Manhattan

Great selection of liquors, really elegant bar, and service is really on point here. I once booked the lounge area for a private event and one of my guests left something personal behind. Staff was able to track him down and return it. I’d come more often if it weren’t so out of the way for me.

If you’re looking for some impressive bar grub to go along with those cocktails, this is the place for you. From lobster rolls to ahi tuna fried dumplings, you’re all set to ditch the post-​drinks supper run. Dive for the fried bread & butter pickles which sets the perfect thrill to the numbing cocktails.
Drinks wise, fancy concoctions but nothing to shout about. They’re known for their aged-​barrel offerings which are essentially pre-​mixed concoctions, stored in an aged barrel but this pretty much means you don’t get to give it that bespoke twist which is all the rage these days.

D and I were taken here by our friends for the «Adult’s Only» cocktail buffet at Regent hotel, and it was THE perfect place to chat away for a couple date (or for large parties as well.) Like the name, the bar really takes me back to New York. It mimics the library bar in NY and the atmosphere is hip and relaxed at the same time, exactly what we were looking for on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It’d be a perfect place to hang out at night, though I only came here for the past three times during the day.
What prompted me for a review was this Adults only buffet that was only made available around a year ago. It’s a bargain @ $ 150/​pax, when most a la carte cocktail drinks are +_​SGD20 each. Try each cocktail listed in the menu in order, around 7 of them, and you’ll get more than your money’s worth. Every single one was delish and by the last one, we all had a good buzz. On top of that, it includes endless dishes of oysters, foie gras, crab legs, steak, and the best dessert selection I’ve had in awhile! The buffet selection isn’t expansive, but they present only the best ingredients so it was more than enough for us.
Book early, it’s usually booked a month in advance! (they take your credit card to secure the spot) and It’s open only on Sundays from 11:30 to 3:30pm. And as Peter L. mentions, it’s one of the top 50 bars in the world so it’s def worth a visit! it was funny to see what alcohol does to people– most of the people were still in their seats by their 4pm closing time, that the waiters had to kindly ask everyone to leave. will return again for daytime fun with friends!

Really really cool bar with dimly lit speak easy– esq type ambience in the beautiful Regent Hotel. You do not feel for one second like you are in a hotel bar. Amazing cocktails and personalized service. Great attention to detail. Only tried the tuna lettuce wrap bites and they were fantastic. Great music choice. Manager, Philip, takes customer service to a whole new level. Best bar we went to in Singapore.

Really cool bar with a really cool concept and space. But there are a few mishaps as well. OK — so the fact that Manhattan is one of the top 50 bars in the world was one of the reasons why I stopped by. And for the cocktails, the award may be well deserved. The menu is very creative, sectioned into various neighborhoods in NYC. The focus is on well-​executed classics as well as some house specials. Loved the violet hour (5 – 7) where you get a free drink and sandwich. I really enjoyed my classics like a Red Hook and a barrel aged Presidente. Service is solid, but the food is weak. Some of it was quite good, like the sliders. But the Mac and Cheese for $ 20 was micro, bland, and nasty, And this is where Manhattan will fall short compared to Anti: dote or even 28 HK, I will definitely be back for drinks, but it is better to fuel up on some food before coming here.

I haven’t quite found a drinking hole I like as much since I left college (and our in-​house college bar) several years ago. Manhattan bar hits all the right spots and has that quiet yet lovely bar vibe not unlike my old college bar.
It was a late evening when my friend called me up to grab drinks at 10 pm while I was not at home. I was told by said friend that it would be semi formal dress as Manhattan is a classy hotel bar and was recently named one of the world’s top 50 bars (congratulations, bar owners!). After a frantic half-​hour borrowing outfits I jumped on a cab to Regent hotel only to discover that there is no dress code. Of course one wouldn’t turn up completely dressed down, but if you aren’t in fancy dress, they wouldn’t kick you out!
The steak sliders I had were excellent. Their perfectly medium rare patties were quite the surprise, although my friend had already known this from an event she had previously been to at Manhattan. We ended up ordering two sets although we had both just eaten dinner. The drinks we had were also just right. I usually shy away from drinks with absinthe as the absinthe could leave an after taste that I don’t/can’t appreciate but the cocktail I had was fruity and I could barely tell there was absinthe in it. The fresh ingredients taste lovely with the liquors. For the quality of food and drinks, I’d easily award them four stars. The drinks and sliders are about 20-​odd dollars each and the bill came up to 135 for 2 sets of sliders (4 sliders in total) and 3 drinks.
The last star though was awarded for the atmosphere. It was quiet enough for us to talk comfortable but lively enough to be alone and not feel alone. A foreigner sat beside us nursing a drink alone, and he was soon joined by another chatty patron and his friends who noticed him lookong about the bar and decided to strike a conversation. Another solo guest sat reading a book. It was this friendly bar culture and vibe that really reminded me of why I loved the college bar despite its crappy drinks. Now if the prices here could be the same as a college bar, it’d be the perfect bar.

Super chill place. On weekday evenings it’s a nice place to decompress and on weekends it has the let your hair down celebrate the weekend kind of vibe. Some interesting cocktails and I like the customized Manhattan trolley service.

I was very surprised to see how lovely this bar is! The atmosphere is hip and the furnishings are gorgeous. Being in Singapore and seeing how beautiful the bar was, I knew it would be pricey and I was right. However, it is all about the experience, right? We met friends for cocktails. The men enjoyed three different drinks. I drank champagne. My biggest complaint is that every glass of champagnes was not very cold. Honestly, bubbly should be ice cold. I should have said something, but I did not. Our waitress was quick and attentive. They serve delicious salty/​sweet/​spicy popcorn that our table could not quit eating! Go to Manhattan for the atmosphere. It is lovely.

Today, friends and I made our first visit to Manhattan Bar to enjoy the Sunday «Adults Only» Cocktail Brunch. The Regent has taken the Sunday Brunch concept and given it a deliciously refreshing twist. From 11:30 — 3:30pm, we enjoyed cocktails (served by an amazing staff), and a limited buffet of delicious food (served in a dimly lit, elegant, comfortable bar setting.) Last but not least — there is a no children policy. All of this adds up to my new favorite Sunday Brunch spot!
The cocktail brunch menu choices leaned toward the sweet side. Wine and beer are also available and there’s an upcharge for champagne. It would be an improvement if they would double the number drinks on their brunch menu to a wider selection. I drank mostly Bloody Marys and added my own toppings at a DIY toppings bar. In order for you to survive the 4 hour marathon, the drinks are prepared a little weaker than normal. That’s understandable, but it would be nice if they would ramp up the alcohol content as the afternoon progressed. By 3:30pm, I was not tipsy enough and for a cocktail brunch — that is a major failure!
The food buffet items were all delicious: cheese board, oysters, lobster, prawns, scallops, seared tuna, numerous desserts, salad and bagel bar. Additional items (included in the price) are ordered from the menu: pan fried smoked foie gras, braised short ribs, and a BLT salad were especially exquisite!
The staff was attentive, gracious and amazing — keeping the drinks and food flowing without delay. This is some of the best service I have seen in Singapore and they were a big part of what made the experience so enjoyable.
The Good: The overall concept, the elegant bar setting, the staff, the food, the no children policy.
The Bad: Weaker than normal, sweet selection of signature cocktails. (I believe the simple fix here is to request options not on the brunch menu and ask that they make them stronger.)
The Verdict: The UP for the cocktail buffet is $ 150, but we each received $ 50 off for today’s Facebook promotion. If you enjoy a boozy Sunday brunch, give Manhattan Bar a visit.

I was taken here on a Sunday afternoon for their adults-​only brunch buffet, which features a bagel station, seafood (Maine lobster, oysters, crab) station, big big range of desserts, a small menu of hot food (to be ordered), a Bloody Mary station, cheese station… Um, I also drank a lot because drinks were free flow. What’s there not to love?
Seafood was fresh, bagels were made by a nice guy who brings it to your table, the foie gras hot item was very much loved, and all washed down with booze. You stumble home in a cab and enjoy the rest of your Sunday after this brunch. Service was also impeccable.
P. S. The prices are shocking.

just how gorgeous is that bar?! this place is all darkly-​lit elegance and chichiness, filled with beautiful, dressed up people. it’s firmly adult, which is to say that there’s a calm about here that’s very beguiling to this old soul.
an upmarket whisky bar in the regent singapore, there’s also a wide menu for your choice of inebriation. there’s also quite a bit of intriguing-​sounding food on the menu, though we didn’t have the stomach space for any of it. we did nibble a little on that complimentary bowl of popcorn, but it was a little stale from having sat out too long.
but everything sounded delicious — both drinks and food — and can I just say, this place knows details. my minty cocktail came with the cutest striped paper straw (so retro), and my partner’s more sophisticated glass held some crazy-​fancy ice. FANCY LOGO-​ED ICE.
it’s not cheap, but there’s a price to pay for such exclusivity and gorgeousness. the regent is a pretty old hotel, which doesn’t raise expectations, but you get to the bar, and it is this sleek, elegant box (you’ll know what I mean when you get there) lined with a cellar on the exterior, and tall black doors opening up to the perfectly-​lit bar.
one of my favorite bars, for sure.

I will make it short: I was there twice now. The food is great. Try the burgers, hotdogs and the apple pie!!! Good bourbon and whiskey selection. It’s fun watching the bartenders and if you are interested in fact around drinks they are the right people to ask. The menu is creatively designed… They divide it in different parts of New York with according recommendations for drinks and food. The interior is old fashion ’20 s alike. Nice chill… Not a hang out place die to the prices but once in a while :-)

[Edited after sobering up]
Ricky Paiva has brought with him THE BEST BAR IN SINGAPORE. Bar none. If you are experienced and know your drink, just have a look at the bar. This bar costs a mint in both its interior décor, the bottles of exclusive and extremely HARD TO GET liquor all the way up to how the bar is presented to the crowd. There is meant to be a rickhouse in the premises but I didn’t have the opportunity to develop the conversation for me to sneak a peek at it last night.
There is no live entertainment here but Ricky’s taste in Caberet style music background suits the scene PERFECTLY.
Manhattan is so out of place for a Regent-​chain hotel because I would have expected the more up market parent Four Seasons to host this or one of the 5 to 7 star hotel chains to ask Ricky to join them in their A-​Team. But what results is just FANTASTIC.
As Cheryl N (Ms Skinny Fat) indicated, this bar is very stylish. I wouldn’t go so far as her to say its nineteenth century but hell, she was probably having such a good time, it didn’t matter if she interpreted it as 19^th century or not. The contemporary setting seems to exude its own classic presence made up of marble, oak and leather and what results is just CLASSY even exceeding Raffles Hotel standards in my books. The point of it is that you can have a complete BLAST here.
I don’t have much experiences with Rickhouses but I do drink single malt’s and am able to appreciate fine liquor and wines and hold my drink reasonably well. With that said, let me walk you through what we had.
Food — Rebellion Burger and Street Styled Hot Dogs. Let me just say that I thought this is the BEST mini burger I’ve had. The meat patty almost MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. It beats Bacchanalia’s burger and makes most other burgers from any other hotel or reputable restaurant brands look lame. The Hot dog is DEFINITELY THE BEST HOT DOG IN SINGAPORE. We also ordered the Shrimp Ceviche Taco which was quite good but after the burger and the hot dog… we recommend you have this first as a starter because once you get into the burger and the hot dog, there is no going back. The green pepper Maize n Blaze is quite good also but again, do this first.
Drink — we started with the recommended New York Sour, a mix of bourbon, port, maple syrup, lemon, bitters and egg white and the 21 Club made up of gin, lemon, mint and seltzer water. I think people who like Mohita-​type drinks will appreciate the 21 Club and it is definitely a drink for those who don’t really drink to kick off the evening. The New York Sour is interesting and do require you to have a broader and more refined taste in your mixed drinks department to appreciate. Nevertheless, we enjoyed both immensely.
The alcohol content and levels wasn’t getting to us so we moved onto the Eighth Ward (think its made up of bourbon whiskey, vermouth, dry curacao) and Remember the Mame (bourbon whiskey and… don’t ask, I was enjoying it too much). These drinks will knock your socks off as the whiskey leaps out at you and the supplementary ingredients just brings out the drink’s own personality in its own very unique way.
If you’re a single malt whiskey drinker, these drinks might actually taste more gimmicky but Ricky has managed to add a level of sophistication and variety into these mixes that I feel they are just… WOW. Its like having one of those boutique beers for the first time expanding your appreciation of beers in a different direction and in a very unique way. What Ricky has managed to achieve just puts the icing on the cake in terms of a whiskey concoction. You simply cannot experience anything like this in Singapore… UNTIL NOW.
We were not fortunate enough to try their Negroni as they had run out and were waiting for the existing stock to take in the oak.
If you want to experience the best the bar has to offer. Strike up a conversation with Ricky or one of his senior mixologists (yes, that’s what they do in real bars and pubs). We did both and we were NOT DISAPPOINTED at the least.

If you’re opening an F&B establishment then staffing is an important consideration. And given Singapore’s cocktail bar explosion, it’s an increasingly difficult one. This new opening is reportedly helmed by a bartender named Ricky from a San Francisco bar named Rickhouse (no joke). I have no idea who he is. Maybe he’s a great bartender. But when I visited on a Saturday night I counted six dudes shaking things behind the bar and not only do I not know which of them was Ricky, I also don’t know which of them made my drinks.
Now I’m glad that Manhattan has found six dudes that know how to shake. That’s probably a minimum requirement. But I don’t know who they are and how much control is being exercised over quality.
What I do know is that my whiskey sour was poor and my rye old fashioned was average. I also know that the two waitresses who served me were friendly but obviously knew nothing about the drinks they were serving and could not go off menu for recommendations. Neither of these facts inspires confidence.
Look, the bar looks absolutely amazing. It’s a great space. I also bumped into a friend who has helmed bars around town — and he assured me the drinks he had were excellent. Maybe being an industry insider means you can sit at the bar and choose the bartender, the one you know personally. But for an average punter there is simply too much risk.

Had our monthly Fridays after Five here and we had a table of 11 near the door. I feel like every online magazine and «what to do site» basically printed their PR sheet wholesale, so this is my impression of the bar in plain English. Ill start with the good:
— This is in essence a hotel bar… dressed like it wants to be, well, a grand old den. Kind of reminds me of the Yale club on Vanderbilt Ave, but filled with wide eyed hotel guests and boring couples. Putting it out there because some people go to bars for things other than drinks so just saying.
— There’s a library of liquors up front with vats of good stuff, which is an interesting visual. I spent some time looking at the bar shelves too and they have a wide range of dark and white hards.
— It’s spacious enough that you don’t have to elbow someone unintentionally.
Elements that I didn’t like:
— Wait service is very impersonal. I mean blah blah blah whatever the concept is, if you don’t have good table hosts (I’m talking basic stuff like can you explain the menu? What’s good here? What should I get if I like something that’s sweet/​sour/​with xx?), your customers aren’t going to get it, whatever «it» may be. That’s how several people at my table felt when trying to order.
— I decided to try my luck at the bar with the bartenders. Took a seat and was only attended to after awhile (and no I wasn’t poking my phone or anything). Guy with a mustache asked if I had been served, I said no. He asked what I would like and I said «something sour, gin base» and he grabbed another bartender, told him to make a Stranger and… walked off. 10 mins later the other bartender just plonked the drink in front of me and asked if I wanted to open a tab. I think I’ve been spoiled by Jigger and Bar Stories but I’m used to having my drink explained at the very least when it’s $ 24.
— The drink was muddled at best. I tasted some bitters… yea don’t really know what to say.
— It’s opening week so I’m not sure who they are targeting for the crowd, but it had very out-​of-​towner feel, hence my hotel bar bottom line. I’m sure the usual bespoke bar crowd will come through once but otherwise the vibe was off.
— Is it just me or is the layout and décor a Bacchanalia déjà vu?
There are a ton of bars in town these days so you’re spoiled for choice if you want that made in-​house spirit/​liquer/​fruit syrup/​handcrafted ice chunk with a toy soldier embedded (yes that’s how over the top this pricey cocktail stuff has gotten), personalized service from bartenders that remember your name, explain their creations passionately and gorgeous décor. Manhattan doesn’t stand out on the most important of those fronts — their drinks and service, but it does have a sweet interior. I don’t think I’ll be back unless someone’s buying and giving me a lift to that end of orchard.

Walk into a time capsule of 19^th-​century glamorous New York right here at Manhattan, Regent Hotel Singapore. This 1 week old bar will transport you back to the Golden Age of cocktails and fine drinking with its craft bartending, artisanal spirits and luxurious environs. There was certainly nothing run-​of-​the-​mill-​hotel-​bar about Manhattan.
The 90-​seat bar is home to the world’s first in-​hotel rickhouse, where bourbon, whiskies and spirits, bitters and single-​cask cocktails are aged in American oak barrels imported from Minnesota. The rickhouse is run by American bartender Ricky Paiva who has years of experience under his belt, having worked at famed bars such as San Francisco’s Rickhouse which does some of the rarest, tastiest bourbons from around the world.
Manhattan’s Rickhouse uses the Solera ageing method and house blends are created by mixed fractions of the contents of the various aged spirits or cocktails.
We had to give the Solera Aged Negroni ($ 25) a shot and it came served with hand-​cut ice from a metre-​long showcase ice block at the bar. The Gin, Vermouth, Campari cocktail was citrusy with a light sweetness and very strong.
I was enthralled by NYC-​neighborhood-​inspired cocktails which are accompanied with gourmet bites that are reflective of each neighborhood and the melting pot cultures they represent. I was naturally drawn to the Upper East Side and SOHO but Wall Street and Harlem was appealing as well. Cocktails are priced from $ 18 to $ 25 and the fixed beverage menu will change every quarter.
On the Upper East Side, we had The Millionaire ($ 24) — Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum, Cedilia acai liqueur, Albicocca apricot brandy, fresh lime and house made grenadine. The ingredients and house-​made syrups are not kept for more than two days to ensure freshness.
The Princess Cut ($ 23) is a delicate G’Vine Floraison Gin– June fleur de vigne liqueur, fresh lemon, rose water and champagne.
The Rebellion Burgers ($ 20) is absolutely UES in terms of its quality and taste. Juicy Angus Beef patty served with a pungent but delicious tomato onion jam, artisan Nicosia cheese and butter lettuce sandwiched in a buttered and toasted paprika bun. Is it worth 20 bucks for 2 little bites? Well the boys said yes. Non meat eaters could have the tempting Maine Lobster ‘Roll’ ($ 26) or Veggie Burger.
On Wall Street, where life is bold and wild and never dull, i had the New York Sour ($ 23) — St. George Bourbon, ruby port, house made lavender maple syrup, fresh lemon plum bitters. I didn’t quite taste the lavender maple syrup but it was a delicious drink nonetheless. Pair this with the Charging Bull ($ 24) a petit filet with bourbon apple purée.
Wall Street served us the ‘BIG’ apple cheesecake ($ 10). I noted the irony when 4 baby Philadelphia cream cheese apple (mousse) appeared on crunchy vanilla sable. The rum-​infused apple cheese mousse is encased in a thin gelatin coating. Interesting but we’d price it at $ 8. It’s quite a stretch for $ 10.
If you’re up for something special, take the Manhattan Guided Tour ($ 35) with its tableside trolley service to create a special cocktail blending rare spirits with artisanal vermouths and bitters.
I would certainly be frequenting Manhattan Bar, before it goes too mainstream like 28 Hong Kong Street. For a celebratory after work drink, Manhattan Bar serves complimentary Raine Laws gourmet sandwiches during their Violet Hour. Now please excuse me while i have my drink.