The Place One of the new bars in Singapore I really wanted to check out is BOP (Bartenders of Pony), located along the buzzing Tras Street by the team behind the highly acclaimed Jigger & Pony Group. The vibe of BOP feels right the moment I stepped in – it exudes that sophisticated yet high-energy Seoul drinking experience right in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. The space of the shophouse space is cleverly designed to maximise seating capacity, where you can expect to literally rub shoulders with fellow diners.

Expect vinyl music, inventive Korean cocktails, and high-quality bar bites. 

The front of the shophouse features a prominent bar counter where bartenders sport modern, hanbok-inspired jackets. Moving inwards, there is a massive Korean tiger mural which sets a dramatic backdrop alongside a dedicated vinyl turntable setup. 

The Food The beverage programme here focuses heavily on inventive Korean cocktails as well as a few selections of Makgeolli. For food, it is not very extensive but diverse enough. 

I started with the Tuna Gimbap (S$21) which comes in plump size rolls with generous fillings of tuna, one of the dishes I enjoyed the most here. 

The Crispy Fried Chicken (S$18) is another hit for me. A stellar plate of fried chicken featuring juicy, tender meat beneath an incredibly crunchy batter. You can have the fried chicken with various sauces by side such as peanut and barbecue sauce. 

The Pollock Roe Steamed Egg (S$12) is a light snack to order if you are not too hungry, while the Seafood Pancake (S$19) should be a crowd favourite even though I would prefer its texture to be crisper. 

Cocktails are all priced at S$23 each and I had the Hallabong Bellini which is a mix of tanqueray gin, jeju mandarin, sparkling red rice makgeolli and campari. It is quite easy on the palate and mildly sweet. 

For makgeolli, I tried both the Damun White Rice Makgeolli (S$17) and the Boksoondoga Sparkling Red Rice Makgeolli (S$16) where the latter resonates more with me as the sparkling elements makes 

Rants Table space is generally quite tight. The seating layout does not favour big groups of more than six pax as well.

Will I Return Again? Overall, I enjoyed the vibes, design, and food here at BOP. It is an elegant and energetic bar, something which I find to be lacking in Singapore. In most aspects, it reminded me of the bars I visited in Seoul, and I would love to be back again. 

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5  

BOP (Bartenders of Pony) 
76 Tras Street 
Singapore 079015 
Tel: +65 8985 5876 

Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday: 6pm to 1am 
Friday to Saturday: 6pm to 2am 
Closed on Mondays 

Ranted by The Ranter