Lady M and I used to have this checklist of bars to go to. Before we got married, we are checking this list almost every week. Perhaps we were still young and going strong. Things slowed down when we had Olivia. Maybe once every two to three months. When Emmanuel came along, this checklist came to a halt. We were and are still going out for our date nights once every week or two, but sipping on alcohol didn't cross our minds nowadays.
There was once Lady M mentioned that she wanted to visit a bar with fancy and magical drinks. I was too slow to get the hint (probably forgotten about it), so on my birthday this year, she finally get to visit The Public Eight.
Nestled within Singapore's National Gallery, we have walked past this place quite a few times after our museum visit - a free and relaxing place (and air-conditioned!) to visit with our children.
After our dinner, we took a leisure stroll and reached there at our reserved timing at around 8pm. We were the only guests there and I joked that Lady M booked the entire place for ourselves. The bar itself is an extension of a Japanese restaurant called "Hachi," which is fitting as "hachi" translates to the number eight. It exuded a cozy atmosphere, adorned with wooden furniture, and featured a central bar area like many other bars. The door even has the figure "8" on it!
As the only guests in the entire bar, we basically had the bartender to ourselves - a lovely lady named Irene who was extremely hospitable and lovely. With her fancy hairstyle and captivating showmanship, I reckon she is an attraction within the bar.
Looking at the menu, Lady M immediately spotted their famous cocktail - "Confession" (S$40). If you were to search "The Public Eight", I bet you ten grands that this is the first drink that pops up - A fancy red wine with a floating iced rose - or as the menu described "Kenzo Estate Rindo 2016, Calvados, Pomegranate, Rose". What made it truly captivating was the bartender's theatrical touch. With a torchlight in hand and a spritz of glitter spray, she created a mesmerizing spectacle, enveloping the drink in a shimmering aura. If there's something that is IG-worthy, it is this drink.
I told Irene that I wanted something dramatic and sour (I got a thing with sour alcohol), so she introduced the La Pasion (S$28) - a concoction of passionfruit puree, Santory Kakubin Whiskey, elderflower liquor and orange juice. Seriously dramatic. I'll just let this picture do the talkin'. As compared to the "Confession", it has double the alcohol content at ABV 18% to give you the kick you need. And talking about sour, this was perfect and taste like citrus fruits on steroids.
You know how your mouth gets itchy when you drink? Like something missing.. I mean, what's a proper bar session without some bar snacks. We had the Grilled Stingray (S$18) paired with a mayo dip, which is great to match the drinks. Just imagine the fusion of umami flavors, combined with the satisfying crunch and chewiness in every bite.
And obviously a birthday cake ($20, seasonal, cake choice depends on the chef). Just for your information, the cake is complimentary if you hit a nett spending of $120. Anyway we didn't, as I'm driving and we can't be too drunk as our family had planned a surprise party when we got home too.
In short, The Public Eight is definitely a must-go for bar lovers who love dramaaaaaaaatic drinks (like limbeh). The pricing is slightly higher than average (our bill for two drinks, one snack, and one cake turned to be approx $120 after tax and charges), but the experience from the service to the unique presentation of every drink, is totally worth it, no doubt.
Nevertheless, looking forward to our next bar date! Hit me in my mailbox if you have any bars to recommend. Cheers!