The Backdrop

Cleverly concealed amid luxury fashion boutiques, this secretive cocktail joint housed within voco Orchard Singapore hotel is not your everyday speakeasy. Lavishly decorated in sensuous reds, Italian marble and dark wood, the cabaret-style bar is founder Dario Knox’s ode to Italian artisanship. Here, you’ll try drinks that feel almost like a magic trick, such as an espresso martini that’s crystal clear, or a Bloody Mary made without a single drop of tomato juice. They’re the culmination of Knox’s obsession with botanical extraction techniques, which allow him to recreate signature flavours by deftly combining unexpected ingredients. The kitchen obligingly opens past midnight everyday, offering late-night imbibers an array of tapas to nibble on. The iberico, mozzarella and truffle bikini is an enduring favourite, while the tuna belly tartare is a lighter choice. Drop by on the bar’s Sparkly Thursdays, where every glass of champagne is complemented with a spoon of caviar.