Bars are aplenty in our metropolis, and we're spoiled with the selection of award-winning bartenders. Yet, ask anyone what their favourite bar is and the justification for their choice is often its ambience. You yourself probably gatekeep some, especially if they're tucked away in an intimate corner.
In terms of bars with a view, The Dead Poets Society Bar is up there (hur). Clocking in 60 floors of altitude and opening its gander towards the heart of Singapore, the space is surprisingly small in the best way.
It's also not exactly the kind of bar one chances upon. You're required to take two elevators and an escalator, but footfall is not something its owner is worried about. It's a hideaway, not a space for pushing profit, he says.
With a business background in sake and previously managing his own outpost in town, James acknowledges the dollar necessities, but envisions more for The Dead Poets Society. Elevated (double hur) in what it can provide its patrons.
We don't revisit bars for practical reasons. We may visit some for social purposes, but only return if they give a little escapade from the world. A respite to appreciate the moment when stepping away from life's humdrum is quite like the poetry James is fond of. Oscar Wilde, in particular. And yes, the bar inherits its name from the film.
You'll find his own quotes alongside the movie in his menu. Which was interestingly first crafted from digitally drawn visuals, then after the names he bestows each. Sichuan peppercorn infused whisky as a spicy spin on a highball (and a nod to the famed restaurant just next door), an exemplar of the best in-house sakes and more are just some of the tipples to expect.
It's no surprise James mentions Manhattan bar as one personal choice. You get a pocket of its elegance here with jazz, blues and the Singapore skyline as your backdrop. If loud festive revelry is not your thing, find your poison in a quiet celebration. Since the bar freshly made its official debut in November, we recommend saving yourself a seat. Whether or not you gatekeep it, is entirely up to you.
Make your reservations at The Dead Poets Society
