Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Singapore is a hub for nightlife, drinks, and bars. Many bartenders from across the region, frequent Singapore for its bar shifts, events, festivals, and because of their passion for nightlife. The diversity and excitement of the scene, coupled with talents from around the world, make Singapore the hottest bar scene in Asia. For some, it is a place to always come back to like a second home. We asked eight personalities from the drink industry, what it is about Singapore that makes them come back, read on for their insights. 1) Beckaly Franks Owner of #32 Asia’s 50 Best Bar (2019), The Pontiac in Hong Kong Catching up with Beckaly Franks at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars’#50BestTalks Beckaly Franks is one of those who can’t resist the pull of Singapore’s bar scene. She first came to Singapore in 2014 with DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States) and did a couple of events and taught a masterclass on American trends in whiskey at the American ambassador’s residence. “I’ve been to Singapore more times than I can count,” she says. The accessibility of Singapore to other Asian countries also plays a role in her frequent visits. “Singapore is my gateway drug to Asia,” she declares. “I have a nostalgic feel for Singapore because it was my gateway here to the region. It really embraced me. Even though I don’t live in Singapore, Singapore hosts my family. My (business) partners are my family, so by proxy, my family lives, here.” She notices the difference in the Singapore bar scene in the five years since she first went there. “It’s evolving, and it’s crazy to see how it’s evolved from when I was here in 2014. It’s only been five years, but so much has happened in those five years,” she shares. “It’s very inspiring to see that Singapore doesn’t pigeonhole itself,” she says of the bar scene in the Lion City. “It’s not new news that Singapore is more polished. Even though it’s quite conservative and maintained, it’s also highly progressive. 2) David Ong Owner of the #37 Asia’s 50 Best Bar (2019) The Curator, and #47 Asia’s 50 Best Bar (2019), OTO (The Curator, located at 134 Legaspi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati; Oto, located at 5880 Enriquez, Makati) David Ong at the SGCF Bar Acadamy Talks David Ong, the owner of two of the only three bars listed in Asia’s Best Bars for 2019, The Curator and OTO, has been to Singapore so frequently that people joke that it’s his second home. “I have ties to Singapore since I was younger when my family would come here during the summer, but of course I couldn’t drink then,” he laughs. “I love the food and beverage scene here, and it has a lot to offer. It’s a very efficient city, and I think we can learn a lot from that.” He started coming to Singapore as an adult around 2013, even before The Curator opened. His passion for the food and beverage industry grows with every visit. “It’s a great place to travel in. And the camaraderie of the people in the F&B industry is amazing,” he shares. “It’s a hub for the bar industry. You’ll see at the SGCF (Singapore Cocktail Festival), all these bartenders from all across the region and the world are coming in and catching up with each other, and sharing ideas.” “For me, when I come here, I go to the old spots I usually go to, but at the same time, I like to explore new things. There is a lot to be learned,” he states. “I feel like Singapore learns from others as well,” he says. “When they were starting in 2011 to 2012, this guy named Anthony Zhong from Manila, opened a bar called Shin Gi Tai. He’s one of the founding fathers of the cocktail scene in Singapore, and his style is very Japanese,” he shares. “Then you have guys from 28 HongKong Street, Michael Callahan together with his partners (who eventually founded Proof & Company), came from San Francisco, where the bar scene is completely different, and he brought that American style to Singapore as well. You have different melting pots of different bar cultures coming in: Japanese, American, European, and what have you.” According to David, the bar scene flourishes when you take something from somewhere, localize it, make it better, and you make it your own. 3) Bannie Kang Head Craftsman at Anti:dote (2 Stamford Rd, Level 1, Singapore) Bannie Kang at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars’#50BestTalks Bannie Kang moved to Singapore eight years ago and sees the city as a melting pot of culture, Here she discovered her love for bartending while she was waitressing at City Space. She took courses, trained, and eventually joined Anti:dote in 2013. “I was just lucky I was chosen by one of the bar managers for a chance to work behind the bar,” she says about getting her start.”It just fits my personality,” she says of bartending. “It’s very exciting, and I like using my hands and knowledge.” “The most exciting thing about Singapore for me is that it’s multi-cultural,” she says. “So many different cultures mixed together. So, you have great food, great drink, and different cultures. That’s why when you come to Singapore, there’s so many different styles of bars and different styles of bartender personalities.” 4) Gabriel Carlos Assistant Bar Manager at #2 Asia’s 50 Best Bar (2019) Manhattan (Cuscaden Rd, Level 2 Regent Singapore, Singapore) Gabriel Carlos from Whisky Live Philippines 2018 For Filipino bartender Gabriel, it was a mix of opportunity and passion for bartending that drew him to Singapore. “Bartending is my first love. And after finishing school, that was the profession I pursued immediately,” he shares. “Right now there’s so much diversity, different bars operating in different ways, with different perspectives,” he says of the SG bar scene. “You can have different experiences in one single night. You can go to a hotel bar, a standalone bar, a speakeasy bar, you can go to a sustainable bar like Native or a very experimental bar like Operation Dagger, and then you can have the most fantastic views while sipping great cocktails. Diversity is a uniqueness that the city offers. It’s one of the reasons why people are attracted to come to this country.” As a Filipino in Singapore, he strives to share his passions with his guests. “Passion for drinks is one,” he says. “Another passion is sharing how Filipinos have this exceptional and culturally rooted attribute, which is hospitality. Hospitality is what makes Filipinos shine, not just here in Singapore, but in the whole world.” He thinks that Singapore is an excellent way to explore what Asia can offer. “We are given the spotlight when it comes to the cocktail scene, and this is just a small taste of what Asia can offer.” For Pinoys who want to experience the Lion City’s drinking scene, he encourages them to check out the bars. “Almost every place in Singapore has a Filipino,” he says. “Go to a bar, and you’re sorted out. Everyone wants to give you the best experience. We (Pinoys in Singapore) want to let them experience what we are fortunate enough to experience here.” 5) Rian Asiddao Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador for the Philippines Rian Asiddao visits Singapore at least once a year and brings bartenders from Manila for guest shifts. “Aside from accessibility, there are lots of bar industry friends in SG that serves as our family when we’re there,” he says. “Seeing them and learning from them is the reason why I keep coming back to SG. SG serves as an inspiration to our community as well because there are a lot of Filipinos working in the industry.” He also loves the different options that Singapore has to offer. “I love seeing different styles of bars, bartenders, service, and concept,” he shares. “They have different approaches in the scene, they have lots of ‘mentors’ in the community, and they have access to a vast inventory of spirits.” “I’m inspired by the diversity of the bar scene in SG, and one thing that I can learn from them is they are very open to exploring new things,” says Rian. “There’s always something new in the scene. When they do something different, other countries follow.” 6) Kalel Demetrio Liquido Maestro and Co-owner of Agimat Foraging Bar (5972 Alfonso cor, Fermina, Makati) Liquido Maestro Kalel Demetrio goes to Singapore a few times a year for shifts and business. “The growing scene and the brand positioning of everyone in the industry are what interests me,” he says. “They are multicultural, and they promote each other heavily. They are also united and not afraid of starting a new trend.” He says he keeps coming back because of the cultural diversity and to see their take on the newest styles behind the bar. “I love the bar community’s camaraderie without discrimination and their growing style, which is now slowly happening in our country,” he states. 7) Richie Cruz Bar Consultant, Trainer, and Bartender at Cobbler (located at 117 E. Santos Street, Concepcion 1, Marikina) Richie Cruz at the 2019 Barstylez International Bartender Championship 2019 (SGCF Festival Lawn) Richie Cruz is no stranger to doing bar shifts in Singapore, with stints at Fat Prince, Tess Bar, and CÉ LA VI to name a few. He goes to Singapore to “catch up with old friends, meet new friends, and learn new things in general.” “In terms of cocktail culture, SG has a pretty good influx of foreigners which is great to exchange new ideas in bartending,” he says of his reasons for return visits. “There are so many bars with different concepts, and I always look forward to seeing my friends again.” 8) Lester Ligon Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year (2018) and Head Bartender at Proof (former ABV, located at Basement Floor, 1209, 22 Jupiter, Makati) Lester Ligon featured his Diageo’s World Class Global Finals 2018 winning cocktail Marahu Mule at the 2019 50 Asia’s Best Bar Awards Lester Ligon, 6th in the world at Diageo’s World Class Global Finals 2018, has been doing bar shifts in Singapore for the past two years. “It’s amazing how bartending has brought me to places that I really loved to be in, like Singapore,” he says. “I always look forward to sharing thoughts with a lot of talented bartenders in the city and building deeper relationships with people I didn’t know I’d get closer to.” “If I’m talking from a bartender’s perspective, there are too many reasons why I fancy coming back to Singapore despite the emotional stress of my liver,” he jokes. “Singapore has a diverse drinking scene!” The camaraderie that he experiences in the Lion City has also made an impact on him. “Singapore is one of the best cocktail cities to draw new inspirations from, build friendships, and set goals for your career and your community back home. The people who became my friends in Singapore are all willing to inspire me and help me achieve the goals that I set for myself,” he enthuses. “Singapore has a thriving economy with an adventurous drinking public and a massive expat population, so these people are always looking for something new to try every day,” he says. “There’s always something to look forward to in the drinking scene. Every bar is a totally different experience—have a Martini at Atlas with over a thousand gins, or experience Asian ingredients-focused cocktails at Native, or even have the best kinds of service at Manhattan Bar—which are mostly run by Filipinos. Your alcohol tolerance, really, is your only limit.” Check out exciting nightlife and entertainment offerings awaiting you in Singapore! Visit www.visitsingapore.com/en_ph or follow them on Twitter @visitsingapore and Facebook at VisitSingaporePH, and @Visit_Singapore on Instagram for more information.