Stay Gold

Five years on, and Stay Gold's still gold. For the uninitiated, it's the award-winning cocktail bar hidden behind Flamingo Coffee & Wine along Amoy Street. Come nightfall, draw back the velvet drapes and step into the neon-lit room, with fun cocktails, pan-Asian grub, great hospitality and a solid soundtrack. 

The room is pure rock ‘n’ roll theatre: think framed portraits of guitar heroes, vinyl sleeves, and even a leather jacket immortalised on the wall. Look closely, and you’ll even spot a red Asia’s 50 Best Bars banner draped up – a humble little reminder that this joint is no stranger to accolades.

A glowing sign declares “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, a Robert Frost quote that doubles as both mood lighting and a reminder that your evening might spiral into the small hours. The playlist, meanwhile, flips between David Bowie, Santana and the occasional Jay-Z anthem, mirroring the bar’s own genre-bending attitude.

Drinks here are serious business, though not in a self-important way. Co-founder Jerrold Khoo has swapped out over-the-top concepts for The Bartender’s Diary Vol. II: The Mixtape. 18 cocktails, all priced at $26, presented in a journal-style menu filled with sketches and scribbles. Each drink is neatly colour-coded to categorise its strength, from light to strong. 

If you like your cocktail savoury and highly customisable, the Michelada is a no-brainer. Tequila Blanco, beefy tomato, lemon, simple syrup and Asahi lager come together in a combination that's addictive and slightly tangy. Alternate your sips – a dab of the honey Tajin rim here, a squeeze of lime there, and a top-up of Asahi whenever you feel like.

Another savoury number: the Mediterranean highball. Think aged yoghurt whisky as a base, topped with seawater soda, lemon shochu and simple syrup. But apart from the yoghurt, what really makes this taste like a European summer holiday is the garnish – a savoury skewer of olives, salami and gherkin. 

The spicy mango margarita is another easy favourite. Tropical, balanced and refreshing, it sees mezcal, agave and lime blended with a thick mango purée (using real fruit – none of that artificial stuff) and firewater tincture for some heat. The spice level is just right for us, but if you want your drink with a bit more kick, the team will happily fix that up for you. Those who prefer a little sweeter profile can go for Beautiful Monster instead, a vibrant tiki-style drink with banana peel rum, peach liqueur, lime and ginger syrup for a fruity, tropical base.

And since banana coffee is in trend, the Dirty Bananas — a classic espresso martini with a banana – makes absolute sense. It’s creamy and viscous from the fresh banana purée, its subtle sweetness elevated with raw honey and a delightful dehydrated banana garnish with whipped vanilla and cacao.

Food leans into chef Joanne’s Japanese and Filipino background. Staples like the mala quail eggs and fish tacos remain, but there’s also a whole new line-up of dishes, including a butter miso panccheri pasta ($18), a Taiwanese-inspired cold sesame udon with pickled mustard, black fungus and cucumbers, and Jeju pork collar skewers ($28).

The drinks 18 cocktails ($26 each) from the new menu. Don’t miss the savoury Michelada, refreshing and punchy spicy mango margarita, and the banana-laced espresso martini.

The food Chef Joanne’s Japanese-Filipino plates make Stay Gold a worthy dinner spot, too. Think hearty butter miso pastas, fish tacos and plenty of finger food to snack on.

Time Out tip Golden Hour runs from 5pm to 7pm, where you can enjoy selected classic cocktails from $17.

The vibe A neon-lit lounge with rock 'n’ roll attitude, music that will have you air-guitaring and a menu that will fuel you up.