From the best selection of rums and sakes, to the best happy hours—it’s not just us who need a break; so does the wallet—we’ve done our groundwork, and pounded pavement to bring you the best bars in Tanjong Pagar.
BAM! – BEST SELECTION OF SAKE IN SINGAPORE
Housing some of Singapore’s rarest sakes, as well as one of the most extensive sake lists in Singapore, each label in BAM!’s walk-in cellar is carefully selected by owner Derrick Lim, an advanced sake professional certified by the Sake Education Council in Japan. An intense passion for the art has led him to establishing a bar where locals are able to enjoy exquisite sake without having to travel to Japan.
On the sake list, stands a total of over 80 labels from 10 artisanal sake breweries in Japan, as well as some rare awamori and shochu. Top tier labels such as Diamond Akatsuki (S$880) and Katsuyama Diamond Lei (S$1,120) are extremely limited—only 300 and 600 bottles respectively, are produced annually—that use a state of the art centrifuge extraction method to obtain its pure aromas and taste. Other rare sakes include elegant limited edition organic Asahi rice (Kyoto) Junmai (S$100), fruity Junmai Ginjo Ichigo Nama (S$120) that’s wonderful with Western dishes, and multiple gold medal winner Daiginjo Tobindori (S$299).
BAM! is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s Top 5 Sake Bars.
38 Tras Street
Tel: +65 6226 0500
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
ELEMENT ON TRAS STREET – BEST FOR HAPPY HOURS
The newly revamped Element at Amara Hotel now sports a snazzy new outdoor post; Element on Tras Street—an alfresco bar that boasts incredibly attractive happy hours. From 5pm to 8pm daily, draft beers go at S$9 per pint, one of the lowest prices in the CBD. Beers available on tap aren’t the standard run-of-the-mill beers either. Exclusive to our sunny little island is RedRock lager, a slightly hoppy, rich and malty full-bodied beer with a crisp and clean finish.
Brewed from Italy’s largest brewery, Peroni is Italy’s number one premium beer—a refreshingly crisp lager that’s high on the charts for its character, style and taste. We love its light-bodied malt and bitterness that starts out slow and grows increasingly focused. For the weight-conscious, there’s also Australia’s leading low carbohydrate beer, Pure Blonde. Refreshing and easy on the palate, this is our go-to beer anytime of day.
100 Tras Street
Tel: +65 6879 2555 / +65 6879 2607
Sun to Thu: 6pm – 1am
Fri to Sat: 6pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
HOUSE OF DANDY – BEST BAR TO SEE AND BE SEEN
If you enjoy people-watching, you’ve come to the right place. Bringing back the roaring twenties with spot-on art deco, House of Dandy encourages patrons to exude the same fashion-forward confidence it embodies. The crowd here consists of well-dressed PMEBs and fashionistas who know what they want, and have no qualms on how to get it.
Adding to that draw, is a recently launched list of cocktails like Blushing Barmaid ($22) that consists of Campari, amaretto, egg whites and bitter lemon shaken and strained over ice, and garnished with dehydrated orange peel for a zesty fragrance. A house signature, Rakes’ Ration ($34 for two) is a blend of two spirits and a beer (warning: not for the weak): Plantation 3 Star rum, Makers Mark bourbon and IPA; shaken and smoked in a mason jar with Amaro Montenegro, Chambord, lemon juice, and Rakes’ syrup, before rounding up the drink with a dash of Angostura and orange bitters—expect complex and bittersweet layers of berries and herbs.
House of Dandy is also listed in our guide to 5 Hot New Bars in Singapore.
74 Tras Street
Tel: +65 8661 2340
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
MARS BAR BY MIXES FROM MARS – BEST CREATIVE COCKTAILS
Who would’ve thought a chili crab cocktail would work? Oh, but it has, and very much so. The boys (yes, these youngurns should be proud) behind Mars Bar are bartenders Louis Tan and and Roger Yip, who honed their creative skills at Bar Stories before venturing out on their own. On the menu are crazy-sounding concoctions like bak kwa cocktail (S$22) that fat-washes local favorite honey glazed Bee Cheng Hiang bak kwa in Bulleit bourbon before mixing in cinnamon and orange syrup to enhance its savory sweetness; and the sweet, salty, and savory chili crab cocktail (S$22) made with chili crab paste, Tanqueray gin, Malibu rum, kaffir lime, lemongrass, and orgeat.
Bespoke concoctions are also at play here. On our visit, we were served King of Asia (S$22)—a cocktail creation inspired by durian. Fresh passion fruit, butterscotch schnapps and vanilla ice cream recreates creamy textures of durian, and the addition of Gosling rum results in a lingering pungent fruity bitterness best described as the king of all fruits.
83 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 9651 6714
Mon to Sun: 4pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
SUGARHALL – BEST SELECTION OF RUM IN SINGAPORE
With the people behind cocktail bar Jigger & Pony running this establishment, you know you’re in good hands. Two-time Diageo Reserve World Class Singapore winner Aki Eguchi helms this well-stocked bar of over 60 rums, including uncommon rums like the highly sought-after Ron Zacapa 2013 Reserva Limitada (S$53) that’s incredibly oaky and subtly sweet—perfect for pairing with a grilled juicy slab of pork chop (S$28). Other exclusive rums include Zafra Ron Master Reserve Panama (S$36), and Diplomatico 2000 (S$34)—only six bottles are available in Singapore, all of which sit behind the bar at Sugarhall.
Made with multiple gold award winner (at the Caribbean Rum Taste Test in London) El Dorado 12 years, Bumbo Old Fashioned (S$22) is an exemplary rum cocktail with a beautiful smoky nose of sweet toffee and vanilla with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, whose taste is further emphasized with a good ‘old grilled rib-eye (S$32). Our personal favorite is the Sugarhall Mai Tai (S$22) that opens with sour and fruity notes of Tamarind and spiced apricot before blossoming into a rich, dark yet mellow bitterness with a mildly spicy finish.
102 Amoy Street
Tel: +65 6222 9102 / +65 9732 5607
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer
For more recommendations on the best bars in Singapore, read the following guides: Top 5 Bars at Club Street || Top 5 Bars at Raffles Place || Top 5 Bars at Ann Siang Hill.
About the writer:
Mandy Lynn is a former I-S Magazine writer and current columnist at Nookmag; her dining and nightlife features are published in Appetite Asia, Food & Travel, and Singapore Tatler Dining. For bite-sized food recommendations, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, or join her Gourmet Adventures to keep up with the latest openings in the dining scene.