New places to drink cocktails, whisky, beer, and wine in Ann Siang, City Hall, and Bussorah Street
Too little time, too many bars to visit, we say! Arriving in May are four new bars to make a beeline for, including a glitzy, gritty lounge and an Indian-inspired cocktail and tapas bar. Here’s our Hot New Bars for May.
Lulu’s Lounge
Based on a fictional, salacious protagonist from 1960s New York, Lulu’s Lounge is the latest brainchild of Joshua and Sarissa Schwartz, the power couple behind Employees Only Singapore. The new bar and live music venue boasts an aesthetic that’s part-suave, part-grimy – you’ll spot sleek couches oozing class and charm, as well as raw brick walls tainted by graffiti and ultraviolet scribbles. You’ll definitely be spoilt for choice with the venue’s cocktail selections too; try the creamy and milky Big Coconuts, or the Whiskey Pucker Up – Lulu Lounge’s take on a whisky sour – that’s even garnished with a garish lipstick motif.
Lulu’s Lounge, Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595, p. 6336 8111. Lulu’s Lounge will be open on Wednesday through Saturday from 9pm to 6am.
Flying Monkey
There was a lot to take in when I first heard of this new bar on Bussorah street. Contemporary Indian? Tapas? Cocktails? There really aren’t many serious Indian restaurants in Singapore with focused bar programs. That’s where Flying Monkey distinguishes itself. The bar menu, put together by Head Bartender Kannan (also known as “The Beard”), features Indian-inflected cocktails like an Old Fashioned with King’s ginger and jaggery syrup. For something more exotic, try the The West Indian. This spicy, refreshing cocktail features a base of coconut water and Plantation 3 Stars White Rum, yellow chartreuse, fresh lemon juice, and ground cardamom.
Flying Monkey, 67 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199480. p. 6291 0695. Open daily 11.30am-11pm.
Catchfly
Taking over the basement of 12 Ann Siang is this new speakeasy-styled cocktail bar helmed by New York Mixologist Liam Baer. Catchfly will showcase Baer’s interpretations of classic cocktails featuring a mix of fresh herbs and spices. The bar’s intimate basement space will also feature plush interiors juxtaposed with industrial edges – certainly a welcome addition and nightlife destination on Ann Siang Hill!
Catchfly, 12 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069692.
#wtf
Before you ask, it stands for “wine, tapas, and friends”. This new concept by the IndoChine Group is just as simple as its name. This casual, fuss-free joint in Chinatown will offer diners and drinks a robust selection of reasonably-priced wines along with a menu featuring tapas plates like spiced rice popcorn, meatballs, sliders and truffle potato mash. This one’s certainly calling out to us for after-work drinks.
#wtf, 49 Club Street, Singapore 069426. p. 6325 8529.
Fancy a tipple or three but on a budget? Check out our guide to margarita happy hours and best happy hours on Amoy Street.