Wondering where to go for a drink in Singapore? From clever cocktail bars to fancy speakeasies in town, here are the hottest, newest or most notable watering holes to get your alcohol (and social) fix – whether you’re craving a martini, a gin and tonic, or just a glass of wine. We’ll update this regularly, so remember to bookmark it!
Maduro
First impressions:
Founded by one of Singapore’s most sought-after pianists in the 80s, mysteriously known as Mr P, Maduro is the classy lounge we never knew we needed. Dressed in plush velvet sofas in a myriad of colours, and dotted with art pieces throughout, the cosy space stands out for its warm and welcoming vibe – an experience akin to visiting a friend’s place! Renowned jazz musicians and singers take the stage at the listening lounge, but there’s also a super exclusive, by-invite-only private den beside it.
Maduro is open six days a week, with programmes lined up almost daily. We dropped by for Saturday’s Best, where a chosen artiste-in-residence performs every Saturday of the month, from 9pm till midnight. The crowd started streaming in after 9pm, but if you want a good view, it’s best to reserve beforehand or arrive earlier.
The Chosen One:
This is not just any other cocktail bar. In keeping with the venue’s colourful approach, there are no tedious concoctions on the menu. We started with a Mr P’s GnT ($22) – Tanqueray London dry gin, Rinomato, East Imperial royal botanic tonic – and a Foggy Old Fashioned ($22) – Talisker 10-yearold whisky, Angostura bitters, Scrappy’s chocolate bitters. Both are simple yet heady drinks – perfect for sipping while lounging the night away. If you have a penchant for whisky, you’ll be pleased with what they stock here. From Scottish to Japanese malts, all the way up to the bar’s highly prized possession – an $18,000 Macallan M Black bottle – the selection is undeniably impressive. There’s also a neat list of wines, including rare Old World treasures if you’re looking to splurge.
The Cheapskate:
Drink prices lean toward the higher end; the more pocket friendly options are the beers and cocktails ($22). However, the $30 cover charge for the live music nights (except Tuesdays when it’s free) gets you a glass of wine or any spirits and a fantastic night of top-notch jazz – a swell deal if you ask us!
Bite on this:
Pad your stomach before arriving, since the selection of bar bites (prepared in Atout’s kitchen) is limited. We recommend dinner at Atout, followed by a nightcap upstairs at Maduro. But if you’re still peckish, go for a side of bread ($4) with truffle brie ($19) and a cold cut platter ($29) to share.
Psst… Don’t miss this month’s Saturday’s Best artiste-in-residence Aya Sekine, a Japanese jazz pianist known for her soulful and dynamic style of jazz and improvisations! – Anthia Chng
MADURO
40C Harding Road, Level 3
9756 4775 | maduro.sg
JAM At Siri House
First impressions:
If you’re looking for an intimate and very luxurious spot for a first date, a weekly dinner or somewhere special with friends, this place will become your new favourite.
Tucked away at the back of Dempsey Hill – if you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it – the restaurant and cocktail bar is a project of Sansiri, a luxury property developer from Thailand. The space also features a sales gallery (set up like a Sansiri apartment – complete with a bathroom!), a shop (focusing on up-and-coming Thai brands) and an ever-changing art gallery.
The rich Art Deco-inspired interior with gold, bright velvet, marble, huge sparkling chandeliers and leather bar stools is reminiscent of a very opulent era!
The Chosen One:
With seven craft cocktails devised by head bartender Kavinn Raaj (formerly of Smoke & Mirrors), I knew we were in for an experiential, as well as flavourful, evening. I’m not sure which drink was my favourite – each was so unique, with its own splash of Kavinn pizzazz. For the flavour, I loved the gin and sour cream Spundi ($24), served with crispy rice paper and onion chutney; but, for the experience, my vote goes to the Burning Midnight Soil ($27) – get your camera ready if you order this one!
Bite on this:
The menu comprises perfect bar bites as well as bigger plates; try the cured meat, cheese and truffle toasted bikini ($16).
Last but not least:
Sit at the bar and ask Kavinn to explain his amazing creative process for each cocktail.
– Kel Flanders
JAM AT SIRI HOUSE
#01-02 Dempsey Hill, 8D Dempsey Road
9667 0533 | sirihouse.com
The Old Man
First impressions:
You don’t have to board a plane to get a taste of Asia’s best bar – you can now have it on home soil. Recently ranked top on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars and 10th on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars, The Old Man Hong Kong has opened its first overseas branch, here in Singapore. Housed in hip Keong Saik, the local outpost mirrors its Hong Kong flagship, with Hemingway-inspired elements taking precedence in both the cocktail menu and décor. Take a seat at the island bar if you’re feeling chatty, or kick back in the cosy lounge if you prefer privacy.
The Chosen One:
Nine cocktails make up The Old Man Singapore’s first menu (there’s a new edition in the works), which is the flagship’s original line-up from when it opened its doors in 2017. Featuring Asian-inspired incarnations of classics, elevated by high-tech preparation techniques like “fat-washing”, the drinks do not disappoint. We’re not surprised, considering how it’s this exact menu that first placed the bar on the world map.
An everyday drink you can start with is Islands in the Stream. An elegant rendition of the G&T, this refreshing concoction incorporates clarified pink grapefruit juice with salted gin. It’s absolutely delicious – thinking back, I wish I’d ordered a second. For something a little more adventurous, The Sun Also Rises must be the most laborious drink on the list, as far as the staff is concerned. Behind closed doors, Applejack (apple brandy) is first fat-washed with coconut oil, gin infused with curry leaves, and pandan leaves prepared sous-vide with sweet vermouth. Lime kaffir is then added to the Negroni-inspired brew.
Progressing even further into unchartered territories, don’t leave without trying The Snows of Kilimanjaro: marshmallow gin, lacto-fermented raspberry, citrus and gruyere. It sounds like an absolute nightmare, especially with the grated cheese on top, which may throw you off on your first whiff. If you can get past that, though, the fruity profile shines through and the gruyere beautifully rounds up the slightly creamy pour.
The Cheapskate:
All drinks are $17 a pop – a steal if you consider the time and thought that goes into each creation.
Psst… No food is served here, so you’ll want to make sure your stomach is well-padded before.
– Anthia Chng
The Old Man
55 Keong Saik Road, #01-04
6909 5505 | theoldmanhk.com
Idlewild
First impressions:
As soon as we entered through a discreet entrance into an old-fashioned parlour, I was already in love with Idlewild. The interiors alone are worth checking out; inspired by the first commercial transatlantic flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (originally called “Idlewild”) in the 1940s, the décor is both eclectic and sophisticated-chic, creating a fun, nostalgic and globally inspired atmosphere that perfectly captures the “Golden Age” of air travel. It’s made even better by a live jazz band, which plays Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8.30pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9.30pm.
The Chosen One:
Inspired by 10 cities along the Transatlantic Route, each of the 20 tipples is created with spirits and ingredients sourced from or inspired by each respective location. From the Lisbon section of the menu, we loved The Last Crusade ($25), made with Never Never Triple Juniper gin and Portuguese spice infused lime cordial, with a side of fried curry leaves to eat in between sips – a taste that totally works!
Our hands-down favourites of the night, however, were both from the Casablanca page. The Berbere Smash ($22) – a mix of bourbon, classic Moroccan flavours like mint and cardamom, and a hint of salt and preserved lemon – was sweet and salty at the same time, and reminded me of a margarita, only with bourbon. Not a whisky fan at all, I still loved this drink because it didn’t taste overly strong; I’ll definitely order it again when I return. Topped with a giant honeycomb to snack on between sips, the Touria ($24) combines Ford’s Gin, cumin-laced honey syrup and fresh capsicum juice – a totally unexpected ingredient that we’ve decided is too under-utilised in the cocktail scene.
Bite on this:
Each travel destination is also represented with a tapas-style bar snack influenced by its native cuisine. We enjoyed everything on the menu, from London’s classic fish and chips ($24) – cod, malt vinegar, sea salt and lemon – to the yellowfin tuna with sesame oil atop wonton crackers ($18 for four pieces) from Lima. I particularly enjoyed the scallop ceviche with chilli and citrus juice ($18) from Lisbon (and would have eaten the salsa-like juice with a spoon had I not controlled myself). Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the Mexico City avocado fries ($15); they’re not the type of fries you’d expect but rather deep-fried, almond-coated avocado wedges with a side of lemon mayo for dipping – divine!
– Amy Greenburg
Idlewild
Lobby Level, InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Road
6825 1045 | idlewild.sg
Chi Kinjo
First impressions:
The buzzy Telok Ayer locale has no lack of watering holes, so any new opening in the area is up against stiff competition. Founded by the same folks behind popular rooftop bar Sum Yi Tai, Chi Kinjo stands out with what it offers: easy-drinking highballs and modern sushi in a casual, yet sexy, setting. Two different areas make up the space – an intimate dining area featuring a semi-open kitchen and a hidden bar down the stairs.
The Chosen One:
Chi Kinjo specialises in highballs, which are relatively lightweight in the cocktail world and thus the perfect drink for anyone at anytime. We recommend the Shiso Watermelon ($14), a fruity, almost healthy-ish concoction of watermelon juice, calamansi, lemon juice and shiso sake. Paloma ($14) was another winner for its simplicity; it features just three ingredients: Don Julio Bianco tequila, fresh grapefruit juice and tonic. If you’re a fan of ginger in your drinks, order the Gin & Ginger ($16), which packed a punch in the flavour department. The drinks here are absolutely refreshing but tend to lean towards the sweeter side, so you may want to ask them to go easy on the sugar.
The Cheapskate:
Highballs are affordably priced at $16 or less – not bad for a cocktail in this location; plus, you can snag them for $10 a pop from 5 to 8pm on weekdays, and from 6 to 9pm on Saturdays. Other happy hour deals include $10 house wines and draft beers.
Bite on this:
Headed by Chef Lamley Chua, who has worked in international and Michelin-starred restaurants, the restaurant portion of Chi Kinjo focuses on contemporary Japanese cuisine. The Ming Dynasty Egg Tofu ($12) – homemade tofu with crab and century egg – made for a light and appetising start to our meal. You also have the option of loading up on carbs with the selection of American-inspired maki; we devoured the Crouching Tiger Roll ($20), featuring prawn tempura with mentai (pollock roe) mayo. If you want something more indulgent, get the aburi nigiri ($12 for two pieces), available in premium flavours like salmon and foie gras.
Another must-try for meat lovers is the smoked striploin steak ($28), which was incredibly tender and flavourful. Our handsdown favourite order of the day, however, was the kombu truffled sweet potato fries ($12), doused in sherry vinegar and truffle oil, then served with a super addictive garlic chilli dip.
– Anthia Chng
Chi Kinjo
29 Stanley Street
6260 5284 | chi-kinjo.com
BeGin
First impressions:
Who doesn’t love a secret speakeasy? This industrial-themed cocktail bar, hidden above iconic British pub The Penny Black, is not easy to find, but when you do, you’re in for a treat.
The Chosen One:
Even if you don’t love gin, you’ll still love coming here. I’m gin-obsessed, so I was delighted when they offered us a Gin Flight ($28). What makes the experience special at BeGin is the personalised service. I watched Samson, the bar manager, explain to several tables, including ours, the history of each of the four gins in the flight – from how each was made to how the flavours changed over the years. Totally fascinating – and totally potent!
We were also big fans of the Jagmohan ($25). When you order this drink, you get food with it: fried naan bread and pineapple relish, plus a clove-spiced tequila-based cocktail that changes flavour if you drink from the straw or the copper cup!
If you love drama, go for the butterfly pea flower-infused gin cocktail, Lavender ($25); it’s served under a smoking glass dome!
Bite on this:
For nibbles, try the Crab Bomb-a ($13): little crispy bites of crab, with 14 different spices; they crunch, then pop, in your mouth – so delicious! If you like something with a bit of spice, try the Cheeky Nigiri ($15) – beef cheek with vindaloo sauce; it’s unusually amazing!
Last but not least:
If you’re looking for somewhere cool for date night or a private party, BeGin is perfect for both.
– Kel Flanders
BeGin
27A Boat Quay (Enter through The Penny Black)
6538 0584 | begin.com.sg
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This article first appeared in a 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
