The cocktail scene is hopping right now, what with all the recent winners at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. However, this is par for the course in our little red dot, with guest rotations featuring foreign bartenders, drunken events, and fresh menus offering something for every alcoholic enthusiast. Here are the greatest places to go for cocktails and a great atmosphere in a city that never rests and where locals are constantly seeking new experiences.
The Lobby Lounge at the InterContinental Singapore
The Lobby Lounge at InterContinental Singapore has just undergone a revitalizing refurbishment and is now preparing the ground for a harmonious fusion of modernity and tradition. In addition to the renovation, the cocktail menu has been rethought and redesigned in partnership with renowned mixologist Jesse Vida to reflect the multicultural background of Singapore. Day and night drinks are crafted with local spices and herbs to reflect the lounge’s ever-changing mood.
Each chapter of the menu is inspired by the hotel’s neighborhood and roots. The Sultan Gate Garden section’s fruity and alcoholic gin-based Royal Rosales ($22) and the Albert Food Centre’s cendol dessert–inspired Tjendol Milk Punch ($22) are two standouts.
The Lobby Lounge also features an outstanding selection of over 400 Italian wines, hand-picked by the knowledgeable sommeliers at Tenuta by Park90. Chef de Cuisine Charles Nguyen has revamped the whole dining menu to keep your taste buds entertained as you recharge.
Address: At 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966, you’ll find the Lobby Lounge of the InterContinental Singapore.
Timings: Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 12:00 midnight. On weekends from 7 to 10 pm you may also enjoy live music.
28 HongKong Street
Launched quietly in 2011, 28 Hong Kong Street was an early player in the Hong Kong cocktail industry and took home the inaugural Best Bar in Asia trophy in 2016. In 2020, during the height of the epidemic, the bar finally entered the social media sphere, despite its reputation for being word-of-mouth and exclusive to those in the know.
Rest assured, it has managed to maintain its unassuming allure, complete with a lack of signage and its classic beige entrance doors. Stylish decor, hip-hop music, and artisanal spirits, and American-style cocktails are the poison of choice here. Simple, homemade American comfort cuisine like burgers, chicken tenders, and more is what you can expect to see on the menu.
Address: Hong Kong Street in Singapore are 059667 and +65 8318 0328, respectively.
Timings: Our hours are from 6 pm to 10:30 pm, Monday through Saturday.
Analog
Owner Vijay Mudaliar, who has won multiple awards, makes a bold statement with Analogue by making sustainability its central focus. Despite being open during the pandemic, the bar’s all-plant menu, which deftly employs foods with less environmental impact, has made it famous. Drinks like the Zephyr and El Mariachi, which are house specialties, appeal to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic palates, putting inclusivity front and center.
Address: At 30 Victoria Street #01-31 CHIJMES, Singapore 187996, p. +65 8518 1882, you may find Analogue.
Timings: Tuesday through Sunday, 5 pm to 12 am.
The Atlas
We don’t need to introduce you to this gin location because word has flown like wildfire on social media. With an art deco design that exudes elegance and richness, Atlas goes above and beyond with a floor-to-ceiling bar that stocks an extensive collection of 1,300 gins. Is it not gin-type?
In addition to an outstanding selection of champagne, they provide a wide variety of drinks for you to try. With delicious cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Daniele Sperindio, Atlas is the ideal venue for any type of celebration. You may find our earlier evaluation here.
Address: At 600 North Bridge Road, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778, you can find Atlas. You can also reach them at +65 6396 4466.
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, extended until 2 am. Monday is closed.
Employees Only
The 2016 edition of Employees Only, which began in New York City’s downtown, has made it to Singapore. This secluded retreat is a brainchild of Employees Only New York’s original five partners—Igor Hadzismajlovic, Steve Schneider, Eric Lincoln, Joshua and Sarissa Schwartz, and chef/partner Julia Jaksic—and is sure to turn heads.
With prices like S$27 for the Hand-Cut Steak Tartare, S$28 for the EO “Ramly” Burger, and S$15 for the Bone Marrow Toast, you’ll be full and craving more of the delicious food and strong cocktails.
Address: Eleven2 Amoy Street, Singapore 069932, Ph No. +65 6221 7357.
Timings: 5 pm and 2 am on Saturdays and from 5 pm to 1 am on Sundays and holidays.
Jigger & Pony
Jigger & Pony is the shining star of this year’s Best in Singapore at The Asia 50 Best Bars 2023. Their repertoire says it all. Skilled bartenders and attentive wait staff will serve you innovative takes on classic cocktails from the menu’s twenty-four offerings. Come on in at 6 p.m. for the happy hour specials, which include the Dutch 75, the Italian Buck, and other monthly drinks for only S$18.
If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, the Black Pepper Crab Dip (S$21++) with toast is the ideal shared appetizer, while the Bikini Sandwich (S$24++) with its fragrant truffle butter is too good to share. You may find our earlier evaluation here.
Address: At Amara Singapore, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539 (p. +65 9621 1074) you may find Jigger & Pony.
Timings: Weekdays from 6 pm to 12 am, weekends from 6 pm to 2 am.
Live Twice
Live Twice, the lively yet inviting cocktail bar by Jigger & Pony Group follows in the footsteps of its parent brand by serving drinks crafted with the same level of care and skill. The gem’s reputation rests on its graceful mid-century Japanese ambiance, which includes gloomy lighting, wooden furnishings, and the shokunin (artisan) method of making drinks in Japan.
The subtle yet complex drinks menu, curated by Principal Bartender Yinying Leow, includes the incredibly strong Vesper (S$26) and the Flourishing Youth 茥榰 (S$26), which is inspired by matcha. The Sandos are the ideal addictive sidekick to our drinks when we need to replenish.
Address: In Singapore, at 18-20 Bukit Pasoh Road, you can find Live Twice (169834).
Timings: Daily hours: 6 pm-12 am (Sun, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday), 6 pm-2 am (Fri, Saturday). Tuesday off
Low Tide
Club Street has been rocking Low Tide, a tropical paradise, for the past year. The menu remains true to the brand by offering both traditional fare with a tropical twist and innovative regional spinoffs. Combining Low Tide’s house-made rum blend #1 with acidulated mint syrup, maraschino, fino sherry, lychee, lime, and soda, the Swizzle & Flow ($22) adds fruity, fresh flavors. On the other hand, the Low Tide Daiquiri ($22) is mouthwatering with a combination of four rums.
The Fisherman’s Catch costs S$20, savory Nasi Ulam costs S$18, and the Miso Butter Stingray served with grilled okra and curry assam jus, is S$22.
Address: At 98 Club St, Singapore 069467, with the phone number +65 8952 1145.
Timings: From 4 pm to 12 am, we are open Tuesday through Thursday. Open from 12 pm to 12 am every day per request. Monday is closed.
