This discreet speakeasy is one that makes sure stories told stay hidden within its four walls. Made accessible via a steakhouse’s freezer door, The Hidden Story pays homage to the legacies of those legendary illicit bars during America’s Prohibition juxtaposed against the rich Peranakan heritage of the neighbourhood.
Once you’ve found the entrance, make your way up a flight of stairs and lift the curtains to reveal an eye-catching bar top made from a single piece of Oynx. Lit from within, the centerpiece is definitely the first element to stand out against the deep emerald green hued walls and dark brown timber floors. Custom-made chesterfields, vintage Tiffany lamps, and antique tables – they all lend a bit of nostalgia to the space, as a nod to the neighborhood’s vibrant Straits Chinese and Peranakan heritage.
The same goes for the cocktail menu. You’ll find signatures such as the Peranakan Enclave, featuring a sweet tangy combination of flavours such as lychee and lemon – much like a punchy twist to a Gimlet. There’s also a charmingly stiff Lavender Negroni that uses Brass Lion’s butterfly pea gin, a perennial ingredient of Peranakan cuisine and culture. But in true speakeasy fashion, the bar is capable of speakeasy classics to please any connoisseur.
There is also a modest wine list curated to entice just about anyone – from budding enthusiasts to oenophiles – with old-world vintages such as the beautifully aromatic Rhone Valley syrah to new-world surprises like a bourbon barrel-aged chardonnay. Fans of the peated are thought of too as the bar stocks a solid range of whiskies from all around the world. Think familiar favourites of Dalmore or Nikka. But if you’re looking for unadulterated indulgence, you will not go wrong with the 25 year old Caol Ila.
Dreamt up by four bosom buddies, The Hidden Story is birthed out of the sheer wants and needs of serious cocktails in the East. As for the jaded tipplers of the East, this is the spot if you’re looking for a quiet respite away from the city bustle.
