MO BAR Singapore Introduces a New Cocktail Menu
Following this bar’s recognition as one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars earlier this year in May 2020, MO BAR rolls out its new cocktail menu. Honestly one of my favourite bars in Singapore, MO BAR has innovative cocktails, an equally good food menu to complement the flavourful drinks, and a gorgeous view of the Marina Bay to cap it all off.
Seen as a continuation of the journey seen in the first two volumes the new menu explores innovative ways to connect with the rest of Asia Pacific in a time of less travelling and limited nomadic movement.
Due to the pandemic this year, the team has embraced the new normal with virtual guest shifts from some of the top bars across the Asia Pacific. These include renowned venues such as Vesper in Bangkok, Alice Cheongdam from Seoul, The Curator in Manila, New Delhi’s Sidecar and more. Each drink draws inspiration from the team’s time spent with one of these regional partners, integrating unique flavours, ingredients and techniques from their home country.
Following the format of previous menus, an illustrated star map introduces the collection of cocktails, with symbols indicating the strength of each drink as well as its serving style so guests can get a preview of what they’ll receive.
In case you’re going with friends who don’t take alcohol, the first four drinks on the menu offer both a non-alcohol and an alcoholic option. Now your friends don’t have to settle for boring classic mocktails but can actually get a taste of MO BAR’s amazing cocktails without the spirit!
Of course, if you’re there for a boozy evening, go for the alcohol version. Trust me, you won’t regret it. There’s wasn’t a cocktail on the new menu that I didn’t like, but I do have my favourites.
At the top of my list is the cocktail ‘Thunder’. Drink in the flavours of Singapore with a thunder tea rice-inspired beverage integrating rice and herbs served in a ceramic mug made locally by mud-rock; add a measure of Singaporean gin from Brass Lion Distillery for the boozy version. The drink is topped with glutinous rice foam and sprinkled with dehydrated matcha powder.
As a Punjabi who loves my lassi, the cocktail ‘Soma’ tickled my fancy. Inspired by New Delhi, it is a clarified drink with gin, yoghurt, chutney and spices. Another unique one is Seoul’s ‘White Rabbit’ with tequila, tomato, kimchi and black garlic. It’s pretty much a clarified bloody marry with an Asian twist.
Transport yourself to Jakarta with the ‘Moka’, a decadent sweet blend of rum, chocolate and banana. This is one for those with a sweet tooth and like dessert drinks. Don’t miss the chocolate rim around the cup under the banana; lick it off, take a bite of the banana and then take a sip.
If you’re a fan of bubble tea, the indulgent Taipei-inspired ‘Milkyway’ with whiskey, oolong black tea and brown sugar, garnished with whiskey-infused boba is a great pick.
Sip on the cocktail ‘Sarimonak’, blending flavours of Lanao with rum, mango and citrus. The most Instagrammable drink on the menu, the colourful cocktail features a mystical Asian bird. Gorgeous and delicious!
Inspired by a collaboration with partners in Seoul, the light and clean ‘Chamoe’ with an infusion of Greygoose vodka, melon and citron follows a zero waste recipe. The skin of the melon is dried, pulversied into powder then baked and used a crisp to pair with the cocktail.
Enjoy a taste of Guangzhou with the ‘Lion’s Den’ which is basically a white negroni comprising of gin, baijiu and green coffee.
This is one of the bars in Singapore where the food is as good as the drinks. You can actually have a proper dinner at MO BAR. The food menu features a selection of bar snacks, larger specialities and sandwiches. My go-to dish is the crispy Tiger Prawns with masala mayo and curry leaves which I hope never goes off the menu.
Popular dishes remain on offer including Laksa with lobster, rice vermicelli and coconut broth; vegetarian Rice Rolls featuring vegetables in Vietnamese rice paper with sweet chilli sauce; Tater Tots with curry mayo; or the plant-based variation of the MO BAR Burger with an Impossible Burger patty accompanied by cheddar and lettuce and a side of potato wedges.
Address: 5 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039797
Panacea
Gin | Makrut Lime | Pandan
Gao
Gin | Juniper | Jasmine | Calamansi
Lunduso
Rum | Black Rice | Sesame
Lion’s Den
Gin | Baijiu | Green Coffee
Milkyway
Whiskey | Oolong | Brown Sugar
(pictured here is a tasting portion)
Moka
Rum | Chocolate | Banana
White Rabbit
Tequila | Tomato | Kimchi | Black Garlic
Chamoe
Vodka | Melon | Citron
Soma
Gin | Yoghurt | Chutney | Spices
(pictured here is a tasting portion)
Tiger Prawns
Cooked Crispy | Masala Mayo | Curry Leaves