woodland’s spiffy O/T Bar caters surprisingly good drinks for after-work unwinding
The idea of overtime is so disheartening yet so recurrent in Singapore. As our work schedules move into our suburban flats, it becomes even harder to unwind. Tipsy Collective’s new O/T Bar is a tongue-in-cheek gastro bar that understands that enervation perfectly and pokes fun at Singapore’s noxious entanglement with work, hoping to give weary souls a respite from routine drudgery.
Primarily, its choice of location is probably the most bemusing. Instead of snuggling itself into one of the glitzier restaurant enclaves in the CBD, this speciality cocktail bar finds itself in a rather queer location, found far up north in Woodlands.
It’s not a run-of-the-mill pub you might find at some unsavoury vicinages located in the suburbia. Quite the contrary, O/T Bar comes fully stocked and dapperly equipped with speakeasy vibes that wouldn’t feel out of place in the more opulent quarters of the island.
Most of the Woods Square space is focused on understated blacks with wooden punctuations throughout, centred around a majestic bar counter set against a high shelf that extends up to a mirrored surface, creating an optical illusion that elongates the shelf far past the ceiling.
Littered throughout the decor are little hints of the office environment such as rustic office doors, a mailroom panel that opens up to a secret karaoke room, and an impossibly quirky punchcard machine for you to punch in and out of O/T Bar.
The remedy to Overworking
Let’s be honest — not many people would go to uneventful Woodlands expecting a refined cocktail bar experience. O/T Bar, however, aspires to buck the trend with its curation of speciality creations.
For easy drinking, their bestseller of Anxiety Elixir ($23) would probably be the top choice with its bright citric profile perfumed with sedate chamomile florals — an easy and innocuous tipple though a tad saccharine.
O/T Bar might leave you pleasantly confounded though with some of their more experimental flavour experiments like the funky Royal Recognition ($21).
A glance at the ingredient list and it’ll reveal quite a few esoteric components — fernet hunter, sherry, and balsamic vinegar blended with a swig of Remy Martin cognac. Slightly sweet but ultimately constructed with a plethora of layers, dominated by a zany twang and herbaceous depth.
The Black and White ($21) would satisfy anyone with a love for theatrics, adorned with a smokey sphere made with the in-vogue flavour blaster gun.
Its deceivingly intense stygian hue is mainly adapted from a splash of charcoal cranberry syrup and the overall profile is instead one that’s immensely zesty while enriched with the exquisite complexity of Cocchi.
Familiar Flavour Solace
There’s no doubt O/T Bar’s focus is on its cocktail program but what about satiating peckishness? There’s a slew of sincerely Asian-inspired dishes to cushion the alcohol including the rich Wagyu Beef Cubes ($22).
At its core, this dish very eloquently describes the culinary ethos of all Tipsy Collective gastro bars — it’s exceedingly simple, it’s hearty, and it’s familiar. There’s nothing inherently flashy about it but those succulent cubes and fragrant garlic chips just hit the spot.
But arguably the best value proposition on the menu comes from the tapas section, where you can mix and match addictive bites. Personally, I was partial towards the Crispy Calamari (any 2 tapas for $22) that were well-seasoned, crunchy, and juicy with a moreish truffle mayo dip at the side.
But then again, the Szechuan Mala Karaage (any 2 tapas for $22) is also a dependable choice to feature beside the tipples. A satisfying sizzle and greasy fried decadence? Exactly what you’d itch for while drinking.
“Woodlands has a pretty decent cocktail bar,” was a statement I never thought I’d make. Ultimately though, O/T Bar delivered on certain ends including surprisingly solid —though at points cloying— mixology, a comforting space to loosen up, and plenty of familiar, no-frills bites.
An amiable alternative for dwellers in the godforsaken North who can’t find time to venture down to the bustling CBD for a perk-me-up after a draining day.
Make your reservations here.
O/T Bar
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- Address: 6 Woodlands Square, #01-02 Woods Square, Singapore 737737
- Hours: (Mon–Sun) 3pm–1am
*This was an invited tasting.