Atlas – Gigantic, cubistic, with notes of a bygone era

Singapore isn’t short of cocktail bars. From elegant hotel bars to hidden speakeasy-style dens, you’ll find something that suits your drinking needs. Do you fancy a spectacular adventure? Join me on a sip to the No. 8 of the World’s 50 Best Bars.

I can still remember the evening very well when I walked towards this imposing tower through the historic neighbourhood of Bugis. The distinctive architecture of Parkview Square is inspired by the glamorous Art Deco skyscrapers of Europe and New York. It reminded me very much of Gotham City, which is why Parkview Square is also known as the Gotham City of Singapore. Atlas Bar opened in Parkview in 2017. Besides the bar, the building houses various organisations such as the embassies for Austria, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates.

The feeling of being on a film set is propagated when entering. Outside Batman, inside The Great Gatsby. Art Deco architecture with golden and copper details, cubist straightforwardness revive the 1920s. Honestly, I had tears in my eyes, it was mind-blowing and gigantic. As at Manhattan Bar this bar has the flair of a bygone era, inspired by a glamorous period. 

An air of bygone era and The Great Gatsby surrounds this Grand Lobby & Bar. Something unique in a truly magnificent setting. There is probably only one bar like this in the world.

As soon as you walk through the enormous doors facing the 26-foot tall tower that is actually a gin library containing 1,300 varieties from all over the world, you know you’re in for an extraordinary night. Heavy leather booths, a warm, ornate space filled with red carpets, walls and ceilings are decorated with numerous golden details in Art Deco design and the giant golden tower, all underlined with nice Jazz music in the background. 

Discerning guests can enjoy Atlas dining and drinking throughout the day and deep into the night in a truly memorable setting. From locally roasted coffee to the finest champagnes and great cocktails, which carry the typical characteristics of the respective era. The menu offers a truly exceptional selection of drinks, inspired by the Arts Décoratifs, and an extensive food menu, which is based on European luxury dishes. Caviar, duck and oysters are of course a must. The menu is large, if you read it attentively, you will also learn something about history.

The drinking concept in brief:
The land where milk and honey flow, or rather, in this case, gin and champagne.

The centre of the bar is the giant golden tower up to the ceiling, one of the most extensive gin collections in the world. More than 1,300 different gins from regions as far-ranging as Bolivia, Belgium, and Japan, and dating back as far as 1910 are waiting to be tasted. Many of these unique gins have been donated by their master distillers, who were proud to present their gin bottles.

For my first drink, I opted for a Spectre Martini. A Martini is a timeless concoction of gin, vermouth and possibly bitters, simple yet complex. The Spectre Martini was a wonderfully smooth combination of Japanese Gin, butter vodka, white port, absinthe and drops of tarragon and mint oil. The Atlas Vintage category on the menu was very interesting – a celebration of gin antiquity through the lens of the Atlas vintage, old and rare collection. Guests are invited to taste a little drop of history. A gin temple without having an Aviation?! No way. I was really satisfied with the result. Cold and crisp.

The Atlas Recipe for success: Dedication, passion and hard work of the bar team every single day. Education and support of the staff is what happens behind the glamour scenes.

A personal recommendation: This bar is the opposite of an intimate place and is very popular. Better reserve beforehand than be sorry. I was travelling alone, which usually guarantees me my favourite spot at the bar, but I was actually rather lucky that evening.

Visit Atlas Bar