New places to drink whisky, gin and tonics, craft beer and cocktails in Orchard, the CBD, Club Street, Clarke Quay and more!
Whether you’re looking to wind down after work, in need of some party fuel for painting the town red, or you’re simply a booze buff who appreciates the art of mixology – there’s always a reason to drink. This October, we toast to eight hot new bars that will surely tempt you with a tipple or two. We’ve lined up whisky lounges, highball haunts, and even spots for craft beer towers and jazz-inspired cocktails; yup, we’re getting thirsty too.
Fat Prince
Middle Eastern culture gets a pat on the back at this new buzzy bar by the team behind Neon Pigeon. Boasting a diversity that will spoil a Sultan, Fat Prince offers beers and wines from Lebanon, Istanbul and Jordan, housed within a sleek space adorned with wood and brass furnishings, majestic mirrors and hanging orb lanterns. As for snacks, you won’t be able to resist the charcoal-grilled kebabs (10 variations available at $10 each), okra falafel, and duck and pistachio kofte – all of which hope to evoke the hip vibes of Istanbul’s Karakoy.
Fat Prince, 48 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079317, p. 8221 3683; Open Tue-Fri 8am-12am, Sat 10.30am-12am, Sun 10.30am-3pm, closed Mon.
Montreux Jazz Café Singapore
Who here likes to get jaunty with jazz? If you’re a fan of the genre’s liquid grooves and technical prowess, you’ll be stoked to hear that this renowned Swiss franchise has opened an outlet in Singapore. But more than just a new playground for jazz (and blues), this swanky dig along Orchard Road also offers bespoke cocktails based on renowned jazz classics. For instance, The Girl From Ipanema ($18) is a mix of Cachaca 51, lemon and orange juice, Falernum, passion fruit and chocolate mist; the Herbie ($18) is a whisky and ginger bevvie that Mr. Hancock would approve; while the Bye Bye Blackbird ($18) combines rum with blackberries and lychee. And of course, you can find live performances here too that will, unquestionably, jazz up the mood.
Montreux Jazz Café Singapore, Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540, p. 6733 0091; Open Mon-Sun 12pm-3pm & 6pm-11pm.
Red Tail Bar
Need a place to pre-drink before adjourning (or stumbling, more like it) to Zouk’s new home when it moves to Clarke Quay at the end of the year? The party peeps at Zouk have already read your minds, and have astutely launched a new bar that’s a stone’s throw away from the iconic superclub. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls let you peer at the madness outside, while you cosily mix and mingle amidst bamboo murals and high tables, armed with cocktails categorised by distinctive party hubs throughout Asia. Miss Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong? Try the Party Like It’s ’97 ($18) that’s a heady mix of Jagermëister, Bourbon and dark rum. Otherwise, the soju-infused Wild Pearl ($18) will trigger flashbacks of Seoul’s Itaewon, while the fruity Jungle Juice ($22) will take you back to Bali’s Jalan Legian.
Red Tail Bar, 3C River Valley Road, Singapore 179022, p. 6738 2988; Open Mon-Sun 6pm-2am.
Super Loco Customs House
If a shot of tequila (how about five?) makes you loco, this is one new outlet you’ll wanna check out. The Loco Group – known for other merry Mexican joints like Lucha Loco and Super Loco Robertson Quay – opens yet another branch in the heart of the city, perfect for post-work zombies who wanna loosen their ties and kick off their heels. Aside from heart Mexican staples like tortas and quesadillas, this waterfront-facing bar offers zesty cocktails like the Prickly Pear Mezcalita ($18+) that uses the fruit of a cactus, and the Coco Mojo ($17+) that will wake you up with a minty kick. We foresee a couple of mad, mind-blurring nights here, don’t you?
Super Loco Customs House, #01-04 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049323, p. 6532 2090; Open Mon-Fri 12pm-12am, Sat 5pm-12am, closed Sun.
Bourbon Street
While the notorious nightlife hub of Club Street might attract folks looking to glug average house pours with wild abandon, it’s now also a hideout for whisky connoisseurs to flock to, thanks to this new slick dig. Bourbon Street doesn’t shy away from its namesake, offering oaky, smoky bevvies like The Big Old Fashioned and Mint Julep. Also reinforcing this brick-walled, warm-lit bar’s passion for Louisianan culture are traditional Southern dishes like gumbo and chicken & waffles.
Bourbon Street, 46 Club Street, Singapore 069423; Open Tue-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-late, closed Sun-Mon.
13% Gastro Wine Bar
Y’know what they say: when work makes you wanna whine, have a bottle of wine (fine, so we just made that up). But if you’re enticed all the same, then you’ll be vying for this vino bar that’s opened its second outlet at Killiney Road. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the dozens of wines stocked here – ranging from $50 a bottle to $405, these red, white and sparkling varieties hail from Australia, France, Germany, and even Portugal. Palate craving for a suitable pairing? Take your pick with bites like Belgian fries, Iberico pizzas, crab cakes and cheeses. With its close proximity to Orchard Road, it sounds like a new post-shopping hangout for sure.
13% Gastro Wine Bar, Lvl 2, 117A Killiney Road, Singapore 239554, p. 6694 4708; Open Tue-Sat 5pm-late, Sun-Mon for private events only.
Highball
Local bartender, Kino Soh, has been on our rader for some time now, thanks to her stint at FRESH! and for co-founding the playful, local-influenced Hopscotch. Yet the Diageo World Class finalist of 2016 has not rested on her laurels, having recently founded another cocktail bar that specialises in (no surprise here) highballs. Think affordable gin & tonics and Cuba Libres – daily happy hours during 4pm-8pm get you $10 a glass – mixed proficiently by an all-female bartending crew! How’s that for girl power?
Highball, #01-01, 79 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169377, p. 6222 0179; Open Mon-Sat 4pm-12am, closed Sun.
The Alchemist Beer Lab
Looking to elevate the beer tower experience, this new bar at The South Beach is being pumped out by the team behind Little Island Brewing Co. at Changi Village. Lined along the marble-coated bar is a row of 16, three-litre beer infusion towers, that we hear have come to fruition thanks to mixology science. In each specialised tower, ingredients are placed in a fusion chamber, and compressed gas is released before beer is injected into the tower. While eight of the towers will contain signature beer from Little Island Brewing Co., the remaining eight will feature flavours exclusive to The Alchemist – highlights will include lager with grilled pineapple and star anise, stout with dark chocolate and chilli, and other offerings that incorporate ingredients such as spices, nuts, and even coffee.
The Alchemist Beer Lab, #B1-16 The South Beach, 26 Beach Road, Singapore 189768, p. 6543 9100