Brooklyn Bar brings the grit, groove and soul of the New York City borough right into the heart of Ann Siang. With its graffitied walls, booming hip-hop, and unapologetically bold street eats, the bar is a living, breathing mixtape of Biggie beats and bourbon-soaked brilliance.
The vibe
You’ll spot it from the get-go: the Pink Panther chilling by the entrance like it runs the place. And honestly, you’ll want in on it too, which is why you’ll end up pushing through the doors without a second thought.
Inside, it’s a full-on East Coast immersion – brick walls, subway-style lighting, framed black-and-white photos of Brooklyn natives Biggie and Jay-Z, and hand-drawn murals of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man by co-owner and resident hip-hop head Mark Thomas, who spent two years soaking up the NYC streets before bringing it all back home.
The booths give you your little pocket of privacy, but the main bar is the soul of the space, flanked by three arches – a loving nod to the Brooklyn Bridge. Mirrors treated to look aged give off that lived-in, streetwise charm. It's got that comforting ‘come-as-you-are’ spirit, where hip-hop anthems echo off the walls and spontaneous debates about Kendrick Lamar versus Drake spark between strangers. When asked if he only plays East Coast hits, Mark admits that he finds himself squeezing in some West Coast and Southern rap, as well as contemporary remixes of classics by the likes of Frank Sinatra.
What we truly love is the community feel here. There are excited regulars returning for more and new customers trying something new. Mark chats to everyone here like they’re old mates, sharing cocktail stories and music picks. One moment he’s reminiscing about hosting a wholesome Father’s Day bash – complete with kids' pasta and baby chairs – the next he’s sharing his thought process on putting together the new menu, which was aptly launched on July 4 this year and comes with illustrations done by Mark himself.
Photograph: Time Out Singapore
The food
This isn’t the kind of bar where the food takes a backseat. Brooklyn Bar’s kitchen throws down comfort food classics with a punchy personality. Perfect for sharing, the loaded fries are golden and chunky – somewhere between a fat chip and a skinny French fry – smothered in beefy, cheesy spice without tipping into ‘jelak’ territory, even at the very last one.
Photograph: Time Out Singapore
But the one dish we can’t stop raving about? The beef birria tacos ($21). You get three on a plate and each flavourful taco shell is generously stuffed with eight-hour slow-cooked beef. We’ll let you in on a secret too – the spices used here are directly imported from the US, so you’re getting the real deal. Don’t skip the birria consommé on the side – one dip and your taco turns into a juicy, spice-loaded knockout.
Photograph: Time Out Singapore
The drinks
The new menu boasts "Damn good classics done our way," with nine cocktails (from $25), each with a personality of its own, much like the bar itself. The Milo Old Fashioned looks like your standard tipple – sans Milo’s iconic chocolatey hue – but sips like nostalgia. Think bourbon laced with Milo, hazelnut, amaro and chocolate bitters, served with a cheeky Milo nugget.
If it’s flair you’re after, order the Rosa Rosa Rosa. A tribute to Brooklyn 99’s baddest detective, this drink gets the fire treatment right before your eyes. A torched candy garnish releases smoky-sweet notes over a coconut-forward cocktail that’s surprisingly restrained in sweetness, much like Rosa Diaz herself.
Photograph: Time Out Singapore
And if you ask Mark to surprise you like we did, you might get the Lychee Martini, a clarified milk cocktail with fresh lychee-infused vodka, rose, Moscato and a spritz of citrus. Creamy on the first sip, it quickly reveals fruity, fragrant layers that’ll make you rethink lychee entirely.
Time Out tip
Planning a birthday bash or a send-off party? Slide into Brooklyn Bar’s DMs – the team’s known to throw a surprise or two. And if you’re bringing the little one along, give them a heads-up a day in advance and they’ll whip up some kid-friendly bites too.