Craft beer bar Hopstation in Singapore’s Central Business District is just a hop and skip away from multiple train stations, making it a convenient watering hole for professionals working in the area.
[Hopstation has officially closed]
Singapore’s craft beer scene continues apace with the recent opening of Hopstation, a casual gastrobar smack in the middle of Singapore’s financial district. Located in the newly refurbished Cross Street Exchange – what previously was China Square Central – at the corner of Cross Street and South Bridge roads, the craft-beer focused bar is within easy walking distance to various train stations in the area (Telok Ayer MRT, Chinatown MRT, Clarke Quay MRT, and Raffles Place MRT, to be exact). This makes it an extremely convenient stop for professionals in the area to grab a pint or more after work.
Hopstation carries some of the usual favourite craft beer brands, such as Japan’s Hitachino Nest, Fourpure from the UK, Sweetwater and North Coast from the US, and Australia’s Bridge Road, but also has local representation with beers from Singapore’s own The 1925 Brewing Co. There’s a revolving selection of 13 draft taps here, along with some 50 bottled variants available at any one time for your drinking pleasure. Prices range from $10++ for a half pint to $17 for a full pint on draft, with bottles ranging from $12++ to $17++ per bottle.
Food at Hopstation run the gamut of familiar gastrobar offerings. The Beer Batter Fish and Chips ($16++) here is a dependable option, and the Gochujang Fried Chicken ($12++) is its version of the popular Korean bar grub.
Where Hopstation does particularly well is with its pasta – the Mac and Cheese in Truffle Cream ($15++) is deliciously unctuous, while the Squid Ink Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($24++) – which comes topped with grilled seafood – will please those looking for a spice kick. The Lager Mussels with Bread Basket ($18++) also deserves mention; this take on the Belgian moules has a lovely bittersweet broth that will have you enthusiastically dunking bread into it.
What’s good news for beer drinkers is that Hopstation opens late – closing at midnight on weekdays and 1.30am on weekends – and possibly the only craft beer-focused bar to do so. While Hopstation is unlikely to compete with its more geeky craft beer bar brethren such as Freehouse or Burger Bar whose offerings of barrel-aged imperial stouts and funky experimental sours can border on the extreme, it is a great stop for those new to craft beer. And its location means that it doesn’t necessarily need to target craft beer geeks; it’s just that convenient drinking stop for those in the area before one hops on a train home.
Hopstation
Address 18 Cross Street, #01-108/109 Cross Street Exchange, Singapore 048421 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 11am to midnight Mondays to Fridays; 11am to 1.30am on Saturdays and Sundays
Tel (65) 6574 9028
Web hopstation.me
Facebook wearehopstationsg
Instagram @wearehopstationsg
