© Long Bar, Raffles Hotel Singapore

With another year come and gone, most of us had barely enough time to adapt to the speed of 2018, let alone plan for a countdown to 2019. Regardless, making through a year is still a feat worth celebrating with a lavish meal and something bubbly to match. Find your quick gastronomical and experiential dining solution from LUXUO’s shortlist of 3 best bars to wine and dine this New Year’s Eve.

3 Last Minute Bar Ideas for New Year’s Eve

Long Bar – Raffles Hotel Singapore

© Long Bar, Raffles Hotel Singapore

Spend New Year’s Eve at a space that bustles with colonial charm. The newly renovated Long Bar at Raffles Hotel marries colonial-style interiors with modern touches. From the moment one enters the bar, a floor littered with peanut shells greets the unwary visitor. But don’t be mistaken, tossing peanut shells is part of the Long Bar experience; it is a cheeky tradition at the establishment to remember the colonial history of the bar, when the colonialists were found to relish in the simplicity of having peanuts from a gunny sack and conveniently throwing their peanut shells on the floor.

Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is known to have invented the Singapore Sling, and it is no wonder that the LUXUO team was found having seconds. Today, the drink retains the same recipe invented in 1915 but is revitalised with elevated ingredients. The formula includes a bespoke bernadine syrup by Crawley’s, an exclusive bitter by Scrappy’s and a specially crafted Widges Gin that serves as the base. One would expect the Singapore Sling to taste overwhelmingly sweet or syrupy, but the refreshed taste of Long Bar’s original Singapore Sling is a perfect blend of tart and fruity notes.

Anti:dote – Fairmont Singapore

Conveniently situated at the ground level of Fairmont Singapore, this modern cocktail bar is literally the antidote for anyone who has grown weary of the ordinary. Earlier this year, Anti:dote gave its cocktail and tapas menu a major facelift under power couple Head Craftsman Bannie Kang and Head Chef Tryson Quek to present a new selection of artisanal cocktails made with premium spirits and fresh ingredients.

Anti:dote’s new offerings include a variety of punch bowls. For an intimate gathering of four to eight, we recommend The Out-of-Towner, serving an ensemble of Sailor Jerry rum, pea flower, violet liqueur, lemon juice, and white tea, that brings back fond memories of everyone’s favourite childhood Ribena drink. This crowd-pleasing punch comes in a whimsical Ferris wheel structure that also makes for a great insta-worthy snap.

Operation Dagger

LUXUO’s final recommendation for New Year’s Eve taps on the local bar scene’s best-kept secret. Earning itself a spot in the “World’s 50 Best Bars” for two consecutive years, Operation Dagger is an establishment hidden underground at Ann Siang.

The bar is big on sensory experience. A striking cloud formation of light bulbs on the ceiling and unbranded apothecary-style bottles behind the bar counter add to the mysteriousness of the space, surrounded by raw concrete walls. Guests are led to focus on the tastes and textures of bespoke cocktails that are refreshed every 3 months. All one can do is take a trip there and expect to be surprised by the novelty of Operation Dagger.