Experience modern twists on local flavours with specially curated house cocktails and a variety of familiar culinary favourites. The Alkaff Mansion is Singapore's biggest heritage and lifestyle multi-concept property. It is located in the peaceful Telok Blangah Hill Park and has a gazebo, European-style fountains, and other water features that show off the timeless grandeur of its more than 100 years of history. The house has been around since 1918, when Syed Mohammed bin
Abdul Rahman Alkaff is a member of the Alkaff family. His parents moved to Singapore in 1852 from Yemen. The Alkaffs were well-known merchants who ran a successful trade between India and Indonesia. They were especially good at selling spices, coffee, and sugar.
Their history lives on through the years, and The Alkaff Mansion is proud to show off 1918 Bar, which captures the spirit of Singapore's spice trade era. In honour of the year the house was built, 1918, the menu at 1918 Bar is a wonderful mix of Asian spices and modern European style.
The bar has a well-thought-out list of drinks, including both classic and locally-inspired drinks. Each signature drink is named after an important event that happened at the house on the hill. Reflecting the rich history of the mansion's original owners, the food menu features local favourites in which spices take centre stage and make the flavours shine.
The carefully made Signature Cocktails at the 1918 Bar will take you on a beautiful trip through time. Fortune Arises ($20++) is a mix of Sauza Silver Tequila, Alkaff Blend Espresso, Kahlua, Agave Cinnamon, and Chocolate Bitters that is a tribute to the 1850s. The Garden Glitz ($20++), a mix of Sipsmith Gin, Apple, Calamansi, Sour Plum, and Soda, is a nod to the 1920s.
The Suntory Haku Vodka, Midori Melon Liqueur, Miso, and Lime in the $20++ Mizumi drink bring to mind the Japanese scenery in the 1930s Alkaff Gardens. The Klapataart pictured above ($20++), an earthy and bold beauty made with Courvoisier VSOP, Gramona Vie De Glass, Honey, Lemon, and Almond, takes you back to the 1990s.
The Classic Cocktails (starting at $18++) let people taste flavours that come from the Alkaff family, who traded flowers and spices through the ages. The 1920s Gimlet is a classy drink made with Sipsmith Gin, Benedictine DOM, lime, and lemongrass. With Sauza Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Cherry Brandy, Matcha, and Yuzu, the 1940s Matcharita brings an old drink up to date.
The Sangria from the 1960s is made with Pierre Jean Merlot, Bacardi White Rum, Crème de Cassis, Orange, and Berry Mix. The Cosmopolitan from the 1980s is made with Suntory Haku Vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry, Lime, Cardamom, and Mint, and it brings back excitement.
Classic drinks like the Singapore Sling, Negroni, Old Fashioned, and Mojito bring back the grace of drinks from the past. Each classic drink is a masterpiece of mixology that captures the spirit of the past while making people happy in the present.
The bar's extensive drinks list pairs harmoniously with delectable culinary delights that blend local traditional favourites with European flair. Savour dishes like the Iberico "Kong Ba Bao” ($16++), showcasing Grilled Iberico Secreto nestled in a Lotus leaf bun with a savoury braised sauce. The Hazelnut Coffee Wings pictured above ($16++) feature Mid-Joint Wings coated in delightful Hazelnut Coffee Sauce.
Explore the adventurous side of the palate with the Laksa Squid Ink Prawn Roll pictured below ($16++), a harmonious medley of Sustainable Farmed Red Sea Prawns wrapped in Squid Ink-infused Bean Curd Skin, complemented by Black Fungus, Laksa Paste, and Sriracha Mayonnaise. Delight in the twist on nostalgic flavours with the Har Jeong Katsu ($20++), a succulent Breaded Chicken Thigh marinated in Prawn Paste.
The Bak Kwa Pizza pictured above ($30++) embodies beloved East and West flavours, while the Curry Beef Pie ($22++) presents a hearty Slow Cooked Angus Beef Curry with a Hard-Boiled Egg, Tater Tots, and flaky Puff Pastry.
Desserts like Fried Tang Yuan ($10++), a traditional Peanut and Sesame Tang Yuan served with French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Chopped Peanuts, and Mixed Berries, or the Spanish twist on the traditional "You Tiao" ($12++), which comes with Pandan Churros, Cinnamon Sugar, and a delicious Kit Kat Dip, are a great way to end this memorable food adventure.
At 1918 Bar, the best parts are as varied and interesting as The Alkaff Mansion's long past. Step back in time as the bar stays true to its classic roots by throwing big parties like the mansion did in the 1930s, when high society parties were the usual. Live bands playing soulful music on the weekends create a magical environment that keeps the night going.
Regional bar takeovers like the latest one with Budi Bar from Melaka, which added a bit of cultural flavour to the experience, keep the fun going. People who want to party late into the night will love the bar's special parties, like the Retro Nights, which are full of dancing and memories of the 1980s.
As a tribute to the history and origins of four-wheel drives, 1918 Bar is getting ready for a special event in September called A Perennial Drive. The bar will work with the Classic Car Club to put on a show of vintage cars that will bring the past and present together in a celebration of timelessness.
The stories of spice trade, cultivation, and experimentation are woven into Singapore's past and landscape in a way that can't be erased. Not only did the search for these rare and valuable spices fuel economic ambitions, but it also changed the region's culture, creating a tapestry of tastes and smells that continue to enchant and improve the lives of Singaporeans today.
Step into the 1918 Bar and you'll feel like you're going back in time. The classic beauty of The Alkaff Mansion blends well with the memories of the past.
Heritage Bar | Local-inspired cocktails | Bar bites with a spiced twist
a. 10 Telok Blangah Green, The Alkaff Mansion, Singapore 109178
ig. www.instagram.com/1918bar.sg/
f. www.facebook.com/1918bar.sg
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