Weather getting you hot under the collar? Don’t sweat it. We rounded off some of the sweetest spots in Singapore to chill out with a drink in hand, as you swing into the later half of the year.
Low Tide
A brand-new menu at Low Tide, Club Street’s beloved tiki bar, sees an exciting line-up of food and drinks that whisk you away to a tropical vacation.
18 refreshing drinks await you at Topside, the resto-bar’s al fresco dining area. From light and citrusy to spirit-forward options, there’s something here for everyone. Perfect for kickstarting your evening is the Pina Clearada, a clarified version of the classic piña colada. Anchored by the floral Bacardi Carta Blanca and imbued with tropical notes of coconut and lime, this breezy cocktail is as refreshing as they come.
Being a tiki bar, it’s no surprise that it’s a rum galore at Low Tide—the bar boasts its own house blend of rums, of which you can sample in long cocktails like the Swizzle & Flow. Mint, maraschino, sherry, and lychee create a fun and all-too-easy-to-drink tipple.
Don’t forget to have some nibbles with your tipples. Low Tide’s new menu has been developed in tandem with local culinary anthropologist, Nithiya Laila, and you’ll find moreish sharing plates that incorporate flavours, ingredients, and culinary techniques common in tropical regions around the world.
Not to be missed is the Portoro, a tender, melt-in-your-mouth affair which sees a 36-hour sous vide short rib bathed in a decadent rendang butter marinade. Don’t forget to order up a side of the fragrant Nasi Ulam either. Topped with torched pineapples, coconut flakes, mixed herbs, and pomegranate, this blue pea rice is a perfect accompaniment for the Portoro’s jus, or the gravy from the spicy and tangy Miso Butter Stingray.
98 Club St, Singapore 069467
One-Ninety Bar
With One-Ninety Bar’s new Secret Gardens menu, you can now sip on the flavours and essence of the world’s best cocktail bar cities in one place.
Paying homage to the craft and culture of cities like Singapore, New York, and London, the Secret Gardens menu is full of gems that taste just like liquid poetry.
Transporting you to the cobblestoned streets lined with edgy warehouse buildings of Brooklyn is Dumbo, a Monkey Shoulder triple malt-anchored cocktail blended with house-made peated port syrup, and chocolate and orange bitters. This smoky and elegant take on the old fashioned is one for the spirit-forward sipper.
Other imaginative tipples include Bloom, a dreamy take on the milk punch. Here, Jura 12 years whiskey comes together with hojicha, sour cherry, and Thai-basil for a Japanese take on the classic cocktail. And of course, there’s head bartender Sophia Kang’s tribute to the iconic Singapore Sling: the Rose of Sharon. Combining gin from Brass Lion distillery, earthy Muyu vetiver gris liqueur, cointreau, hibiscus, and yuzu, this concoction celebrates all there is to love about tropical Singapore, and the Singapore Sling while adding a refreshing twist to it.
190 Orchard Blvd, Singapore 248646
Cat Bite Club
Come for the elegant cocktails, stay for a deep dive into the delicious world of agave and rice spirits. Duxton Hill’s newest bar is where you’ll discover the nuances of rice and agave spirits by way of elegant cocktails that present a gastronomic take on classics.
Taking a leaf from the mystery and whimsy of the Cheshire Cat, Cat Bite Club is an adventure land for guests to savour all that co-founders Jesse Vida (ex- head bartender at Atlas Bar) and Gabriel Lowe (of Bangkok’s Paradise Lost) have learnt and loved about the two spirits throughout their decades-long career in the bar scene. Here, you’ll find over 100 different agave spirits on offer as well as a lengthy list of rice spirits and a curated selection of vodka, gin, whisk(e)y, and more.
The cocktail menu presents classics like the espresso martini, margarita, and queens park swizzle but served with a twist—with either a rice or agave spirit base.
Negroni fans will enjoy the Stoic Stare, a tequila-based variation that feels just like summer in a glass via the use of flavours like elderflower, sage, and gentian. The Bitter Rind, a soju-based take on the negroni, is also perfect for the balmy weather. Soju opens up the cocktail, while a savoury finish thanks to the addition of coriander water makes for a refreshing and lighter take on the negroni.
Light bites featuring the use of traditional Mexican and Asian ingredients like steamed lotus buns stuffed with potato salad, or the tuna tostada complement your tipples perfectly.
75 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089534
Jungle Ballroom
Go on an adventure through the lush, verdant grounds of Southeast Asia, tasting all the unique botanicals and spices the region has to offer at Mondrian Singapore Duxton’s Jungle Ballroom.
Taking a leaf from the bar’s name, the menu here is divided into the layers of a jungle—from the Jungle Canopy to the Understory and the Forest Floor. Under each section, you’ll find cocktails incorporating flavours inspired by the mood of each layer. Jaguar Juice, where cognac comes together with sherry, tomato, and ginger, celebrates the liveliness found in the canopy layer, while spirit-forward sips like the Nightshade, combining sake, banana leaf, wax apple, and mugwort, take you right to the forest floor with its deeper and darker flavours.
With its spirit importing license, Jungle Bar will also have access to rare and interesting spirits from around Asia, so keep a lookout for specials—or simply have a chat with the friendly bar staff for some off-menu recommendations. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself staying here till 2am (the bar has a liquor license for operating past midnight)—the jungle beckons.
16A Duxton Hill, #03-03, Singapore 089970
Verandah Pool Bar & Grill
Why chill by the pool when you could chill in the pool with a drink in hand?
The pool dining experience at Momentus Hotel Alexandra’s newest rooftop bar, Verandah Pool Bar & Grill, lets you do just that—jump into pool and graze on bar bites and crafted tipples served to you on a floating tray all while you kick back, relax, and enjoy the vermilion sunset view.
And if choosing to chill by the pool instead of inside it is more your vibe, you can also head to this laid-back rooftop bar for an elegant evening of cocktails.
Imbibe in a generous selection of crafted cocktails like the Alexandra’s Allure, a bold and full-bodied tipple concocted with honey and butter fat-washed bourbon; the sweet and aromatic Fables of Faber that was inspired by the classic Singapore Sling; or the crisp and refreshing Gillman’s Garden that makes for the perfect poolside sip.
Complementing your drinks are moreish bites like juicy Grilled Oysters topped with crispy garlic, shallots, and Thai seafood sauce; Wagyu Beef Tartare served in a crispy pie tee shell and crowned with caviar; and hearty plates like the Argentinian Dirty Steak.
323 Alexandra Rd, Level 7, Singapore 159972
