From chicken curry to chendol, here are some unique cocktails (and where to get them) in Singapore

One-Ninety Bar

Escape the city at Four Season Singapore's hidden gem: One-Ninety Bar a hotel bar with a breezy outdoor terrace called the "secret garden." Whether you seek a refreshing daytime tea or an evening cocktail, this al fresco oasis offers the perfect atmosphere.

Its Beverage Manager Gabriel Carlos, who is a fellow Filipino, shared that beyond their usual spirits, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks is a menu called the Secret Garden, inspired by different Botanical Gardens from all over the globe: Singapore Botanic Garden, the Royal Botanic in London, and the Brooklyn Botanic in New York City.

"One reason is, if you would look at the proximity of the hotel, we're very very close to one of the UNESCO sites, which is the Singapore Botanic Garden. So we took inspiration from those three gardens, and the culture, their drinking culture, and the horticulture enabled us to create all the drinks that you can see there," he told PhilSTAR L!fe.

Those who prefer a sweet, fruity drink must try the Rose of Sharon (S$29)—a Korean version of the Singapore Sling. It is made with Brass Lion Dry Gin, Muyu Vetiver Gris, Cointreau, hibiscus, pineapple, yuzu, and grenadine.

Another note-worthy cocktail is the Kampung Kueh (S$26) almost a dessert drink inspired by the sticky steamed snack popular in Singapore called kueh. Made with El Dorado 12 Years, Bitter Truth Golden Falernum, coconut, pandan, jackfruit, cream, and egg white.

Aside from their regulars, One Ninety Bar has special afternoon tea selections. From now until Sept. 1, guests can enjoy their Peranakan Afternoon Tea, held in collaboration with Candlenut, the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, which includes three S$27-dollar cocktails on the menu: Chendol, Straits Old-Fashioned, and Little Nyonya.

In addition, a welcome change, according to Carlos, is the rise of mocktails in bars. This wider beverage range makes them more inclusive for people who don't drink alcohol.

"People would actually go to bars and order non-alcoholic drinks. So it's a very good 'happening.' This is being observed within our industry. So if you will see, we have a full page dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks," he shared.

One-Ninety Bar is located in the Four Seasons Hotel, 190 Orchard Blvd.

The Elephant Room

The Elephant Room's concept is just one reason it deserves its spot on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023. Founded by Yugnes Susela, The Elephant Room celebrates the Indian community in the country through its cocktails and food.

"The concept behind is basically about the Indians of Singapore, the community—it's about a culture and the people that are based in Little India," Susela said. "So we drew hospitality and cocktails to explain what the Singapore Indian community is all about."

According to Susela, they've come up with "culinary-inspired drinks" that "no one has ever done before."

"The USP is that no one has ever done this (transforming food into drinks) in Singapore. Even if they've done it, it's never like appreciated in a cocktail way. It's too much of a food wise but this is something that we have taken some elements of the dishes and not overdoing it. That's the word, not overdoing it. Maybe we played it very carefully," he told L!fe.

Recommended drinks include the Biryani cocktail, a basmati makeolli and ghee sake with biryani tincture, and the Chicken Curry, an old-fashioned drink with the flavors of chicken curry with chicken stock, masala spices, garlic, vinegar, and a piece of fried chicken skin.

For something light but with a kick, try Spicy and Fresh, a gin-based cocktail with chili vinegar and mint liqueur, or the Mango Fizz.

The Elephant Room is located at 33 Tanjong Pagar Rd.

Manhattan at Conrad Singapore Orchard

The Manhattan in Conrad Singapore Orchard needs no introduction to many, after all, it's home to the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse.

Known for consistently ranking among the top bars globally, this bar champions both timeless and barrel-aged cocktails, offering a taste of 1920s New York City while celebrating the skill of bartenders and small-batch spirits.

When you're here, you must not miss the Rickhouse Experience, which gives you an introduction to its rickhouse where spirits and bitters mature to perfection.

In this activity, you also embark on a curated tasting session, featuring a variety of handcrafted cocktails such as the bar's signature Solera-Aged Negroni and its namesake, The Manhattan.

Oh, don't forget to ask for complimentary cajun popcorn, too!

Manhattan is located in Conrad Singapore Orchard, 1 Cuscaden Rd., Level 2

Mama Diam

You may have seen this Insta-worthy bar hidden behind a sari-sari store, or what they call mama shop in Singapore.

"They mean old school convenience store, before 7-Eleven, before the modern convenience stores came to Singapore. These places are the places where Singaporeans buy their snacks, toys, their candies," Mama Diam owner Sebastian Ang told L!fe.

He continued: "During COVID, a lot of businesses in Singapore couldn't survive. So there was this one mama shop that was near my house, owned by an elderly couple. They wanted to close down, so I bought everything and I moved it here."

Behind the mama shop is a speakeasy bar that offers local flavors with a twist. Ang's childhood routine of visiting these shops after school shaped the concept—a bar that transforms into a cafe by day, potentially mirroring the shops found under housing blocks.

He said he "wanted to showcase local flavors" which is evidently seen on the menu, especially in the 'Sip' category of the Drinks menu. Alcoholic drinks like the Chai Tarik Brew, inspired by the teh tarik pulled tea; Kaya shooters; Mango Sago Highball; and The OG Kopi give that familiar Singaporean taste to guests. 

"The main story still has to be locally inspired. So that's what makes this place a must-visit when you're in Singapore because everything is uniquely Singapore," Ang said.

Mama Diam is located at 38 Prinsep St.

Ginger Lily at Hilton Orchard

Another botanic-inspired bar, Ginger Lily seamlessly adjusts from day to tonight. Like the ginger lily's design, its modern interiors complement both afternoon tea and artisanal cakes, and a cocktail menu featuring local herbs, flowers, and spices.

Don't miss the Birds & The Bees, a playful twist on the classic whisky highball. Pineapple, jackfruit, and passionfruit mix with the whisky, while a side of honeycomb adds a touch of sweetness.

Ginger Lily is located in Hilton Orchard, 333 Orchard Rd.

Kubô

The Barbie fever may be over but not in this restaurant. Gin lovers would dream about this tasty blend of Tanqueray dry gin, balsamic, and raspberry called Barbie's Potion from this Filipino restaurant called Kubô.

While the original Kubô has temporarily shut its doors at the Pier At Robertson, some of Chef Kurt Sombero's creations can still be enjoyed at their Tipsy Hippo pop-up.

In case you're not familiar, Kubô aims to reintroduce the Philippines' vibrant flavors to the world, reimagined for a multicultural audience.

"Here we want to make sure that there's a journey that people can come and have some a lot of talking points in every dishes. Because I don't know if you guys know this, but most of our menu is actually halfway house. It's like, there's going to be a word or an ingredient that's very Filipino, like green mango, and then we pair that as kimchi, because kimchi is well-known. And then people will see that they'll be like, 'I know kimchi,'" Sombero said.

Some of its must-try dishes include Tuna Ceviche with kalamansi and avocado mash; House-aged Duck with carrot puree, pineapple jus, and peppers; and Crab Fat Risotto with Tobiko.

Kubo's pop-up is located inside Tipsy Hippo, 81 Clemenceau Ave.