After its launch in 2012, speakeasy bar The Library has since undergone a facelift and relaunched last month with an expanded space taking over what was formerly known as The Study. The vibes remain cosy and intimate, but now you’ll have more seats to choose from as you peruse the new menus.
On the drinks side, regulars will find crowd favourites keeping up appearances on the menu alongside new concoctions such as Pineapple Monk ($24) of pineapple rum, dark rum, Monks Herbal liqueur and tropical bitters, What’s Abi ($24) made with pisco, passionfruit, wasabi, peppermint and citrus, as well as Redneggs Medicine ($24), a blend of becherovka, suze, camomile, orange, lemon and wheatgrass. These will all still be separated in three categories: Strong & Dangerous, Sexy & Tropical and Sophisticated & Crazy.
As for the food menu, think comfort nosh with a twist — expect to find bites such as bacon and egg two-minute noodles ($8), beef cheek bao ($8), char siew spring rolls ($7), kimchi hot dogs ($9), kaya toast ice cream ($6) and more.
If you’ve chilled out at The Library before, you might’ve checked out previous pop-ups including the likes of a makeshift barbershop by Hounds of the Baskervilles and nature-inspired sculptural works by Japanese artist Satomi Sugimoto. But the bar’s latest collab is with a familiar name in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Eu Yan Sang.
The brand has designed the facade of The Library to look like a TCM shop but with modern elements — highlights include the Herb Library, a periodic chart-inspired medical chest that displays 49 types of herbs; and the collection of ‘Four-Tune Cards’, which offer info on hangover remedies and other health problems, that you can bring home. And if you’d like to sip on cocktails that incorporate TCM ingredients, try one of the five mixes that include items such as ginger rice shrub, ginseng, chrysanthemum or hawthorn.
The Library is at 47-49 Keong Saik Rd, 6221-8338. Mon-Sat 6pm-1am.
Reader Interactions