10 Fun And Casual Bars For A Night Out Without The Kids
When it comes to getting away from the kids and going out for a chill night, dive bars and speakeasies are our kind of hangout spots
While we love wild year-end parties as much as the next person, sometimes you just want an all-inclusive (yes, everyone can hang out), casual, intimate gathering with a couple of close friends. Here are the newest watering holes to hit up, which are all about unpretentious fun and low-key vibes.
What: Named after the ’60s funk band Parliament, this new dive bar draws inspiration from classic American bars that don’t take themselves too seriously. Located along Teck Lim road in the Keong Saik neighbourhood, its decor features intimate retro booths, and walls adorned with autographed posters and guitars lit by a soft neon glow. The bar’s beverage programme includes a selection of signature cocktails, spirits, wines and beers, sourced from well-known industry suppliers like Proof and Company. There’s also a rotating selection of comfort bites like classic grilled cheese and hot dogs.
Address: #02-00 18 Teck Lim Road
Contact: 9622-7573 or hello@parliamentbar.sg
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday; 5pm to midnight
What: Barood is a modern izakaya and bar inspired by the Moorish influences of Paris in the ’60s. Cue the dark tones, leather booth seats, low-key lighting and black and white photographs adorning the walls. Tunes played include smooth Latin and Mediterranean beats – which patrons can enjoy along with the bar’s unique tapas and rotating selection of cocktails. For New Year’s Eve, the venue will also be serving up an exclusive eight-course dinner at $99, with a live DJ playing.
Address: 56A Tras Street
Contact: 9622-3410 or reservations@barood.com.sg
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday; 5pm to midnight
What: If hidden bars are your thing, 60ml by Asador is right up your alley. Located within Spanish restaurant Asador Singapore, this bar is designed speakeasy-style – a nod to the post-Prohibition era and New York jazz clubs of the ’30s. You’ll even find framed posters featuring numerous liquor brands that were banned during the ’20s to early ’30s. On the drinks menu are spirits, aperitifs, digestifs and cocktails, as well as a selection of bar bites. For New Year’s Eve, check out Asador’s celebratory 12-course dinner menu ($228++), which includes smoke eel, Japanese oyster and suckling pig.
Address: 51 Joo Chiat Place
Contact: 9836-1792 or contactus@asadorsingapore.com
Opening hours: 5:30pm to midnight daily
What: This unpretentious joint along Neil Road serves up experimental cocktails, along with fresh seafood. We love that it’s designed like someone’s apartment instead of a snazzy bar, with a skylight, low-hanging lights and comfy chairs. As for cocktails, one highlight is the Coffee Kombucha Espresso Martini ($22), with rum, rich coffee and a pleasant aftertaste. If you’re there between 4pm to 6pm, don’t miss out on the $11 happy hours offer too.
Address: 11 Neil Road
Contact: 8731-1883 or hello@thestoresg.com
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday; 4pm to midnight
What: This New York-style dive bar is easy to miss – its two entrances are either an unmarked door at Marina Bay’s The Sail, or the back of Mediterranean restaurant Miss Fitz. Inside, the decor is inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll nightclubs of Lower East Side Manhattan in the ’70s. The space is bathed in a red-light hue, with images of famous musicians and artists from the Big Apple. Beats include classic rock ‘n’ roll, early glam bands, original punk rock and emerging disco of the era. There are also three types of cocktails to choose from: signature cocktails, classic cocktail flights and boilermakers (a beer and a shot combo).
Address: #01-17 The Sail at Marina Bay
Contact: 9382-5147
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday; 5pm to midnight
What: Crypto bros assemble! This newly-opened sake bar stands out for allowing its customers to pay with digital currency (most crypto wallets are accepted). It comes as no surprise that the founders are a group of crypto-investors, with the bar’s name a play on the pseudonym for Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Aesthetics-wise, the space’s minimalist design resembles a modern izakaya, with dim lighting, all-black walls, and numerous couches for chilling the night away. Of course, stay for the impressive variety of sake too, as well as food such as oysters, wagyu steak and uni tempura. In celebration of the year-end season, all diners also receive 15 per cent off their total bill till Dec 31.
Address: #01-14 UE Square Shopping Mall
Contact: 8742-6522 or reservation.saketoshi@gmail.com
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday; noon to 2:30pm and 5:30pm to 10:30pm
What: There’s a fair share of natural wine bars that have popped up around town, but none have caught our fancy (pun intended) quite like this one. With an inconspicuous back alley entrance along Hamilton Road, Nothing Fancy is bathed in pinkish, fluorescent-neon lights, with a wine list curated based on the seasonal food menu. The bar has also played host to cool pop-up events like a community market with homegrown creatives, as well as live DJ sets, live bands and even a tattoo showcase with local artists.
Address: #01-00 11 Hamilton Road
Contact: 9183-4880 or hi.nothingfancy@gmail.com
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday; 6pm to midnight
What: Whisky lovers will appreciate this new bar for its extensive whisky library, which includes exclusives like Bunnahabhain 12 years (Scotland), Tipperary Watershed (Ireland), and Three Ships 10 years (South Africa). Located in InterContinental Hotel, the bar features a retro-luxe aesthetic, with booth seats, gilded cabinets and a selection of fun, innovative cocktails. For example, the Triple Happiness, where the classic whisky sour is given an oriental spin with dried prune-infused bourbon, red dates and ginseng syrup.
Address: Level 1, InterContinental Hotel
Contact: 9818-0885
Opening hours: Daily from 6pm to 1am
What: A laid-back, speakeasy bar along East Coast Road, The Hidden Story draws inspiration from rich Peranakan heritage of the Katong district. You’ll find old-school antique tables with Peranakan motives, custom-made Tiffany lamps and also an onyx bar top wrapped with Peranakan tiles. No prizes for guessing that the cocktail menu is also Peranakan-influenced. Highlights include the Lavender Negroni, which uses Brass Lion’s butterfly pea gin. Ditto, the Peranakan Enclave, a fruity concoction of dry gin, rose and lychee. There’s a selection of wines and whiskies too, as well as bar bites like beef cubes, chicken wings and oysters.
Address: 115A East Coast Road
Contact: 9057-9572 or thiddenstory@gmail.com
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday; 6pm to midnight
What: Having undergone a recent rebranding, Lil’ Tiger is now an unapologetic disco bar featuring sparkling disco balls, glowing Tala pendants and ’70s disco beats you can’t help but groove along to. On Friday and Saturday nights, the bar features a live DJ on deck. We’re also digging the fun, disco-inspired cocktails such as Boogie Wonderland ($25), a light floral cocktail with hints of elderflower and citrus. Bar bites like fish burgers and crispy onion rings also ensure you have the energy to boogie the night away.
Address: #01-07 11 Unity Street
Contact: 8884-6445
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday; 4pm to 11pm. Friday, Saturday and eve of public holiday; 4pm to midnight
Text: Rebecca Rachel Wong/Female