At the corner of Carpenter Street, where Singapore’s international financial hub once thrived in the 1930s, now stands 21 Carpenter, a boutique hotel that pays homage to the area’s rich history. Housed in four beautifully conserved shop lots, the hotel’s concept honours a former remittance house, where Singapore’s early banking industry, once bustling with traders, merchants, and the lively flow of remittances.

Enter Kee’s, the hotel's vibrant restaurant-bar, where the local history is woven into the fabric of its menu. Helmed by the talented Glynn Tay, Director of Food and Beverage at 21 Carpenter, Kee’s is more than just a place to eat and drink – it’s a tribute to the past of Carpenter street. Glynn has created a menu that reflects the neighbourhood’s heritage, incorporating the area’s history of peddlers trading spices, fruits and flowers, into both food and cocktails.

A Taste of History

Kee’s sits where the former Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee (再和成伟记信局) remittance house once operated, a place where people gathered to send money back home. The hotel's lobby design preserves much of the original architecture, transporting visitors back in time. The surrounding streets were once a bustling trade hub for spices like nutmeg, peppercorn, and gambier, all of which feature prominently in Kee’s cocktail offerings today.

Frome left: Pistachio Tart, Espresso Martini and Kee's Gin Martini [Photos: Kim Choong]

Kee’s house beer is the Island Vibes Blonde de Jackfruit ($10 or 5 for $45), a craft beer brewed in collaboration with Sunbird Brewing Co. This fruity brew (4.3% ABV) combines jackfruit, calamansi, and star fruit, making it a tropical pleasure that pairs well with Kee’s rich food offerings.

For gin lovers, Kee’s offers the 1936 Gin, specially crafted by Tanglin Gin Distillery. Used in both their in-house cocktails and takeaway drinks, such as the Chye Negroni (bottled in recycled Fever Tree glass bottles as part of their sustainability efforts), this gin is bold and complex, with notes of young ginger, sun-dried chili, Seville orange peel, and green peppercorn.

The Atmosphere at Kee’s

Kee’s is designed to be an all-day venue, perfect for unwinding with a drink, holding a business meeting, or enjoying a date night. The seating options cater to all kinds of occasions, whether you're people-watching at the high tables, settling into a cozy corner with friends, or perching at the bar to watch the bartenders work their magic.

The Cocktails & Food Pairings

From left: Kee's Smash Bason Cheese Burger, Seafood Laksa that comes in sharing or single protion, Charred Broccoli [Photos: Kim Choong]

The drink menu at Kee’s is crafted with fun, offering something for every palate. The Rose Spritz ($20) is light and refreshing, a perfect match for the rich Seafood Laksa ($30/$16) or Kee’s Smash Bacon Cheese Burger ($26). For those seeking something savoury, The Tempest ($22), made with bacon, tomato, and tabasco, is a satisfying meal in a drink. Pair it with Tuna Tartare ($18) topped with coconut ceviche dressing and puffed quinoa, or the munchy Charred Broccoli ($14). To seal the meal, share a Pistachio Tart ($14) with raspberry jam, candied blackcurrant and vanilla chantilly.

One of the must-tries is the Chye Negroni ($24), a playful twist on the classic negroni, bottled in-room but available by the glass as well. It pairs especially well with the Mediterranean Sea Bream and Fries ($40), offering a contrast of bitter from the cocktail and creamy flavours from the fish.

(Left) Straits Preserves Ginger Garden Marmalade; (right) Chye Negroni in bottles [Photos: Kim Choong]

For those who love a potent tipple, Inkwell ($24) is a dark and smoky whisky cocktail infused with lapsang souchong, while the Nutmeg Espresso Martini ($20) uses coffee roasted and packed locally at 28 Tai Seng Street, offering a unique spin on the traditional espresso martini, blending the sweetness of Gula Melaka with mezcal and vodka for a rich, chocolatey finish.

Kee's runs a long Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays, all-day Sundays and Public Holidays. Grab a Straits Preserves Ginger Garden Marmalade for some local breakfast indulgence.

Kee’s is located at 21 Carpenter St, Singapore 059984. Opens daily from 7am to 12am. Make reservation online or by calling +65 6373 6985

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