Native

Ambitious, experimental pan-Asian modernist cocktails from an Operation Dagger veteran.

There’s a lot to like and plenty that intrigues about this experimental, ambitious cocktail bar which opened at the tail-end of 2016 over the top two floors of a converted shophouse.

Vijay Mudaliar, ex-Operation Dagger, headlines, and his creativity is in evidence everywhere from the foraged weaver ants that yield formic acid for the Antz cocktail to the distillation kit in the upstairs bar.

A fascinating range of Asian spirits extends from Thai and Indonesian rums through to Indian cask-strength whiskies, Sri Lankan arrack, Chinese baijiu and Japanese gin. As you’d expect, theatre is in ample supply in the unfussy room: ingredients are spooned onto digital scales and garnishes ritualistically frozen with liquid nitrogen.