Crackerjack

What this place is and who it is for

Crackerjack sits on Tanjong Pagar Road in a 1920s shophouse with an open front, a 20-seat long counter, four banquette booths, and a small mezzanine. The bar opened in 2018 as an all-day venue with a brunch programme from 11am on weekends and a cocktail bar from 5pm. The drinks list runs to Asian gins, kalamansi sours, and a small wine programme.

It works for a Saturday brunch-to-drinks pivot and for a walk-in Tuesday after-work session that does not require a reservation. Skip the Friday peak hours without a booking; the long counter fills by 8pm. Time Out Singapore's 2024 Tanjong Pagar bar guide ranked Crackerjack in its top five for value, calling it “the easiest all-day shophouse bar in Tanjong Pagar and the most reliable kitchen-until-close on the strip.

What the space feels like

A 1920s shophouse with an open front, a 20-seat long counter along the right wall, four banquette booths on the left, and a small mezzanine that fits 20 more on a lower-ceilinged level. The Honeycombers Singapore 2024 bar feature described the room as “the most relaxed shophouse bar in Tanjong Pagar, the one with the open windows and the long counter that runs the full length of the room.” The lighting stays warm and the playlist runs to indie and soul.

What to order, what to skip

Order the Asia 75 (22 SGD), an Asian gin and jasmine variant on the French 75 that has been on the menu since opening. Skip the wine list, which The Infatuation Singapore's 2024 feature called “a small programme that does the job but is not the reason to come.” The Kalamansi Sour (20 SGD) is the off-menu request the bartenders pour for a longer, sweeter build. The kitchen runs until close and the truffle fries at 16 SGD are the right pairing for a group order.

Who shows up and when

Three shifts. From 11am to 3pm on weekends the room pulls Tanjong Pagar brunch groups for the kitchen and a low-ABV menu. From 5pm to 8pm the long counter fills with after-work professionals from nearby Maxwell and the financial district. After 8pm the room turns to a younger Tanjong Pagar crowd and the bar stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday. Tatler Asia's 2024 Tanjong Pagar feature called Crackerjack “the only Tanjong Pagar bar that pulls a brunch crowd at 11am and a 1am nightcap on the same day.

When to walk in

Crackerjack runs three shifts and the right one depends on the goal. The Saturday brunch from 11am to 3pm is the spot for a walk-in group of four with the kitchen menu. The 5pm to 8pm after-work shift is the spot for a long-counter walk-in and a 22 SGD Asia 75. After 8pm the room turns to a younger crowd and a Friday or Saturday booth requires a booking one day out. Sunday closes at midnight. Tuesday and Wednesday are the easiest walk-in nights at the long counter.

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