Despite all of this, Singapore bars are still receiving due recognition with a dozen establishments making it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021, four of which are in the top 10. “Singapore is a global icon when it comes to cocktails. Bar owners here are more daring with their themes and recipes because of our cosmopolitan culture and access to exotic ingredients. There’s also a lot of cocktail awareness among consumers who know their classics very well and are keen to try something new,” he adds.
Life has been one very long rollercoaster for business owners in the F&B industry. Even more so for bar operators who have to deal with constant changes on dine-in restrictions, a clamp down on music, alcohol curfews and moving onto e-commerce platforms to retail their cocktails in bottled form, the latter a novel idea that has since waned.
“It is a tough industry. You don’t open a bar to make lots of money; it really is a profession fuelled by passion and creativity. The reality is the bar scene in Singapore is so sophisticated now and it’s getting more and more challenging to stay ahead and afloat,” laments Yugnes Susela, co-founder of Indian-themed cocktail bar The Elephant Room.
To continue reading our premium articles,
Upgrade your subscription to as low as $8.33/month to gain unlimited access to ALL of our premium articles!
Have an account? Sign In
