The Otherside

The Otherside is a rooftop bar at 7 Erskine Road, on the short stretch that links Chinatown with Telok Ayer, right beside Maxwell Food Centre. The entrance is easy to walk past, so look for the address rather than a big sign. Upstairs, a rustic terrace filled with plants and strung with lights sits alongside an indoor counter where regulars talk through the current list with the staff.

Beer here is all about rotation rather than a fixed house range. Six taps change roughly weekly, and two fridges of bottles and cans turn over just as often. Expect the styles that small modern breweries favour, chiefly hazy IPAs and sours, poured next to a list of small-batch natural wines from independent producers around the world. That pairing makes it an easy choice for a mixed group where some want beer and others prefer wine.

Maxwell MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line is the closest station, a couple of minutes' walk away, and Tanjong Pagar MRT is also within easy walking distance. Being next to Maxwell Food Centre means plenty of hawker food close by before or after a drink. The bar opens from 4pm until midnight Monday to Saturday, and from 2pm to 10pm on Sundays.

The terrace suits groups who want to settle in for the evening, while the counter works well for solo drinkers keen to try whatever has just gone on tap. Groups should get in touch ahead of time, and the space can also be booked for private events.