The buzz: One of our favorite craft beer bars in Singapore, JiBiru, has been serving up some of Japan’s finest brews for five years. Now, they’re taking their beers beyond 313@somerset with the opening of sister outlet Craft Beer Bar Takumi at the Mandarin Orchard Hotel.
The vibe: Takumi is essentially a Tokyo-style hole-in-the-wall bar minus the claustrophobia. It occupies a corner of Mandarin Orchard Hotel’s fifth floor lobby, just outside Bar on 5—you know, the bar with the cheap bottle deals. Like JiBiru, it’s a great spot to people watch.
The drinks: Takumi has many JiBiru staples on its menu including Hitachino Nest White Ale (from $9.50 a glass during happy hour), Shiga Kogen Pale Ale (from $10.50 a glass during happy hour) and Owa ($16.50 a bottle). Adding to that, they have a focus on limited edition and barrel-aged beers like Kuro Owa Grand Cru 2013 aged in Bordeaux wine barrels ($58 for a 750ml bottle), Shiga Kogen No 10 Anniversary IPA ($21 a bottle) and Belgian offering Buffalo Grand Cru Barrel Aged ($58 for a 750ml bottle). Takumi also stocks sake and cider. Happy hour runs until 9pm each day.
The food: With their limited space, Takumi doesn’t serve any of its own food—it’s a real drinker’s drinking spot. But if you do get hungry, you can order from some of the hotel’s other F&B outlets.
