Crazy Korean night in Singapore

Singapore is a city that never sleeps - pulsing with life at every hour. Our recent night out when over for the annual F1 race proved this true in every sense. It was a mad night filled with creative cocktails, temporary friends, and an unplanned short immersion into Korean culture. Get ready as I recount our unforgettable evening, which kicked off at a hidden speakeasy and ended up drunk in Korea Town.

We should maybe have stuck to the plan and stayed in at the hotel, having enjoyed an extended happy hour in the hotel lounge. But it was the weekend, we were already a little merry and we felt we should go for a wander. No regrets.

The Secret Speakeasy: Backdrop

We started our adventure at Backdrop, a speakeasy hidden away in a quiet/closed shopping centre off Orchard Road away from the city’s hustle and bustle. The entrance was difficult to find - as it resembled a closed shop front. Then we found the hidden code and booked our access via the web portal - 5 mins later, a door that wasn’t previously obvious opened, and we were invited inside. Once settled at our table, we were quickly at ease with the soft lighting, classic decor, music and an extensive cocktail menu. The drinks were creative and very enjoyable - slipping down far too easily.

We ordered their take on the Singapore Sling - as you do.

There were no windows, the atmosphere was cool, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses, with no idea of time.

Drinking

Drinking

Drinks

As we enjoyed our drinks, it got busier and soon we were sharing our table with another group. It wasn’t long before we/they struck up a conversation. I can’t remember their exact names - but let’s call these guys SJ, MJ, and Catrina, three Koreans who now lived and worked in Singapore. Their, what seemed to be genuine warmth, made us feel very comfortable in their company as we shared stories of family, culture and travel.

New Friends and Shared Stories

SJ, MJ, and Catrina were not just amiable; they made our evening.

After a few drinks, they invited us to join them in Korea Town for more drinks and snacks. Agreeing to head off with them was unlike us - but was very tempting….

The Journey to Korea Town

Are you coming or not? Before we knew it - we had all piled into a taxi, excitement buzzing in the air as we headed to Korea Town. The ride was filled with animated chatter about our different cultures, travel experiences, and random drunken chit chat.

Korea Town didn’t disappoint and these guys knew where to go. We were in a lovely little bar that offered a variety of drinks and traditional snacks. Yes there was something in the back of my mind that this wasn’t our normal behaviour - though I was confident it didn’t feel like we were being abducted. It felt more like we had been adopted as interesting guests. That said we were quite drunk by then.

Somaek: A Unique Korean Drink

A standout moment of the night was when we tried Somaek, a traditional Korean drink made by mixing Soju with beer. This unique combination delivers a smooth yet refreshing taste that was a favourite of our new friends. SJ or MJ was very skilled in ordering mixing and managing an uninterrupted flow of strong drinks. Clinking our glasses together, we experienced a weird camaraderie unique to sharing drinks with friends that you had met less than a couple of hours ago.

We also had some delicious Korean snacks. I haven’t a clue what they were or what they were called - but they were very nice.

By this point Jane was becoming concerned by the situation, and was texting our location to friends at home - just incase this was a full blown abduction so the authorities would have a timeline to start their investigation. She looked over at me asking should we be here, should we be worried. When a safe word was suggested by one of our hosts that only served to put her further on edge.

The Late Night Conversations

As the hours passed, we got lost in conversation, sharing stories and laughter, and soon it was over. We were done in - both drunk and tired - and our hosts not done yet went on somewhere else, whilst we grabbed a taxi into the night. Yes we were probably dropped - as our shininess had worn off, but we’d had more than enough fun for one night.

In the taxi ride back to our hotel we commented on how unlike it was for us to head out like this - but it was definitely worth it. Confident that we’d had a great time with people we would never see again.

The Aftermath: Hangovers and Long Lies In

Saturday morning brought the inevitable hangover. The reality of having too many Somaeks hit hard. A long lie-in was in order, the perfect remedy for our adventurous outing. We spent the rest of the day in a sleepy haze, lounging in bed and reminiscing about the incredible night we just experienced.