Gin bars in Singapore: A review of Cin Cin at Tanjong Pagar in Oasia Hotel Downtown
Whether it’s Emma Peel or James Bond (the Connery one, of course), we’re certain that you’ve fantasised about being a suave, smooth mystery agent at some point in your life. Well, daydream no more, because located in plain sight on the ground floor of Oasia Hotel Downtown, Singapore, is this themed bar hideout that would make Jason Bourne take a chill pill. And its primary weapon of choice? Good ol’ gin.
You don’t need any secret passwords or obscure door-knocking pattern to grant yourself entry into this Tanjong Pagar den; unlike a speakeasy, there’s nothing aesthetically shabby about Cin Cin. On the contrary, Cin Cin reflects the refined glamour of bars in the 1920s Prohibition Era, when laws had a stranglehold on alcohol and cocktail affairs had to remain clandestine. Here, sage green walls mirror the emerald, padded stools and sofas, while bronze ceiling fans rotate hypnotically beneath a sloped, cobalt roof. A sleek logo of a fox holding a key in its mouth gazes across the long bar counter, which displays an imposing wall of gins (over 40 types are available here) and liqueurs that Cin Cin doesn’t attempt to play down. But despite the Gatsby-esque panache that Cin Cin exudes effortlessly, we promise you won’t feel the slightest hint of pompousness – and especially if you’re a gin guzzler, this will feel like home.
Gin is the no-brainer bevvie here; that’s as obvious as asking Agent 007 what his poison is. The eponymous Cin Cin cocktail ($20) – mixed using Bulldog Gin, togarashi-infused Lillet Blanc, Bittermens hopped grapefruit bitters and grapefruit peel – is a dry, potent concoction that does away with sweet or floral flavours; gin purists should probably go for this one. But on the flipside, for those prefer latching onto citrusy tastes, the Operation Siam ($20) is another Bulldog-built mixture that offers a light, spritzing alternative with fresh lime juice, fizzy Thai ginger ale, and the fragrance of rosemary.
Another go-to for gin lovers is Cin Cin’s take on the Negroni – the Earlgroni ($18) is a strong, spicy tipple that doesn’t skim on the bitterness of the Bulldog-infused Earl Grey. And for something decadent, the Bronze Venus ($26) heightens the gin experience with a Valrhona Eclat dark chocolate stick to complement this cocktail’s sugary sweetness with a bitter aftertaste. Aside from Bulldog Gin, you’ll find specialty cocktails using other renowned gin components such as No. 3 London Dry (1985, $26), Monkey 47 (Bloody Monkey, $22), and Bankes London Dry (Code Red, $20) – so you definitely won’t run short of options if gin’s your game.
And naturally, if you wanna be a boss like Bond and order your Martini, they’ve got it here too. Cin Cin will make you feel luxe without the tux, and it’s easily an after-work joint you’d wanna bring your pals and fellow spy enthusiasts. This new dig isn’t shying away from being on the forefront of Singapore’s best gin bars, and that’s something we’ll confidently toast with a “cin cin”.
Cin Cin, Lvl 1 Oasia Hotel Downtown Singapore, 100 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079333, p. 6385 2604. Open 5pm-12am.