Our Take on Operation Dagger
There is no sign. You descend a flight of stairs off Ann Siang Hill, push open a door, and find yourself in one of Singapore's most quietly celebrated cocktail bars. Operation Dagger has been playing this game since 2014 and doing it better than almost anyone. The menu is minimal — typically six cocktails — and changes completely each season. Whatever is on it, the standard is exceptional.
The founders, Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura, built the bar on a philosophy of restraint: no flashy theatre, no complicated backstories printed on the menu, just drinks that are genuinely surprising and genuinely delicious. The space is dark, low-ceilinged, and intimate. Couples sit close together. The bar team work silently and precisely.
We recommend ordering whatever the bartender is most excited about that night and telling them your preferences — light, spirit-forward, citrus-forward — and letting them build a short progression around you. This is the bar you come back to on your last night in Singapore, every time.
What to Order
The menu rotates seasonally with no printed list. The best move is to tell them your spirit preferences and let them design a progression tailored to your palate.
They always have something dark, smoky, and complex on rotation. These showcase the founders' approach to balance and depth — expect unexpected ingredients and unconventional technique.
Bright and technically brilliant, often uses unusual acids and fresh citrus. These are the drinks that demonstrate why this bar is so consistently referenced by bartenders across Asia.
The Space
The bars worth going to, weekly.
One email every week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 60 cities worldwide.
More Bars Nearby
Reach bar-goers in every major city.
Sponsored listings, newsletter placements, and city guide partnerships across 60 cities.