slew of eateries, bars and rustic hangout spots.
Why it's hot: Sits at the edge of town but is an oasis of calm with its sprawling grounds and elegant old buildings.
Why it's not: Located off Holland Road, but quite a way inside, if you don't drive it's a hassle to get to and from.
Getting from one outlet to another requires some walking. In the evening, it can get eerie in some of the unlit places.
Crowd it attracts: A mostly English-speaking and trendy crowd of executives, expats and young folk
Check out:Angel's Share (right, 01-23, Block 10 Dempsey Road, tel: 6471-9595). Newly opened, this little gem of a bar tucked at the end of a single-storey building is a great place for some peace and quiet, with your favourite wine.
Hacienda (main picture, 13 Dempsey Road, tel: 6476-2922). It looks like someone's backyard garden, but while this chill-out bar appears cosy and casual, the tempo can go up quite a bit on nights when it features DJs on its decks.
House (8D Dempsey Road, tel: 6479-0070). A spa, restaurant and bar rolled into one, all housed in a stunning three-storey building.
