Bar @ 26 Leake Street

Remarkably Chic Ambiance, Hidden Gem!

Tucked away in the serpentine alleyways where your GPS might fear to tread, lies a little jewel of a place that rewards the wandering spirit. Sandwiched between two rather nondescript shopfronts — which could frankly do with a good power wash — this restaurant is as hard to find as the Holy Grail, but worth every frustrating moment spent bumbling about trying to track it down. Upon stepping through its charmingly understated entrance, you're embraced by an ambience that feels anchored in an effortlessly cool aesthetic mix of vintage and funk — a blend of weathered brick, eclectic art pieces, and soft, warm lighting that hugs you like an old friend naming his firstborn after you. It's the sort of place where you feel compelled to set your phone aside, sip something ambitiously fermented, and start scribbling revolutionary ideas on a napkin.

Of course, atmosphere is one thing, but a meal isn't just made by mood alone. The chefs here are artists, really — turning out dishes that flaunt creativity while retaining their foundational flavors. My starter, something that should not have taken more than five minutes to pronounce yet was mouthwateringly described, was a party of textures and tastes that left me wondering if I'd stumbled onto Plato's proverbial form of goodness in food. The main course danced gracefully across my taste buds, balancing bold spices with delicate nuances. And about the desserts: so delightfully decadent that each bite can possibly pop one more button on your undersized jeans. Yes, it's a challenge to navigate there, but it's also one that rewards you handsomely for succeeding. An experience, decidedly better lived, sampled, celebrated — and perhaps retold, over an espresso legally teetering on caffeine recalibration limits — than simply Googled. — Milo Tastemaker