Along the eclectic stretch of Neil Road, Hi Stranger makes its debut. More than a cocktail destination, it is imagined as a playground for the curious: a place where spirits, conversation, and sensory experiences intersect in unexpected ways.
Inside, the 26-seater space hums in amber light. Lava-like visuals flicker against stainless steel surfaces; molten reflections ripple across the bar. Above it all hangs Hi Stranger’s centrepiece – a suspended stainless steel installation that catches and mirrors the room’s shifting tones, amplifying its warm, immersive glow. Guests can choose to sit at the bar for a close-up view of the action and conversations unfolding behind the counter, settle into intimate booth seating, or gather in the main dining area beneath a skylight ceiling that fills the room with natural light by day before casting a soft glow over the space into the evening.
Nothing here is designed to remain static. With each new chapter, Hi Stranger will evolve its visuals, menus, collaborations, music, and atmosphere entirely.
Its first chapter, A World Aglow, draws inspiration from Fire of Love – the acclaimed documentary following French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft – channelling themes of warmth, intensity, and wonder throughout the experience.
“In a city as vibrant and culturally curious like Singapore – where there’s already such an exciting and deeply creative cocktail culture – we wanted to contribute something that feels immersive, welcoming, and driven by curiosity,” says Bastien Renard, Co-Founder of Hi Stranger. “With Hi Stranger, we wanted to build more than just a cocktail destination. We wanted to create a space where people can slow down, connect, and discover something unexpected together – whether that’s through flavour, conversation, or simply the experience of exploring something new. That spirit of curiosity, openness, and human connection really sits at the heart of everything we do.”
A PLAYGROUND FOR DISCOVERY
At Hi Stranger, ordering a drink is designed to feel less transactional and more like a journey of discovery.
The bar invites guests to navigate flavour through a series of tactile and sensory experiences – from aromatic flavour maps and spirit scent spritzes, to hand-crafted flavour tools that encourage guests to build their preferences instinctively.
Guests can explore spirits through scent before committing to a pour, follow flavour trails across the menu, or surrender the decision entirely to the bartenders through personalised flavour combinations. Even the hand-carved wooden flavour tool – created by Bastien’s father – reflects the bar’s belief that discovery should feel intuitive, playful, and personal.
Rather than gatekeeping cocktail culture, Hi Stranger approaches spirits with openness and curiosity – inviting both seasoned drinkers and newcomers to explore at their own pace. The menu offers taster portions of spirits starting from $5 /cl for those curious to try.
“The best experiences happen when people feel comfortable enough to explore,” says Roomi Luo, Co-Founder of Hi Stranger. “We wanted to create a space where guests can interact with flavour naturally – where they can smell, touch, ask questions, experiment, and discover something unexpected without feeling intimidated.”
BEHIND THE NAME
French-born designer Bastien brings a multidisciplinary background spanning branding, retail, and product design across Europe and Asia. At Hi Stranger, he serves as the creative engine behind the bar’s visual identity – designing everything from the logo and menus to the website, flavour maps, bottle labels, and evolving chapter aesthetics.
The logo itself – a cheeky, distorted smiley face – captures the spirit of Hi Stranger in a single gesture: playful, slightly surreal, and instantly inviting.
Working alongside him is Roomi, whose background in operations and guest experience shapes the emotional rhythm of the space. Where Bastien builds the visual world, Roomi focuses on how the experience feels – from the warmth of the welcome to the sense of ease guests experience as they settle into the night.
Together, the pair envisioned Hi Stranger less as a conventional cocktail bar and more as a social, sensory-driven space shaped by people, interaction, and discovery.
A WORLD OF FLAVOUR
Led by Head Bartender Khalya Khalik, formerly of QT Hotel, the cocktail programme for A World Aglow leans into smoke, spice, funk, and intensity – echoing the volatile beauty of volcanic landscapes.
Signatures include the The Funky Daiquiri ($26), where Jamaican rum meets lime and chilli in a drink that feels bright yet untamed, alongside the The Smoky Sour ($24), layering Scotch and Islay whiskies with citrus and bitters for something textured, savoury, and quietly smouldering.
Alongside the signatures sits a classics programme that celebrates both timeless favourites and lesser-seen historical cocktails such as The Alabazam ($28), Preakness Manhattan ($28), and the 100 Year Old Cigar ($28) – offering guests the chance to explore beyond the familiar while discovering the stories and flavours behind classic cocktail culture.
For guests who stay long enough, Hi Stranger occasionally unveils an off-menu Ramos Gin Fizz – a playful late-night ritual quietly activated by Bastien himself whenever the mood (and timing) feels right throughout the evening.
An extensive spirits collection – sourced personally by the founders in limited quantities including rum from the Philippines, whisky from Sweden, and raicilla from Jalisco – further reflects the bar’s broader spirit of discovery. Select bottles are independently bottled and packaged in Bastien’s custom designs, with pours offered by the centilitre to encourage exploration.
For its opening chapter, Hi Stranger also collaborates with Savanna Rum from Réunion Island on an exclusive custom blend available only at the bar – a partnership shaped by shared volcanic origins and a mutual fascination with intensity, terroir, and transformation. The bespoke blend also appears in The Naughty Martini ($26) a savoury and spirit-forward signature layered with Réunion rum, Jamaican rum, gin, blanc vermouth, olive, and brine.
PLATES DESIGNED FOR THE TABLE
The kitchen is led by Head Chef Edwin Tay, whose background includes Rhubarb and Michelin-starred Nouri.
Designed to complement the drinks, the menu centres around elevated comfort food intended for sharing, conversation, and lingering a little longer than planned.
Dishes range from smaller bites such as Pão de Queijo ($12), Tuna Tartare with avocado purée and rice cracker ($12), Fried Mushrooms with soy emulsion ($12), and Prawn Toast with sesame and mayonnaise ($12), to larger plates including Stir Fried Clams with Korean wheat noodles ($22), Black Wagyu Skirt with smoked chimichurri ($48), and Spanish Octopus with romesco sauce and baby potatoes ($48).
To end the night on a sweeter note, desserts include Matcha Ganache with butter crumbs and lime gel ($7), alongside Roasted Corn Ice Cream with caramelised popcorn and citrus ($12).
Like the drinks programme, the food offering is designed to evolve alongside each new chapter. While selected dishes will rotate and respond to the chapter’s changing creative direction, a number of signatures and guest favourites will remain as constants within the Hi Stranger experience.
A BAR THAT EVOLVES
Hi Stranger was never intended to remain static.
With each new chapter, the bar will continue transforming – evolving like a living world shaped by new ideas, inspirations, and encounters. The founders intend for the bar to be used as a space for brand collaborations and takeovers.
“Hi Stranger is really a canvas,” says Bastien. “The space, the light, the menu – everything is designed to evolve with each chapter. For A World Aglow, we wanted guests to feel like they’ve stepped into something warm and alive the moment they walk in. Volcanoes are beautiful and unpredictable at the same time, and that tension between comfort and discovery is something we wanted to capture throughout the experience.”
Yet beneath the shifting aesthetics and changing narratives remains the same underlying spirit: a belief that great bars should feel welcoming, exploratory, and deeply human.
Whether through an unfamiliar spirit, an unexpected flavour pairing, or a conversation shared across the counter, Hi Stranger invites guests to slow down, follow curiosity instinctively, and experience drinking as something immersive, playful, and personal.
