The Bank Bar + Bistro

The Bank Bar + Bistro is full of old world charm. Its drinks list offers a bit of everything—draft beers (from $9.50), wines (from $13 a glass) and over 60 spirits with respectable selections of single malts and rums (from $12). There’s also a range of bar bites from waffle fries ($7.90) to grilled beef kofta ($16.90) along with platters and typical international and Western restaurant fare (from $13.90).

Beer Market

Based on the concept of a stock exchange, this bar hadthe motto “Buy Low, Drink High”. That means the more a drink is purchased, the higher its price gets. Look out for the “Crash Px” (Crash Price) sign, which flashes when there’s low demandfor a particular drink. Hungry?Tuck into Western and Asian dishes (from $7) like pasta and even kushiyaki. Live music performances are on from 8pm onwards on Mondays to Saturdays.

The Vault

Its discreet entrance is marked by an actual vault door from OCBC Bank, which used to occupy the premises. This sophisticated two-story joint houses a bistro on the ground floor and a lounge-bar on the second, serving beer, wine, and spirits (from $12) as well as pub grub like marinated olives and truffle fries. Here, lounge lizards can indulge in sultry jazz before resident soundmasters take overafter 9pm, with guest DJs appearing on Saturdays.

The Exchange

Touted as the CBD’s largest brasserie and bar, this suits-attracting spot has an impressive wine list ranging from house pours at $15 a glass to a $1,688 bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil. Pretty much every varietal is represented, too, including single malt whiskies ($16-72), top shelf spirits (from $14), liqueurs ($13), cocktails (from $16) and great coffee ($3.20-4.80). Food-wise, there’s a spread of Western fare, like the smoked duck and poached pear salad with Roquefort cheese ($18).