封面圖片 One of the newest cocktail bars in Singapore, Dragonfly has a towering stained glass centrepiece behind the bar (Photo: Dragonfly)

Want in on the coolest cocktail bars and the sexiest speakeasies in Singapore? Let our insider compendium play guide to your fervent cocktail adventures

To merely enshrine Singapore’s bar scene with the word exciting is quite an understatement. Today, newly minted bars, burgeoning with fresh talent championing innovative concepts, continue to appease the demanding cocktail legion in the Lion City and those around the region. Adding to our collection of grand enigmatic cocktail lounges, Dragonfly unfurled its wings in the heart of Orchard. And conscripted into the island’s mysterious speakeasies, Tamba is Duxton’s favourite little secret that promises a bewitchingly transformative cocktail experience.

Time-tested watering holes are not resting on their laurels either, maintaining their polish by pushing the envelope whenever it comes to shaking up new experiences. From beloved cocktail parlour Gibson’s latest launch of its new menu inspired by grocery shopping to Republic’s highly anticipated release of its third volume celebrating the raging ’60s, there is no lack of novelty for seasoned imbibers.

So look no further, it is high time you raise your glasses at these spots because we’ve already done the sussing out for you. Make note that the list is in no particular order, these are some of the best new bars to hit up in the city right now.

Read more: The best martini in Singapore, according to professional bartenders

Orchard
Tatler Asia
以上 The Murphy’s Law is a Decadent nightcap that is as quaffable as desserts in a glass (Photo: Dragonfly)

Having first captivated Hong Kong with its opulent bohemian grandeur, Dragonfly is poised to do the same in the Lion City with a visually arresting outpost that fuses art, design and mixology. Captivating as the aesthetics are, the modern cocktail programme deserves equal limelight. Start with the Bite the Blossom, a crushable vodka highball rife with grapefruit, white flowers, rhubarb and a splash of Oloroso sherry. For a silkier gin-based number, the clarified Veil of Fondness promises sweet and savoury sensations, thanks to the clever juxtaposition of tomato and watermelon with a maltier base of genever. 

Decadent nightcaps such as Murphy’s Law, are quaffable desserts in a glass. A base of house-crafted dark rum, swirls of sweet corn ice cream and drops of mala oil make for a rich yet delicately piquant tipple. So is Everything Gets Butter, a toothsome brown-butter-washed bourbon old-fashioned.


Dragonfly

地址: Vibe Hotel Singapore, 24 Mount Elizabeth, #01-05, S(228518)

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Raffles Place
Tatler Asia
Cocktails at High House (Photo: High House / @highhousesg)
以上 Cocktails at High House (Photo: Instagram / @highhousesg)
Cocktails at High House (Photo: High House / @highhousesg)

Get your head in the clouds on the 61st and 62nd floors of One Raffles Place at High House. At the glitzy bar, award-winning bar specialist and beverage consultant Jay Gray masterminds a series of signature cocktails with ingredients from across the coast, including Japan, Thailand and Peru. Quench your thirst with the refreshing Peruvian clarified pisco punch finished with a lively key lime foam, or sip and savour on the boozy Japanese seaweed umami martini. Meanwhile, dessert lovers will be in heaven with the sticky mango highball inspired by Thailand’s mango sticky rice.

Oenophiles should ask to see the digital wine list, one that is both extensive and properly curated, for when you’re looking to impress your guests between Old World favourites and New World surprises. And, of course, flutes of champagne are readily available for every joyous occasion at the snap of a finger.


High House

地址: 1 Raffles Place, One Raffles Place, L61-62, S(048616)

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Duxton
Tatler Asia
以上 Slate at the Mondrian Singapore Duxton presents fresh and eco-conscious cocktails centred around Asian flavours (Photo: Slate)

You won’t need the party bus for this barhop. At the Mondrian Singapore Duxton, there are options aplenty if you’re up for a few swigs within the compounds. Connected to modern grill restaurant Tribal, fresh-faced Slate recreates an ethereal underwater cave-like ambience while presenting fresh and eco-conscious cocktails centred around Asian flavours.

There’s a melon milk-inspired It’s Raining Melon, enhanced with in-house made pandan gomme syrup—a pleasing choice for Midori fans; a sweet and savoury Smoke on the Water where peated whisky and spiced capsicums mingle to tickle your tastebuds; or the playfully prickly Straight out of Bangkok, which spotlights Thai-spiced vodka alongside citrus and tom yum foam on the side. For teetotalers, the inclusive menu offers the same amount of fun with zero-proof non-alcoholic cocktails that won’t lack flavour.


Slate

地址: 83 Neil Road, Mondrian Singapore Duxton, #01-06, S(089813)

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Duxton
Tatler Asia
以上 Nou is the latest bar along Neil Road that is almost impossible to rock up to without a reservation on weekends (Photo: Nou)

Noodles and cocktails? It’s an easy sell for anybody. While chef Petrina Loh of esteemed Morsels slams out satisfying bowls of noodles, co-founder Cheryl Tng and head bartender Bernardine Chan come together to let their imaginations run wild with playful twists on classic martinis. Take the Duck-tini for instance, starring duck fat-washed Machetazo Salmiana with pickled onion and dill flower, to give a stiff peppery number with a ribbon of spice to finish. Or the Nougroni, a house version of the classic negroni but instead amped up with the potent Amazzoni Rio Negro gin and the artisanal Carpano Antica vermouth which helps add a touch of Christmas spice.

Dirty martini lovers, don’t think twice about having the Tomato Tomato. Repurposing the savoury tomato brine leftover from Nou’s house hot sauce, the delicious tipple is both quaffable and sustainably made.

In case you missed it: The 12 best gourmet wine bars in Singapore


Nou

地址: 45 Craig Road, S(089683)

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Duxton
Tatler Asia
以上 Housed in a two-storey conservation shophouse along Duxton Road, the restaurant and bar is dreamt up by founder Kurt Wagner, who also owns African-themed restaurant Kafe Utu (Photo: Tamba)

Enter Tamba, an intimate yet transcendent restaurant that fetes the vibrant spirit and rich flavours of West Africa. Under the cool shade of the restaurant’s thatched roof is the bar, where each tipple weaves in the rich tapestry of West African culture as imaginative cocktails. Our favourite? The Dry Boney. Inspired by Tamba’s life growing up, this sexy twist on a classic bloody mary drinks silky yet sharp with vegetal notes of celery and clean spice from habaneros.

Other highlights include The Next Pele, a tangy tamarind cachaca cocktail; the Vita, crafted from cacao butter fat-washed Mhoba rum sourced from South Africa; and boatloads of interesting small-batch spirits such as Haitian rums from Papalin Distillery and the punchy Habitation Velier Savanna Herr White rum from Réunion Island.


Tamba

地址: 101 Duxton Road, S(089964)

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Orchard
Tatler Asia
以上 A reimagined timeless classic of a whiskey sour (Photo: The Backdrop)

Crystal chandeliers, vintage accoutrements and ruby-hued plush furnishings are all glaring symbols in The Backdrop at Voco Orchard Singapore that hark back to the glory days of 1920s cabaret—think Moulin Rouge. Dreamt up by Dario Knox, a bartending luminary with over 19 years of global expertise under his belt, the beautifully bonded cocktail menu showcases a spectrum of mixology techniques spanning centuries alongside Knox’s anecdotes—many of which accumulated from travelling across Italy over the past four years.

From timeless classics to avant-garde interpretations that push flavour boundaries, imbibers are invited on a thrilling exploration of libations. A standout is the Negroni Supreme, a silky harmonious blend of coconut fat-washed gin, Guatemalan coffee bean-infused vermouth and banana sous-pressed Campari. A finishing spritz of percolated hazelnut mist is applied tableside. Each sip is refreshingly tart and savoury, followed by an elegant finish that is bitter yet nutty to round it off.

Read more: No code, no enter: The Backdrop brings back a bonafide speakeasy experience


The Backdrop

地址: 581 Orchard Road, Voco Orchard Singapore, #01-15/16, S(238883)

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Other Areas
Tatler Asia
以上 Dirty Supper is chef-owner Pete Smit’s latest gastronomic love letter to the Tiong Bahru enclave (Photo: Dirty Supper)

Taking over the nights of storied 90-year-old Hua Bee Restaurant, this supper club run by chef-owner Pete Smit—known for his whole-animal cooking style and open-fire grilling—is quite the talk of the town. Besides the mouth-watering nosh, Smit has tinkered up a cocktail menu that is approachable and weaves in a touch of savoury in line with the kitchen programme. Despite being rather lean in options, they are no less mean—quality over quantity, if you may. Think boulevardier made silky with Wagyu fat-washed rye whiskey, a stiff martini brightened with pickled lemon and a downright dirty mezcal-based espresso martini. Enough said, the Tiong Bahru enclave just got a whole lot more exciting.

Read more: New Restaurant Alert: Dirty Supper brings the art of grilling to Hua Bee Restaurant in Tiong Bahru


Dirty Supper

地址: 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-19, S(162078)

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Orchard
Tatler Asia
以上 Zana Mohlmann, head bartender of Manhattan, making a drink in East47 with an original 1962 Gold Marilyn Monroe silkscreen painting by Andy Warhol in the background (Photo: East47)

Nestled in the vibrant Manhattan bar is East47, a progressive cocktail bar that pays tribute to the iconic American artist Andy Warhol. If the Silver Factory is Warhol’s literal manifestation of the future he imagined, East47 is an artistic rebellion against Manhattan’s philosophy with classic cocktails. The cocktail programme is about pushing the limits of creativity and exploring new methods like distillation, fermentation, and complex flavour extractions.

Some takes include a lively riff on a pink-hued French 75, featuring red cabbage reminiscent of sauerkraut; an anise-scented, citrus and matcha-based tipple that blends elements of a gibson and martini; and a suave take on a classic tuxedo, sporting a painstakingly redistilled cherry brandy. Discerning tipplers, if you’re on a hunt for rare spirits that are worthy of a splurge, this is the place to be.

Read more: What you need to know about Manhattan’s new Warhol-inspired bar, East47


East47

地址: 1 Cuscaden Road, Conrad Singapore Orchard, Level 2, S(249715)


Tanjong Pagar
Tatler Asia
以上 Expect riff on classic cocktails can be described as deceptively simple yet complex (Photo: Side Door)

At Side Door, Bannie Kang’s riff on classic cocktails can be described as deceptively simple yet complex. Take the Easy Peasy, for instance, where London Dry Gin is layered with lime leaves, dry vermouth and Taiwanese mountain peppers. It drinks rich and redolent of citrus and lemongrass. Another hit is the Holy Moly Mary, an ode to the Bloody Mary and Moscow Mule classics, which taps into a funky tomato-infused vodka topped with sparkling ginger beer. It even sports a lively plum powder rim.

The South Korean bartender, who clinched the title of Bartenders’ Bartender at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2021, also teases a throwback of her competition-winning tipples which she adapts into her varying concoctions. Other boozy options—served by the glass or the bottle—include a modest lineup of wine, champagne and local craft beers.

In case you missed it: Husband-and-wife duo of popular private diner Side Door debuts new location in Tanjong Pagar


Side Door

地址: 3 Neil Road, #01-01, S(088805)

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Orchard
Tatler Asia
以上 Relax over Punch Room’s signature boozy afternoon tea at The Singapore Edition (Photo: Punch Room)

At The Singapore Edition, Punch Room is the hotel’s signature bar concept that boasts a cocktail menu that is guided by Southeast Asian spices. The hypnotic enclave is bathed in a stunning shade of Yves Klein blue and complete with a sculptural blue ceiling pendant by Parisian artist Eric Schmitt. Some standouts include the Straits Punch, which honours William Farquhar, Singapore’s first Resident Commander. The concoction features a refreshing mix of Botanist gin, Kakubin whisky, ruby port, pomegranate, spiced lemon and Ceylon tea.

Non-alcoholic cocktails are also available, like the Botanic Garden Punch, a botanical concoction featuring a mix of Seedlip Garden 108, hibiscus, black currant, lemon and salted caramel. For a boozy brunch, consider the afternoon tea where one is invited to graze over a grand spread of small bites and sweets.

Read more: What it’s like to stay in the Edition penthouse at The Singapore Edition


Punch Room

地址: 38 Cuscaden Road, Basement 4, S(249731)

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Marina Bay
Tatler Asia
以上 The Headliner is the third iteration of the crowd favourite Irish Coffee tipple succeeding the archetypal Satisfaction and the sequel Kim Sisters (Photo: Republic)

NEW MENU

The groundbreaking spirit of the 1960s, shattering conventions, sparking new ideas and whatnot, lays the foundation for Republic’s volume three menu. New at the helm, head bartender Kelvin Saquilayan—formerly from Manhattan—draws inspiration from four pillars that define the raging generation: icons, media, aesthetics, and innovation. A standout was the Bullet Train, which blends the best of both worlds: a silky milk-clarified sake martini, gently laced with matcha for a tannic finish. For an old-fashioned worthy of the king of pop Elvis Presley, the Fool’s Gold drinks rebelliously delicious, combining the likes of American whiskey and Jamaican rum, peanut butter and banana. But what remains a crowd favourite is the Headliner, a comforting warm elevated Irish coffee cocktail enhanced by milk chocolate liqueur topped with cream cheese.


Republic Bar

地址: 7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799


Modern   |   Orchard
Tatler Asia
以上 The tomato fruit is all the craze right now and the bewitching Ma To Ma To contends for the best tomato cocktail in the city (Photo: Origin Bar)

NEW MENU

What do you get when you put a group of brainiac bartenders in a room together? Quite possibly, the Origin Bar’s new Infinity menu. Prepare to geek out on an 18-strong cocktail menu, where collective ingenuity shines through reimagined classics and some rather far-fetched cocktails. The tomato fruit is all the craze right now and the bewitching Ma To Ma To contends for the best tomato cocktail in the city. Sweet, savoury, tart and some umami, this lip-smacking number mixes distilled ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and green tomatoes with smoky mezcal. 

Keen on an espresso martini but without the caffeine drag? The Art But No Latte, crafted from cereal sous-vide bourbon, gives the illusion that things are not what they seem. The frothy number is then layered with flavours of dark berries and raisins and shaken to cascading perfection. Multiple returns may be compulsory, for research purposes of course.


Origin Bar

地址: Shangri-La Singapore, Lobby Level, Tower Wing, 22 Orange Grove Road, S(258350)

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Chinatown
Tatler Asia
以上 Very Blue Bananas uses blue spirulina as a natural colouring agent to result in the ethereal hue (Photo: Gibson)

NEW MENU

Grocery shopping may alleviate stress for some, and so does the occasional tipple. At Gibson, these two pastimes converge where the latest menu, made of 15 expressions, takes after a supermarket aisle. And new bar operations manager Martin Villareal—formerly from Republic—promises to take you shopping. Browse the shelves for everyday commodities such as fruits and vegetables, which serve as inspiration for cocktails. Corn stars in a bright popcorn whisky highball, where bourdon and carbonated cold brew corn silk tea tango; bananas, extracted in various techniques from infusing tequila with burnt peels to making a banana cordial with nutmeg, anchor as base to blue spirulina and a pump of warm coconut vanilla foam; and root beer, handsomely weaved into an old fashioned, made with a single malt whisky, is redolent of spice and everything nice.


Gibson

地址: 2nd Floor, 20 Bukit Pasoh Road, S(089834)


Raffles Place
Tatler Asia
以上 The Champagne Ramos Gin Fizz layers creamy and fizzy textures with flavours of bright citrus and port wine for a pleasant cap to the evening (Photo: Jigger and Pony)

NEW MENU

Looking on to the next decade, the award-winning destination cocktail bar debuts Smash. The sleek 72-page menuzine presents a deep dive into how one enjoys an experience in the modern bar and what truly makes a drinking experience enjoyable. Remember the Lycheetini? This version evinces a crushable cleansing of the bastardised tropical martini where it drinks subtly sweet, dry and rounded—all at the same time. The absolute must-try points to the Spicy Margarita. It is a velvety blend of tangy, herbaceous and spicy notes that is simply just a notch better than the American pageant number.

For a quaffable dessert in a glass, the Champagne Ramos Gin Fizz layers creamy and fizzy textures with flavours of bright citrus and port wine for a pleasant cap to the evening. And if the Perfect Manhattan existed, Jigger certainly made it. Instead of simply harnessing sweet vermouth, the Smash version balances the scales between a blend of dry and sweet vermouth.

In case you missed it: How Singapore’s best bar, Jigger & Pony, is welcoming its new decade in the industry


Jigger & Pony

地址: 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Amara Hotel, S(088539)


Bugis
Tatler Asia
以上 The Lombardi’s draws inspiration from the historic pizzerias in Little Italy (Photo: Atlas)

NEW MENU

The grand dame of cocktail lounges once again looks in retrospect for the inspiration of its latest new menu: Preservation of Fire. The latest creations are a love letter to the history of bartending too. Divided into four chapters, each reimagining four classic styles—think martini, champagne cocktail, sour, and old-fashioned. A visit to Atlas isn’t possible without a splash of champagne and the Priestley’s Company might be the remedy. An aromatic base of gin, rum and rose-infused rosso vermouth is enhanced with raspberry liqueur before an effervescent splash of champagne.

Besides the Atlas signature martinis, our favourite tipple has to be the Lombardi’s, drawing inspiration from the historic pizzerias in Little Italy. Essentially, a slice of margarita pizza in a glass. The pisco-based number is shaken with rosemary, capsicum, lime, sweetcorn, and a touch of chilli. A torched basil mozzarella garnish is crowned in case you still don’t get the hint.

Read more: Sipping Green: 4 sustainable bars in Singapore


Atlas

地址: Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, S(188778)


Bugis
Tatler Asia
以上 Don’t Chicken Out is a silky mix of sweet and savoury with a burst of Hainanese chilli (Photo: Nutmeg & Clove)

NEW MENU

Commemorating its tenth anniversary with an extensive facelift, Nutmeg & Clove now brandishes fresh new interiors, new branding logos, new merchandise, and a new locally-inspired food menu. But it is the new cocktail menu, made up of locally-inspired 25 cocktails, that warms the heart as each tipple harkens back to the highs and the lows that occurred over the past ten years.

Expect local street food staples from Hainanese chicken rice to sweet yam paste cleverly distilled into tongue-twisting tipples. The former Don’t Chicken Out is a silky mix of sweet and savoury with a burst of Hainanese chilli while the Yam Seng riffs on the classic ramos gin fizz, reminding of the Teochew dessert with its refreshing creamy texture and tropical flavours. However, for the adventurous, try the punchy Temasek Ubah which arrives elegantly herbaceous but yet full of body.

In case you missed it: Veteran bartender Colin Chia reflects on Nutmeg & Clove’s most memorable stories ahead of its 10th anniversary


Nutmeg & Clove

地址: 8 Purvis Street, S(188587)


Chinatown
Tatler Asia
以上 Silk Route spotlights a gin that is infused with peppercorns and shiitake mushroom (Photo: Junior The Pocket Bar)

NEW MENU

If this bar had a superhero nickname, the shapeshifter is befitting. Each quarter, the team orchestrates an overhaul in the cocktail creativity and spatial department. From April onwards, head bartender Hazel Long tampers with Shanghainese ingredients and executes in Western flair—referencing from the redefining 1920s and 1930s of Shanghai where Western influences first made an influence in China. Presenting the Bund, savoury tipples are in fashion right now. A hot take is the Silk Route, where gin is infused with peppercorns and shiitake mushroom and mixed with grapefruit bitters and a splash of vermouth.

On the flip side, indulge in the Paris of the East, a toothsome milk punch made with Galliano vanilla and bittersweet chocolate mousse, reminiscent of a chocolate eclair. The best drink to order, if you’re all about showing off to your followers, is the Stevedore. It’s a refreshing whisky-based tipple, offering the sweetness of apples and Chinese pear balanced with oolong tea, served in a whimsical teacup—you know, for posing reasons.

Read more: International Women’s Day 2024: 7 women-led restaurants and bars to support in Singapore


Junior The Pocket Bar

地址: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787


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