Bars in Singapore are elevating their drinks menus, turning them into works of art that highlight the craftsmanship of bartending. Flipping through pages filled with stunning illustrations, intriguing stories, and rich histories brings the experience to life, while engaging with bartenders about their creations adds an interactive touch to the journey.
There are two notable trends in these artistic menus:
First, low- and no-ABV cocktails are undergoing a revolution. Techniques like clarification and distillation now require far more effort than traditional shaken or built mocktails, making them far from an afterthought and instead a highlight.
Second, food offerings have evolved beyond simple bar snacks or fries on the fly. Today, many cocktail bars are drawing patrons with dishes as mouthwatering and satisfying as those found in top-tier restaurants.
Here’s a list of bars with menus I love, along with my recommendations for what to drink and eat at each spot.
Asia’s Indigenous Spirits and Techniques
Jungle Ballroom
[Frome left: One of Jungle Ballroom menu inside pages; Blue Ocean, a cocktail that uses Okinawa Gin. Photos source: Jungle Ballroom]
Jungle Journey Vol. 2 is a 16-cocktail collection, released in segments with 4 new cocktails unveiled every two weeks starting 16 August 2024. Adrian Besa, Akmal Haqim, and Lee Rosli embarked on a journey through 11 cities in Asia, seeking out local spirits and mastering local bartending techniques along the way. Their adventures and encounters in Cambodia are even documented in a short film.
Presented in neon pink with contrasting shades of green, the menu mimics the hypnotic eyes of a jungle cat, or perhaps a panther, perfectly capturing the nocturnal, fun, and funky vibe of Jungle Ballroom. Inside, you’ll find recipes inspired by the cities where these bartenders took up temporary residence. From the Cambodian Herbal Khulen gin martini Little Pari to the briny essence of Okinawan Blue Ocean, and the Java with demerara java cream float, each drink invites you to sip and dance into the night with the rhythmic beats spun by the DJs.
$22-$28++ per cocktail, $15++ per faux cocktail. Try the Smoked Beef with curry leaf and Kampot pepper for a taste of Cambodia. With a kitchen open until 2am, this is one of the rare late night joint in Singapore. Mondrian Singapore Duxton, 16A Duxton Hill, #03-03, Singapore 089970
Future Fast Forward
Origin Bar
From left: Inside page of Origin Bar Infinity menu showing the illustration of FAQ Plastic (Photo source: Origin Bar); Dollar, Dollar, Million with edible gold flakes presenting a luxurious drink. (Photo: Kim Choong)
After 5 years of the same menu, Origin Bar launched an entirely refreshed selection. With a whopping 18 new drinks, each one with its own story, Infinity is a compilation of the bartenders’ vision of the future inspired by different ideas and inventions. Bar Manager Adam Bursik and his team delve into the tropical flavour of Singapore’s fruits and vegetables, crafting a menu they describe as "far-fetched" in the best possible way.
The menu itself is a visual masterpiece. Shiny, rainbow-hued foil gives off a futuristic vibe, while each drink’s details – flavour profile, alcohol strength, and preparation – are outlined in the same striking foil effect. Each cocktail is accompanied by an illustration on the opposite page, showcasing methods such as clarification, sous-vide, and distillation, alongside techniques like shaking, stirring, building, and swizzling. The Dollar, Dollar, Million with edible gold flakes is shiny and potent; FAQ Plastic involves sustainability in every process. The drink presentations are elaborate, complemented by the addictive nuts that keep coming – making 18 drinks in one night not so far-fetched after all!
$26-$27++ per cocktail. The bar also serves generous portions of bar bites, with the Noodle Soup by Chef Simon Bell being the most comfortable after drink snack. Shangri-La Hotel, Lobby Level, Tower Wing, 22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350
Back to Classics, and Real Hard-Copy Publishing
Jigger & Pony
From left: The vibrant colour of SMASH brings a lively mood (Photo source: Jigger & Pony); the complicated steps for a Ramos Fizz can take up to 12 minutes to make (Photo: Kim Choong)
As one of Singapore’s longest-standing cocktail bars (12 years and counting!), Jigger & Pony relocated from its original street location to a hotel, upgrading its look without losing its signature fun vibe. While cocktail recipes have grown more complex and, at times, complicated, the bar—led by Creative Director Uno Jang—has decided to return to the roots of classic cocktails, adding a touch of conviviality.
In the sixth edition of their menuzine (a menu as a magazine), SMASH features everything from Old Fashioneds to Punch Bowls, including the notoriously challenging Champagne Ramos Gin Fizz. Staying on trend with techniques that gained popularity during the pandemic, Jigger & Pony incorporates clarification and batching into their offerings. The bar also serves up what is likely the dirtiest Martini in the city.
$28++ all cocktails. Let the truffle butter from the Bikini Sandwich drip down your fingers, and make your martini even dirtier. 165 Tg Pagar Rd, Amara Hotel, Singapore 088539
Fusing Recipes with Local Stories
Punch Room
[From left: A vibrant illustration by Kristal Melson for Punch Room's Volume I menu; Daeng's Punch is a mix of rum and whisky, Muyu Vetiver, betel leaf and assam. Photo source: Punch Room Singapore]
While many bars feature punch, the world’s earliest recognised cocktail, Punch Room makes it their main feat, as their name suggests. Introduced to Singapore alongside Mondrian, a modern luxury hotel that launched the Punch Room in London a decade ago, the Singapore location embraces a striking blue hue – a unique choice for an Asian bar – playing on the name Little "Red" Dot to Little "Blue" Dot, a nod to the island’s affectionate nickname.
In Punch Room Singapore Volume I, bartenders Giovanni Graziadei, Ang Kye Seng, and Logaraj I M craft cocktails inspired by local ingredients and rich sea voyage history and folklore of Singapore. The punches are either served individually or from a communal punch bowl, with the welcome punch varying weekly – from classic recipes to brand collaborations and experimental concoctions. Illustrated by Kristal Melson, known for her dynamic lines and bold use of warm and cool colour tones, the menu itself resembles a vibrant storybook. Have a Tempest Punch, evoking the sea to celebrate the birth of Singapura; or the Daeng’s Punch, which offers a herbaceaous sweet and sour rum punch.
$9++ for single portion, $98++ and $168++ for 6 and 12 serves in a bowl. Try the Hamburger, its spiced pickles on the Wagyu beef patty make all the difference! The bar also offers Afternoon Tea on Friday and Saturday. Mondrian Singapore Duxton, 38 Cuscaden Rd, LG, Singapore 249731
Biggest Gin Collection, with Selections Older Than You
Atlas
[From left: An inside page of Atlas' menu with Adrian Pack's illustration; Electric Club and its outlandish chocolate garnish. Photo source: Atlas Singapore]
Atlas' Preservation of Fire menu honours the history of cocktail making by highlighting four key bartending techniques: Carbonation, Temperature, Washing, and Infusion. Led by Head Bartender Lidiyanah ‘Yana’ K, the menu features four drinks in each section, including classic styles like the Martini, Champagne Cocktail, Sour, and Old Fashioned, along with a fifth non-alcoholic option.
The menu is exquisitely illustrated by Adrian Pack, who draws inspiration from historical spirits advertisements, using romantic colours and typography that evoke the 1920s. Each section and drink is detailed with its alcohol by volume (ABV) for mindful drinkers. Try the Temperance Crusade, a non-alcoholic creation with clarified tomato, rosemary, and oyster leaf—a coastal herb with blue-green leaves reminiscent of oyster shells; or enjoy Electric Club, a complex rum drink offering contrasting flavours that are both sweet and bitter, herbaceous and nutty.
$17-$28++ per drink. Atlas boasts the largest gin selection in Singapore, with bottles dating back to 1910, perfect for crafting classic gin cocktails. Go for the ATLAS olives four ways, add them to your Martinis. Ground floor, 600 North Bridge Rd, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778.
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