Internationally celebrated Singapore speakeasy bar introduces new cocktail menu and refurbished interior
June 10th, 2015
Modeled on the influential New York speakeasy bars that in the early 2000’s led the modern revival of cocktail culture, standout Singapore cocktail bar 28 Hong Kong Street set a new benchmark for cocktail excellence in the city when it opened in late 2011. Consistently delivering a consummate cocktail experience, 28 Hong Kong Street (28HKS) continues to attract a discerning crowd with its high-quality drinks, knowledgeable bar service, and understated sophistication. While the nondescript shophouse facade takes its cue from the hidden entrances of American speakeasies, adopting the street address as its name helps reduce the sleuth factor in locating 28HKS. Widely acclaimed by respected international industry peers, 28HKS has garnered numerous prestigious awards such as consecutive top 10 rankings in the 2013 and 2014 lists of Worlds 50 Best Bars by the London-based Drinks International trade publication; and Best International Cocktail Bar 2014 at the New Orleans-based Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Conveniently located on the fringe of Singapore’s CBD, 28HKS occupies a ground floor space among a row of unremarkable commercial shophouses. Behind the utilitarian doorway, a comfortable space of warm timbers, leather upholstery and subdued lighting exudes a relaxed and sociable vibe. Recently refurbished, the impressive marble-topped bar is backed by ceiling-high shelves showcasing the 700+ labels of independent craft spirits that anchor the cocktail program at 28HKS. In addition to the prized seats at the bar, a series of small table settings are comfortably spaced while a private room at the rear offers exclusivity for small groups.
Focusing on highest quality ingredients and exemplary bartending technique, the new cocktail menu at 28HKS embraces the evolution of cocktails in three groupings of cocktails, commencing with renditions of the earliest “Ancestral” drinks of the 19th Century; through a “Renaissance” period as cocktail culture re-booted into the modern era in the 2000’s; and finally to the contemporary cocktail experience, where imaginative flavour combinations and premium craft spirits elevate cocktails to new heights. Among the encyclopaedic range of spirit bottlings, standouts include the deep selection of American whiskey, aged rums, and artisanal agave spirits. Complementing the polished cocktails, an appetizing bar food menu of classic American comfort foods include favourites such as the exalted Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls, and the popular House Burger.
Invariably at the top of their game, the team at 28HKS enjoy an elevated status within Singapore’s burgeoning cocktail bar scene, and the bar is routinely packed with an appreciative clientele. Open Monday to Saturday from 5:30pm, reservations are strongly recommended.
28HKS: inside the bar
28HKS: highlights from new cocktail list
