These well-known Singapore F&B brands are expanding overseas in Dubai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur

1. Cosmo Pony 

A flag bearer for Singapore at international bar awards, homegrown cocktail bar Jigger & Pony (No. 3 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list) opened its first overseas venture, Cosmo Pony, in Jakarta in July. The bar, a partnership with Indonesian F&B company The Union Group, is helmed by Silvio Daniele, who has been with the Jigger & Pony Group for seven years.

For Cosmo Pony’s opening menu, he has christened it “Rising City”, taking inspiration from the dynamic city of Jakarta. Rising City features over 20 cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, punch bowls, and decanter serves.

The eponymous cocktail is Tequila Cosmo, an oat milk punch concocted with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, lime, and roselle, and polished off smoked orange cacao butter paint. Paying homage to one of Indonesia’s top fruit exports, Ugly Bananas is a whisky sour made with overripe fruit; the darkened flesh is infused with Suntory Kakubin Whisky.

At the same time, the peels are baked and turned into a jelly garnish dotted with caramel spots. Look out for its new premium decanter serves, in which bartenders shake up the customised cocktails tableside and present them in decanters. 

cosmopony.com

2. Revolver Dubai 

Open-fire grill restaurant Revolver, known for highlighting South Asian flavours with a global outlook, will open its first overseas branch in Dubai by the last quarter of this year. The 140-seat restaurant, which will be about four times the size of Singapore’s flagship in a Tras Street shophouse, will be located in The Opus by Omniyat, a luxurious mixed-use development designed by feted architect Zaha Hadid.

The complex, comprised of a hotel, office, and F&B establishment, is located in the Business Bay financial district. Tristin Farmer, culinary director of the Culinary Arts Group, which runs Revolver, says: “Revolver is a fun, unique, and approachable concept — it was conceived to become the “Nobu” for Indian cuisine.”

In May, chef Jitin Joshi, who headed two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana in London, was named group executive chef and partner of Revolver.

3. Culina Kuala Lumpur

In September, gourmet food and wine purveyor Culina marks its first overseas retail expansion in Kuala Lumpur. Located at The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place near the Petronas Twin Towers, the 18,500 sq ft space houses a market, bistro, wine bar, and bakery.

The Mediterranean-style market features produce from around the world, from white corn grown in Cameron Highlands to octopus caught from the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain. Fresh burrata is also flown in from Sorrento, Italy, every week.

While most of the bistro’s menu is the same as the Singapore flagship, a pizzeria has been added to the Malaysian iteration. Highlights include the Shawarma Lamb Shoulder Pizza, a tomato-based flatbread with lamb slow-braised in herbs such as harissa and coriander.

Culina, run by Singapore lifestyle and hospitality company COMO Group, celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year.