JUNIOR
43 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088464
Direct entrance in the alley on Cook Street
8121 1462
facebook.com/JuniorThePocketBar

Every six months, pocket bar Junior switches things up with a different cocktail concept. Located down a lane in Tanjong Pagar, this teeny, tiny bar (it only houses about 15-20 guests comfortably) is currently bringing a taste of the European Alps to Singapore with the theme ‘Petite Chalet’. The ski lodge inspired bar pays tribute to the 1970s après ski scene, including vintage signage, skis and snowshoes. The cocktail menu is designed for climates colder than tropical Singapore, which makes the experience more fun. Thank goodness for air con!

Garden Gnome cocktail

Order up!
Get into the festive spirit with a slew of alpine inspired cocktails (all priced at $25++) complete with drinker ratings of green (gentle and easy), blue (a moderate challenge) and double back diamond (for experts only!).The menu is divided into four seasons – Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn – with drinks showcasing an array of alpine liqueurs. We start with the Killer Queen, a bracing blend of gin, lemon, blueberry, rhubarb and elderflower, topped with gold stars for extra sparkle. The kitschy and refreshing Garden Gnome is a showstopper, served in a gnome’s head, mixed with tequila, absinthe, gentian, cucumber, and lime, garnished with mint and dill. For a winter warmer, cosy up with the Sweater Weather, a cognac-based cocktail combining Pierre Ferrand 1840, dark rum, spiced pear, bianco vermouth, and honey. The Swiss Miss is the ultimate crowd pleaser, a hot chocolate concoction of Green Chartreuse, Swiss drinking chocolate, dark rum, whipped coconut cream, and torched cinnamon. Yummy.

What’s to eat?
Pair your winter drinks with a menu of rib-sticking comfort dishes. We devour the soft, dense and satisfying house made Bavarian Pretzel ($7++), served with a tangy, sweet onion mustard. Tartiflette ($18++) is a traditional dish in the Alps made with scalloped potatoes, Brie and Gruyere cheese, lardons and onion – it’s impossibly moreish and gooey. There’s also the tasty Chicken Schnitzel ($13++) accompanied with homemade spiced pear ketchup.