Introduction
In Singapore — a city of dazzling skyscrapers and cosmopolitan energy — few venues have done more to shape its modern drinking culture than Jigger & Pony. Hidden inside the Amara Hotel in the bustling Tanjong Pagar district, this warm, elegant bar has become a global institution, earning repeated honors on The World’s 50 Best Bars list and serving as a model for what hospitality can achieve when tradition, innovation, and human warmth come together. The story of Jigger & Pony begins in 2012, when founders Indra Kantono and Gan Guoyi set out to create something missing from Singapore’s nightlife at the time: a classic cocktail bar rooted in timeless recipes, but elevated with modern flair and genuine hospitality. The name itself — Jigger & Pony — pays homage to two essential tools of precise bartending, signaling from the very start a respect for craftsmanship. From its original home on Amoy Street, the bar quickly earned a loyal following. When it relocated to its current, larger space inside Amara Hotel in 2018, it didn’t lose its intimate charm — it amplified it. Warm woods, velvet booths, soft lighting, and a spacious central bar invite guests into a room that feels more like a grand living room than a commercial venue. The design embodies the bar’s guiding philosophy: elegant but never cold, sophisticated but always welcoming. What has always set Jigger & Pony apart is its devotion to hospitality first. The team — led by an ever-evolving roster of internationally recognized bartenders — treats every guest with care and attention, whether they are seasoned cocktail enthusiasts or curious first-timers. The bar champions what it calls the “Jigger & Pony way”: a deeply personal, intuitive service style that ensures each guest feels at home. But behind that warmth lies an intense technical rigor. The cocktail program blends classic recipes with thoughtful reinvention, using premium ingredients and refined techniques. Each new menu release — often presented as a beautifully designed booklet that doubles as a collectible coffee table piece — reflects months of research, collaboration, and creative experimentation. These menus aren’t just drink lists; they’re conceptual narratives, often exploring themes like human connection, seasonal ingredients, or sensory memory. Jigger & Pony’s famed attention to detail includes house-made syrups, clarifications, barrel-aging, and a scientific approach to dilution and temperature. Yet none of this is ever presented as spectacle — technique exists solely to serve flavor and guest experience. Cocktails like the signature Yuzu Whiskey Sour, Madame President, or their clarified Pony Martini exemplify how classic structures can be elevated through modern precision while maintaining their essential soul. The bar’s commitment to team culture and bartender development has also earned it a reputation within the industry as a training ground for future stars. Staff are given opportunities to contribute creatively, ensuring that each new menu reflects a diversity of voices and ideas. This collective approach has led Jigger & Pony to become not just a bar, but a collaborative family — one that radiates outward into the guest experience. Beyond drinks, Jigger & Pony’s influence has extended into Singapore’s wider cocktail renaissance. The group has expanded with sister venues like Gibson, Live Twice, and Humpback, each exploring a different facet of hospitality but sharing the same DNA of thoughtful service and culinary precision. Throughout its growth, Jigger & Pony has remained grounded in its founding vision: that hospitality is about generosity, sincerity, and human connection. In an industry often dazzled by trends and theatrics, Jigger & Pony stands as a calm, elegant beacon — proving that what truly captivates guests is not only what’s in the glass, but the sense of belonging created around it. Today, Jigger & Pony is not just Singapore’s flagship bar; it is an international reference point for the future of cocktails. It balances deep respect for classic technique with a restless curiosity for innovation, all wrapped in a service philosophy that transforms each visit into a personal, memorable encounter. For anyone fortunate enough to sit at its bar, Jigger & Pony offers something rare in the world of high-end mixology: not just outstanding drinks, but a masterclass in the enduring power of genuine hospitality.
