Bar Tab:

A night spot with a salute to New Orleans

43 Tanjong Pagar Road

First impressions: Despite the address, this cosy bar is, in fact, around the corner from Tanjong Pagar Road, tucked in an alley off Cook Street. It’s perfect for a low-key, intimate evening with great drinks and a theme that changes every few months; right now, it’s Magnolia, a salute to New Orleans!

The Chosen One: Many of the truly beautiful drinks ($ 25 each), including the Truffled Sazerac and the Buttered French 75, pay homage to NOLA’S restaurant institutions. Our hands-down fave was the Big Chief, a concoction of applejack and bourbon. For a spot of fun, try The Baron, a rum and coffee cocktail served in a black skull with a cinnamon stick “cigar” – a nod to the Big Easy’s voodoo culture.

The Cheapskate: Junior doesn’t serve beer or wine, so the least expensive drink option is a frozen daiquiri ($18); the flavours rotate weekly. Bite on this: The creole food is flavourful, though served a bit cold. The jambalaya ($12) had real andouille sausage, a treat here in Singapore. For a twist on the classic, the beignets ($12) were filled with a café au lait custard. But it was the fried okra ($8) that won my heart, crisped with a cornmeal batter, just the way my mama used to make it.

Last but not least: To welcome Magnolia, the Junior team have done more than just change the drink and food menus; they’ve completely redecorated, including details such as red velvet wallpaper on the ceiling. Even the music has a good jazz vibe. It all adds up to make you feel like you’re out on Bourbon Street.