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With an enduring reputation as one of the gastronomic capitals of the world, Singapore’s varied eating experiences – from hawker stalls to fine dining – have long attracted curious food-lovers. But now, with its selection as the host destination for The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, the Southeast Asian city-state is cementing its place among the world’s finest cocktail destinations.
For those who simply cannot choose between scrumptious bites and tasty drinks, local expert Nicola Lee selects 12 tried-and-tested venues that will make both your liquid and foodie dreams come true. Discover them below, then find even more inspiration on 50 Best Discovery
Burnt Ends
7 Dempsey Road, #01-02, Singapore 249671
instagram.com/burntends.bar.sg
burntends.com.sg
Located next door to the eponymous eatery – a regular on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list – the Burnt Ends bar is a great spot to enjoy both cocktails and food. The innovative drinks from the Signature Series and a special food menu only available at the bar make for a great combination. Enjoy a smoked quail egg with caviar, the famous steak frites or the all-too-comforting Burnt Ends sanger while you explore the drinks on offer.
From the Signature Series, the Massaman Curry is a refreshing and delicious concoction of vodka, coconut rum, kaffir lime leaf, chilli padi and citrus, evoking all the flavours of the classic curry. You may also choose from the wide selection of drinks aged in South American barrels, from Negronis to Old Fashioned and the popular Rob Roy, or try the bar’s popular take on a Bloody Mary, called Screaming Tomatoes (with Jardin de Rabalis cherry tomatoes and black pepper from Sarawak). With an eclectic playlist featuring groovy vibes, the experience here is all about lounging on leather sofas in a drawing room that, though traditional, oozes hip sophisticated vibes.
The Bar Kakure
29 Scotts Road, Singapore 228224
instagram.com/kakuresg
thebarkakure.com
Opened in 2021, The Bar Kakure is housed in a charming colonial black-and-white house along Scotts Road. Headed by Yokohama native Kazuhiro Chii and focusing on classic cocktails served with Japanese precision, it is renowned for its beautifully prepared Martinis and Manhattans. However, don’t be afraid to ask Chii-san to create a bespoke cocktail for you using the fresh Japanese fruits he always has on hand. His signature drink, Beauty and the Beast (pink grapefruit vodka, Cointreau, rose syrup and lemon juice) is as magical as the movie.
To pair with the drinks, a tasty Japanese menu is available, prepared from the same kitchen as restaurant Ki-Sho, located on the ground floor. From bar favourite tatami iwashi (a crunchy grilled sardine snack) to seasonal sashimi and mini dons, the choice is wide and will appeal to any appetite. The Bafun uni tempura stands out among the indulgent snacks, and for those looking for a more substantial meal, the unagi (freshwater eel) rice can’t be missed. The bar is located on the building’s second floor – be sure to ask for the access pass that changes daily.
D.Bespoke
2 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089816
instagram.com/d.bespoke
dbespoke.sg
One of the earlier speakeasies to open at the Bukit Pasoh enclave, D.Bespoke styles itself as a Ginza-style bar. A majestic, 15-metre-long teak wood bar is the focal point where master mixologist Daiki Kanetaka creates cocktails based on each customer’s request. Sweet, sour, dry, long, short – let him have your wish list and allow yourself to be surprised. Alternatively, take your time to go through the well-designed cocktail menu, which includes a lovely collection of sherries, Armagnacs and rums. Drinks at this Asia’s 50 Best Bars favourite are classic and prepared with precision.
To accompany the cocktails, enjoy some jamón ibérico de bellota ham carved off the leg, or tuck into the all-time-favourite Japanese fried chicken karaage or the bar’s heavenly Mentaiko cream pasta. If you’re after a lighter bite, D.Bespoke’s cheese and ham platters are perfect to pair with cocktails. Desserts, not often found on bar menus, are on hand for those with a sweet tooth.
Jungle Ballroom
16A Duxton Hill, #03-03, Singapore 089970
instagram.com/jungleballroom
ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/singapore-duxton/dining
This hidden oasis at the new Mondrian hotel is helmed by experienced head bartender Adrian Besa, who made a name for himself at MO Bar. Walk under an arched trellis lush with greenery to reach the bar – a dark oasis that lights up through its drinks. Jungle-inspired cocktails, such as the rye whiskey-based Queen of the Jungle with walnut and Barolo chinato, make for a smooth nightcap. For the rum lovers, there is The Fox’s Trot with spiced pear – a nice sip to blend in with the tropical theme.
A wide selection of delicious snacks, from chicken rice crackers to lemongrass tofu fritters, is on hand to pair with the drinks. If you’re feeling more than just peckish, tuck into Jungle Ballroom’s jungle curry lobster rolls – a surf and turf combination that will remind you that this jungle is full of vibrancy and flavour.
Junior The Pocket Bar
6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
instagram.com/juniorthepocketbar
juniorthepocketbar.com
From its snug 10-seater off Tras Street to its current bigger digs at Ann Siang Hill, Junior’s ever-changing concepts and menus that rotate every six months ensure that there is never a dull moment at the bar. Past themes have included a Tiki bar and a Swiss chalet. As of September 2023, you can step into the Joseon Dynasty and dine at a Korean palace. Under the watchful eye of Hazel Long, Eduardo Zamora and Didi Sidek, you’ll enjoy cocktails such as the Kimchi, which includes gin, kimchi tomato cordial and sherry; or the Seaweed, an innovative savoury sip comprising seaweed-infused vodka, gin and perilla oil.
From the food menu, choose the Korean classic spam served as a Korean corn dog, or – for noodle lovers – the cold sweet potato glass noodles in seafood broth with tiger prawns, which makes for a full meal. All prepared in house and all curated by the talented Junior The Pocket Bar team.
Live Twice
18-20 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089834
instagram.com/livetwicesg
livetwice.sg
Opened at the end of 2019, this zen hideaway on Bukit Pasoh Road is a mid-century modern Japanese bar that you can head to for quiet time. Transporting guests to the heart of Tokyo circa 1960s post-war Ginza, it is characterised by Japan's shokunin craftsmanship.
Helmed by principal bartender David Kim, the bar team serves up a mean Vesper, shaken and served with larger shards of ice to keep it cool for longer. For an after-dinner drink, check out the Coconut Alexander: featuring white rum, it has lovely notes of coconut, chocolate and sugar cane. Live Twice also sources their own Cognacs – a feature not easily found in Singapore – and the team always has a smile ready for their guests.
Bar snacks include a selection of delicious katsu sandos (with wagyu beef, egg or pork) and the ever-addictive smoked daikon dip with trout roe. Shishito peppers with bonito aioli are also a great pairing with the clean and classic cocktails that characterise Live Twice.
Manhattan
1 Cuscaden Road, Level 2, Singapore 249715
instagram.com/manhattan_sg
hilton.com/hotels/singapore-orchard/dining/manhattan
Since 2014, Manhattan has been holding court as Singapore’s grand old bar inspired by the 19th century’s golden age of cocktails. Voted into The World’s 50 Best Bars and home to the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse, it offers a rotating “from the rickhouse” selection of the team’s finest oak-driven work. The barrel-aged Manhattan can’t be missed: aged for eight weeks in an American oak barrel, this classic sip is made with Michter’s Rye and house cherry brandy. On the menu since the start, the New York Sour is another must-have, with ruby port wine and house-made lavender and maple syrup – a classic with a twist.
Classic New York fare is on hand to pair with the cocktails. From lobster tacos to New York hot dogs and a truffle mac and cheese, many may consider this a full menu and certainly not just bar bites. Manhattan’s Sunday brunch is somewhat synonymous with lazy sophisticated weekends: with the Bloody Mary trolley making the rounds, there is no way to not want to keep the drinks coming, and with a buffet including lavish seafood and a DIY doughnut corner, it’s no wonder it’s a hit among locals.
Native
52A Amoy Street, Singapore 069878
instagram.com/nativebarsg
tribenative.com
The ever-popular Native champions the use of local ingredients and is still the place to go in Singapore to for unique, indigenous-inspired cocktails, as well as a mainstay of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking. Designed by Vijay Mudaliar, the signature drinks – Pineapple Arrack and Peranakan – are deeply rooted in Asian influence. The former features pineapple skin and Sri Lankan spices for rich flavour; while the whisky-based Peranakan uses Indian single malt whisky for that added Asian focus.
With the same local inspiration, the Native kitchen on the first floor has created a bar menu that is worthy of several visits. Dive into an excellent selection of vegetable-forward dishes, with tasty classics such as nasi bakar (rice wrapped in banana leaf then grilled) and massaman mole – you might find yourself tempted to simply have your dinner here. Among the bar snacks, the standouts are the ikan keropok (crispy fish crackers) and charred chilli chaat; while for sweet endings, the comforting coconut ice cream with gula melaka caramel and a whiskey shot is a perfect finish.
Nutmeg & Clove
8 Purvis Street, Singapore 188587
instagram.com/nutmegandclove
Founder Colin Chia continues to marry Southeast Asia’s culture with cocktails at Nutmeg & Clove, which landed at No.7 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. With innovative collaborations from the local community, there is plenty to look forward to at this second iteration of the bar. In its new location just behind the illustrious Raffles Hotel, Nutmeg & Clove now boasts a full kitchen allowing for a great locally-inspired menu. Their signature cocktail, the Nutmeg & Clove, never fails to impress: made with bourbon, gula melaka (palm sugar), grated nutmeg and clove topped with ginger ale, it provides a refreshing start to your evening. For those looking for sweeter flavours, F*** Your Banana, with its banana caramel and amontillado sherry, is a sure winner.
Meanwhile, tuck into the bar’s chicken sandos, which are served free-flow during happy hour. Made from succulent chicken thigh with sambal mayo tucked between local Hainanese bread, a second serving is hard to resist. The bar’s dried mee siam noodles are given the luxe treatment with soft shell crabs added. Non-meat-eating guests will enjoy Nutmeg & Clove’s tofu satay served with peanut sauce and all the trimmings.
Stay Gold Flamingo
69 Amoy Street, Singapore 069888
instagram.com/staygoldflamingo
staygoldflamingo.com
Walk past an unassuming coffee bar to enter Stay Gold Flamingo, founded by Jerrold Khoo of Jigger & Pony and Bai Jia Wei of Employees Only fame, a new entry to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Speakeasy vibes with neon lights and a choice of booth or bar seats allow you to get comfortable in this spacious bar. Cocktails are categorised by ingredients, flavours and cultures. Sip on the classic Sazerac that packs a punch with its blend of Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac and Michter’s Rye, or enjoy the signature Wild Fresh Sawa, a refreshing gin-based cocktail with yuzu, chamomile and basil leaf.
On the food front, a wide selection is available. Snack on mala quail eggs or try the sambal matah fish taco, which has been on the menu from day one: a generous portion of deep-fried snapper fillet with a jalapeno coriander mayo folded inside a soft taco that makes for a totally addictive bar snack.
Sugarhall
19 Cecil Street, Level 2, Singapore 049704
instagram.com/sugarhallsg
sugarhall.sg
Sugarhall, revived after a four-year hiatus, is now housed in a 1920s heritage building in Singapore’s business district. This rum-focused “cocktail pub”, helmed by principal bartender Sam Loh, is a popular spot with the after-work crowd. Check out the signature jumbo-sized Dark & Stormy, made using an oloroso sherry cask with aged Barbados rum and London Essence ginger beer – a refreshing thirst-quencher that is also a crowd favourite. For tropical flavours, order the Mango Colada, made with house-made mango and coconut sorbet with lime, basil and dark rum. Of course, for those who just want that straight shot of rum, Sugarhall boasts an impressive list, as well as rum flights.
Gastropub fare with Asian influence rules the day. A good selection of vegetarian dishes, such as vegetable momos (crispy fried dumplings with lime yoghurt and gunpowder spice) and burrata with chaat masala and Indian pickle aioli, are on offer. If you’re game for a totally local experience, order the bar’s indomie with pork belly and sambal matah (a refreshing Indonesian spicy accompaniment), which is topped with a fried Japanese egg.
Tippling Club
38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088461
instagram.com/tipplingclub
tipplingclub.com
As of September 2023, Singapore’s iconic Tippling Club is offering a cocktail menu inspired by music from the 1940s to the 1990s – called A Guide to Modern Drinking Vol III: Six Decades of Music – where cocktails honour individual songs by legendary musicians. Don’t fret though, their signatures are still on the menu. The Sonic Negroni is made in large batches and goes through an ultrasonic homogeniser to age the liquid. Served straight from the bottle without dilution, it’s a great take on the classic cocktail. If Negroni isn’t the drink for you, Tippling Club’s head bartender Arathorn Grey recommends their classic Martini, which is served in a frozen Nick & Nora glass.
As for food, you are in good hands with chef Ryan Clift managing the menu – over the years, Tippling Club has been voted both into Asia’s 50 Best Bars as well as Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Clift’s curated bar food offer is constantly changing, with A Guide to Modern Snacking Vol III coming out shortly. Until then, tuck into their wagyu pastrami sandwich: a classic and always a pleaser.
The 15th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars list, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced on Tuesday, 17th October 2023 in Singapore. To be the first to hear about the latest news and announcements, browse the website, follow us on Instagram, find us on Facebook, visit us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
For more inspiration on planning a gastronomic or liquid-led getaway, see the 50 Best Discovery website, which contains expert-approved restaurants and bars all over the world.
