Yes, we like hidden bars! Maybe because of their tasty and more artisan cocktails, or a more relaxed atmosphere. However, the first hidden bar we visited in Singapore was at 28 HongKong Street. How hidden can it be? Where is it located? You guessed it! It’s right at 28 HongKong Street. That bar was the idea of our good friend Goga. She was there a few times and always left satisfied.
The Ambiance of 28 HongKong Street Bar
This time it was no exception, too. From the outside, you won’t even notice it. There is no sound of people chatting or music playing. There is also no secret sign that would point you in the hidden direction. And just like that, a step through the ordinary door takes you straight to the Narnia. Well, my idea of Narnia, of course!
To picture, a neat and dimmed room with a long shiny bar is hiding back there. Behind the bar the display of liquors are placed, which have well-planned lighting. Here at 28 HongKong Street, the ambiance is truly neat. In a word, it’s quite discreet with great house music in the background. However, the drinks got more attention. What else would you expect if capable hands of barista champions are making it? In 2016, it was chosen for the Best Bar in Asia. Actually, in 2018 it was on 34th place on top 50 bars in the world list. Yes, it’s a famous bar.
28 HKS Bar Menu
When we got the menu, we knew that no matter what we choose it would be an extraordinary and edible piece of art. Their cocktail list is extended and having some exclusive scotch is not a sin at all. I am sure they change their offer from time to time and add some new cocktail ideas. On our visit, there was a cocktail that got to the finals on the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition 2017, for example.
Our Drinks
This time, the Irish Goodbye got Vivi’s attention. It is made of Teeling’s Irish whiskey and Horchata. Horchata is a Mexican drink that can be made of almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley, or melon seeds. As a matter of fact, it is a lightly fermented drink that apparently goes great with whiskey. The flavors of fresh mint and few slices of cucumber covered the strong flavors and the generous portion of ice softened all the booze. On the positive side, the cucumber isn’t just a garnish, but a great addition to this drink. It adds some fruitiness and refreshes the drink. In this case, minty aftertaste is a nice addition, which wash-out the flavors and prepares you for the next sip. A pleasant cocktail!
Two Cocktails For Me
I had the degustation of two cocktails that were based on the Bacardi Rum. Actually, those are the cocktails that got to the finals on the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition 2017. My first choice was The Rising wind from Brandon Khoo. By the way, Brandon is also the barman here at 28 HKS. The base is 8 years aged Bacardi Rum with pineapple, balsamic lemon, and basil. It’s a refreshing and slightly acidic drink. The sweetness of the pineapple covered the pungent balsamic lemon taste. In addition, basil is very nice to contribute to the fruity flavors. That is a light cocktail that I would love to drink on and on.
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Second Round
The second one is the creation of Shafiq Rahima – The Avante. To point out, it is a bit stronger, which comes great. Made of lime ginger, mint, Bénédictine Cocchi Brut: for the base, he used the 8 years aged Bacardi Rum. Anyway, the ginger is measured thoughtfully, and it is a pleasant match with the mint. Fundamentally, it was a cocktail for a hot sunny day. The bubbles of sparkling wine were the reason that this was my favorite one. The only downside was the lack of bubbles. I guess the bottle was opened for a while and the bubbles ran away. However, this cocktail is a top-notch overall.
Coppertone
Our friend chose Coppertone, which is nice to look at and have a pleasant taste. As can been seen, it is served in a neat whiskey glass with the big slowly frozen ice cube with their logo on top. Why it is important that the ice is slowly made? Because it’s more transparent and it melts much slower! The ingredients in this cocktail are the Plantation Original Dark Rum, Virgin Coconut Oil, Five Spice Pineapple and Angostura Bitters.
Five Spices are actually Asian spices: of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechwan peppercorns. Angostura Bitters comes from Trinidad and Tobago and is made of water, alcohol, herbs, Gentiana, and spices. On the other side, the Gentiana gives the distinguished bitter taste. Owing to the bitterness, the pineapple comes to the forefront and coconut oil is the perfect lubricant that has well incorporated into rum.
Conclusion
Even though we came with full tummies our eyes spotted a few nice smelling dishes that the neighboring tables got. So, our guess was that there weren’t just good drinks, but also good bites. However, we were pleased with our selections and would recommend 28 HongKong Street Bar to all good drink enthusiasts. A nice ambiance with well-thought drinks, what can be better than this? If you like amazing bars, don’t miss out Atlas Bar Singapore, which is one of our favorite bars ever!
28 HongKong Street Review Card
- ATMOSPHERE – 8.7/108.7/10
- SERVICE – 9/109/10
- DRINK SELECTION – 8.9/108.9/10
- PRESENTATION – 9/109/10
- OUR DRINKS – 9.2/109.2/10
- VALUE – 9.2/109.2/10
Price and Location
Prices of cocktails here at 28 HongKong Street Singapore are about 20 – 25 USD, which is a normal Singapore price. Here is a link to a location in a case, you would like to discover this great secret bar.
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