BEST BARS IN SINGAPORE
On a recent trip to Singapore, the Capital Express Group caught up with editor and founder of the Expat Choice Asia website, John Gordon...amongst others things, as Aussies do, we discussed the best bars in Singapore. Here's our selection of the top 24 listed on ExpatChoice.Asia.
Singapore has the beauty of choice, and choice is never lacking when it comes to the gorgeous cocktail bars and the awesome concoctions we get to tipple along the way. Expat Choice has compiled 24 of the best bars to visit this month. Singapore's cocktail scene has never been better. But even if you think you know where to go, do you know all these decadent dens? From a modified old fashioned to tweaked Tom Collins, they maybe a little more expensive than your usual happy hour pours, but these are awesome cocktails, made by awesome barmen who are out to impress.
"Best Cocktail Bar 2015 & 2016" awarded and voted by the people of Singapore, a chic restaurant & cocktail bar, Maison Ikkoku located on the second floor of 20 Kandahar Street, Singapore, serve up to 100 percent custom bespoke cocktail with no drinks menu, every drink crafted from the fresh ingredients, that's what makes this bar difference from others. This unique bar believes in evolving, a modern twist industrial look, Maison Ikkoku boasts an organic-meets-trendy feel with greenery above the bar, vines intertwining and plants hanging naturally where the bottles are displayed. Open Sunday to Thursday: 6pm - 1am Friday, Saturday & Eve of Public Holiday: 6pm - 2am.
Manhattan (2017 Best Bar in Asia)
Inspired by the Golden Age of cocktails and fine drinking, Manhattan is reminiscent of a grand hotel bar, modern yet with a touch of old New York glamour and sophistication. Choose your tipple from artisanal spirits, and classic and forgotten cocktails, meticulously crafted from the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse and a remarkable collection of house-made ingredients, accompanied by gourmet bar bites. Manhattan was named #11 in World's 50 Best Bars in 2016 by Drinks International as well as among the Top 10 Best International Hotel Bars in the 2015 Tales of the Cocktail® Spirited Awards®.
Named after one of the classiest classics in the world, Gibson presents uncompromising quality on cocktails, hospitality and interior design. They cater to the mavericks, the non-conformists, the gentlemen (and ladies!) who know exactly what they want. Like the Gibson cocktail, which is an unusual cocktail only selected by drinkers with serious but unique tastes, they take the same approach in every way; always serious about our craft, but they'll never take themselves too seriously! The Gibson is a mixed drink made with gin and vermouth, and often garnished with a pickled onion. Commonly used ingredients. 6 cl (2 ounces) (6 parts) gin; 1 cl (0.33 ounce) (1 part) dry vermouth. Preparation, *Stir well in a shaker with ice, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish and serve.
Perched on the top two floors of a newly-restored heritage shophouse by the Singapore River, Braci is a modern Italian restaurant and rooftop bar. Perfect for sundown and postprandial drinks. Overlooking the Singapore river, the casual-luxe 16-seater open-kitchen restaurant and 30-seater bar features progressive Italian cuisine and classic cocktails. Braci is one of the newest modern Italian restaurant and rooftop cocktail bar by renowned restaurateur Beppe De Vito.
We popped this one in 'cause the cocktails here deserve to be noted. It all started with one trip to the Hama Hama oyster farm in the Pacific Northwest. With hands dipped in the coldest estuary of the region, shucking live oysters in waist-deep waters, eating them fresh...one holiday experience turned into inspiration for this breezy Seattle-style cocktail bar concept. At Humpback, expect the freshest offerings from sea, land, and garden, with ever-evolving flavours to sample as the seasons change. Their specially-curated beverage menu carefully complements your dining experience, with a focus on white spirit-based cocktails, wines, and beers. To top it all off, the team's friendly hospitality will ensure you have a whale of a time.
With the revival of the Old Fashioned in the current craft cocktail explosion, this classic cocktail is the star in Flagship’s drinks menu, which promises a mix of whisky and bitters done perfectly each time. Often referred to as a cocktail bar with an old fashioned heart, sit back and experience a classic, enjoy one of their signatures, or customize your own Old Fashioned with a favourite choice of spirit. The Old Fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters, then adding alcohol, such as whiskey or brandy, and a twist of citrus rind. It is traditionally served in a short, round, tumbler-like glass, which is called an Old Fashioned glass, named after the drink.

Sugarhall, appearing in Asia's 50 Best Bars list for the second year in a row, is an upbeat grill-house and rum bar, with a selection of over 100 types of cane spirits for your enjoyment. Taking a radical leap with its brand of “fun-dining” in Singapore, Sugarhall swaps the classic wine repertoire for an edgy cocktail list; ousts avant-garde cuisine for honest, flame-grilled goodness and completes its revolution with an unorthodox playlist of vintage Latin, old-school ska and Jamaican reggae that revs up through the night. Looking for a unique corporate event or group dinner? Sugarhall also organizes private cocktail workshops to inject more fun and energy into your evening.
Residing in the heritage enclave of Ann Siang Hill, Nutmeg & Clove has taken a historical perspective with our cocktail offerings. Embracing the progression from colonial outpost to modern metropolis, the founders incorporate familiar elements of the diverse cultural and culinary heritage to create a list of avant-garde cocktails featuring classics reinterpreted with a Singaporean inflection.
You will find classic cocktails, craftsmanship and precision here at Jigger & Pony, appearing in Asia's 50 Best Bars list for the second year in a row. Named after the double-coned measuring device used by bartenders to accurately pour out liquid, Jigger & Pony is a tribute to the 19th-century, when cocktail recipes were listed in "jiggers" and "ponies". Home to classic cocktails and fresh interpretations of the same, Jigger & Pony caters to both the informed as well as the freshly acquainted cocktail drinker. Jigger & Pony is especially great for groups, with crowd favourites like the Punch Bowl being absolutely ideal for a large party of friends. This is unquestionably a place where you can spend an entire evening.
Headed up by New York Mixologist Liam Baer, Catchfly drinks menu features contemporary twists on your classic favorites, bursting with fresh herbs and invigorating spices. Like The Honey Badger; a twist on a classic Whiskey Sour with rosemary infused Bourbon, lemon, honey, ginger and a kiss of Yellow Chartreuse. These cocktails are also perfectly paired up with our delectable small plates as well as a variety of main plates. Guests can also check out a back bar that highlights craft spirits made in the US.
To read the complete list visit the ExpatChoice.Asia website.
Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter to keep up to date with tourism and trade related content from Singapore, Canberra and Wellington.








