From hidden speakeasies to an unforgettable space that’ll make you feel like a character in The Great Gatsby, Singapore’s award-winning watering holes certainly raise the bar for cocktail connoisseurs.
Here are the acclaimed entries that made it onto the Asia’s 50 Best Bars List 2022.
Singapore’s Best Bars— Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022
Jigger and Pony
2022’s Ranking: 2
A stalwart presence on the list, homegrown cocktail bar Jigger and Pony is legendary among cocktail connoisseurs and bartenders alike.
The bar’s name pays tribute to the art of concocting cocktails, which employed measuring devices known as “jiggers” or “ponies” back in the day.
Despite its hat tip to tradition, you’ll find plenty of innovation here, including various reinterpretations of classic cocktails. Peruse their beautifully-designed menu (made to look like a lifestyle magazine) to discover subtle new twists on favourites like The Old Fashioned and the Whisky Highball.
Amara Singapore. 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539. +65 6223 9101.
Mon-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri & Sat, 6pm-3am.
Mo Bar
2022’s Ranking: 8
Come for the view, but stay for tantalising tastes from across Asia. Perched atop the lofty the Mandarin Oriental, Mo Bar’s menu is inspired by both regional and local flavours.
Indulge in their multi-hued Holi, a spicy concoction of gin and buttermilk, or sample their signature Anko, a combination of gin, green tea and red bean paste.
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797. +65 6885 3500.
Tues-Fri 3-10.30pm; Sat-Sun 12-10.30pm; Mon 3-10.30pm.
Manhattan
2022’s Ranking: 9
Manhattan is an opulent establishment located on the second floor of the Regent Singapore. The décor hearkens back to 19th-century New York, and its tipples are like time capsules containing storied memories of the past.
The cocktails served here are inspired by significant epochs in New York’s history, and will take your taste buds on a trip back in time. Scarface, for example, is a mezcal-and-fernet-based cocktail that boasts a smoky aftertaste. Its creation was inspired by the gangsters of New York City during the Roaring Twenties.
Regent Singapore. 1 Cuscaden Road Level 2, Singapore 249715. +65 6725 3377.
Tue-Sat 5-10.30pm; Sun 12-3pm.
Republic
2022's Ranking: 12
Inspired by the rock n’ roll spirit of the 1960s, Republic’s menu of delectable drinks is as unique and free-spirited as the era to which it pays homage. The cocktails here are inspired by motifs, legends and anecdotes from that era, including a section that pays tribute to Singapore.
Mythical Beast—a blend of Brass Lion Dry Gin, Sherry, syrup and bitters—is dedicated to the symbol of the Merlion, while the Shanty— a rum-based cocktail—is a tribute to local rock band The Quest.
The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore. 7 Raffles Avenue. Singapore 039799. +65 6434 5288.
Mon-Thu 12pm-12am; Fri-Sat 12pm-1am; Sun 12-10pm.
No Sleep Club
2022’s Ranking: 15
If you’re sleepless in Singapore and hankering for liquid inspiration around midnight, this lively stomping ground of locals in the know is bound to deliver.
More than just a bar, this venue serves up coffee, snacks and cake, alongside its selection of delectable cocktails. Dig into dishes like wagyu tartare while sipping on their signature Gin and Tonic, or opt for novel spin on a classic with their Espresso Martini.
No Sleep Club. 20 Keong Saik Road. Singapore 089127. +65 8838 0188.
Tue-Wed 6-11.30pm; Thu-Sat 6pm-12am; Sun 12-6pm.
Atlas
2022’s ranking: 23
If Jay Gatsby owned a watering hole, it’d probably look like Atlas. Decked out with gold-plated statues and a 15-metre-tall Gin Tower—as high as three storeys—this bar holds the largest number of gins in the world.
With over 1,000 bottles on display and a champagne cellar to boot, visitors are certain to gain a deeper appreciation for the subtleties of alcohol. Besides delicious, gin-based creations like the Atlas Martini—made with London dry gin, vermouth and orange bitters—you’ll also find tipples inspired by Art Deco architecture, such as the Pont Neuf Daisy, a blend of cognac, grappa, plum, elderflower and lemon.
Parkview Square. 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778. +65 6396 4466.
Mon-Fri 10am-10.30pm; Sat 12-10.30pm.
Tippling Club
2022’s ranking: 27
With hanging bottles and abstract expressionist art adorning its walls, this whimsical space boasts an equally charming menu.
The establishment’s ‘Sensorium’ menu employs uniquely-flavoured gummy bears to enhance your drinking experience. There are 12 flavours altogether and the wildest one is ‘Supercar’—with flavours reminiscent of leather, smoke and ‘petrol’ (don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to consume). Share the experience with fellow connoisseurs and revel in new connections.
Tippling Club. 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088461. +65 6475 2217.
Tue-Sat 4-10.30pm; Sun 12-9pm.
Sago House
2022’s ranking: 31
You’re going to have to hunt a little to find this hidden gem, but the rewards to your tastebuds will certainly be worth the effort.
Located on the third floor of a shophouse in Chinatown, this charming watering hole is a labour of love, with its trio of owners building the interior by hand out of upcycled materials.
The menu here features a rotating selection of half-a-dozen cocktails, which vary on a weekly basis depending on the availability of local ingredients.
Sago House. 40B Sago St, Singapore 059029. +65 8874 9936.
Tue-Sun 6pm-12am.
Nutmeg and Clove
2022’s ranking: 36
Housed on the 2nd floor of a traditional Chinese shophouse, Nutmeg and Clove is a charming establishment that will transport you back to yesteryear.
The bar’s interior is decorated with artwork and furniture that hearken to the 1960s, while its drinks are inspired by the Lion City’s ethnic cultures.
Sample the ‘Bloody Crabs’—a riff on the classic Bloody Mary that incorporates the taste of chilli crab—or order the ‘Auntie Sugee’, an Old Fashioned cocktail that evokes the flavours of Eurasian sugee cake with cognac fat-washed in almond butter.
Nutmeg and Clove. 10A Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069789. +65 9389 9301.
Mon-Thu & Sat 6pm-1am; Fri 6pm-2am.
Analogue
2022’s ranking: 37
The brainchild of local bartender Vijay Mudaliar—founder of lauded cocktail bar Native—Analogue places sustainability front-and-centre stage.
The bar’s massive counter is made from 1,600 kilogrammes of recycled plastic bottles, while its tabletops are created from self-growing fungi.
The menu here is equally inspired by a love for nature, with plant-based bar bites and concoction made with eco-friendly ingredients like carob and cacti.
CHIJMES. 30 Victoria Street #01-31. Singapore 187996. +65 8518 1882.
Tue-Sun 5pm-12am.
28 HongKong Street
2022’s ranking: 49
One of the first watering holes in Singapore to pioneer the hidden bar concept, 28 HongKong Street remains one of the city’s most-beloved places to grab a tipple.
Visitors to this elusive gem will find comforting, American-style bar food, stellar service and amazing cocktails with cheeky, pop culture-inspired names like Fernet About Dre—made with Fernet Branca, rum, cacao and orange bitters—and The Real Slim Shandy, which features ingredients like vodka, grappa and ginger honey. Hunt for this hidden establishment with your friends, and you’re bound to be well rewarded.
28 HongKong Street. 28 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059667.
Mon–Thu 6pm–2am; Fri & Sat 6pm–3am.