Singapore isn't just a haven for street food and Michelin restaurants. An equal amount of craft and care also goes into our beverage scene – the oft-forgotten 'B' in F&B. 2025 proved that our bars and cafés are only getting more experimental and confident with their creations. This year, our writers and editors slipped into new bars and cafés and revisited plenty of old favourites, sipping on everything from classic cocktails executed to near perfection, to zero-proof drinks that incorporate mixology techniques, taking coffee to the next level. This is a carefully considered list zooming in on the very best, most memorable drinks we've had this year – and exactly where you can find them.
1. Twisties Sour from The Store
The Store is easily one of our favourite neighbourhood cocktail joints, with a discreet entrance, casual living room-inspired space and a comfortable, non-intimidating environment all 'round. Plus points go to its exceptional pours. The cocktail list has 12 interesting concoctions from a highly raved coffee kombucha espresso martini to a blueberry cheesecake-flavoured cocktail with Parmigiano-infused bourbon. But a go-to for us is the Twisties Sour – an ingenious take on a childhood snack with Twisties-infused Tito's vodka, and the snack itself served on the side.
"Actually not a huge fan of the Twisties snack, so this surprised me! It's light and refreshing, and with an unmistakable whiff of cheesy corn. You won't catch me eating Twisties anymore – I'll be here downing it as a drink. Word of warning: the cocktails here really pack a punch."
– Cheryl Sekkappan, Editor, Singapore and Asia
2. MF Martini from Gibson
We like to think of Gibson as the old soul and classy elder sibling in the Jigger & Pony family. The emerald-clad bar has been continuously slinging fail-proof spins on classic cocktails for a decade. Usually, the namesake Gibson cocktail is what we gravitate towards. Savoury and smooth in all the right proportions, with Roku, Ginjo sake-vermouth, and a trio garnish of pickled quail egg, daikon, and of course, onion. But this year, it's the bar's new creation – the MF Martini – that stole our hearts. Stiff, crisp, and served extra cold, it's got just enough salinity to keep you going back for another pinch of those murderously good fries.
"2025 was the year of the martini to me, so I was thrilled when Gibson launched their version of an adult happy meal – a martini that's made for fries. I love that this 2:1 martini is carbonated for some fine microbubbles, which work so well with the extra salty fries."
– Nicole-Marie Ng, Regional Content Director, APAC
3. Dog Days from Big Short Coffee
Here's throwing in a non-alcoholic alternative for our zero-proof friends. This hole-in-the-wall at Joo Chiat serves some of the prettiest craft coffee beverages we’ve seen, especially when they’re neatly lined up at the bar counter with tasting cards. The good news is that they taste as good as they look and are chock-full of flavour. Not to mention, a great deal of effort goes into making them – from using a 50/50 Colombian and Brazilian house espresso blend, to employing skill-heavy techniques from molecular gastronomy, cocktail bars and science labs. The menu changes every season, and one of this year's highlights is the Dog Days espresso, with an interesting mix of ingredients.
"Big Short Coffee may not dabble in actual cocktails, but their drinks flirt with mixology. As an Eastie who spends way too much time café-hopping around Joo Chiat, I wandered in expecting a typical coffee menu, but left thinking about the Dog Days espresso, which is mixed with clarified cookie milk, fig leaf and hibiscus tea, plus macerated strawberries."
– Cam Khalid, Branded Content Editor
4. Banana Calling from Offtrack
Offtrack isn't just a bar. It's a sonic sanctuary brought to life by two nightlife legends – Dean Chew of Darker Than Wax and Daniel O'Connor of Ice Cream Sundays – who had the dream of running a sunset-hued living room-themed bar with great beats and downright delicious cocktails. The space takes over a former disco den, so you can expect nights here to be filled with music, culture and community. Groovy live DJ sets play in the main hall while craft cocktails like the tea milk punch and banana-infused gin sour are shaken up by the bar. In 2025, we also celebrate Offtrack bagging the No. 23 spot on Asia's 50 Best Bars list – the second-highest ranking for a Singapore bar this year.
"My favourite bar understanding the memo by incorporating my favourite fruit into my favourite cocktail – gin sour."
– Farah Adilah, Campaign Manager
5. Peanut Alexander from Jigger & Pony
Jigger & Pony doesn't need an introduction at this point, but somewhere between winning its nth title of the best bar in Singapore and releasing its new Embrace menu this year, it's managed to stay relevant and at the top of its game. And that alone is worthy of applause. You've already sipped its famed espresso martini, pulled with a shot of locally brewed PPP Coffee, or gone through glasses of the popular yuzu whisky sour. So the next time you're back at Amara Hotel and flipping through the bar's well-designed menuzine, why not try something new? We recommend the Peanut Alexander if you don't mind a sweet-savoury combo, or the Basil Smash if you're looking for an easy starter.
"Frankly, Gibson's MF Martini and The Store's Twisties Sour – in that order – are my winners this year, but for the sake of variety, I'll happily share a third-favourite: the Peanut Alexander from Jigger & Pony. I love a savoury cocktail, and this one's a refreshing spin on the lesser-seen Gin Alexander. The smooth, nutty blend has cacao liqueur, cream and salted peanut as its base, complemented perfectly by the honeyed sweetness of figs."
– Adira Chow, Senior Food & Drink Writer
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