Dragonfly Takes Flight on Orchard Road: Art Nouveau Design Meets Innovative Cocktails

This June, the illustrious Dragonfly bar makes its debut in Singapore, bringing a visually stunning Art Nouveau concept to Orchard Road. Nestled within the chic Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard on Mount Elizabeth Road, this exclusive enclave promises to be a haven for after-hours revelry, epicurean delights, and social gatherings.

A Masterpiece of Design

Dragonfly stands as the first Singaporean outpost by celebrated bar designer Ashley Sutton, sharing a kinship with Sutton’s famed concept in Hong Kong, which celebrates the Art Nouveau movement of the late 1800s. Anchored by a mesmerizing stained-glass dragonfly centerpiece, the bar features ornate patterns and natural motifs. Hundreds of exquisite hand-blown wing-patterned lamps bathe the space in an ethereal teal hue, inspired by 19th-century art mogul Louis Comfort Tiffany, the first Art Director of Tiffany & Co.

Leadership and Craftsmanship

Dragonfly Singapore distinguishes itself with its talented team and innovative cocktail program. At the helm is the accomplished Morgan Raelin Barron, whose bartending career began in America. Morgan has honed her craft at prestigious establishments like Allegory and BarMini, the sister bar to the two-Michelin-starred restaurant by José Andrés. Her expertise in molecular mixology and her experience managing bar programs for the Kimpton Hotel group have solidified her reputation as a luminary in the industry.

In Singapore, Morgan has worked at award-winning bars like Jigger & Pony and 28 HongKong Street, and she helped shape the cocktail program at Brasserie Astoria by Björn Frantzén. Her team of meticulous bartenders has developed a remarkable menu for Dragonfly’s opening: The Cause and Effect, which champions classic cocktails with a modernist flair.

The Cause and Effect Menu

The menu draws inspiration from the cause-and-effect principle, exploring how one event causes ripples that create widespread effects. This progression is represented by the transition from classic cocktails to the bar’s original creations, with seven sections each centered around a spirit category and a classic cocktail as the cornerstone.

Each classic serves as a familiar starting point, while the subsequent drinks in each section branch out into modern and alluring flavor profiles. The second drink in each section is designed to be light and refreshing with a lower alcohol by volume (ABV), while the third boasts bolder and more spirit-forward flavors. Techniques like clarification and the preparation of low-ABV punches ensure consistency, precision, and accessibility in every sip.

Highlights of the Menu

• Aperitifs: Every Cloud is a riff on the classic Bamboo, made with mustard sherry, bianco vermouth, and honey, garnished with a morning glory leaf.
• Vodka: Bite the Blossom features Hanami-infused vodka and Oloroso sherry with bittersweet grapefruit and rhubarb. High Mountain combines Oolong vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Liquore Strega, fortified vermouth, and honey, topped with dehydrated milk foam crisp.
• Gin: Veil of Fondness clarifies a mixture of genever, Cocchi Rosa, tomato, watermelon, and lemon. Rose Stained blends gin, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Sakura Vermouth, Liquore Strega, and a touch of saline.
• Eau de Vie: The Right Chance merges beetroot with Cognac, port, cacao, and raspberry meringue.
• Whisk(e)y: Everything Gets Butter is a decadent Old Fashioned with brown butter-washed bourbon, demerara sugar, and bitters.
• Rum: Murphy’s Law combines house-crafted dark rum with sweet corn ice cream and a pipette of house-made mala oil for a spicy kick.

Beyond Cocktails

Dragonfly Singapore extends its allure beyond mixology, offering a space for live music and DJ nights. Guests can enjoy performances that complement the venue’s sophisticated yet laid-back ambiance, ranging from jazz to soulful blues, ensuring a captivating experience for cocktail enthusiasts and music aficionados alike.

Dragonfly at Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard is now open, inviting you to experience its enchanting design and innovative cocktail menu.