The Echoes of Singapore I Photo by Star Sabroso
Hotel bars often set the stage for a memorable night out, typically stocked with an impressive array of top-shelf spirits and staffed by award-winning bartenders, making each drink well worth the indulgence. If you find yourself in Singapore, be sure to start your evening at MO Bar, the flagship bar of the Mandarin Oriental, which is sure to impress.
Watch the video below for a sneak peek of their new The Echoes of Singapore menu:
On our recent trip to Singapore, we made the Mandarin Oriental our home base for a few nights, and we’re still dreaming about that unforgettable stay. The hotel’s expansive space and captivating atrium left a lasting impression. It’s the kind of place where just watching the elevators glide up and down is oddly satisfying. Post-renovation in 2023, the classic MO look is revitalized, showcasing a modern design infused with Singapore’s lush greenery through botanical prints peppered all over the hotel. If you book your stay here, the hotel’s flagship bar, MO Bar, overlooking the skyline and Marina Bay, deserves to be your first stop.
MO Bar is one of the best hotel cocktail bars in the Lion City and a regular on The World’s 50 Best Bars and Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. In 2022, it climbed the ranks on Asia’s 50 Best to secure the No. 8 spot while also earning the Highest Climber Award.
Sporting a refreshed look since its reopening alongside the hotel after renovation, and now helmed by bar manager Charlie Kim, the bar invites guests to enjoy a fresh perspective with a new cocktail menu, ‘The Echoes of Singapore.’
Featuring a selection of 15 cocktails, the Volume Six cocktail program captures the essence of Singapore. “It is divided into five different sections,’ explains Charlie. ‘The first one touches on the history of Singapore, leading all the way to the ever-changing future of this city,” he adds.
The first chapter, Past Echoes, pays tribute to the city’s history, featuring cocktails inspired by the Samsui women—Chinese immigrant laborers who played a crucial role in shaping Singapore—as well as the fading hawker trade that has defined the city’s culinary landscape.
As the menu unfolds, flavors shift through the Modern Interpretations, where Singapore’s geographical and sociological influences take center stage. The Innovative Future section teases the latest bartending trends through creative techniques that elevate familiar flavors.
Next up is the Industry Community, where local brands blend with international mixers to create cocktails that reflect Singapore’s unique spirit. Finally, there’s the Exceptionally Mandarin Oriental section, which includes inventive riffs on beloved classics like the Martini, Whisky Sour, and Old Fashioned.
There’s a dizzying number of cocktails to choose from, so to start with, try Charlie’s personal favorite, Miss Samsui (SGD 27), a riff on a Manhattan, inspired by the Samsui women the drink is delicate yet bold and made with Lapsang tea-infused bourbon, shochu, cherry liqueur and maraschino liqueur, garnished with maraschino cherry steeped for months in red wine.
A unique drink to try is the beer cocktail Hop ‘n’ Rol (SGD 27). “It’s one of the most interesting cocktails on the menu. By using a cold distillation method on the beer, we elevate its ABV from 6% to 20%. We then incorporate vodka and homemade passionfruit cordial to create a unique beer cocktail, served alongside a shrimp cracker dusted with masala chai powder,” shares Charlie.
Another standout option is the banana cocktail, a must-try on the menu. We often shy away from cocktails with banana notes because they can give off a medicinal taste when mixed with liqueurs and spirits. However, the Banana Dollar (SGD 26) defies that expectation by pairing Okinawan baijiu with banana liqueur. Topped with a silky guava foam and accompanied by an edible banana dollar note made of rice paper, this drink is a delightful surprise.
A refreshing drink to sip is the Haji Lane (SGD 26), inspired by the vibrant energy of the street. This concoction features a blend of herbaceous Husk Agricole Rum and Branca Menta, sugarcane, and Singapore’s full-bodied lager Tiger Beer. It’s so smooth and easy to drink that you might find yourself gulping it down in just one sip.
Not a fan of Martini? MO Bar’s version may change your mind. “The Mandarin Martini (SGD 27) is special to me because this style of martini got me into drinking them,” shares Charlie. “What makes it unique is the use of Old Tom gin and mandarin bitters, along with our secret ingredient: caper berry brine. Old Tom gin offers a delicate yet slightly sweeter alternative to today’s popular London dry gin, resulting in a well-rounded martini. While many martinis can be quite sharp, this one maintains its rounded flavor even as it warms up, allowing guests to enjoy it from the first sip to the last drop,” he explains.
If you want to check out the drinks before ordering, the menu features a fun viewfinder with a tinted reel disc. Guests can load the reel and get a sneak peek at the cocktail selection.
Whether you’re taking in the city skyline views or simply enjoying the cool ambiance, MO Bar delivers a distinct sipping experience that truly embodies the essence of Singapore.
Open from 5pm to 12am on Sundays to Thursdays and 5pm to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, MO Bar is located on the 3rd floor of the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore at 5 Raffles Avenue. For reservations, call +65 6885 3500 or email [email protected]. Stay updated with news and guest bartender shifts by following them on Instagram at @mobarsg.
Planning to stay at the hotel? Enjoy a special offer: stay a minimum of three nights and receive your fourth night free. Book today!
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