BeGin Bar

Of all the gin joints in all the world, Begin stands out as a secret spot on the second level of Boat Quay bar The Penny Black. There’s a good chance you’ve passed by the latter at some point in your Singapore life — it’s been touted as the country’s oldest traditional English pub — but betcha didn’t think the gritty watering hole could house a trendy “concept bar” on its same premises.

According to the folks behind the bar, Begin’s interiors are a nod to the British Industrial Revolution and the gin craze from the 1760s to the 1850s. With a mishmash of exposed brick, concrete walls, copper pipes, multi-colored chairs, retro stools, and a psychedelic wall mural, the cozy enclave offers you a seat at the bar, next to windows that look out on the Singapore River, or on lounge chairs in nooks.