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Singapore may be tiny, but its tastes are immense with its street cuisine, hawker culture, or whatever you call it. Travellers come from all over the world to dine here, and with good reason, because if you believe that, as a tourist, eating delicious meals in Singapore should be a sport, you are correct. But what people who travel to the country are not aware of is that Singapore's cocktail culture is among the greatest in the world! Yes, Singapore has emerged as one of the world's top bar spots globally, earning the label of ‘cocktail capital of Asia.’ For your next bar-hopping night out in Singapore, here are seven of Singapore's most interesting bars that not only serve fantastic beverages but are also very Instagrammable!
Image Credit: Unsplash
The Emerald Room By The Swan Song
The Swan Song is one of Singapore's most well-known bars among whisky enthusiasts worldwide. It's been a spot where you may drink some of the rarest vintage Scotch, probably the last drops of their type on the planet. It's an open place nestled away in a little enclave, so you get the outdoor ambience while still feeling like you're in your own private spot on a cool tropical evening. Headed by Arun Prashant, the space has an extensive collection of rare and antique bottles. They were one of the few pubs that served Bowmore Bicentenary 1964, attracting fans from all around the region. There are also whiskies from shuttered distilleries like Port Ellen, Brora, and Rosebank, as well as bottlings by the legendary Silvano Samaroli, the world's most well-known whisky bottler, who popularised cask single malts. You won't find anyone else in a ten-mile radius who is more knowledgeable about whisky and vintage Scotch than Arun. He's not just spouting information from a book; he's really experienced these things since he has spent time with whisky industry legends such as Silvano Samaroli and Sukhinder Singh, the founders of The Whisky Exchange!
Address: 13 N Canal Rd, #01-02, Singapore 048826
Timing: 5 PM - 12 AM. Closed on Sundays.
Price: SG$50(INR 3,500) onwards
The Single Cask, Singapore
Hidden in a little nook of Chijmes, this unassuming whisky shop has a diverse selection of mind-altering whiskies. The Single Cask is a cafe and liquor shop by day and a whisky bar by night, and it takes pleasure in selling great whiskies that have been matured in only one barrier, evoking the real essence of the name. Before being sent to Singapore, each single cask whisky is carefully chosen in Scotland, making each bottle distinctive. The cheapest single cask at the store is SG$200, while the most costly is SG$567 for a 27-year-old Glenrothes. What distinguishes them from other whisky retailers is their support for tiny, family-owned enterprises. The quality of whisky is undeniably important, but having a story behind its beginnings gives an extra layer of essence to the drink. The 400-square-foot room, managed by whisky expert Brendan Pillai and bar manager Prathip Nambiar, offers a laid-back experience - the pair is more than ready to converse with beginners and whisky lovers alike.
Address: 73A Amoy St, Singapore 069892
Timing: 5 PM - 12 AM. Closed on Sundays.
Price: SG$22(INR 1,650) per drink
Image Credit: Unsplash
Night Hawk
It’s called so because it is inspired by Edward Hopper's 1942 work Nighthawks, which depicts a late-night restaurant scene that explores themes of loneliness and isolation. But that is where the similarities end, and the futuristic-nostalgic room behind an unmarked door welcomes you. One thing is for sure, whenever you go here, it will be continuously crowded and bustling with activity, making it one of the top bars in Singapore! There are no windows save for a little pinhole at the entryway, so it feels like you've been transported to another universe. Drinks are a tad strange, like the room itself, with names like Meteor Impact Imminent and Gamma-Ray Holiday. If you want a little drama with your drink, the Nighthawks cocktail is a must-order. It's a chilly coffee-infused brew topped with hot coconut froth and comes garnished with a feather affixed to a gold wax seal. Full of trendy people and industry insiders as part of the crowd at Night Hawk, the soft lighting makes this the ideal spot to see and be seen, though having a meaningful discussion is difficult, considering how busy things typically get.
Address: 43 Tg Pagar Rd, #01-02, 088464 Singapore
Timing: 5:30 AM - 1 AM. Closed on Sundays.
Price: SG$25(INR 1,800) onwards
Native
Native is one of the best bars in Singapore, located up a steep staircase on Amoy Street, a busy area full of bars and restaurants. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. The place has a relaxed vibe with people dressed up or casual, but no one is really there to show off. What draws everyone in is the curiosity about the unusual ingredients owner Vijay Mudaliar uses in his drinks. Cocktails with freeze-dried ants might sound weird, but it’s his most popular cocktail, made with Thai rum, coconut yoghurt, soursop, and salt-baked tapioca. The menu itself is printed on recycled paper and features many rare fruits, herbs, and vegetables found only in Asia. Another cocktail you need to sip while you’re bar hopping here is the Achaar. The cocktail derives its name from the Hindi word for pickle, paying respect to the citrus Indian tastes that are historically used in pickle production. The drink has two distinct textures, with the top layer being a vegan foaming agent that tastes like egg white before giving way to a creamy and gently spicy mixture.
Address: 52A Amoy St, Singapore 069878
Timing: 6 PM - 2 AM. Closed on Sundays.
Price: SG$30 - SG$80 (INR 2,256 - INR 6,046)
Fura
Singapore's most advanced and environmentally conscious bar, Fura, displays its menus outside its door just to warn unwary drinkers of what is ahead. Its future-forward delicacies, such as a sprinkling of grasshopper croutons or coffee brewed from leftover bread, might be a little shocking. Yet, as a tourist or a person with these interests, feel free to order the drinks for the table along with the food. Inside the spaceship-meets-science-lab environment, a bar sits between clusters of low tables and chairs. Much of the furniture is repurposed, such as the oyster shell coasters and the recycled wine bottle wall sconces. When it comes to consumables, most of the enchantment happens in the back of the bar, where shelves brimming with jars of various pickles and fermentations lead to an open patio centred by a glass-walled kitchen. Scandinavian Christina Rasmussen and Singaporean Sasha Wijidessa, a couple and co-founders of the restaurant and bar in Singapore, keep concocting and cooking up sustainable forward cocktails and food menus now and then.
Address: 74A Amoy St, Singapore 069893
Timing: 5 PM - 12 AM
Price: SG$22 - SG$25 (INR 1,600 - INR 1,880)
Atlas
If you are really looking for the top bar in Singapore, Atlas has to be on your list without a doubt. The ceilings soar 45 feet high, inspired by New York's Art Deco skyscrapers, and are covered in beautifully painted murals. The back bar stretches 25 feet tall and holds over 1,100 gins, the largest collection in the world! Naturally, gin-based drinks are taken very seriously here, and the martinis are also exceptional, while their signature ‘Salamanca’ version is delicately flavoured with manzanilla sherry and mandarin bitters, drawing inspiration from Spain. For big spenders, there's even a “vintage martinis" list, with some drinks priced as high as SG$166( INR 12,762).
Address: 600 N Bridge Rd, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778
Timing: 12 PM - 2 AM. Closed on Sundays.
Price: SG$30( INR 2,256) per drink
