A Not-So-Serious Guide on Serious Places to Drink in Singapore - Men's Folio
Lifestyle, Wine & Dine

A Not-So-Serious Guide on Serious Places to Drink in Singapore

  • By Bryan Goh
Mona Lounge
BeFunky-design (1)
Herbal Remedy

Despite the title of the story, we take the art of boozing seriously here at Men’s Folio because when one graduates from shots in a club (is it a coincidence that shots and shudder share two similar letters?) to seeking a civilised venue where one can hear himself think, it’s time to rethink the metrics of a watering hole.

A speakeasy was the thing but enough with the fancy moustaches, flannel shirts and Cirque du Soleil level of performances — it’s time to get into solid places that serve equally solid drinks. Here are three conceptual ones that serve boozy cocktails without the flamboyant flash.

Pictured Above — The Canto Bar: Mona Lounge
Stepping into Mona Lounge is like stepping onto a set of a Wong Kar Wai film (sorry, we had to) which means once you’re done applying a 35mm film filter on a photo of the vinyls, oriental furniture and knickknacks, it’s time to zoom into the menu.

Led by Head Bartender Edwin Poh, each cocktail is an inspired mix of Cantonese and Singapore dishes. Standout drinks include The Longevity Spritzer: a classic highball concocted using chrysanthemum infused gin, Suze, tonic and the Yuen Yeung, a White Russian take of Oolong infused rum, Kahlua and milk foam (if you think it looks familiar, it’s because it’s inspired by a cup of street coffee that has been stirred).

If you want to play it safe, the Narcissus is Earl Grey Gin, lychee liqueur, St. Germaine and pink grapefruit but if you’re already a few drinks in and feeling adventurous, the Herbal Remedy is a medicinal soup of whisky, campari, lillet blanc and osmanthus honey and Gui Ling Gao.

Mona Lounge is located at 25B Boon Tat Street, Level 2, Singapore 069622.


The Next It-Bar: The Old Man Singapore

The Old Man Singapore
Papa Doble
Little Wax Puppy

Hemingway’s love of booze and fine architecture inspired the concept of the The Old Man Singapore. If one is wondering why we italicised “the“, it’s because this bar is an offshoot from the award winning The Old Man from Hongkong (no biggie, it just debuted at number five on the 2018 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars list).

Like the two opposing elements in his famed novel The Old Man and the Sea, the two exceptional cocktails are The Little Wax Puppy: a souped-up version of an Old Fashion with beeswax-infused bourbon and menthol-y eucalyptus honey (that’s The Old Man) and the Papa Doble: pineapple sous-vide white rum, clarified grapefruit & lime and maraschino sous-vide jalapeño (that’s the Sea). 

If there is a limit to the night of just one cocktail, we’d recommend the Papa Doble. A daiquiri is the famed author’s favourite drink after all (besides a Gibson, White Lady, Bloody Mary, Scotch and Soda... ok, you get the point)

The Old Man is located at 55 Keong Saik Road, #01-04, S089158.


The Bar for Vinophiles: RVLT. 

RVLT
The Famous Wine Wall

 

If you’re unfamiliar with RVLT, here is a TLDR crash course — the RVLT is short for revolution (a nod to it being the first natural wine bar in Singapore), there is no menu but instead a giant wall filled with wines for you to choose, and yes, there are sommeliers on standby to suit your tastebud for the day. 

Before you think that natural wine = GOOP = Gwyneth Paltrow’s extreme diet, the four bottles that RVLT is introducing for the first time in Singapore will make you think again. 

Alessandro Viola Note di Bianco (in short, it’s a white) is made of 100% Grillo grapes (aka the Rolls Royce of berries)  that has been spontaneously fermented in steel and aged on the lees for six months for a creamier richer taste. The Commune of Buttons “Birds Share” is an early harvest of Pinot Noir from the Piccadilly Valley south of Adelaide that has been farmed organically with zero chemicals. 

The other two? You’re going to want to make a trip down to find out from founders (and self proclaimed wine uncles), Alvin Gho and Ian Lim. 

Wine RVLT is located at 38 Carpenter Street, #01-05, Singapore 059917.