The best bar bites in Singapore

On breezy and beautiful (or  ‘风和日丽’, as the neon lights on this rooftop bar proclaim) days, views of central Singapore, affordable drinks and seriously shiok ‘Dude-Sin’ food conceived by chef Bjorn Shen await. We’re talking chilli crab fries ($15) with a blue crab chilli sauce dip you’re meant to spread on waffle-cut fries, BCM Grilled Cheese sandwiches ($18) stuffed with cheese, pork mince and stewed mushrooms, and bacon lollipops ($16) slathered with maple syrup. Wash it all down with locally inspired drinks such as Stylo Milo ($19), a chocolate-y mix of spiced rum and Milo with hints of hazelnut and vanilla. 

Don’t let the sweeping volumes of rare rum behind the wooden bar distract you from Sugarhall’s excellent grub. Its recently revamped menu includes crisp endives ($14) that you can use to scoop up bits of Black Cow cheddar and pecans, and pork secreto ($19), a tender cut of meat known as ‘the butcher’s secret’: it’s brined overnight in gin and rolled in oats before the slab is fired up on the grill. Even the bar snacks menu has changed. We recommend zooming in on the cornbread ($12) that you’re supposed to spread with copious amounts of honey butter – so delectable, you’ll be ordering another plate to bring home for tomorrow’s breakfast.

With walls decked in cheeky vintage posters and a name that’s sure to raise a few eyebrows, Ding Dong is equal parts quirky and fun. Bar bites take the form of moreish rendang beef brisket buns ($21), inspired by chef Miller Mai’s grandmother’s recipe, and a crispy pork trotter ($29) that’s large enough to be shared among three. As for drinks, head bartender Angeline Tan shakes up modern cocktails with South-East Asian flair, like the Red Ruby ($22), a play on both the Thai dessert and a classic piña colada. 

Not one to rest on its freshly crowned Michelin laurels, Iggy’s has recently unveiled a new mini gastro-bar concept. Instead of splashing out on the tasting menu at the main dining room, order sharing plates like pintxos ($26), braised oxtail bucatini ($26/$34) and fish tacos ($22) à la carte. A meal at Iggy’s isn’t complete without pairing these
bites with a stellar range of reds and whites from Burgundy. Have it by the glass or test your knowledge by opting for the blind tasting flight ($65) of three glasses.