Singapore Is One of the World's Most Exciting Cocktail Destinations-Here's Where to Drink, According to One of Its Pioneer Bartenders

"On any given night in Singapore, Peter Chua is at Night Hawk watching a guest debate between a rum cocktail with shiitake mushroom Campari and a gin-and-mezcal cocktail with fortified wine and pickled beetroot. A decade ago, that same customer would have been choosing between three versions of a mojito. Few know this scene better than Chua, co-owner of Night Hawk and bartender of nearly two decades. Chua is often credited as one of the pioneers of modern mixology in Singapore."

"Back when he started, Chua said simple cocktails dominated menus, and there was a very different demographic of clientele. "The cocktails that we made back then were multiple variations of mojitos, and most of the guests who were drinking cocktails just wanted something easy, approachable, and with the strength to get intoxicated as quickly as possible," he told Travel + Leisure."

""Almost like how a mixed martial artist blends different fighting styles into something violently potent," Chua said. "The bartenders here blend the best knowledge and techniques from both the Western and Asian worlds into something of our own." That fusion has created a bar scene that feels both cosmopolitan and distinctly Singaporean."

Peter Chua works at Night Hawk and oversees evenings where inventive cocktails compete for attention. A decade ago customers mostly chose among mojito variations. Cocktails once prioritized ease, approachability, and quick intoxication. Eleven Singaporean bars placed on Asia's 50 Best Bars list in 2024, and Night Hawk ranked No. 16, reflecting a major transformation. The city now shows strong demand for creative craft cocktails and international recognition. Bartenders combine Western and Asian techniques and ingredients to produce a distinctive fusion style. The resulting bar scene feels both cosmopolitan and distinctly Singaporean. Nightlife options span varied flavor profiles and curated bar-hopping experiences.

Read at Travel + Leisure