Just when you thought museums were stuffy and boring… here’s where the National Museum of Singapore shakes things up with Muse Bar. With its modern, French, vogue inspired decor and whimsical furnishings, there is a certain je ne sais quoi to the joint that immediately puts you in a sensuous mood and entices you to curl up on the sofa with a drink in hand. The cocktail list is concocted by Sydney-based mixologist Mark Ward, so you know you are getting the good stuff, and not just some sloppy mixture. If you have the munchies, we highly recommend the Mini Burgers with cheese and horseradish cream and delicious Laksa Burritos to satisfy any cravings.

Where? Inside the National Museum.

History? The bar is right inside the front entrance, in a space that used to be a library – who needs a load of old books anyway?

What’s it like? If you like to prop up the bar with a pint of stout and a packet of peanuts, Muse is not the place for you. First of all, there is no bar. Secondly, the only beer on tap is Asahi and the snacks are not of the cheap packet variety. Muse is a mixture of modern and retro. High ceilings, pillars, huge armchairs and designer seats lend it a feeling of grandeur.
But with house music, LED lighting, stools that offer a potential pain in the butt and cool modern chandeliers, the concept feels muddled. Muse wants to attract a more elite customer, and the Krug Korner (an exclusive darkened room at the back) is most definitely the bait. The courtyard on the other hand is a pleasant, breezy space, especially if you’ve been trekking
around the museum.

The drinks? Try one of the signature cocktails such as the Spiced Bellini (cinnamon, star anise, clove and pear purée rolled with Veuve Clicquot; $30). 

Drinks from $12.