Mia Chenyze
Overhauling the bar concept every six months-ish is no walk in the park, but Junior has somehow delivered hit after hit. And the latest iteration, Petite Chalet, billed as a ski lodge-inspired bar, is perhaps its most outrageously imaginative one yet.
This one’s about turning the previous tiki concept on its head. Instead of the tropics, it’s an escape fantasy into a snow-capped wonderland—kitsch (gnome mugs!), irreverent, and a whole lot of deliciousness.
As barman Joe Alessandroni puts it, the Alps don’t exactly have a cocktail culture, so this is an exercise in what-ifs, loosely inspired by ingredients (think wormwood, sweet woodruff, gentian) and cocktail traditions from the Alpine countries.
On balmy days, spring for Supernature, a long drink (all cocktails at $25 each) of bianco vermouth, rosemary-and-thyme syrup and celery soda, that’s simultaneously herbaceous, sweet and refreshing; or the Ruby Radler which updates the beer-and-lemonade classic with blood orange, aperol and tequila. The Swiss Miss, a rum-spiked grown-up hot choc comes topped with whipped coconut cream, and delivers all the cosy comfort of chocolate without the heavy richness. And in spite of the intimidating-sounding porcini-infused mezcal-and-rye whiskey, the Mountaineer’s Moustache is oddly addictive, with a bitter chocolate finish and glints of zestiness.
43 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tel: 8121 1462.