[category]
[title]
Tucked away inside a slightly scruffy-looking beer bar on Aliwal Street happens to be our favourite cocktail opening of the year so far. The 21-seater Players Table is the brainchild of industry veterans Jasper Tan and Marcus Ezekiel Low, whose names cocktail regulars will recognise from places like MOGA – where the duo met – Anti:Dote, Barbary Coast and more.
To get here, you'll first need to locate WitBier – Marcus' family's bar – and walk past the pool table, before reaching a nondescript black door with a cryptic sign that reads "Players Only". Push past it, and you'll feel like you've entered a secret room of sorts, with glowing lights, a couple of low seats and a bar counter. It's stripped back, unfussy, straightforward.
And the menu sings the same tune: 12 signature drinks built around two core ingredients each, eight classic cocktails, three non-alcoholic options and over 10 kinds of bar bites. The signature cocktails are what you want to zero in on, presented without over-the-top garnishes and complicated mixology techniques. But that doesn't mean you should pass off Players Table as just another casual neighbourhood bar – the drinks will surprise you with how incredibly balanced, layered and well thought out they are.
Take a sip of Bell Pepper x Melon ($23), and you'll get what we mean. On the nose, you get an unmistakable whiff of bell pepper, supported by the oaky, vanilla flavours of aged Topanito Reposado, followed by a hint of melon that rounds it out. The melon is subtle, but not to the point that it's undetectable. Equally impressive: Mugicha x Shiso ($23). Nikka Coffey gin forms the base, and the Japanese roasted barley tea gives the drink its warm, toasted flavour, while shiso complements it nicely. But it's the addition of shikuwasa (Okinawan lime) that's truly genius, slipping in a hint of acidity that works extremely well with the soda.
We've seen and tried enough mango cocktails to know the difference between a good and a great one, and Players Table's Mango x Bird's Eye Chilli ($24) is definitely the latter. The cocktail features La Cofradia Reposado, and each sip is delightfully sweet, sour and spicy at the same time, ending with a potent kick from the bird's eye chilli that hits your chest. Fresh mangoes give it the flavour of properly ripe fruit rather than an artificial syrup, and adding to the creaminess and thick structure of the drink is a house-made salted caramel that's rich but not cloying.
Espresso x Guinness ($24) is a more predictable combination, except that coffee liqueur is substituted with a coffee reduction. And while we expect slightly more heft and bold flavours given the ingredient list – Guinness Draught, Teramana Reposado, sherry and the like – it turns out to be on the thinner and more refined side with gentle notes of black cardamom and pleasant fruity flavours.
Other combinations include watermelon and basil, hazelnut and earl grey, as well as strawberry and hojicha, which all make use of familiar, approachable ingredients. Pandan x Coconut ($23) and Sencha x Yuzu ($24) are Jasper and Marcus' picks, respectively, but for something a little more unconventional, order the Dealer's Choice of the Week, which, at launch, features osmanthus oolong-infused cognac with strawberry vermouth and bergamot. Or you can flip the page and pick from a spread of eight classics, including martinis done dry or dirty, Vespers and whisky sours. They're all decent, though we'd highly recommend giving the signatures a chance first.
In terms of food, unless you're planning to order a cheeseburger ($23) and fries ($10), we suggest having dinner before showing up. There are other munchies like grilled chicken wings, sausages and pork belly, as well as simple finger food like edamame and chicken karaage to just line the stomach, but for something more unique, go for the gyoza-stuffed wings ($18), which are grilled chicken wings piped with gyoza filling and paired with a piquant sauce reminiscent of chicken rice chilli.
Time Out's rating: 5/5
It's been a while since a bar has surprised us like this. The whole 'hidden bar' or 'bar within a bar' concept isn't exactly new anymore, but apart from having to poke around a little to find it, Players Table leaves the theatrics at the door, quite literally. The concept is simple, but it's evident that much research and testing have gone into getting every component and detail of the cocktails right. The result speaks for itself – the drinks are precise, polished and unpretentious. We'll be back.
Players Table is located inside WitBier on 14 Aliwal Street, Singapore 1999907. Opening hours are 6pm to midnight from Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins only.
READ MORE:
5 coolest new bars in Singapore you need to visit right now
Three unique private home dining experiences in Singapore to have on your radar in 2026