Consummate mixology highlighted at polished cocktail bar set within a restored Chinatown shophouse
August 21st, 2014
Unobtrusively located within a row of restored shophouses in the decidedly hip Keong Saik / Jiak Chuan neighborhood of Singapore’s Chinatown, The Cufflink Club has made a notable contribution to the local cocktail scene since its opening in 2012. Highly regarded, The Cufflink Club attracts a discerning clientele with its polished cocktails and relaxed sociable vibe. Founded by accomplished bar consultant and mixologist Joel Fraser, whose impressive resume includes stints heading up several famous bars at the forefront of the burgeoning regional cocktail culture, firstly at Der Raum in Melbourne, and subsequently, in 2009, as head of the beverage program at Singapore’s acclaimed Tippling Club. At The Cufflink Club, the focus is on first-rate cocktails, proficient service standards, and convivial atmosphere. Upscale yet unpretentious, The Cufflink Club has garnered a solid popularity among knowledgeable locals and well-informed visitors, and consistently rates in the upper echelon of local cocktail bars.
Behind its colorful facade of vintage Peranakan style tiles, the interior reveals a handsome bar space of understated sophistication, with decor of dark timbers, black leather banquettes and bar stools. An impressive long bar counter, attractively faced with green tiles, spans one side of the elongated room, showcasing the outstanding collection of premium spirits arrayed along the back bar. Several high tables out front cater to smokers and street-life watchers, with total seating at indoor and outdoor tables, plus the bar, for around 85 guests. On weekend nights the typically vibrant crowd spills out onto the street and can number up to 150.
Drinks from the concise cocktail menu are superbly well-made by the talented international team behind the bar. Working on the admirable principle that drinks with friends should be fun, the original cocktail creations of the mixologists frequently take on whimsical names and playful presentation, notwithstanding the sound technique and well-balanced construction of the libations. New cocktails are constantly being developed and the menu is regularly updated. Exemplifying the formidable talents of the bar team are drinks such as 50 Shades of Grey – Double Cufflink Club Earl Grey Gin, dry vermouth, lemon juice, egg white; The Walking Dead– a secret blend of 13 different types of rum, passion fruit, pineapple, sugar, spices; and the Berlusconi – Aperol bitters, pink grapefruit, mandarin, lemon and sugar.
The Cufflink Club opens Monday to Thursday from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am; on Fridays from 5:00 pm to 2:00 am; and Saturday from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am. Rewarding regular customers, the Member Society (by invitation only) offers a special price for a selected Cocktail of the Week – details posted weekly on the Facebook Page.
The Cufflink Club interior
The Cufflink Club creative cocktails
