What is a cocktail bar?
Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, everybody! Most people should be familiar with this famous line from popular rapper Lil’Jon. However, this time the topic will be something slightly different, although still alcoholic – the cocktail.
A cocktail, simply, is a mix of a variety of ingredients, usually of one or more spirits, fruit juices, cream, syrup, and increasingly more varied and exotic items. Depending on the items added and mixed, a new, tasty cocktail is born. Nowadays, bartenders are coming up with increasingly complex and flavourful concoctions, using the most creative ingredients and methods to make cocktails that will not only quench thirst, but delight the senses.
A cocktail bar, naturally, is similar to any typical bar where one can get their alcohol fix, but also specialises in cocktail mixes. In this article we explore deeper into some of the best cocktail bars in Singapore, and how to choose which one you should patronise.
Recommendations
For those who prefer doing their research before deciding which cocktail bar to patronise, may we suggest checking up on the world’s best bar’s list as part of your search? Despite our small size, Singapore boasts quite a few bars that have graced the list, with their head bartenders having accumulated numerous awards in the process. You’ll see that our recommended choices are not just our own!
Bar | Atlas |
| Speciality | High-end European inspired deco, with masterfully constructed cocktails and Singapore’s largest collection of gin |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | http://atlasbar.sg/atlas-story |
| Address | Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore, 188778 |
| Telephone | +65 6396 4466 |
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Bar | Flying Monkey |
| Speciality | Ever seen a Lassi cocktail? This place serves Indian-inspired drink most those who want to continue the tone after a night of Indian food |
| Pricing | $10-$25 |
| Website | https://www.flyingmonkey.sg/ |
| Address | 67 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199480 |
| Telephone | +65 6291 0695 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 11pm |
Bar | Jekyll & Hyde |
| Speciality | Bespoke cocktail bar with constantly evolving tastes as the award-winning Head Bartender crafts new and creative concoctions |
| Pricing | $20-$30 |
| Website | https://jekyll.sg/ |
| Address | 74 Neil Road, Singapore 088839, Singapore |
| Telephone | 89402450 |
| Operating Hours |
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Bar | Manhattan |
| Speciality | Voted the 3rd best bar in the 2008, the Manhattan is a classy dig in the Regent, boasting an incredible whiskey collection, as well as using some truly unique and unusual ingredients in their cocktails. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | https://www.regenthotels.com/regent-singapore/dining/manhattan |
| Address | Regent Hotel, 2nd Floor, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715 |
| Telephone | +65 6725 3377 |
| Operating Hours | 5:00 pm – 10:15 pm (Tue-Sat) |
Bar | Live Twice |
| Speciality | A clean, yet creative menu of drinks, Live Twice is simply the art of expression with cocktails, a night away from the ordinary humdrum of our lives. |
| Pricing | $15-$30 |
| Website | http://livetwice.sg/ |
| Address | 20 bukit pasoh road, singapore 089834 |
| Telephone | +65 9011 8304 |
| Operating Hours | Everyday: 4pm to 10:30pm |
Bar | Native |
| Speciality | Helmed by a man both genius and eccentric, Native serves up a small but carefully curated menu, inspired by its maker’s very surroundings. Head there for beautifully crafted drinks and a visit to their own microbrewery. |
| Pricing | $12-$30 |
| Website | https://tribenative.com/ |
| Address | 52A Amoy Street, Singapore 069878 |
| Telephone | +65 8869 6520 |
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Bar | Smoke & Mirrors |
| Speciality | Overlooking the Padang, Esplanade and the Marina Bay Sands from its perch on the National Gallery, take in the view while sipping on beautifully made (and creatively named) cocktails. Smoke and Mirrors prides itself on challenging the status quo with its approach. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | https://www.smokeandmirrors.com.sg/ |
| Address | #06-01 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957 |
| Telephone | +65 9380 6313 |
| Operating Hours | Open Daily: 3PM – 11PM |
Bar | Jigger & Pony |
| Speciality | Noted for their interpretations of classical favourites, Jigger & Pony will astound you with their constantly evolving creations, expanding on the realm of possibility. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | https://www.jiggerandpony.com/ |
| Address | Amara Singapor, e165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539 |
| Telephone | (+65) 9621 1074 |
| Operating Hours | Wed – Sun: 4pm to 10.30pm |
Bar | Neon Pigeon |
| Speciality | Quirky, hip, groovy, are all words one can use to describe this bar. Located in the dark romance of Keong Saik street, spark your tastes with their Japanese-inspired izakaya style dishes and drinks. |
| Pricing | $15-$30 |
| Website | https://www.neonpigeonsg.com/ |
| Address | 36 Carpenter St, #01-01, Singapore 059915 |
| Telephone | +65 6222 3623 |
| Operating Hours | Sunday: 12nn – 12.30am |
Bar | Bitters & Love |
| Speciality | Don’t know what you want? Not to worry, Bitters & Love will serve you a drink based on your taste profile. Their highly attentive and trained experts will read you and provide creations for yours only. Warm and cosy, this is a great place for that quiet, romantic night out. |
| Pricing | $15-$30 |
| Website | https://www.bittersandlove.com/ |
| Address | 118 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068587 |
| Telephone | +65 6438 1836 |
| Operating Hours | Wed – Sun: 9am – 10pm (Closed Mon & Tue) |
Bar | Nutmeg & Clove |
| Speciality | For the Asian tastes, this bar’s traditional charm will introduce you to a new world of flavour. |
| Pricing | $20-$35 |
| Website | https://www.nutmegclove.com/ |
| Address | 10 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069697 |
| Telephone | (65) 9389 9301 |
| Operating Hours | Mondays to Saturdays 6pm to 11pm |
Bar | The Horses’s Mouth |
| Speciality | Wow. What can we say about this. This little speakeasy hidden in corner of Orchard has everything – ambience, great food, and beautiful drinks. Perfect for a night of good company and conversation, time will pass until its time to go, and you won’t even know it. |
| Pricing | $20-$35 |
| Website | https://horsesmouthbar.com/ |
| Address | 583 Orchard Road, Forum the Shopping Mall, #B1-39, Singapore 238884 |
| Telephone | +65 8188 0900 |
| Operating Hourss | Monday – Saturday, 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM |
Bar | The Single Cask |
| Speciality | For Whiskey lovers, no where else will you find people as desperate to find the perfect sip as the Single Cask. Here you are guaranteed to find something you like, or they’re not letting you leave. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | https://www.thesinglecask.sg/ |
| Address | 30 Victoria Street, Caldwell House CHIJMES #01-25, Singapore 187996 |
| Telephone | (+65) 6837 0953 |
| Operating Hours | 8:00AM – 6:00PMs |
Bar | Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall |
| Speciality | Love everything Singapore? Well here’s a place that sells Singapore-inspired cocktails, along with everything else Singapore. A nice, rustic ambience, this place offers a easy retreat from it all, just to have some great food and drinks. |
| Pricing | $10-$25 |
| Website | https://www.ahsamcolddrinkstall.com/ |
| Address | 12 Haji Lane Singapore 189205 |
| Telephone | +65 8749 4822 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Sunday 12PM to 10:30PM |
Bar | Operation Dagger |
| Speciality | Ambience, mystique, and specialty cocktails are probably the best words you’ve never heard about this bar. Once hidden deep “underground”, Operation Dagger has been recently exposed by their increasingly list of accolades. If this thus far has failed to convince you, I’ll just say this – they have 6000 light bulbs. |
| Pricing | $15-$30 |
| Website | http://operationdagger.com/ |
| Address | 7 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore |
| Telephone | +65 6438 4057 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday-saturday 6pm – 10:30pm |
Bar | Employees Only |
| Speciality | Contemporary class is what defines this restaurant bar. With a beautiful backroom and sensual deco, the experience transports you to 60’s Chicago, just out in your Sunday best, for a night away from the world. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | http://employeesonlysg.com/ |
| Address | 112 AMOY ST, SINGAPORE, 069932 |
| Telephone | +65 6221 7357 |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 12:00PM – 10:00PM |
Company | Anti:dote |
| Speciality | Stylish and Modern, this bar reflects its patron in the Fairmont, serving up contemporary delights with creative twists. |
| Pricing | $20-$40 |
| Website | https://www.fairmont.com/singapore/dining/antidote |
| Address | L1, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560, |
| Telephone | +65 6431 5315 |
| Operating Hours | Sun-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am |
Bar | Bar Stories |
| Speciality | Specifically constructed cocktails, for you, Bar Stories prides themselves on on experiences and surprising their clientele each visit. Warm, friendly, and accommodating, if you find yourself just looking for good vibes, here’s the place to go. |
| Pricing | $15-$30 |
| Website | https://barstories.sg/ |
| Address | 55-57 A Haji Lane, Singapore 189248 |
| Telephone | +65 6298 0838 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun from 5:00pm to 2:00am |
Bar | Tippling Club |
| Speciality | This place makes their own gummy bears. Seriously! That’s how far they’ll go to enhance your cocktail experience. A contemporary feel paired with unique drinks, the Tippling Club brings the art of cocktail making with new and greater heights. |
| Pricing | $20-$30 |
| Website | https://tipplingclub.com/ |
| Address | 38 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088 461 |
| Telephone | +65 6475 2217 |
| Operating Hours |
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Bar | The Other Room |
| Speciality | A hidden speakeasy in a…hotel? The Other Room serves artfully beautiful drinks in a artfully beautiful environment for a total and complete experience. Drinks are made with careful and loving detail, with the aim of your pleasure, until your night is all but gone and forgotten. You are where you need to be. |
| Pricing | $20-$35 |
| Website | https://www.theotherroom.com.sg/ |
| Address | 320 Orchard Road, #01-05 Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, Singapore 238865 |
| Telephone | +65 6100 7778 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Sunday, 6:00 PM to 4:00 AM |
Choosing a cocktail bar
Just like selecting a restaurant, choosing a cocktail bar is not something you just close your eyes and pick out of a hat. Of course, you can, but it really is not advisable. Therefore, there are a few considerations one should think about when selecting their destination of choice for that evening’s (or afternoon for the bold) drinks.
The menu
Of course, when picking a cocktail bar, the most important thing to consider should be the cocktails. Just as different chefs and restaurants serve different food and offer different tastes and styles, different mixologists (fancy word for cocktail maker) employ different approaches and ingredients when creating their culinary delights.
You might want to first check on the menu – what cocktails do the place serve? Cocktail bars tend to have their own unique identities and personalities, some prefer to stay classy and traditional, making time-honoured mixes, beloved by all. Others are more experimental, making use of sometimes unheard-of ingredients to come up with brand new tastes that will both shock and excite the taste buds. Some others even offer bespoke cocktails – custom made drinks catering to the customer’s specific requests.
Depending on one’s personal tastes, having a look at what is on the menu is highly encouraged. You do not want to travel all the way down, just to find that the bar does not serve the cocktail you prefer, or that what is offered does not really suit your particular tastes. Not to forget, for those looking to accompany their drinks with some light snacks (or a heavy meal), it would be important to check if the place serves food as well.
The environment
As they say, a true culinary experience involves all five senses. Just so, cocktail bars do not disappoint in that regard, wrapping up mood, ambience, feel into the package, showcasing their unique personalities through the decoration and design of the bar, ensuring that the customer’s experience begins from the very first step into the store.
The look and feel of the bar can be just as important for your experience as the drinks themselves. Cocktail bars tend to reflect in their styles in both their drinks and their decorations – from the modern and contemporary, to the creative and sometimes eccentric fusions, one can sense the purpose and powerful emotions of the cocktail artists even before the drinks are served.
Depending on your mood and the type of night you have planned, the right environment and ambience is key. A slow, relaxing night perfect for a romantic date or long conversations with friends call for quiet, underground bars that give you space and inspiration for those deep, explorative talks. A night out of fun with the girls (or boys) might be better suited for the flashy, colourful tones of a more expressive bar, loud with colours both on the walls and in the drinks.
The price
As with all things, the price tag is always a factor. Cocktails do not come cheap, bearing in each intricate creation hours of deliberate thought and invention, all to create the perfect blend of flavour and emotion, not to mention the various expensive ingredients involved.
All these result in more often than not, a hefty receipt, especially if the place is somewhere slightly fancier, or in a grand location like certain hotel bars. Cocktails can range from $10-20 a drink, to more expensive ones that go for around $30-40.
All in all, a few drinks, coupled with some snacks (or tapas, if you’re in a spanish bar) can easily go beyond a hundred for the night. If you’re partying on a budget, do make sure to your research on the prices for your destination, or you might be in for a rather unpleasant shock at the end of your otherwise enjoyable night.
In closing, whatever you feel like, there is sure to be something appropriate. Just remember – each bar and the makers behind their bars (pun intended) have their own unique and beautiful stories. Do take the time to enjoy these works of art and creative expression, and you may find yourself equally inspired.
The mocktail
For those who do not partake in alcohol, but also wish to enter the secretive yet colourful world of cocktail bars, there is the distant cousin of the cocktail, also known as the mocktail. As its name suggests, the mocktail is similar to a cocktail, with the exception of the alcoholic ingredients. Also a blend of various delicious ingredients, the mocktail can give you an equally delightful experience, and without the side effects of tipsiness, the red flush, or perhaps a hangover the following morning.
Editor’s Note:
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