Singapore, a vibrant city-state known for its dynamic beverage scene, is home to three of the world’s 50 best bars—pretty impressive for a country smaller than Rhode Island. Singapore’s burgeoning cocktail culture features an innovative approach to non-alcoholic cocktails, catering to the growing demographic of flex drinkers worldwide. Douglas and I recently visited Singapore for the third time, spending nearly one month there to return to our favorite bars and discover some new ones.
Favorites among Singapore’s top bars
Jigger & Pony, my favorite of the three on the 50 Best list, offers a unique twist on the traditional bar menu with its creatively designed “menuzine.” It not only beautifully showcases their extensive cocktail list but also features three non-alc cocktails, each crafted with the same attention to detail as their alcoholic counterparts. Currently on the menu: Seedlip, Lyre’s, and Melati, a Singaporean brand made with ingredients from nearby Indonesia.
Atlas Bar impresses with its expansive selection of gins and champagnes and with its stunning Art Deco-inspired interior. The bar’s menu thoughtfully incorporates non-alc variants of its cocktails throughout, allowing guests to enjoy the sophistication of Atlas creations without the alcohol. We tried and loved Farewell to Arms (non-alc London dry gin, lemon saccharum, orange, champagne vinegar), The Bluff (spiced apple, non-alc coffee liqueur, bergamot, wormwood), and Hope on the Horizon (yuzu lavender kombucha, non-alc agave blanco, kumquat, pomegranate).
Others for non-alc enthusiasts to explore
While not featured on the 50 Best list, Analogue and Fura are noteworthy mentions for non-alc enthusiasts exploring Singapore’s beverage scene. Analogue offers seven non-alc cocktails, from tea-based concoctions to ones containing black cardamom or smoked morita. Their Faux Espresso (toasted chicory, dandelion root, carob, toasted barley, cinnamon, coconut nectar, chocolate malt) is the best non-alc espresso martini Douglas and I have ever had.
Fura, a trailblazing new cocktail bar, is co-owned by Christina Rasmussen and Sasha Wijidessa (Christina was head forager at Denmark’s famed Noma restaurant—here’s more on Denmark’s beverage innovation, if you’re curious). The pair has designed an innovative, whimsical cocktail menu that includes adventurous creations like a Jellyfish Martini. On the non-alc front, their complex kombucha-based cocktails were an elevated, satisfying choice.
What’s next for Singapore’s non-alc scene?
Despite ample non-alc options in its cocktail scene, Singapore has only one dedicated non-alc retailer, Free Spirit, founded by serial entrepreneur Emma Pike. One explanation: we learned that the vast majority of cocktail consumption—alcoholic or not—happens on-premise. Singaporeans don’t seem to enjoy imbibing at home the way we do in the West. Nevertheless, it’s been wonderful to watch Singapore’s cocktail scene embrace the non-alc movement over the years, and we expect to see even more options the next time we return. As the non-alc scene continues to evolve, Singapore is well-positioned to lead the way with beverage innovation that rivals leaders like Denmark.
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Dry Atlas is a media company focused on alcohol alternatives. We deliver non-alcoholic beverage news, insights, and recs to over five million people annually. To stay up to date on all things non-alc, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
