2013’s best 15 bars for cocktails in Singapore

PUBLISHED September 17th, 2013 01:58 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:33 pm

This is honestly one of the hardest lists we’ve ever had to make on City Nomads. The problem is that this year, ‘mixology’ is all the rage and the number of venues making excellent cocktails has jumped like the Man of Steel himself.

Nonetheless, after painstaking analysis, we have managed to narrow it down to what we think are the top 15 so far this year. Sorry, I don’t think we can do any less than that as it would be near criminal not to include any of the below bars, so here goes, the City Nomads top 15 bars for cocktails of 2013 (listed in no particular order). Drumroll please…..

1) Catalunya

I have to admit, I only ever go to the bar at Catalunya, not the restaurant. With all the delicious (if pricey) tapas on the menu and a great selection of drinks, it’s the cocktails here which are truly inspiring. I don’t think I’ve ever had even a single near-average cocktail here. The pours are very, very generous, and ladies take note, Wednesday is 1-for-1 night. I’m almost tempted to invest in a wig and some make-up just to try my luck at this. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Old Fashioned Loverboy or Old Fashioned New Orleans

Catalunya is at The Fullerton Pavilion, 82 Collyer Quay, 049327 . For more information see their website here.

2) 28 Hong Kong Street

28 Hong Kong Street has to be on this list. They are one of the bars that frankly have helped bring the cocktail scene to Singapore and set the standard on how drinks can and should be made. As far as the bar is concerned, it’s a complete mishmash of random people frequenting, which just shows the incredible appeal 28 HKS has. Aside from the great cocktails, be sure to give their collection of boutique spirits a try (ask for recommendations) as they are, in this author’s opinion, the finest selection of any bar in Singapore. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Old Fashioned make with Noah’s Mill Bourbon.

28 Hong Kong Street, is at, you guessed it, 28 Hong Kong Street, 059667. Open Monday to Thursday – 5.30pm to 1am. Friday & Saturday – 5.30pm to 3am. Closed on Sundays. For more information see their website here.

3) The Spiffy Dapper

Ah, good old Spiffy, whipper snapper, Dapper. I love this place. Probably the most unpretentious of any of the cocktail bars in Singapore. Hidden above an old shophouse along the hustle and bustle that is Amoy Street you will find Spiffy. Expect great drinks, lots of experimentation and an atmosphere that makes you want to spend the whole night there. Fun fact: The Spiffy Dapper has the largest selection on Gins of all the bars in Singapore. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Sheikh on the Level

The Spiffy Dapper is at 73 Amoy Street, Second Floor. Singapore 069892. Open Monday to Fridays: 5pm till late, Saturdays & Sundays: 6pm till late. Tel: 8233 9810. For more information see their website here.

4) The Cufflink Club

Founded by mixologist Joel Fraser, The Cufflink Club is always a superb option when making a bar choice. The vibe is good and they play excellent music (check out their monthly Chillmatic nights for something particularly cool). Drinks-wise, the selection is top notch and the bar staff can make them expertly. There’s something for everyone here, and if you aren’t into cocktails, their beer and wine selection ain’t too shabby neither. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Cup o’ Joe

The Cufflink Club is at 6 Jiak Chuan Road. Open Monday to Thursday 5pm-1am, Friday 5pm-2am, Saturday 6pm-2am. For more information see their website here.

5) Maison Ikkoku

The brainchild of one Singapore’s best homegrown mixologists, Ethan Leslie Leong (formally of Bar Stories & Drink Culture), Maison Ikkoku is stylish, sophisticated and just damn cool. There’s something very personal and romantic about Maison Ikkoku, which makes it a great date spot. Drinks are pricey, but they’re well worth it. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Dark and Stormy (reduced version with fresh ginger – spicy as hell and phenomenally tasty)

Maison Ikkoku – The Cocktail Bar is at Level 2, 20 Kandahar Street, Kampong Glam, 198885. Open Monday – Thursday : 9am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday : 9am – 12am, Sunday : 9am – 7pmFor more information see their website here.

6) The Horse’s Mouth

The newly opened Horse’s Mouth exudes phenomenal ‘cool’ as far as I’m concerned. It’s like coolness is seeping out of the walls. The hidden entrance, music and funky design is all part of it. As for the drinks, we love taking a space at the bar and having a good chat with the guys who work there. They make excellent cocktails and have some pretty impressive experimentation up their sleeves if you’re feeling adventurous. This is most probably the best cocktail bar in Orchard. If you haven’t been already then go check it out asap. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Go Bespoke

The Horse’s Mouth bar is at 583 Orchard Road, Forum Shopping Mall, 238884. Open Monday to Thursday – 6pm to Midnight. Friday & Saturday – 6pm to 1am. For more information see their website here.

7) CUT by Wolfgang Puck

Yes, before you decide to engage in a meat-fest at one of Singapore’s top steakhouses, be sure to stop for a tipple at the bar. To my surprise, cocktails here are of a very high standard, made with premium spirits as well. And, unlike the restaurants, most of cocktails are not obscenely priced. Be sure to try out their funky infusions and takes on traditional cocktails.

Cocktail of choice: Smoke and Mirrors

CUT is located at 2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (Basement level), 018956, Tel: 6688 8517. CUT Bar and Lounge is open Monday – Sunday 5:30pm to 12am. For more information see their website here.

8) Bitters & Love

Shoebox Canteen by day; smooth, slick bespoke cocktail bar by night. Bitters and Love is great little spot on the up and coming Canal Street/Boat Quay area. Drinks are reasonably priced and they’re super stylish. Don’t be shy to test the guys behind the bar. The more information you give them, the better your drink will turn out. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Spice Ahoy (ok, I totally just made that name up.. It was a beautiful bespoke cocktail made with Diplomatico rum, cinnamon, lime, ginger and chili).

Bitters & Love is located at 36 North Canal Road, 059292. Open Monday to Thursday – 6pm to Midnight. Friday & Saturday – 6pm to 2am.For more information see their Facebook page here.

9) Bar Stories

When it comes to cocktail bars in Singapore, Bar Stories is one of the oldest contenders…and if you go there today, you can see why they are still so busy most nights. Staff are super friendly and very attentive, not to mention adept at making some quality drinks. For a real show and some beautifully designed cocktails, this is your place.

Cocktail of choice: Mojito

Bar Stories is at 57A Haji Ln, 189250. Open Sunday – Thursday: 3pm – 1am, Friday – Saturday: 3pm – 2am. For more information see their Facebook page here.

10) Jigger & Pony

Tucked away on Amoy Street, it’s very easy to walk past Jigger and Pony without seeing it, which is where a lof the charm lies. The bar itself has a fairly large area enabling a seat at the bar counter for a very personal experience –  or grab a table with some friends. Drinks here are simply fantastic so do give them a try if you’re in the neighborhood. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Negroni

Jigger & Pony is at 101 Amoy Street, 069921. Open Monday -Thursday 6pm-1am, Friday – Saturday 6pm-3am. For more information see their website here.

11) Ding Dong

Ding Dong has been added in after a very recent visit there. The cocktail menu is the whole package. Quality ingredients (excellent spirits), cool concepts and names. These are the guys behind Tippling Club so you can expect a similar standard here, except you’ll end up paying much less per drink (around $18). Also, these drinks marry perfectly with the bar food. Great stuff. Stay tuned for our full review.

Cocktail of choice: The Golden Mile

Ding Dong is at 23 Ann Siang Road, 069703. Open Monday – Friday: 12 noon – 3pm, 6pm to midnight. For more information see their Facebook page here.

12) La Maison du Whisky

Literally, ‘the house of whisky’. Coming to La Maison du Whisky is not just about their whiskies however. Their well-trained bartenders are experts at mixing drinks as well, though I definitely like to stick with my old school cocktails here like Martinis, Old Fashioneds and the like, experimenting more with the plethora of spirit choices on offer. There’s only 11 seats at the bar inside which makes it very intimate and an overall very enjoyable place to indulge in a drink or three. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Manhattan

La Maison Du Whisky is 80 Mohammed Sultan Road, The Pier at Robertson Quay, 239013. Open Mon-Sat: retail from noon until late, bar from 6 pm, Sundays: retail and bar from 3 pm until late. For more information see their website here.

13) Fordham & Grand

Fordham and Grand is ever so grand. Definitely a great spot for some late night supper, but with absolute pros behind the bar, this is one place to get not just excellent cocktails but ones that are very reasonably priced (most are around $16-18). Don’t expect much on the fruity, girly side but for good, solid classic cocktails, they are expertly made and well worthy of mention in their own right.

Cocktail of choice: The Caracas

Fordham and Grand is at 43 Craig Road, 089681. Open Daily 5pm – 3am. For more information see their website here.

14) Tippling Club

Located up in Dempsey (though soon to be moving I hear wink wink), the Tippling Club experience offers something of a visual spectacular. Think chemistry sets, dry ice, bubbles and trouble… that is what you can expect at Tippling. For years, these guys have been making extraordinary cocktails… I just wish they weren’t so damn expensive!

Cocktail of choice: Drop Je Daiquiri

Tippling Club is at 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088461. The Bar at Tippling Club opens Monday – Friday 12 pm – 12 am, Saturday 6pm – 12 midnight. For more information see their website here.

15) Ah Sam Cold Drinks Stall

Sneaking into the top 15 (literally, we had to bump someone out last minute!) is this very newly opened bar at 60a Boat Quay. It’s a simple, cool and unpretentious speakeasy type place. Perhaps 8 seats around the bar and another couple of benches for seating. Started by former Jigger & Pony cocktail master Sam Wong, it offers superb classic cocktails at a more than reasonable price. See our full review here.

Cocktail of choice: Blood and Sand

Ah Sam’s Cold Drinks Stall is at 60A Boat Quay, 049848. Open Monday to Thursday – 6pm to Midnight. Friday & Saturday – 6pm to 3am. For more information see their Facebook page here.

Think we’ve missed somewhere out? Don’t be shy, let us know what you think.

Other bars that were seriously considered but did not make the final cut: The Library, B28, Fat Cow, The Pelican, Buyan, Lucha Loco, CÉ LA VI, Level 33, Breeze, The Green Door, The Vintage Room, Waku Ghin, Coffee Bar K, Nektar, Morton’s, Hyatt Martini Bar, Foodbar Dada & Speakeasy.