Whether you’re into vintage sake or craft beers from Vietnam, these stylish watering holes will deliver.
Why go: Originally an e-commerce site offering a monthly sake subscription, Sakemaru has expanded into a concept dining experience aimed at showcasing its wide range of exclusive sake. The hole-in-the-wall venue along South Bridge Road has more than 50 kinds of sake for dine-in, with new artisanal labels brought in regularly. Patrons can pair their booze with modern Kappo-style Japanese cuisine, featuring seasonal ingredients from regions like Mie, Toyama and Hokkaido. Head chef Daisuke Yomogi also cooks up a 15-course omakase dinner for hungry patrons.
What to order: If you’re looking for something rare and well-balanced, the Sakemasu 55 4th vintage edition is right up your alley. For dry sake fans, the Kudokijozu Super Dry Bakuren features notes of guava and lychee, and goes well with most fried dishes. Sakemaru subscribers also get premium sake like Juyondai and Isojiman at special prices, as well as 10 per cent off their bill.
Address: 55 South Bridge Road
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 11pm. Closed Sunday.
Tel: 6513-2789
Why go: You’ve probably familiar with pastry shop Lady M and its famous mille crepes. The brand has now launched its first champagne bar in the world, right here in Singapore. The 44-seat space at Ion Orchard is quite the pretty sight, with luxe rose-gold columns, plush seats in deep blue and unique custom hanging lights. Of course, the bar features an extensive bubbly menu, including vintage highlights like Champagne Deutz’s Amour de Deutz Prestige Cuvée 2002. Lady M’s full range of sweet treats are available too, such as their signature mille crepes, fruit cakes, tarts and new afternoon tea sets.
What to order: Exclusive to the champagne bar is the champagne mille crepe, made from delectable layers of strawberry-laced pastry cream and finished with Rose Premiere Cuvee Extra Brut Bruno Paillard Champagne gelee. We also recommend a glass of its namesake champagne.
Address: #03-32/33 Ion Orchard
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm daily
Tel: 6509-0790
Why go: A new rooftop bar at level 56 of Ion Orchard, Atico Lounge is a posh space featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic city views and plush sofas and armchairs. If you’re dreaming of that jet-setting adventure, the bar’s monthly specials include cocktails inspired by destinations like Japan, the UK, France and America. For instance, there’s a French Nights menu with concoctions like French Connection (cognac and Amaretto), and UK Nights selection with drinks like the Bramble (gin, blackberry and fresh lemon). The bar’s management 1-Group is also hosting the fifth edition of Wine Lust, a series of wine tastings, chef-driven wine dinners and wine-themed pop-ups held till September 18.
What to order: Aside from their monthly travel-themed cocktails, check out the Mixologists Specials like Purple Rain − named in honour of famed entertainer Prince and featuring Japanese vodka, raspberry liqueur and Caribbean clue curacao. Or Cara, a delightful blend of spiced rum, salted caramel and hazelnut.
Address: #56-01 Ion Orchard
Opening hours: Noon to 10:30pm daily
Tel: 6970-2039/8028-1489
Why go: Rails Bar & Lounge is launched by lifestyle group A Phat Cat Collective, also the folks behind themed arcade bars Pinball Wizard and Nineteen80. This time around, the name of the game is steampunk, with the bar drawing inspiration from both Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Jinrikisha Station. The bar’s interior is designed like a traditional locomotive platform with a steampunk aesthetic. You’ll find an entrance resembling a vintage elevator, a ceiling of deconstructed cogwheels and gears, an LED-lit steampunk clock tower installation as well as an array of vintage artefacts centred on adventure and exploration.
What to order: Inspired by the namesake book, Murder On The Orient Express is an inviting concoction with a licorice lace of absinthe, coffee liqueur, pear, pineapple and orange juice shaken with activated charcoal. Prefer something lighter with a local influence? Get the Clockwork Sago, a nod to the nearby Sago Lane and a boozed version of bubur cha cha. It’s made with tequila, taro, pineapple juice and coconut water, topped with sago pearls and peanut powder.
Address: 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-02,
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 10:30pm; Sunday from 3:30pm to 10:30pm. Closed Monday.
Tel: 8725-6789
Why go: In Bad Company boasts an impressive range of beers that rotate every three weeks, with the aim of being a community bar that brings everyone together. Its craft beer is imported from breweries like Wildflower Brewing & Blending in Australia, which focuses on fermenting beers with a mixed house culture of brewers yeast, wild yeast and bacteria foraged from New South Wales. There’s also a selection of natural wines, along with healthy bar food (think chicken breast and salmon steak) where vegetables are the star of the main dishes.
What to order: The Wildflower Gold Blend #31, a blended, barrel-aged Australian wild ale with red grapefruit citrus flavours. Or the Tilquin Riesling A L’Ancienne, a Belgian lambic beer made from the fermentation Riesling grapes. If you love natural wines, get the D’Estezargues Domaine de Perilliere Costieres de Nimes 2019 from Les Vignerons, with notes of black and red cherry, black olive and subtle black pepper spice.
Address: #05-17 The Flow
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30pm to 10pm. Closed Monday.
Contact: hello@inbadco.com
Why go: Missed that honeymoon to Greece due to the pandemic? You can’t head there just yet, but the closest thing might just be new rooftop bar Levant. Launched by Il Lido Group, Levant is perched on top of a shophouse at Tras Street. The open-air watering hole features craft cocktails and mezze plates inspired by exotic destinations along the Mediterranean, such as Beirut, Crete and Byblos. The drinks menu will certainly take your tastebuds on an adventure, with florals, herbs and spices as well as sweet tones like citrus and nectar. From August 25, you get free-flow spirits, beers, prosecco and rosé for $50 nett on Wednesday evenings too.
What to order: The refreshing Sangaree Rose, made with Cocchi Americano, cherry, mirto, Szechuan pepper, cinnamon and juniper. For something dry with a herbal twist, the Greek Forest includes Greek honeycomb-infused Tsipouro, Greek vermouth, mountain pine liquor and maglini lemon.
Address: Level 4 ST Signature Hotel
Opening hours: 4pm to 10:30 pm daily
Tel: 6304-3298
Why go: Located within Duxton Reserve Hotel, Anouska’s bar is an ode to Bond girl turned famed interior designer Anouska Hempel. Hempel also designed the hotel, with the bar offering her favourite drinks from around the world spanning ’70s and ’80s disco era. The stylish interior features large golden fans, rich yellow, gold and black hues, as well as calligraphy wallpaper from Hempel’s own collection. As for the cocktail menu, it’s crafted by Kamil Foltan, who has led bar programmes at places like Tippling Club and IB HQ. If you feel like Chinese food, you can also order bites from the adjoining Yellow Pot Restaurant.
What to order: The bar’s trademark cocktail is Escape to Kaifeng, inspired by the city’s iconic chrysanthemums. House-made chrysanthemum cordial is infused with Tanqueray London dry gin. Another highlight is the Hong Long Choc, a swirl of whisky, chocolate liqueur, aromatic bitters and Lapsang Souchong.
Address: 83 Duxton Road
Opening hours: Noon to 10.30pm daily
Tel: 6914-1428/9859-1643
Why go: Started by founder & CEO John Pemberton, Heart of Darkness is a well-known independent brewery in Vietnam. It has now made its way to Singapore as a craft beer bar and restaurant. The Saigon brewery produces over 100 new beers a year and has amassed numerous medals in competitions around the Pacific Rim. Branding itself a “craft beer journey into unchartered territory”, the bar is all about experimenting with new flavours and styles. On our shores, Heart of Darkness includes an impressive 25 taps with both house brand brews and beers created with local craft brewers.
What to order: Popular beers from the core range include BiA by Heart of Darkness, a light, crisp and refreshing Czech-style Pilsner. Another option is The Sunshine Watermelon Lime Pilsner, a fresh and fruity offering juiced by watermelon highlights and lime accents.
Address: 1 Keong Saik Road
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 2pm to 10:30pm; Thursday to Saturday from noon to 10:30pm.
Tel: 6208-7940
Why go: Republic Bar is helmed by head bartender Martin Villareal, who was crowned first runner-up in Marriott International’s 2018 Liquid Masters competition. The upscale bar is housed in The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore and pays homage to the ’60s − an era marked by cultural and social revolution. The bar is faithful to its theme indeed, with posters of cultural icons, burgundy seats and a 60s rock-and-roll aesthetic. The cocktail menu features storied drinks inspired by historical anecdotes in Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Italy.
What to order: The Mythical Beast cocktail, which pays homage to Singapore’s history as a fishing village. It’s a refreshing twist on the classic gimlet with the addition of barley, a commonly traded commodity in the ’60s. Another highlight is Stardust (made with bourbon, rum, raspberry, molasses, egg white, citrus and pastry charcoal), a tribute to the space race and Neil Armstrong’s moon landing.
Address: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Opening hours: Noon to 11 pm daily.
Tel: 6434-5288
Why go: With cocktails having cheeky names like Unicorn Barf, Deeznuts and Frooty Booty, you know you’re in for a flight of fancy at GudSht. The bar was launched to deliver genuine cheer and drive warmth and goodwill in a pandemic era and clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously. You’ll certainly love its unique and fantastical concoctions like the signature Unicorn Barf − featuring Roku Gin, Campari, homemade yuzu rose infusion, a butterfly pea syrup infusion and fresh honey. GudSht’s bottled cocktails are available for online orders too and make perfect gifts for friends needing a pick-me-up.
What to order: Check out Keekapow (yes, inspired by the similarly-sounding soft drink), made with Bacardi rum, Midori melon liqueur, and spiced pear liqueur. Exclusively created for the bar’s Cineleisure outlet, Frooty Booty is another signature, with Haku vodka, Froot Loops- infused yoghurt and Chuga peach soju. Just the thought of it gives us a sugar rush already.
Addresses: #01-04 Cineleisure & #01-02 The Refinery
Opening hours: 11am to 10:30 pm daily
Tel: 8683-3052