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What makes a martini a martini? Gin or vodka with vermouth? The olive or lemon twist garnish? The tall stemmed glass it's served in? At The Singapore Martini Club, the answer is "whatever goes". This new bar in Orchard offers a liberal interpretation of the classic cocktail, with over 50 expressions on its menu featuring everything from tequila to sake – an egregious faux pas for any martini purist, or a facetious jab at the seriousness and sometimes loftiness of it all. To top it off, they're all served in a room fashioned like a vintage train carriage straight out of a film set.
The brains behind the concept is Dario Knox, who also runs The Backdrop – the speakeasy-style, cabaret-themed bar just down the road in Voco Orchard. So naturally, we'd expect the same level of theatrics here at The Singapore Martini Club. Sure enough, we are greeted with a friendly "welcome on board" by the door, before being led to our table, which is decked out in travel-themed memorabilia, like a suitcase with our names and ticket stubs to participate in the bar's lucky draw.
The menu is structured like a train journey with various 'stations' or 'stops', with the drinks becoming increasingly potent along the way. We start with the Portofino Martini ($24), one of the three zesty martinis under the 'Main Station' section. The gin-based number is summery, sweet and grapefruit-forward – super approachable for first-timers. We prefer the Karuizawa ($25), in the same section. A distinct whiff of celery hits us first, but once the shiso, green apple and lime settle in, the vodka-based cocktail becomes more rounded and highly addictive.
Under '1st Stop: The Savory Martinis', we try the Tokyo Spice Martini ($25), which swaps in tequila and Japanese spices for a savoury pour with a spice that lingers at the back of our throat. There are five more stops to go: Tea Martinis, Fruity Martinis, Herbal Martinis, Pop Culture Martinis and The Dry Classics, before we arrive at the star of the show: The Sub-Zero Dirty Martini ($36).
This cocktail is prepared tableside and measured with a thermometer before your eyes. The blend of gin, dry vermouth, distilled water and olive brine reaches a chilling -10 degrees Celsius, with a silky, almost thick mouthfeel. Though it's billed as a dirty martini, it's a pretty safe and clean pour, with the option to amp up the savouriness with a platter of condiments on the side – a healthy assortment of juicy olives, cheese and pickled peppers.
For something much more daring, go for The 'Guanciale' Sinful Martini, which sees a film of guanciale oil floating atop an otherwise pristine, crystal-clear pour. Each sip is rich yet crisp and dry at the same time, resetting your palate before you go in for the next. Even more guanciale fat is served on the side for good measure – definitely not for the faint-hearted.
No martini bar would be complete without an espresso martini ($26), and The Singapore Martini Club's version sits firmly on the sweeter end, with a blend of tequila, coffee liqueur, hazelnut and coconut together with cold brew coffee, plus a side of charred marshmallows.
We recommend grabbing a bite before your reservation. The bar serves up a modest selection of tapas which is meant to line the stomach instead of impress – hummus with gluten-free rice crackers, bikini sandwiches, chorizo bruschetta and the like. Stick to the olives instead. There are four distinct varieties on the menu: Casolane from Sicily; black and green Picholine and Niçoise from France; plump Italian olives from Puglia with shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano; and Spanish Gordal olives with feta crumbs.
The Singapore Martini Club isn't afraid to put a spin – or 50 – on what's possibly the most hallowed cocktail in the canon. And it makes a fair point: your beloved espresso martinis or pornstar martinis aren't technically 'martinis', after all. Still, there are some efforts made to appease the die-hard martini crowd, especially with stiffer pours like the sub-zero dirty, guanciale and even classics like a Gibson ($28).
Overall, we don't see this being our first choice of venue to bring a martini purist to, especially with Martini Bar located just a few doors down at Grand Hyatt. But for folks who are curious and open-minded enough, this checks most of the boxes for a fun night out.
The Singapore Martini Club is open from Tuesday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am and Friday to Saturday, 7pm to 3am at 1 Tanglin Road, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, #01-01, Singapore 247905.
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