What it is: This taphouse without walls attracts a cross-section of Singaporean beer enthusiasts and travelers from farther abroad, all sharing tables on the second level of a market complex in Singapore’s Chinatown. There’s no bar, per se, just an open-ended hawker stall where owners Meng Chao, Daniel Goh, and their team welcome all and chat while pouring cutting-edge variety from a dozen taps. No frills, besides an ever-changing selection of beers and the high probability of good conversation.
Why it’s great: The drafts balance eye-popping imports with Singaporean craft, so you might find things such as a cold IPA from Brewlander, a Kiam Sng Di salty plum beer from That Singapore Beer Project, or a Munich-style helles from Alive Brewing alongside IPAs from San Diego’s North Park and New Zealand’s Deep Creek. Plus, the market features an abundance of street food—beer in Singapore is expensive, but spending just a couple bucks on some claypot rice or satay skewers is a great way to help rationalize the splurge.
Hours: 6 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Tuesday–Thursday; 6 p.m.–11 p.m., Friday; 2 p.m.–11 p.m., Saturday; closed Sunday & Monday
Address: 335 Smith St., Chinatown Complex #02-062, Singapore
Web: smithstreettaps.com
