The venue: Drinkers sit with their backs to the Kimpton Maa Lai’s Ms. Jigger, and that’s all part of the story. The space is based on a fictional parting of the ways with Ms. Jigger, a young beau who shot his shot and is now bereft. The space for Ruby’s contains just 16 seats with a view to the hotel’s green grounds around a bar with plenty of elbow space. Sleek and simple, right angles and white chairs. 

 

 

The drinks: The creative menu is a pop-up book based around a gemstone theme—emeralds, opals, diamonds—all coming with a story (sometimes a quite sexy story that makes your bartender go a little red in the face). Of the 14 on offer, there are some really creative concoctions here. The Aquamarine was a favorite of the night and a big one for whiskey drinkers; it’s a mix of Nikka whiskey with a Cocchi Americano and tamarind mixed with yuzu sake, dates, five spice, earl grey, hinoki bitters and pandan oil. The result is a sweet, smooth, easy-to-down cocktail with tea notes that bite. Another one for the whiskey lovers is the Tanzanite where Bulleit Bourbon meets beetroot: the drink mixes the heady flavors with a blast of citrus, carrot, and green apple, with some savory black salt and chili to give it depth. For something a little simpler on the whiskey side, there’s the Sunstone which pulls a spirit-forward drink from Naked Malt mixed with saffron, umeshu, and shiso. For something a little less adventurous, the Ketel One vodka-based Blue Sapphire (which comes with a story of love bites) mixed with flowery, fruity notes like elderflower, butterfly pea, pear, and verjus. On the gin side, you’ve got the Amethyst, a gin drink for people who don’t like gin, pulling earthy notes from the earthy spirit, but the Emerald is far more complex: gin with melon, mango sticky rice, and a durian foam that leaves the taste without the nose. Hidden by Ms. Jigger and with a geology themed menu, this is the one time that we’re comfortable calling a bar an “undiscovered gem”. Tip: if you like design, don’t let them take the menu from you; it’s gorgeous. 

 

 

Food: Their “Nibbles” menu is a far cry from bar grub and leans more into a degustation menu, which you can have in three, six, or 11 courses. Must-haves of the eleven are the Wagyu with truffle, gorgonzola, and onion on a tiny brioche bun, and the king crab is a delectable little ravioli. Our favorite of the lot, though, was the risotto with a speck ham crumble in a parmesan bowl—perfectly crisped rice with taleggio. 

 

Why we’d go back: If you’re planning a meal at any of the area’s dining spots or just want to class things up before you head up to Bar.Yard to dance, this space has a is a quiet corner of creative cocktails that gets you in an indulgent mood—particularly if you’re gearing up for a date night.