Gone are the days of over-the-top New Year’s Eve parties with guests spilling out of their seats as drinks pour out of their cups. With our communities back in full swing after a period of isolation, this year has been about swapping out ostentatious socialisation for genuine connection.
In that vein, commemorating the closure of 2022 may look slightly different from holiday parties of years past. Instead of flocking to nightclubs and flashy bars in droves, this new era calls for a more meaningful type of celebration. Look to the bars known only to insiders for their delicious tipples and impenetrable ambience—like Sugarhall, the homegrown rum-focused cocktail pub that has reopened this year after a four year hiatus. Dressed in antique wood and retro lampshades, the sophisticated tavern is a worthy venue to gather in with your closest friends as the clock strikes midnight.
Elsewhere, Indian-influenced speakeasy Barood oozes quiet mystery with its dark walls and plush leather couches, while caviar bumps at unconventional wine hall Corduroy Palace puts a dive bar spin on fine dining. Seated along Duxton Road, It-restaurant Marcy’s puts equal finesse into creative plates of seafood as they do craft cocktails which pack a punch. In the lead up to New Year’s Eve, find all the spots on Vogue’s shortlist of the chicest restaurants and bars in Singapore to spend the final night of the year in.
1 / 7
El Chido
El Chido might be perched atop of Pullman Singapore Hill Street but you don’t have to be a hotel guest in order to visit this Mexican bar. The intimate spot boasts a rooftop pool as well as lounge seats as you indulge in snacks like moreish tacos and tantalising sliders. With table service available right in the waters, one might also be enticed to take a dip and celebrate the starry night with craft cocktails of mezcal and tequila, before catching the fireworks on full display.
El Chido, 1 Hill St, Pullman Singapore, Singapore 179949
2 / 7
Sugarhall
For a truly elusive countdown experience, sneak into rum-centric speakeasy Sugarhall, a well-kept secret within Singapore’s cocktail bar scene. Bring your (liquid) appetites, for the cocktails at Sugarhall are bonafide works of art. Opt for the French 86 if you prefer your tipples sweet, or go straight for the Espresso Martini—one of the best in town. Look forward to punch bowl specials to celebrate the end of the year. With flavours like Caribbean Party and Giggle Juice being ladled out liberally, we recommend bringing a group of friends to make merry with.
Sugarhall, 19 Cecil Street, Singapore 049704
3 / 7
Offtrack
If you’re up for jiving to ambient beats sans the cluttered club setting, Offtrack’s got you covered—with the option of sitting down when those heels start hurting. With music at the forefront of this bar, its New Year’s eve line-up boasts of Bongomann from Ice Cream Sundays and Daryl Knows from Darker Than Wax. Make sure to also call for their festive special—Lechon Porchetta, doused with chestnut brown butter gravy and a side of Thai salad. That alongside delicious tipples and candid stills drowned in mood lighting? Sounds like a fab way to close out the year.
Offtrack, 34 N Canal Rd, #01-01, Singapore 059290
4 / 7
Appetite
A one-of-a-kind concept in Singapore, Appetite is a venue tailor-made for creative souls. Helmed by Michelin-starred head chef and founder Ivan Brehm, the art studio-cum-experimental kitchen is a show space for the intersection of all of Brehm’s myriad interests. Expect tasty small plates courtesy of Brehm’s talented kitchen team, deliciously creative cocktails and the smooth sounds of vinyl crooning all night long. Think of it as a house party of epic proportions thrown by your chicest friend, if you will.
Appetite, 72A Amoy St, Singapore 069891
5 / 7
Marcy's
Craft cocktails are a huge pull at Marcy’s, but there are more merits to ringing in the year in this opulent space. Behind lush velvet curtains, the alluring dining room is where you can tuck into seafood delights, which happen to form the restaurant’s best strength. From raw seafood to heavier plates (they do a mean malfadine pasta with red prawns, coated in a shellfish sauce spiked with lime leaf), your last meal of 2022 would be deftly assured here.
Marcy’s, 39-40 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089503
6 / 7
Barood
Shrouded in low lighting and mood music, modern Indian restaurant Revolver’s sister establishment is the glamorous Barood—an elegant cocktail bar on Tras Street. Within Barood’s plum-coloured walls, you’ll find both inventive tipples that pack a punch without compromising on flavour, and delectable fusion food laced with Indo-Japanese influence. When it comes to its New Year’s Eve menu, don’t miss out on the moreish Goat Biryani Arancini, or the Otoro Tostadas—a crisp papdi cracker laden with yuzu-marinated otoro.
Barood, 56A Tras Street, Singapore 078977
7 / 7
Corduroy Palace
At Corduroy Palace, the ambience makes for decent company—think the unassuming backdrop of its dim maroon canopy, the cacophony of glasses clinking together and hip hop beats thumping. It feels instantly right to get up and groove from where you are, but if not, take your seat in one of the dining room’s cushy booths as you indulge in everything from copious servings of caviar-laden xiao long baos to delectable sammies.
Corduroy Palace, 10 Amoy Street, Gemmill Ln, #01-02, Singapore 069930
