The best new bars in Singapore to have a drink at in the city

Brought to you by the same people behind now-defunct 21Moonstone, Moonstone Bar is a reincarnation of the original establishment that aimed to create a space that juggles work and play. The new joint on Amoy Street aims to be a 'Modern Community Centre', a place for people to gather over food, events and conversations. For drinks, expect tipples such as the Liang Teh Cocktail, a combination of gula Melaka, Fernet Branca and a rotation of gin infusions, which could be anything from chrysanthemum to luohan guo. Not into cocktails? It also has Guinness Draught on tap.  

Located at Tanglin Mall, along the fringes of Orchard Road, Metta is a quiet new spot where you can sip on its range of whiskies and gin from a comfortable long leather banquette. More than just a relaxing space to unwind, it also offers bespoke cocktails and bar bites.

Looking for a chill place to have a pint around the CBD? Hopstation is a new craft beer bar located near popular drinking holes around Club Street and Amoy Street. There are 13 beers on tap, offering pilsners, IPAs and stouts from Belgium, Australia, the UK and US and more at an average of $14 per glass. It also has a large range of craft beers available by bottle – including brands like Discow Macaw from Taiwan and Hitachino Nest White Ale from Japan.

You might not have heard about this bar that opened up quietly along the Keong Saik stretch about three months ago. No Sleep Club is a day-to-night concept that sells coffee, tasty grub and excellent cocktails. It's run by Juan Yi Jun and Jessica Hutch, both industry veterans who have worked at the likes of Operation Dagger and Proof and Company respectively. Expect the unexpected with tipples like Hay and Apples ($22), a combination of toasted hay scotch and fermented apples as well as Tom Yum and Melon ($23), a sweet and mildly spicy mix of carbonated honeydew with a Thai herb distillate.

Saying goodbye is never easy. Late last year, the Jigger & Pony Group shut down Flagship in its three-concept shophouse to the dismay of Old Fashioned purists everywhere. And it’s twisting the knife in deeper by replacing it with a bar worlds apart from its grungy, divey past. Live Twice is a complete metamorphism of the space. There are 14 drinks on the menu, with the first half inspired by classics you’d find in a Japanese craft cocktail bar and the latter named after geisha – hinting at the drink's individual personality and flair.

Its location in three historic shophouses reflects the same storied inspiration of Barbary Coast. On its first floor is Deadfall, a relaxed, laid-back watering hole that was common in the early 1800s. Toast to cocktails concocted based on colour ($14), or a selection of beer (from $6) and wine ($12) – all while you kick back and relax in a warm, rustic space accentuated with wooden beams, exposed brick walls, and upcycled shipping pallets. On the second floor at the Ballroom, you'll find mismatched floral wallpaper and expertly crafted cocktails.

The most famous bar in the world – so famous it even has a movie about it – finally opens doors at Singapore's buzzy nightlife destination: Clarke Quay. The Coyote Ugly Saloon is decked with the hallmark saloon doors, signature graffiti murals of Calavera Day of the Dead skills, marquee lights that spell out the legendary bar's name, and of course, the resident Coyotes who are ready to welcome patrons with their sizzling dance moves. Indulge in everything from the classic and Coyote-exclusive cocktails ($22-$24) to shots, premium spirits, wines and champagne.

Yugnes Susela, the former head bartender behind Smoke & Mirrors, is the brains behind The Elephant Room. For his freshman menu, he’s set his sights on Singapore’s Little India. The seven drinks are named after iconic sites of the area like Tekka, Jothi’s Flower Shop and Buffalo Road. The first is the bar’s signature tipple, a tribute to the heart and soul of the community – the food centre and wet market that residents count on for nourishment. Tekka ($22) blends Old Monk rum with coconut and lacto-fermented bananas. The Buffalo Road ($22) is another winner, combining pink guava-infused gin with vetiver and tonic that makes for a herbaceous G&T.