Trust Cocktail Trail: What 5 bars to check out this year’s end?

This plant-based bar and restaurant is a future-forward member of Singapore’s royal list of best bars. Helmed by Native’s wunderkind Vijay Mudaliar, this bar relies on environmentally conscious substitutes – or analogues, as they call it – to present classic things in mindful and delicious new ways. In doing so, Analogue has created a bar experience that cannot be replicated.

Take its exciting drinks menu, for starters. Try inventive cocktails such as Blue Magic made with blue spirulina, jasmine kombucha, Goji berries, liquorice, and black cardamom – which raises a toast to algae as a renewable energy source. Other creative drinks include Soursop, which uses vegan honey as a replacement for real (and over-farmed) honey.

Don’t forget to line the stomach with its equally unique dishes. Favourites include the berbere-spiced jackfruit tacos with bottle gourd, which put a twist on underused local produce. We’re also fans of the black trumpet mushroom arancini with artichoke soy milk cream, and the nori fries with smoked beetroot ketchup.

And while you’re revelling in all the food and drink, you’ll be doing the same of the striking space. The bar’s interior features a 3D-printed countertop made with over 1,600kg of used plastic designed to look like it weaves and wraps around ornate columns.

There’s no shortage of excellent bars that line Keong Saik Road and it’s saying something that No Sleep Club stands proud as one of the best in the area. Its unique day-to-night concept means you can spend an entire lazy Sunday gorging on a roast lunch while sipping on a tequila-based espresso martini. 

The drinks menu boasts a wide selection of classic and inventive cocktails as well as natural wines. If you’re rocking up in the late evening, have an elegant tapas-style dinner featuring dishes like glazed sweet corn with coriander mojo, feta cheese, and citrus; and green gazpacho with tiger prawns, avocado mousse and red peppers.

No Sleep Club has two big names behind its operations, lending to its credibility as a must-visit drinking spot. It’s owned by Juan Yi Jun (behind now-defunct novelty bar Operation Dagger) and Jessica ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (a front-of-house powerhouse with the likes of 28 Hong Kong Street and EC Proof in her portfolio).

Three scene veterans – Jay Gray, George Abhishek, and Jane Silva – set out to conceptualise Sago House in 2020, adding to Duxton Hill’s existing bustle. Little did they know that their project would go on to be one of Singapore’s best bars and eventually consolidate its top 10 position in the Asia’s Best Bars rankings.

This rising star has a unique rotating menu where fresh twists are continually being executed on six classic cocktails: the daiquiri, flip, highball, martini, old-fashioned, and sidecar. Each new interpretation uses local ingredients and new techniques – so you’ll never have to drink the same thing each time you visit.

Some examples of recent wackily named creations include ‘Blanc So Hard, That Shit Cray’ made with Espolon Blanco tequila, French aperitif Salers Gentian, green kiwi oleo, and lime; ‘Odd Roy’, a blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, cherry amar, and maraschino; and ‘You Had Me At Cello’, a mix of rum, English Breakfast tea, jackfruit, and milk-washed limoncello bubbles.

This room with a view is one you can visit to impress your partner or friends. Overlooking Marina Bay Sands and the sprawling field of the Singapore Cricket Club, Smoke & Mirrors has become a go-to venue for a classy drink. But make no mistake, this bar is as much about substance as it is about style.

The bar’s signature The Real Art of Drinking menu contains 12 chapters inspired by various art forms such as paintings, architecture, cinema, sculptures, and performance art. Prepare to be floored by concoctions such as the James Bond-inspired ‘License to Kill’ featuring gin, whiskey, rice syrup, lime cordial, and oolong tea; or ‘A Wish’ dedicated to Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain made with gin, whiskey, Aperol, green tea, fermented grapes, and peach liqueur.

And why not get some food while you’re at it? Whether it’s the braised beef cheek with mash, slow-roasted lamb tacos, or wholemeal Margherita pizza you order, a memorable night is surely on the cards. 

Trust Jerrold Khoo from Jigger and Pony and Bai Jiawei from Employees Only to come up with a dual-concept bar this sleek. This Amoy Street establishment has a café in the front (Flamingo) and cocktail bar at the back (Stay Gold), so you can have a different experience depending on where you choose to sit.

Those out for a drink should head to Stay Gold for a slew of vibrant cocktails. Try ‘Ditamoni’, a creation with lychee liqueur, elderflower liqueur, and grapefruit juice; or ‘Fake Pina’ made with rum, pandan syrup, pineapple, orange, and lime.

The food menu is similarly out of this world. Nibble on not-so-average bar snacks such as crispy chicken skin with green mango salsa and ginger flower or scallop ceviche with kumquats and Thai basil. Continue with favourites such as grilled octopus leg with chorizo chimichurri or linguine with Kurobuta sausage, dashi miso, and charred corn.

Whether you’re in it for a casual bite or an after-work cocktail, Stay Gold Flamingo is the perfect embodiment of the ‘best of both worlds’.

For more info on Trust Bank Singapore, visit here.