Shhh: Here're 10 Less Known Speakeasy Bars to Visit in 2024
Donât lose your way, uncover Singaporeâs best hidden bars!
2024-05-30
By
Letâs face it â weâre at that age where we cannot stand in a rowdy nightclub crowd waiting to be hit on anymore. Weâre all looking for a nice, laid-back day out at a quiet, unknown speakeasy bar, talking to our closest friends. If this is your vibe, here are some hidden gems you absolutely have to check out before 2024 ends. Our list of the very best hidden speakeasy bars in Singapore unfurls.
1. Night Hawk (Tajong Pagar Road)
đ¸ Bespoke cocktail bar hidden behind a tailor shop storefront
First off the list is Night Hawk, a hidden speakeasy in the Tanjong Pagar area. Itâs a small, prohibition-themed bar that can be a bit tricky to find at first. Look for a brown door in an alley with a hawk signâthatâs the entrance.
Inside, Night Hawk has cleverly utilized the compact space. There are small tables for 2 as well as cosy booth-like pods for larger groups. The overall vibe is dapper, sophisticated, and stylish. The signature drink, also called Night Hawk, is a must-try. Itâs topped with a rich coconut mousse and a delicate wax seal that adds a fun, playful touch.
đ¸ Bespoke cocktail bar hidden behind a tailor shop storefront
IG@tayloradam.sg
This bespoke cocktail bar is hidden behind a tailorâs shopfront in the heart of the CBD. There are a few secret steps to get into the hidden bar. After stepping into its elegant tailor shop storefront, staff there will ask if you are scheduled for a fitting today. Answer yes, and they will pull open a fitting room to reveal a classy bar within that gives off Kingsman vibes. Similar to the British tailorâs shop, their setting and menu area are also inspired by Singaporeâs history with Britain.
IG@tayloradam.sg
The menu is full of intricately concocted cocktails and themed in trade and travel. If youâre looking for a bespoke, tailored experience with a masculine touch to complement your new âmanned-upâ persona, then Taylor Adam is the place to be.
Taylor Adam Address: 1 Raffles Pl, #01-03, Singapore 048616 (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Mon â Sat: 5:00pm â 12:00am Highlight: A Farmerâs Bliss, Wabi-sabi
đ¸Chinese-style speakeasy hidden behind a provision shop
IG@mamadiam.prinsep
Beyond the magazine shelves at this old-school convenience store, the same folks have created a secret speakeasy bar concept. Stroll past the vintage entrance to reach a cosy, nostalgic space where you can drink creative cocktails all night long. Mama Diam brings back old-school vibes with a setting and menu that prompts Singaporeans to recall their memories.
IG@mamadiam.prinsep
Other than the novelty of the interior design, the bar and restaurant also designed food and drink items to bring us back to the bygone era. Mama Diam on the first floor serves a range of Asian- and Western-inspired mains and small plates, such as the gong bao chicken, and the curry chicken kueh pie tee with coconut foam. Inspired drink items include the âChai Tarik Brewâ served in an Oki sweetened creamer tin, and the âPandan Colada Fizzâ, a pandan-based mocktail with pineapple juice and coconut syrup.
Mama Diam Address: 38 Prinsep St, Singapore 188665 (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Sun â Thu: 4:00pm â 10:30pm, Fri-Sat: 4:00pm â 12:00am Highlight: Chicken curry kueh pie tee with coconut foam, Emperor herbal chicken poached rice
đ¸Chinese restaurant and speakeasy hidden behind a beer fridge
The restaurant is behind the beef fridge. IG@thedragonchamber
Within The Dragon Chamber, a hidden restaurant/bar is behind the beer fridge. After walking through a tunnel and knock the door, you will finally reach the speakeasy Chinese restaurant and bar. It is a haven for those who are looking for both excellent food and quality cocktails.
IG@thedragonchamber
It invites guests to step into a world where traditional Chinese flavours are reimagined with a daring twist. For example, the crowd favourite, the spicy Sichuan staple, is crispy batter-fried tofu slabs soaked in generous amounts of Chengdu-style minced pork sauce. Every dish promises a fusion of bold flavours and unexpected combinations that tantalize your taste buds.
IG@thedragonchamber
The eclectic menu offers the signature cocktails like the Concubine Cooler and Dragon Eye Mojito. If you are not sure what to order and want something novel and imaginative, just tell their bartenders a bit about yourself, and they will make you a bespoke concoction, specially tailor-made just for you.
Behind a mysterious entrance on Craig Road, Set of Six is primarily a cocktail bar and lounge. It is named and inspired by novelist Joseph Conradâs volume of six short stories published in 1908. Artfully decorated to reflect a time of elegant twilight soirĂŠes and sea voyages, visitors are transported into a world of mystery once they get past the apothecary-looking reception area.
Instagram@setofsix
Inside, youâll find a drink and Japanese-Peruvian food menu curated to represent each volume of Conradâs book. Each set of drinks on the menu is meant to evoke the spirit and intricacies of each of the six stories. The food menu is also themed according to the volumes of the book. For instance, the oysters with sherry foam and caviar with blinis represent The Brute in the Seven Seas.
Set of Six Address: 20 Craig Rd, #01-01, Singapore 08969 (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Mon â Sat: 4:00pm â 12:00am Highlight: Lobster and fennel ravioli, The Brute in the Seven Seas
đ¸ Umeshu-centric speakeasy hidden behind a row of Japanese vending machines
IG@shinanoworld
If youâre seeking something beyond the typical Western bar experience, look no further than Ume San 100, Singaporeâs first umeshu and highball bar! Discreetly tucked away in Fortune Centre, the speakeasy bar is hidden behind the colourful row of Japanese-inspired vending machines. To enter, you must push the blue vending machine that sells condoms. Yes, you heard that correctly!
IG@shinanoworld
Besides the Instagram-worthy facade, this viral hidden bar in Singapore also has a unique specialization: it is the only bar in Singapore that focuses on Umeshu (Japanese plum wine). It boasts Singaporeâs largest collection of umeshu and more than 100 drink varieties to savour.
Ume San 100 Address: 190 Middle Rd, #02-07 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979 (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Mon â Suun: 5:00pm â 11:00pm Highlight: The Kotsuzumi Umeshu, Highball, Blueberry Hinode Mocktai
Step into a different era as you push through the freezer door of the steakhouse, Stirling Steaks. From plush sofas to custom Tiffany lamps, it creates a vintage charm that surrounds you. The cocktails are inspired by Katongâs rich Peranakan history, offering a taste of the neighbourhoodâs vibrant past. So, if youâre craving an unforgettable night out with a touch of mystery and history, The Hidden Story awaits your discovery.
The Hidden Story Address: within Stirling Steaks, 115A East Coast Road, Singapore 428804 (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Mon â Sat: 6:00pm â 12:00am Highlight: XYZ,
Cat Bite Club is a secret new bar, conceptualized by Jesse Vida and Gabriel Lowe, which opened at Duxton Hill in 2023. This unique agave-focused bar is hidden below a glowing red sign of a mischievous Cheshire cat grin. The bar specializes in agave and rice spirits and offers a chic drinking den highlighting the personality traits of a cat â excited, curious, and a little bit naughty â to the delight of customers.
đ¸ Retro Hong Kong tapas and cocktail bar hidden behind emerald green walls
IG@cct.sg
Tucked between two spas on Lavender Street, CCTâs jade green exterior and antique scissors gate offer subtle clues to its hidden charm. Step inside, and youâll be transported to 1990s Hong Kong film and culture. Neon-lit old-school furniture sets the scene as renditions of Cantonese classic songs fill the air.
IG@cct.sg
Drawing inspiration from the bustling cha chaan tengs (čśé¤ĺ ) of Hong Kong, CCTâs menu is an immersive fusion of tradition and innovation. Along with HK Cha Chaan Teng style dishes such as the âHar Cheong Tin Gaiâ (Fried frog legs in homemade fermented shrimp paste) and the âWu Tau Goâ (Traditional yam cake with a twist), it brings you back to Hong Kong. Also, you can savour innovative cocktails paying homage to A-list HK stars and movies like Bruce Lee. Itâs definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
Cha Chaan Teng Address: 284 Lavender Street (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Mon â Sun: 5:00am â late, Tue Closed Highlight: Har Cheong Tin Gai, Zyu Yuhk, Daahn Taat
Since its debut in October 2023, Chandu has introduced a unique concept to Singaporeâs cocktail landscape. The bar is designed like an opium joint from the past, and each of its cocktails has a story inspired by colonial Singapore. The bar offers a personalized experience where guests can choose their preferred cocktail profile from four categories: Light and Clean, Casual and Easy Drinking, Bitter and Complex, and Strong and Classy. Ingredients sourced daily from local street markets and urban farmers ensure freshness and quality in every sip.
Instagram@chandubarsg
To get there, you have to follow the moon at the rear of The Robertson House Thereâs no name, thereâs no sign. When you see the golden moon handle and a peephole, venture through the black doors into the bar. Are you ready to start the adventure?
Chandu Bar Address: 1 Unity Street (Google Maps) Opening Hours: Sun â Wed: 5:00pm â 12:00am, Thu â Sat: 5:00pm â 1:00am Highlight: Death or taxes, Mata Hari
Our reviews and recommendations are honest and not influenced by compensation or sponsorship. Unless stated otherwise, we do not receive payment or free products for positive reviews. Any compensation or products received for reviews will be disclosed in the relevant post.
