A new Orchard Road bar challenges cocktail conventions with a menu that swaps gin for tequila, sake, and even guanciale fat—all served inside a vintage train carriage.
What defines a martini? Ask a purist and they’ll likely say gin or vodka, a whisper of vermouth, and perhaps a twist of lemon or an olive. At The Singapore Martini Club, the answer is refreshingly simple: anything goes. This bold new bar at 1 Tanglin Road offers over 50 interpretations of the classic cocktail, incorporating everything from Japanese spices to cured pork fat, all served within a space designed to resemble a vintage train carriage straight out of a period film.
The concept comes from Dario Knox, the creative force behind The Backdrop, a speakeasy-style, cabaret-themed bar located down the road at Voco Orchard. As expected, theatricality is woven into every detail. Guests are greeted with a cheerful “welcome on board” at the door and escorted to tables decked with travel memorabilia—including a suitcase containing personalized ticket stubs for the bar’s lucky draw.
A Journey Through Flavor Stations
The menu is structured like a train journey, with drinks organized into “stops” that increase in potency as you progress. The journey begins at ‘Main Station,’ where three zesty options await. The Portofino Martini, a gin-based pour with summery, grapefruit-forward notes, is ideal for newcomers. More adventurous palates may prefer the Karuizawa, a vodka-based cocktail that opens with a distinct celery aroma before settling into a harmonious blend of shiso, green apple, and lime.
At ‘1st Stop: The Savory Martinis,’ the Tokyo Spice Martini swaps gin for tequila and introduces Japanese spices, delivering a savory pour with a lingering kick. Further stops explore tea-infused, fruity, herbal, and pop culture-inspired martinis, plus a section dedicated to dry classics. The final destination: The Sub-Zero Dirty Martini, prepared tableside with a thermometer in full view.
This signature concoction blends gin, dry vermouth, distilled water, and olive brine, chilled to a frosty -10 degrees Celsius. The result is a silky, almost thick mouthfeel that delivers a surprisingly clean, safe pour—though guests can amp up the savory factor with a side platter of juicy olives, cheese, and pickled peppers.
For the Daring: Guanciale Meets Martini
For those seeking true audacity, The ‘Guanciale’ Sinful Martini features a film of rendered guanciale oil floating atop a crystal-clear pour. Each sip is paradoxically rich yet crisp and dry, resetting the palate for the next. Extra guanciale fat is served on the side—a choice that separates the curious from the committed.
No modern martini bar would be complete without an espresso martini. Here, the version leans sweet, combining tequila, coffee liqueur, hazelnut, coconut, and cold brew coffee, accompanied by a side of charred marshmallows.
Bites and Practicalities
While the bar offers a modest selection of tapas—hummus with gluten-free rice crackers, bikini sandwiches, and chorizo bruschetta—the true star of the food menu is the olive selection. Four distinct varieties are available: Casolane from Sicily; black and green Picholine and Niçoise from France; plump Italian olives from Puglia with Parmigiano Reggiano shavings; and Spanish Gordal olives with feta crumbs. Guests are advised to eat before arriving, as the tapas are intended more for lining the stomach than culinary accolades.
The Singapore Martini Club makes a fair point: beloved espresso martinis and pornstar martinis aren’t technically “martinis” by traditional standards. Still, the bar makes concessions for purists with stiffer pours like the sub-zero dirty and guanciale options. For the die-hard martini crowd, Martini Bar at Grand Hyatt remains a safer bet—but for those open to reinvention, this spot checks most boxes for a fun, memorable night out.
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am; Friday to Saturday, 7pm to 3am. Location: 1 Tanglin Road, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, #01-01, Singapore 247905.