28 HongKong Street Review: Inside Singapore’s Famous Hidden Bar

Our 28 HongKong Street review began with a recommendation from our friend Goga, who had visited several times and always left satisfied. Singapore has no shortage of polished cocktail bars, yet this one still makes a game of being found: there is no grand entrance, and the address is also the name. Behind the unmarked door, we found a relaxed room, serious bartending and cocktails with enough personality to justify the secrecy.

The Ambiance at 28 HongKong Street

28 HongKong Street is a hidden bar in the most literal sense. From outside, we noticed neither a sign nor the sound of music and conversation leaking onto the street. The plain entrance gave very little away, which made the first look inside more effective than any elaborate speakeasy routine.

Inside, a long polished bar became the center of the room, backed by bottles picked out with careful lighting. The space was dim and discreet, with house music in the background, though the drinks naturally commanded most of our attention. It was an easy place to settle into, especially once the bartenders started working.

The reputation was already considerable when we visited. 28 HongKong Street was named The Best Bar in Asia in the inaugural 2016 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, while its 2018 global ranking placed it at No. 34. Those awards are historical rather than current badges, though they explain why this quiet address became so important to Singapore’s cocktail scene.

28 HongKong Street Menu: Then and Now

The cocktails described below belong to the menu served during our original visit. At that time, the list mixed house creations, aged spirits and competition drinks, including two Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition finalists from 2017. The bar now serves a different menu called Now & Then, pairing earlier house classics with newer creations built around seven cocktail-making techniques.

On the menu checked in September 2026, the signature cocktails shown were S$26 each before GST and a 10% service charge (To put that in USD, ckcokktail will cost you about US$ 24). The current food list includes small plates, sandwiches and dishes to share, so our old observation that neighboring tables appeared to be eating well is no longer merely a guess. Menus change, so the official website remains the best source before booking.

Our Cocktails at 28 HongKong Street

Vivi chose the Irish Goodbye, made with Teeling Irish whiskey and horchata. Fresh mint, cucumber and plenty of ice softened the whiskey without removing its character. The cucumber was more than decoration: it added a clean, refreshing note, while the mint prepared the palate for the next sip. It was a pleasant, well-judged cocktail.

The Rising Wind

I ordered a tasting of two Bacardi-based cocktails that had reached the 2017 Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition final. The first was Brandon Khoo’s Rising Wind, prepared with eight-year-aged Bacardi rum, pineapple, balsamic lemon and basil. Pineapple sweetness restrained the sharper citrus notes, and the basil supported the fruit without making the drink taste herbal. Light, fresh and gently acidic, it was the sort of cocktail that invited another sip almost too easily.

The Avante

My second cocktail was Shafiq Rahim’s The Avante. It combined eight-year-aged Bacardi rum with lime, ginger, mint, Bénédictine and Cocchi Brut. Ginger and mint were measured with restraint, and the sparkling wine gave it a brighter profile than the first drink. The only weakness was a shortage of bubbles, possibly because the bottle had been open for a while. Even with that small flaw, this was my favorite of the two.

Coppertone

Our friend chose the Coppertone, served in a low glass over a large, clear ice cube stamped with the bar’s logo. Its ingredients included Plantation Original Dark Rum, virgin coconut oil, five-spice pineapple and Angostura bitters. The spice blend brought cinnamon, clove, fennel, star anise and Sichuan peppercorn into the drink, while the bitters kept the pineapple from becoming too sweet. Coconut oil gave the rum a rounder texture and held the flavors together.

Conclusion: Is 28 HongKong Street Worth Visiting?

28 HongKong Street suited us because the secrecy never became more important than the drinks. We enjoyed the restrained room, capable service and three very different cocktails, with The Rising Wind and The Avante providing the clearest picture of the bar’s technical confidence. The Avante could have used more sparkle, though this did little to diminish an evening we would gladly recommend to serious cocktail drinkers.

For a very different expression of Singapore bar culture, our Atlas Bar Singapore review moves from an unmarked door to one of the city’s grandest rooms. Travelers who enjoy the search itself can also read why we continue to be drawn to hidden bars and speakeasies.

28 HongKong Street Review Card

• 8.7/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 8.7/10
• 9/10
  SERVICE – 9/10
• 8.9/10
  DRINK SELECTION – 8.9/10
• 9/10
  PRESENTATION – 9/10
• 9.2/10
  OUR DRINKS – 9.2/10
• 9.2/10
  VALUE – 9.2/10

28 HongKong Street Practical Details

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