Native is an award-winning innovative, sustainable cocktail bar and restaurant, which opened the doors of its three-storey shophouse on Amoy Street, Singapore, in 2016. Renowned for its emphasis on local and regional produce, Native, which was the first cocktail bar of its kind in the city, now operates as a multi-faceted business, with an added restaurant and fermentation lab – providing a one-stop dining destination for locals and international visitors alike.
Native, the Sustainable and Innovative Singapore Cocktail Bar and Restaurant
Founder and owner, Vijay Mudaliar opened Native with the aim to spotlight local producers - using intelligent fermentation and flavour extraction to make the most of each ingredient and showcase them in new and creative ways. Key ingredients such cinnamon, betel leaves, tumeric leaves, curry leaves, fresh star fruit and their flowers, are found just a pluck away from the bar and are regular contenders on Native’s food and drink menus.
Each cocktail on the menu has its own story – whether it’s the cultures that inspire them, the ingredients that bring them to life, or the spirits themselves, many of which are crafted by master’s around the region. The bar’s current menu is centred around rice, a key staple ingredient in Singapore culture. Highlights include Black Rice – rice whisky, toasted black rice, coconut and wild berries, a nutty, smooth cocktail with an added touch of sweetness and Pho-resh which sees rice gin, Thai basil, mint, coriander, roaster ginger and lime distillate combined to create a long fresh serve with an added zest. Perfect for those looking for something light and fresh to cool off from the heat.
Alongside the rice cocktails, guests can enjoy a selection of Native’s classics. These include Oolong Highball – shochu, oolong kombucha, yuzu and Sake lees, Pineapple Arrack – Ceylon arrack, coconut water kefir coconut nectar and coconut milk and Pandan – Indian single malt whisky, pandan and jaggery.
Like the cocktail menu, Native’s food menu centres around local and regional produce, with a large vegetarian and pescatarian offering. Each dish focusses on soul food and the comfort it brings, delivering a fresh take on traditional dishes. Designed for sharing, dishes on the menu include Charred Chilli Chaat – Banana peppers, fermented potatoes, boondi tarmarind, spiced yoghurt, roasted peanuts along with Native’s Miang Kham – Wild pepper leaves, pineapple shoyu, barlotti tempeh crisps, ginger flower and aromatics. Both of which are designed to be starter dishes. In the mains section, dishes include Nasi Bakar – Buah keluak miso, king oyster mushrooms, sambal barlotti tempeh, herbed coconut rice, salted egg and Nose To Tail Chicken Pao Fan – Organic chicken thigh, roasted collagen broth, puffed rice and Ah Moy’s chilli. Those who fancy a dessert to finish can enjoy a selection of sweat treats including Sesame & Mandarin – Black sesame financier, white chocolate chestnut cream, mandarinorange sorbet and Milk Pudding – Cacao ragi soli, gula melaka syrup, candied bentong ginger and calamansi.
Native is in a three storey shophouse, with the restaurant on the first floor, cocktail bar on the second and the fermentation lab taking position on the third. Upon entering the first-floor restaurant, guests are welcomed with a warm tones and wood detail throughout, which is complimented by the turquoise blue seating. The theme very much follows up to the cocktail bar, where the large, long wooden bar is lined with brown leather bars stools. The low ceilings and exposed brick on the back bar provide an authentic, intimate setting, making it an ideal location for catching up with friends and enjoying a drink with loved ones. Surrounding the bar are smaller tables with plush turquoise stools and both style seating lining the walls.
Since opening in 2016, Native has gone on to win several awards, including most recently being named No.42 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 and No.83 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023.