While I was in Singapore just over a year ago, watching the 2001 edition of The OnWine Australian Wine Annual get printed, Mike Hadley told me about his ideas for a new icon restaurant in Singapore, with a huge focus on wine, most of it Australian. I saw some plans of what was at the time a large and disused space in an octagonal building at the end of a pier, the central focus of which was a ‘wine tower’, a glassed-in cellar rising well above the floor of the restaurant. It looked too good to be true, but if it worked, I wanted to be there. Hadley began his renovations in September last year, opening for business three months later. What he has achieved in that short time must really be seen to be believed, for this former nightclub now houses one of the most exciting and atmospheric restaurant spaces it has been my pleasure to visit. The building is virtually surrounded on all sides by water, but you forget this immediately on entering the cavernous octagonal room, which would perhaps feel rather intimidating were it not for the eight metre-tall monument to Australian wine which dominates its centre. A circular staircase takes you up to the third and top level of Hadley’s indulgence which is, as promised, sided with glass, temperature controlled and simply chock-full of much of Australia’s best and rarest wines, the majority of which are back vintages. The cellar holds 8,000 bottles and roughly 1,900 different wines, 1,100 of which are Australian. The man deserves a government grant for this; I haven’t seen anything like it in a private restaurant. 8 on the Bay seats 195 people in a variety of different spaces. The imposing central bar that surrounds the tower is itself surrounded by tables for those desirous of a pre or post-prandial. The outside of the building is surrounded by private rooms, each differently themed and each with views over the water. There is another cellar room, also temperature controlled, which also serves as a private dining room. To list all of the wines in which I am seriously interested at 8 on the Bay would take too much space. But those who enjoy Hill of Grace, Giaconda, John Riddoch, Michael Shiraz, Cullen Cabernet Merlot, Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon, The Armagh and Wolf Blass Black Label will find any vintage they want. Michael Hadley is also proud of his collection of large bottle formats, which includes over 150 different wines and vintages. 8 on the Bay is still one of Singapore’s better-kept secrets. It should be mandatory homage for every travelling Australian.
