Unapologetically psychedelic, rock and roll-loving cocktail-focused Parliament Bar celebrates its first anniversary with a new cocktail menu inspired by sci-fi pop culture.
We’re almost ashamed we’ve not dropped into Parliament Bar till very recently.
Maybe it’s the name, which conjures up ideas of boring political speeches by old men. Instead, we find out that this cocktail bar on Teck Lim Road in the Keong Saik entertainment enclave is inspired by American funk band of the same name that was popular in the ’70s (you’ll know them by their massive hit, ‘Give Up The Funk’).
And like the infectious upbeat funk and soul tunes of the band, Parliament Bar is colourful and over-the-top. It’s florid splashes of neon, baleful red lighting, and utterly festooned with memorabilia (including some of the owner’s personal collection of autographed posters and guitars). Imagine an American diner on crack, a chaotic mix of elements from Skinny’s, Sago House, and Hard Rock Cafe, and you’ll get it.
I love it.
Those familiar with Parliament – the band – may know that their music is edgy and experimental, and often drew inspiration from science fiction, pop culture, and futurism. Parliament Bar’s newest cocktail menu celebrate that avant-garde approach.
Even if they are twists on timeless classics. You have 88 Miles Per Sour, for example, a liquid hat tip to the film ‘Back To The Future’ that takes the classic whiskey sour and gives it a caramel apple spin with brown butter fat-washed bourbon and a heady mix of apple, spiced orange, and angostura bitters. Doc Brown would be so pleased.
Pineapple Warp is a fun clarified flex on the usually cloudy Piña Colada, while White Widower takes the now mostly-forgotten White Russian towards dessert territory complete with whipped soft serve ice cream.
But I particularly loved Monkey Business, an Old Fashioned with a subtle hint of banana but otherwise is everything you want in that classic.
If cocktails aren’t your thing? Parliament Bar offers a plethora of shots, running the gamut of white and brown spirits to suit your preference and palate.
The diner-inspired food menu is tiny and comprise of mostly finger-friendly snacks. The Three Cheese Grilled Cheese is there if you’re craving a cheese toastie, but what you really want is the signature Parliament’s Fried Chicken Burger. This is breaded chicken thigh deep fried into juicy deliciousness and then assembled into a glorious burger with the most unctuous chipotle aioli that will have you gawping in pleasure on first bite.
We’ll be back again for Parliament Bar’s rocking vibes, fun and wallet-friendly cocktails, but especially that fried chicken burger.
This Parliament is in session.
Parliament Bar
Address 18 Teck Lim Rd, #02-01, Singapore 088390 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5pm to 12am Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays
Tel (65) 9622 7573
Web www.parliamentbar.sg
Instagram @parliament.sg
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