5 of Singapore’s most exciting cocktail bars

One of Asia’s great cocktail cities, Singapore is home to innovative bars that deliver a winning combination of stunning interiors, original cocktails and sustainable practices. Whether you’re a fan of light and fruity or heavy and spirit-forward, these watering holes aim to please.

Analogue

A follow-up to the beloved Native cocktail bar on Amoy street, Analogue espouses the principles of sustainability. There’s a 3D-printed bar top, and innovative cocktails that feature ingredients such as blue spirulina, moringa and mushroom jerky. Impressively, the bar bites menu is entirely plant-based with delicious options such as jackfruit tacos and char siew mantou (made with eggplant). And while cocktails are the main draw, there’s a curated and intriguing list of natural wines. Need more reason to visit? Analogue is located in the leafy and historic Chijmes compound, a former convent that was featured in the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians.

Atlas

Housed in the highly Instagrammable Parkview Square, fondly referred to among Singaporeans as “the Gotham building” for its retro-chic Art Deco façade, Atlas is a place to see and be seen. Dress to the nines and relive the glory days of the Great Gatsby at this over-the-top glamorous space with vaulted ceilings and over 1,000 varieties of gin. You can order up Old World mainstays such as steak frites, lobster rolls and caviar, while knocking back a martini from every decade in the 20th century. Not into alcohol? You can still enjoy the space when you come for the high tea experience. Be forewarned, though: there is a dress code and entry will be denied to those who don’t comply.

Sago House

Nestled in an old shophouse in the heart of Chinatown, the casual Sago House is serious about building things with their own hands – whether that’s  cocktails, the 80% upcycled wood interiors of the space or the massive mural by Filipino artist Distort Monsters that takes up most of one wall. The cocktail menu rotates weekly but is built around six classic styles of cocktails and often features local ingredients. Sago House won this year’s Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award. Expect to be greeted by the staff when you walk in, and don’t be surprised to find your name scrawled on your table.

Nutmeg & Clove

A stone’s throw from the late-night eats around Purvis Street, Nutmeg & Clove celebrates the flavors and heritage of Singapore in its menu. Cocktails have names such as Garden City (gin, musk melon, shiso, lime, honey) and For the Love of Kueh (inspired by Singapore’s delicious Malay and Peranakan sweets). Line your stomach with playful fusion bar bites, such as the kra pow pie tee (basil and Kurobuta pork in crispy cups) and kari hummus, a spiced take on the Middle Eastern classic. Come during Social Hour between 5-7pm and enjoy complimentary Singapore-style chicken sandwiches with a curated list of classic cocktails.

Jungle Ballroom

The newest bar in town, this late-night spot tucked away at the buzzing Mondrian Hotel on Singapore’s tree-lined Duxton Hill. A speakeasy at its heart, Jungle Ballroom only has access via an unmarked door inside the hotel, or through a staircase from the street, followed by a tunnel of plants. Once you’re inside, expect an upscale tribute to the California tiki bars of the 1970s. The creative cocktail menu, developed by charming head bartender Adrian Besa and his team, is divided into layers of a tropical jungle. Stay late to enjoy a regular roster of laidback DJs – Jungle Ballroom is a rare bar in Singapore that’s open till 2am.

Ready to sip cocktails in Singapore? Fly there with Thai Airways! And download our Pocket Guide to Singapore for all the best tips on food, attractions and shopping.