The Lobby Bar of Tomorrow: The Warehouse Hotel Serves As Cultural Gateway to Singapore’s Hedonistic Past with A New Team and Refreshed Menu

Media Spotlights

Decadent debauchery. Salaciously secretive. Once home to underground activities, illicit liquor distilleries and an 80s’ rave disco, The Warehouse Lobby Bar emerges from its storied past with a new bar team and revamped cocktail menu, transforming the humble lobby from a mere transitional venue into the pulsating heart of The Warehouse Hotel.

“Hotels have long been a haven for travellers passing through the city, yet the lobby bar is often an afterthought, overshadowed by the allure of the city. With the refreshed Warehouse Lobby Bar, we wanted to redefine the lobby bar of tomorrow—one that serves as a gateway to our city’s culture, and ultimately becomes a vibrant destination unto itself”, says Wee Teng Wen, Managing Partner of The Lo & Behold Group.

Under the helm of Food and Beverage Director Joseph Haywood, The Warehouse Lobby Bar combines its rich history as a hidden distillery with modern creativity, where each cocktail is a toast to local libertinism. Haywood is joined by Assistant Bar Manager Jaemin Shin, both of whom bring a wealth of experience from World’s and Asia’s 50 Best bars. The duo has each honed their craft at some of the most renowned establishments including Sydney’s award-winning cocktail bar Baxters Inn and Singapore’s cult favourite bars, Barbary Coast and Sago House. Together, they steer a distinct vision for The Warehouse Lobby Bar, showcasing a lesser-known yet equally defining aspect of Singapore's history, all delivered through an unwavering commitment to exceptional hospitality.

“Guests can expect an experience that combines comfort with a cheeky reminder of the forbidden, as we celebrate the lesser-known aspects of Singapore’s underbelly. Each cocktail is a tribute to moments in time, reimagined with local ingredients and playful, hedonistic flair.” says Haywood.

THE COCKTAILS

The newly crafted cocktail menu at The Warehouse Lobby Bar guides guests on a sensory journey inspired by the region’s vibrant spice routes and trades. To help guests navigate the menu, cocktails are segmented into four categories based on their flavour profiles: Herbaceous, inspired by fresh aromatic botanicals; Fruity, featuring bright tropical infusions; Spiced, with rich warm notes paying homage to The Warehouse’s spice-laden history; and Bold showcasing local flavours in audacious combinations.

Signature creations include:

• White Horse (Herbaceous): Named after the colloquial term for the sons of Singapore's elite who received preferential treatment during national service, White Horse marries Veritas rum with Oloroso sherry, fragrant pandan, coconut, and oolong tea, finished with a splash of lemon. Crafted using the historic milk punch technique, which involves curdling and filtering coconut milk infused with pandan and tea, the result is a remarkably smooth and creamy concoction with a touch of tropical elegance (SGD 26++).

• Tiki Katong (Herbaceous): A playful nod to Katong’s iconic laksa, this cocktail combines ABA Pisco, El Dorado 8, lime, and Cointreau with the bold flavours of laksa leaf and peanut. The laksa leaves are blanched and chilled to create a delicate ‘laksa tea,’ adding a subtle herbal twist to the classic Mai Tai (SGD 26++).

• Banana Money (Fruity): Giving a tropical twist on an Old Fashioned, Banana Money combines Teelings Irish Whisky with banana juice crafted through an enzyme-induced process then sous vide and filtered into a clear sweet liquid. Inspired by bananas which were a major cash crop in 20th century Singapore, it also plays on the Malay supernatural folklore where the mythical pontianak is said to live in banana trees. Combined with Amaro Lucano, absinthe, and chocolate bitters, Banana Money, much like the legend, invites you to proceed with caution (SGD 26++).

• Watermelon Fizz (Fruity): This refreshing take on a classic Gin Fizz blends Beefeater Gin, watermelon, coconut water, bitters, salt, and soda. The watermelon juice is cold-pressed, with citric acid and salt added to enhance and preserve its sweetness. Inspired by a 19th-century painting in the Lord Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings depicting the migration of watermelons from Africa to China and Southeast Asia, the cocktail combines watermelon and coconut with gin and a hint of sherry to enhance its flavours (SGD 24++). 

• The Warehouse Martini (Spiced): Embrace the spirit of Singapore's maritime legacy with the Warehouse Martini, which combines Chiu Long Gin, Hapusa Gin, and Baldora Dry, accented by Shao Hsing Wine and a touch of sea grapes. The sea grapes pay homage to Singapore's significance as a bustling sea port, while the blend of Hapusa Gin and Shao Hsing Wine nods to the rich history of traders from across the globe who have made Singapore their home (SGD 26++). 

• Jack’s Gamble (Bold): The Warehouse Lobby Bar’s twist on a negroni or classic boulevardier featuring cold-pressed jackfruit juice blended with High West Bourbon, Campari, Baldoria Rosso, and Bianco Bitter. Revered as a 'jack-of-all-trades’, jackfruit is known for its more unorthodox uses as snakebite remedies or talismans in the region  (SGD 27++). 

Beyond cocktails, The Warehouse Lobby Bar celebrates Asian culture with a curated selection of Asian craft beers, fine wines, and spirits. Notably, the bar’s bespoke Chiu Long Gin, distilled in-house using locally-inspired botanicals such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorn, pomelo skin, lime leaf, and ginger, pays homage to the venue’s history as a hub of vice.  

Guests can also enjoy mod-Sin bar snacks, including the Charcoal-grilled Iberico Jowl marinated with arabica coffee and a sweet black bean glaze (SGD 24++), Mushroom Dumplings with spiced ginger sesame drizzle (SGD 20++) or the signature Kueh Pie Tee (SGD 20++). 

Experiences such as exciting DJ line-ups and guest bartender shifts are set to debut in the coming months, and guests can look forward to these.  Reservations for The Warehouse Lobby Bar can be made here