Earworm: New concept by Offtrack is Singapore’s hot new bar with sleek aesthetics and live band & DJ sets

Have you heard of Earworm? The hot new bar in Boat Quay has been popping up all over our social media, with a lot of talk of its aesthetics and live music.

If you know anything about the Singapore bar scene, you’d be excited, too.

Earworm is the newest concept by Offtrack, ranked No. 16 in this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars, and No. 89 on the international 50 Best Bars extended list.

Earworm is also located on North Canal Road, just a few minutes away from Offtrack.

Compared to its award-studded sibling, this new hangout spot is meant to be more casual and driven by music. There are live band nights on Wednesdays and DJ sets on Fridays and Saturdays.

Music lovers should know they are in good hands — one of the masterminds behind the bar is Dean Chew, a multi-hyphenate who also co-founded renowned local electronic music collective Darker Than Wax.

Besides all the good tunes flowing through the lounge space, the decor is another great reason to visit.

Earworm’s interior is a flourish of mid-century modern aesthetics, taking cues from Bangkok‘s many chic bars, while the myriad glossy chrome accents contrast against rustic wooden surfaces.

The lighting is warm, but you still get pops of blue that throw back to Offtrack, especially with the litany of music-related posters adorning both bars’ walls.

Our favourite fixture was probably the backdrop of the DJ booth, which was affixed with a stylish chapel-style stained-glass panel!

Not just regular bar food

Anyone who’s been to Offtrack probably knows that the first thing you should order is the garlic noodles, even before the drinks.

At Earworm, the food menu is just as well-conceived — and it’s nothing like the often run-of-the-mill snacks you find at most bars.

One dish that has been a big hit is the mala rigatoni (S$20), where tubes of rigatoni are doused in a crimson mapo ragu, and blanketed with leopard-spotted melted mozzarella.

As fearsome as the sauce base looks, it’s quite a well-balanced dish that strikes a good balance between umami and spice. 

It’s like an Asian take on rigatoni spicy alla vodka, with a moderate level of heat. Some might even complain it’s not spicy enough!

Our personal favourite Earworm dish was the Bangkok schnitzel (S$30), with a hulking leg of fried chicken that’s airy and crunchy on the outside, but tender as heck on the inside.

More importantly, its marinade boasts an addictive sour-cream-and-onion-chips profile, which blends perfectly with the splatters of sharp and tangy nam jim jaew (northeastern Thai dipping sauce) salsa on top.

Also, while we aren’t massive dessert fans, we thought the teh tarik tres leches (S$12) might just be a must-order at Earworm.

The cake itself is moist and fragrant, but what makes the difference here is the bold and bright teh tarik note in the three-milk concoction that the cake is soaked in — charming, comforting, and a great way to set itself apart from traditional tres leches.

Earworm’s cocktails

What about the drinks? Cocktails at Earworm stick to the same mixological ethos as Offtrack, where simplicity is the crux.

The menu comprises 12 different cocktails, sub-divided into three distinct categories of “refreshing”, “balanced”, and “punchy” — different profiles so all guests can find something they’ll like.

If you love vibrant fruity flavours but still want some complexity, the Saturn (S$24) will hit the spot.

This one is based on a classic tiki cocktail and features a mish-mash of passion fruit sorbet, gin, almond, falernum, and Sicilian lemonade, making it fruity but with some subtle earthy undertones.

Offtrack actually has its own version of Saturn, but Earworm’s one is a bit different and has a thicker mouthfeel due to the sorbet!

A more interesting cocktail would be the Swiss lemonade (S$24), which incorporates dairy.

Crafted with condensed milk, gin, lime, mango, and soda, it’s a very fun and refreshing cocktail — the condensed milk just gives it a more unique profile than your usual refreshing fruity drinks!

Overall, the drinks aren’t the only focus here and it’s a well-rounded overall experience. 

Be it the food, the vibes, the live music, or the cocktails, all of these can make a strong case for you to visit, depending on your preferences!

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the best spots to visit in Farrer Park and the hottest new udon spot at Orchard Plaza!