[Review] Hidden bar Here Kitty Kitty at Clarke Quay serves Japanese-Spanish bites and creative cocktails

Fans of nightlife would probably be familiar with the vicinity around Clarke Quay, such as Zouk. Apart from several bars and alfresco options on the ground floor, one might be surprised to discover that the former Get Juiced has been replaced by 3 new establishments – Here Kitty Kitty being one of them.

If you’re looking for a new, chill bar to explore after work, the experience here is well worth a try.

Interior

Once you’ve climbed a short flight of stairs to the entrance, you’re greeted by a tatami-like lobby that features an Instagrammable staircase and walls adorned with cherry blossoms.

The interior of the bar is equally alluring, with a neon feature wall for some great shots!

The space has been sectioned well with several small rooms and cozy booths for some privacy and intimate conversations.

Cocktails

Here Kitty Kitty’s cocktail menu is divided into three main sections: Signatures, Highballs and Flights.

Starting off with a classic, the Ume Whisky Sour ($25) was surprisingly easy to drink and had hints of citrus that balanced out the whisky well.

Another lighter drink was the Momoiro Fizz ($24), which was pleasant and fruity thanks to its feature of Okonomatsu Peach (Japanese peach liqueur), which balanced out the slight bitterness of the grapefruit slice and the fizzy water base. This was a good thirst quencher and is recommended for lighter drinkers!

The presentation of the Geisha ($25) cocktail was a pleasant surprise! Sitting on a mini bed of ice and with a Green Tea Shrub on top, the drink tasted as good as it looked. This is definitely recommended for gin lovers at the Roku Gin taste was extremely prominent, with hints of egg white and yuzu.

My personal favourite was Here Kitty Kitty’s Las Vegas Signature, the Watermelon Sugar ($26). Featuring Don Julio Blanco, Cointreau, lime in the drink, I thought the salt rim and watermelon slice added a nice touch of sweetness to the drink. You can choose to either finish the drink before consuming the watermelon or take bites in between sips!

Last but not least, the presentation of this drink was extremely cute as well! Featuring a mini umbrella and a printed paper straw, sipping on the Haku-Hai ($24) makes one feel like they are at a beach club at sunset! The drink also uses calpis, which is a lesser-known but delicious soda.

While the prices of the cocktails are on the steeper side, they’re worth a try as a casual indulgence – bonus points for beautiful presentation too!

Bar Bites

Of course, we had to try some of their food alongside our drinks. While their food menu features other sections such as Raw/Cured, Bincho/Aburi and Crispy/Fried, we sampled their range of Table Staples – their most recommended dishes. Many of these dishes were labelled as Japas – Japanese-Spanish fusion bites!

I liked the Ebi Sriracha ($32) dish best as the prawns were extremely fresh and juicy. The sauce pairing of sriracha and mayo alongside the generous topping of tokibo also added texture to the dish and made it flavourful. The platter comes with about 5-6 prawns, which makes it shareable with a friend or two.

Those looking for an easy eat and a more affordable option can consider the Chikin Fritto ($15). This Spanish chicken karaage felt like a comfort dish.

Another wallet-friendly option would be the Korokke de Setas ($12), which features four Vegetarian mushroom croquettes. The team at Here Kitty Kitty described the taste of the filling as similar to Campbell soup. It’s a good snack that can be decently filling due to the truffle creaminess.

Moving on from fried food, the Hamachi Tiradito ($32) was surprisingly appetizing thanks to the combination of crushed nuts and sauce (made out of citrus, amarillo pepper, garlic – Caribbean style!). This Japanese-Spanish fusion dish is a light delight that pairs well with sweeter cocktails due to the tangy sourness of the sauce.

For those looking to ball a little, there’s always the Smokin’ Ocean Jewels ($68) platter that comes with two Apple Wood Smoked Uni and Ikura Tartlets. At first glance, the presentation is immaculate as the gold foils make the dish look classy and delicate. The chef advised that we eat this in one bite – and we did! I could immediately taste the creaminess of the uni, which was high quality and fresh. While this is an interesting indulgence, the price is indeed steeper due to the ingredients used.

Verdict

The atmosphere at Here Kitty Kitty is great as the team had put in extra effort to transform the place into a Japanese speakeasy lookalike. There are many photo-worthy spots and seating is comfortable as well.

I enjoyed the range of cocktails available and would be back to try more. Food-wise, unlike many other bars that focus on only drinks, their main menu offers a range of options from light bites to platters.

Overall, while the menus are slightly expensive, you can still visit the place to try it out due to their many offerings and good vibes!

Here Kitty Kitty

Opening Hours: 6pm-12am on Tuesdays-Thursdays and Saturdays, 6pm-2am on Fridays, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Address: 3E River Valley Road, #02-01, The Cannery, Clarke Quay, 179024
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay, Fort Canning