Enjoy unique evenings at these experiential cocktail bars
Published Date: 3 September 2018
Travellers who seek new and inspiring experiences shouldn’t pass on exploring Singapore’s burgeoning bar scene. An indulgent way of soaking in our forward-thinking metropolis is by drinking in its constantly evolving nightlife. Tirelessly unveiling new ideas at the forefront of Asia’s mixology movement, Singapore is home to 12 lauded establishments in particular, whose invigorating concepts clinched them top spots among Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018. At these bold bars, your guests can rub shoulders with world-class bartenders while making friends with sociable and discerning imbibers.
Manhattan (#1 Best bar in Asia)
A glamourous evening of superb cocktails awaits your clients within the opulent walls of Manhattan bar, which has been hailed as the number one bar in Asia for two years running. Patrons here are treated to top-notch service while they savour cocktails inspired by the iconic bars of New York City. Complete with a rickhouse for ageing its own spirits and bitters, this grand establishment lends your clients a glimpse of old New York’s thriving bar scene in the Roaring Twenties. Group tastings and specially curated cocktail experiences can be arranged in the bar’s private spaces. Special rates for travel agents and groups are available upon request.
Address: 1 Cuscaden Road Level 2
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun noon-3pm, 5pm-1am
Seating capacity: Over 50 pax
Website: regenthotels.com/regent-singapore/dining/manhattan
To book: Call +65 6725 3377 or email manhattangrm.rsn@fourseasons.com
ATLAS (Ranked #4)
Get ready to party like it’s the 1920s when you step inside this monumental tribute to gin. A sight to behold, Art Deco-inspired ATLAS hosts high-society clientele nightly within a gilded interior reminiscent of Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby film. This majestic establishment’s central icon is its impressive 15-metre gin tower, which invites gin enthusiasts to take their pick from an extensive range of small-batch gins. Special gin tastings can also be organised for your clients. ATLAS is also part of Gin Journey Singapore*, which offers gin lovers the chance to experience the history of gin in Singapore by hopping across five award-winning bars.
Address: Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10am-1am; Fri 10am-2am; Sat 3pm-2am
Seating capacity: 120 pax
Website: atlasbar.sg
To book: Call +65 6396 4466 or email events@atlasbar.sg
Tippling Club (Ranked #7)
The world’s first “edible cocktail menu”, Tippling Club’s new Dreams and Desires menu evokes memories of yesteryear candy shops. Conceived by head bartender Joe Schofield and chef-owner Ryan Clift, this menu brings your guests through a sampling of 12 gummy bears, each named after a dream or a desire, which are served to patrons in a pale green candy bag. Guests pop them one by one into their mouths, from which they choose a favourite to be made into their personal cocktail. For a more intimate experience, Tippling Club also has a private dining room, which wines and dines up to 12 people in an even cosier setting. For patrons who favour gin as their drink of choice, Tippling Club has recently introduced its very own Sons of Tippling Gin, which you can purchase for your clients along with exclusive Tippling Club merchandise.
Address: 38 Tanjong Pagar Road
Opening hours: Mon-Fri noon-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight
Seating capacity: 34 pax in the main bar, 12 pax in the private dining room
Website: tipplingclub.com
To book: Call +65 6474 2217 or email enquiries@tipplingclub.com
Native (Ranked #8)
Helmed by multi-award-winning bartender Vijay Mudaliar, Native is a cocktail bar that shines a spotlight on Asian flavours. Using only ingredients and spirits sourced from within and across Asia, this homely establishment also distills its own gins and infuses them with unique local flavours such as matcha (green tea) and kopi (local coffee). As one drink is never enough, customers are welcome to purchase whole bottles of Native’s homemade gins. You can also have Vijay and company customise a bottle tailored to your client’s flavour preferences. Native also holds various two-hour workshops and masterclasses on gin making, which will give your clients a hands-on experience of crafting their own spirits. Contact Native to arrange a bespoke workshop or design a unique gin for your clients.
Address: 52A Amoy Street
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight
Seating capacity: 60 pax
Website: tribenative.com
To book: Call +65 8869 6520 or email karen@cooliequarters.com (Trade contact: Karen)
28 HongKong Street (Ranked #12)
A secretive establishment that brandishes no signage out front, 28 HongKong Street’s patrons push past an unassuming wooden door to enter this romantically lit bar. A globally renowned beacon of the Singapore bar scene, 28 HongKong Street attracts discerning drinkers from around the world with its impeccable concoctions. Try their alternative takes on classic cocktails, such as Fernet About Dre, a Fernet Branca made with Plantation Rum, cacao and orange bitters; and Kung Fu Kenny, a citrusy gin cocktail named after popular rapper Kendrick Lamar. 28 HongKong Street is also part of Gin Journey Singapore*.
Address: 28 HongKong Street
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6pm-2am; Fri-Sat 6pm-3am
Seating capacity: 35 pax
Website: 28hks.com
To book: Call +65 6533 2001 or email findus@28hks.com
Operation Dagger (Ranked #19)
Discover an experimental laboratory of taste on iconic Ann Siang Hill, which is lined by century-old shophouses. By day, the area is a foodie’s paradise dotted with hipster cafes and acclaimed restaurants. At night, this charming neighbourhood transforms into a teeming nightlife precinct. Ann Siang tucks away one particular hidden gem named Operation Dagger, an eco-friendly bar that uses pickled watermelon rind and hollowed-out vanilla pods as straws. This innovative luminary of the local cocktail scene serves up imaginative concoctions that use locally sourced ingredients. For instance, Bartender-Owner Luke Whearty’s personal version of gin and tonic uses local calamansi in place of Tahitian limes. One of the most popular orders here is Hot+Cold, a rum and pineapple-based cocktail that piles hot white chocolate foam on top of a refreshingly cold cocktail. Group offers can be arranged through Luke and his employees.
Address: 7 Ann Siang Hill #B1-01
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 6pm-midnight
Seating capacity: 28 pax
Website: operationdagger.com
To book: Call +65 9296 4704 or email luke@operationdagger.com (Trade contact: Luke)
Gibson (Ranked #22)
For a more informal and laidback experience, host your guests at Gibson. Named after the classic Gibson cocktail, this contemporary bar is nestled within a 20th-century Chinese Clan building. Known for its impeccable renditions of classic cocktails, this bar also whips up a range of madcap concoctions for adventurous imbibers. Your clients can complement their drinks with seafood dishes like fresh oysters and crab pincers, while soaking in the vintage atmosphere of this sophisticated establishment, where everything from its glassware to its furniture has a history to tell. This venue is available for private bookings too.
Address: 20 Bukit Pasoh Road Level 2
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6pm-1am; Fri-Sat 6pm-2am
Seating capacity: 40 pax
Website: gibsonbar.sg
To book: Call +65 9114 8385 or email info@gibsonbar.sg
Employees Only Singapore (Ranked #23)
Wander through red velvet curtains into a world of decadent cocktails and hearty nosh. A famous speakeasy from New York City, Employees Only Singapore is run by one of the New York outlet’s original partners, Igor Hadzismajlovic. Cocktail enthusiasts must try the bar’s signature concoctions, such as Ginger Smash, the Provencal and the classic Manhattan cocktail made with Rittenhouse Rye and Italian Vermouth. Patrons who linger past 2am (this bar’s closing time) will be rewarded with a complimentary cup of chicken soup—a gesture that thanks their guests and fills their stomachs after a long night of drinking. This venue is also available for private bookings.
Address: 112 Amoy Street
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, Sun 5pm-1am; Sat 5pm-2am
Seating capacity: 85 pax
Website: employeesonlysg.com
To book: Call +65 6221 7357 or email reservations@employeesonlysg.com
D.Bespoke (Ranked #32)
As they soak in the soft jazz playing in the background, your guests will be treated like Japanese nobility in this cosy 28-seater Ginza-style gentleman’s bar. Guests will be presented with a hot towel and tea before being introduced to D.Bespoke’s incredible collection of Japanese whiskies. Its flawlessly dressed owner Daiki Kanetaka meticulously mixes patrons’ drinks with a great deal of flair and attention to detail. Beyond cocktails, sherry and whisky tasting flights are also available for your clients to sample. D.Bespoke has a minimum order policy of S$60 per pax, the experience proffered is worth every cent. Custom degustation (tasting) menus that match your tipples with gourmet food can be arranged, along with private dining experiences.
Address: 2 Bukit Pasoh Road
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6pm-1am; Fri-Sat 6pm-2am
Seating capacity: 28 pax
Website: dbespoke.sg
To book: Call +65 8141 5741 or email reservations@dbespoke.sg
Nutmeg & Clove (Ranked #33)
Tucked away within a conserved shophouse, this tranquil bar serves classic cocktails with Singaporean twists. Ranging from refreshing and satisfying to intriguing and inspiring, Nutmeg & Clove’s current menu is themed on the flora and fauna of Singapore. Pick from an array of botanical flavours while enjoying the establishment’s intricate menu art, which is taken from botanist William Farquhar’s tome of 477 watercolour drawings. Farquhar, the first British Resident and Commandant of colonial Singapore, was also a naturalist who sketched and painted the various plants and animals that he observed in Malaya and Singapore. Try their Coffee, Tea or Me? cocktail, which is a spin on yuan-yang (a popular local beverage that mixes coffee and tea together). Special cocktail experiences and tastings can also be organised for groups.
Address: 10A Ann Siang Hill
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6pm-1am; Fri 6pm-2am; Sat 6pm-1am
Seating capacity: 90 pax
Website: nutmegandclove.com.sg
To book: Call +65 9389 9301 or email events@nutmegandclove.com.sg
Jigger & Pony (Ranked #42)
A revered pioneer of the local cocktail scene, Jigger & Pony is named after the double-coned measuring device used by bartenders to accurately pour liquids. This thriving watering hole pays tribute to the 19th century, when cocktail recipes were listed in "jiggers" and "ponies". A popular after-hours hangout among Central Business District (CBD) workers, Jigger & Pony just moved out of its Amoy Street shophouse and will be moving to Amara Hotel just a stone’s throw away. For a more private experience, Jigger & Pony is happy to arrange special menus and cocktail tastings for groups of various sizes.
Jigger & Pony will reopen in Amara Hotel (165 Tanjong Pagar Road) in September 2018
Website: jiggerandpony.com
For more details and to book: email info@jiggerandpony.com
The Other Room (Ranked #50)
Hidden behind a secret door in the Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel in Orchard Road, The Other Room is a handsome bar that oozes sophistication and mystique. This charming establishment is helmed by head bartender,Dario Knox, who was inspired by the American 1920s prohibition era when spirit-makers distilled and served alcoholic drinks behind closed doors. The moment guests step in, charming waitstaff will serve them introductory (and complimentary) drinks. After they are ushered to their tables (which will have each guest’s name scribbled on top), your clients will get to choose from an extensive array of up to 150 uncommon spirits. From small-batch whiskies to rare mezcals, this watering-hole’s precious collection comprises many highly sought-after spirits. Group reservations and exclusive private events can also be arranged for your clients by Dario and his staff upon request.
Address: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road #01-05
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 6pm-3am; Fri-Sun 6pm-4am
Seating capacity: 30 pax
Website: theotherroom.com.sg
To book: Call +65 6100 7778 or email reservations@theotherroom.com.sg
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* This tour, which currently includes visits to Fat Prince, EC Proof Flat, ATLAS, Plum & Toro and 28 HongKong Street, is held every Saturday at S$126.60 per pax with a maximum of 20 people per tour. For more information, click here to find out more.
