Visit these niche bars in Singapore, from a unique spot specialising in rare armagnacs to a hidden joint offering umeshu and a wine bar focusing on labels from organic and sustainable wineries.
Big Wine Freaks
This new champagne and wine bar at 44 Bukit Pasoh promises a unique F&B experience with sustainability at its core. Big Wine Freaks is an apt name for an establishment that takes its libations very seriously: think of a massive list of over 500 labels and 2,000 bottles sourced from organic and sustainable wineries around the world. The diverse selection includes wines from traditional wine-making regions like Jura, Beaujolais, and Loire in France, offerings from vineyards in Spain, Austria, and Italy, as well as lesser-known micro farms and new producers that incorporate unconventional techniques in their craft.
The seafood-focused menu offers Japanese tuna, oysters and caviar, uni toast, king crab, and others. Elevating the experience further is the bar’s charming aesthetics, featuring dynamic spaces where guests can dine and socialise – such as the communal seating area with highchairs, as well as the lounge and amphitheatre areas which boast an open kitchen, in addition to a raw seafood and champagne bar counter.
Big Wine Freaks is at 44 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089857.
Dragonfly
Dragonfly Hong Kong regularly lists among the top bars in the city, and now its Singapore outpost – nestled within Vibe Hotel (near Orchard Road) – is set to make a similar splash with its 19th-century inspired art nouveau interiors and creative cocktails. Bar designer Ashley Sutton’s creative magic can be seen in the stained glass dragonfly centrepiece, its wings spread around a shelf-full of bottles, mirroring the bar’s iconic counter in Hong Kong. Meanwhile blue-green floor tiles, glass lamps with patterned shades, and thick velvet curtains envelop guests in an otherworldly atmosphere.
Helming the bar is Morgan Raelin Barron, who brings with her a wealth of experience from award-winning bars including Washington DC’s Allegory, Singapore’s Jigger & Pony, and 28 Hong Kong Street. Barron and her team offer an imaginative cocktail menu dubbed “The Cause and Effect”, showcasing seven sections of spirit and liquor categories that start off with classics and segue effortlessly into the bar’s newly created originals. The second drink per section is designed to be light and refreshing with a lower ABV, while the third boasts bolder and more spirit-forward flavours. One of the standouts is the High Mountain, made with Oolong vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Liquore Strega, fortified vermouth and honey, crowned with a delicate, dehydrated milk foam crisp. Or try the unconventional desert cocktail dubbed Murphy’s Law – comprising a house-crafted dark rum with sweet corn ice cream, accompanied by house-made mala oil infused with aromatics like ginger, chilli, and Szechuan peppercorn.
Dragonfly is at Vibe Hotel Singapore, 24 Mount Elizabeth, #01-05, Singapore 228518.
Sugarhall
Jigger & Pony Group’s rum-focused cocktail pub is nestled on the second level of a 1920s heritage building near Raffles Place. Expect the homely vibes of a neighbourhood pub, where patrons can enjoy classics across the cocktail spectrum defined by feature rums and spirits. Add a menu of satiating pub fare done right and the group’s fun-loving hospitality, and tipplers are in for a grand time.
The original Amoy Street (2014–2018) signboard still hangs, a familiar welcome that’ll draw your attention towards an otherwise overlooked flight of stairs. Inside, dark wood furnishings and an upbeat playlist ranging from funk to reggae and ska make it a cosy spot for post-work drinks or get-togethers.
Highball-style classic Dark & Stormy is given a localised refresh, with Hampden 8 Year Aged Overproof Jamaican, fresh lime and “I Shot the Ginger” ginger beer. The Daiquiri asserts with two types of rums: Bacardi Superior 1909 and Veritas-blended rum. An iconic Sugarhall experience is no doubt the punchbowl. The One Punch Rum is presented with a whole bottle of Appleton 8 Years, and patrons can pour as they want into a mix of Mount Gay Ecplise, Gosling’s 151 proof rum, passionfruit, cinnamon, and soda.
Sugarhall is at 19 Cecil Street, Level 2, Singapore 049704.
SyZyGy
Fans of Armagnac can look forward to SyZyGy, the new bar concept in Kampong Glam dedicated to the alluring French brandy from the southern Gascony region. Conceived by dynamic duo Jeremie Tan, a stalwart of the Singapore bar scene, and entrepreneur Selin Tanetvitayavet, the bar is where armagnac lovers can experience some of the world’s finest labels by the glass or as tasting flights, in addition to classic brandy cocktails, rare vintages, and bespoke beverages. The bar’s specialties include premium French Armagnac houses, such as Château de Lacquy and Dartigalounge, which have been producing vintages for over 200 years, and the highly sought after “King and Queen of Armagnac”, Laberdolive and Domaine Boingneres.
Cocktails are appropriately celestial-themed (SyZyGy is named after an astrological phenomenon in which three celestial bodies align during a new or full moon transition), with offerings such as Eclipse (bordeneuve au citron, grapefruit, simple syrup, soda) and Milky Way (Cartigalounge 15 Ans, simple syrup, lime juice, egg white, château arton le midi). Accompanying this stellar drinks list is a menu of light bites and shared dishes designed to pair with your favourite glasses of Armagnac, Cognac, and Calvados–from the frozen Blanche Armagnac with Iranian caviar, to a rich selection of desserts and chocolates.
SyZyGy is at Level 2, 247 Beach Road Singapore 189756.
Ume Maru
Inspired by Japan’s Jimbocho district, this casual speakeasy at Far East Plaza is hidden behind floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with popular manga titles. Push past the literature and you’ll find a fun and eclectic space offering unique cocktails, umeshu, craft whiskies, and Japanese-style dishes like sushi, dry ramen and buta don.
Manga enthusiasts may recognise familiar themes in the bar’s cocktails: The Songbird, for example, is a light and fruity beverage made with strawberry umeshu, vodka, sakura, lavender and citrus; while the Light of Nara presents a fruity, elegant concoction of muscat umeshu, nashi pear umeshu, rose vermouth, and persimmon vinegar. Other cocktails not to be missed include the Matxha, a blend of matcha umeshu, matcha tea, elderflower, and yuzu marmalade.
The range of umeshu is exclusively available only at Ume Maru. “The Japanese umeshu makers are notorious for keeping the best stuff for their domestic market instead of exporting, so it really takes our owners efforts to build relationships and trust with the makers to allow us to bring them to Singapore,” says founder Jeffry Lautan.
For whisky lovers, indulge in a selection of craft whiskies from around the world, many of which are exclusive to Ume Maru. Jeffry shares, “We carry a curated selection of craft whiskies from Scotland, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and the US. These are labels that have made waves among whisky enthusiasts in their countries and in niche bars internationally but not widely available in retail or most bars everywhere. Some notable whiskies are Indonesia’s best-selling premium whisky, Royal Brewhouse, that challenges traditional Scotch at its game; Korea’s #1 local whisky, Imperial Whisky that are extremely hard to find outside Korea; and innovative Scotch labels like Compassbox and Wolfburn that offer creative takes on Scotch whiskies. They are also not widely available in any other bars.”
Ume Maru is at Far East Plaza, #05-26/26A, Singapore 228213.
A version of this article first appeared in epicure. Additional text by Nida Seah.
