
Singapore Cocktail Festival 2023 welcomes imbibers with a massive Festival Village, bar collabs, a city takeover and more. Psst: Scroll down for a sweet one-for-one deal!
Calling all cocktail enthusiasts, The Singapore Cocktail Festival is set to return for its ninth edition with a packed calendar of events including city takeovers, thematic bar crawls and a larger-than-life Festival Village experience. The 17-day cocktail extravaganza will run from 5 to 21 May – read on for a host of spirit-centric activities you and your crew will enjoy.
Singapore Cocktail Festival 2023: Asia’s most-anticipated boozy party returns

It all begins with the Festival Village at Bayfront Event Space from 5 to 7 May. This sprawling event promises to be bigger than ever, with over 100 cocktails available for just $15 each. Leading headliner bars from around the world (including the World’s and Asia’s 50 Best Bar 2022 recipients) will be present, showcasing their skills and shaking up exciting new tipples. Think bartenders from Experimental Bistro in Taipei, Penicillin in Hong Kong, Maybe Sammy in Sydney, Sidecar in New Delhi and more.
Don’t forget to explore immersive brand pop-ups, with Hendrick’s Gin offering an enchanting garden experience in collab with homegrown cocktail bar Night Hawk, as well as Malfy Gin’s IG-worthy “pool-side party”.
Get acquainted with Singapore’s vibrant bar scene at the SG Bar Pop-ups, with top cocktail bars serving their signature drinks and interacting with festival-goers. There’ll also be an Artisanal Spirits World ($15 for a tasting card) where you can embark on a global tour as you sample spirits from distilleries such as Gin Kitchen and SG Distillery, as well as newly-launched Maya Pistola Agavepura and The Hachi Shochu.
Live entertainment will keep the festival spirits high, with performances from leading local DJ acts Phat Cat Collective and local live bands the Jukuleles and Havana Social Club. Fuel up at the Gourmet Food Street and sample flavours ranging from Mexican to Indian to Asian and more.
The Festival’s headliner bartenders will first wow guests at the Festival Village before participating in the City Takeover from May 8 to 13. Our home-based headliners will host their international counterparts to present a variety of inspired drinks, so brace yourselves for fun pairings.
#SGCF2023 continues with a City Takeover, weekend cocktail brunches and thematic bar crawls

The City Takeover (5 to 21 May) will feature cocktail brunches, bar crawls, and parties galore, with 47 of Singapore’s best bars offering innovative libations created specially for the festival. Enjoy the limited edition tipples at $18 – or $10 if you purchase the City Takeover wristbands.
If you love a good boozy brunch like us, bars like Barood, The Bar at 15 Stamford, Tess Bar and Kitchen and Kosher Eats at Aniba will pair signature drinks with curated themed menus. Finally, sip and savour a blend of unique experiences through a Thematic Bar Crawl guided by a spirit brand ambassador.
Tips for tackling the festival like a pro

Not sure where to start with the multiple lineups? We got some exclusive insider tips from Wai Mayleng, co-founder of the Singapore Cocktail Festival.
#1 Come early: The Village opens as early as 4pm so early birds can beat the queues.
#2 Drop by on Sunday to rub shoulders with cool bartenders: Most cocktail bars in Singapore are closed on Sundays, so the Festival Village is typically swamped with the city’s bar stars on that day.
#3 Ask a bartender about under-the-radar parties: Aside from the 50-odd parties, word has it that there are more lesser-known cocktail shindigs. To get the best out of the festival, just ask a bartender where they’ll be heading after their shift. Chances are, they’ll spill some insider tips.
Perk alert: Enjoy a 1-for-1 deal on Festival Village tickets from now till 4 May 2023! Simply use the code ‘SGCFHONEYCOMBERS141’ at checkout via the Singapore Cocktail Festival website. Redemptions can be made for any one-day pass at the Festival Village for up to 50 Honeycombers readers (T&Cs apply).
All that said, we can’t wait for this year’s Singapore Cocktail Festival! It promises to be an unparalleled celebration of cocktails, bringing together the world’s best cocktail masters and spirit brands for an exciting and unforgettable experience.
Singapore Cocktail Festival, Festival Village at Bayfront Event Space (5-7 May), from $45 for a City Takeover wristband and a welcome drink; City Takeover (5-21 May), $10 for a wristband, purchase your passes online