Railway-themed Singapore Martini Club now open, with over 50 martini variations

The martini cocktail is a recurring feature in Hollywood films — from All About Eve in 1950, with the Gibson, to the more recent A Simple Favor, starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, where the former spends a whole minute explaining how to make a real martini. There is, of course, the famous vodka martini — “shaken, not stirred” — from the James Bond franchise.

But if you weren’t already well-acquainted with the classic gin-vermouth cocktail, the all-new The Singapore Martini Club at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel might just be where you can hop on the martini train.

It helps, too, that the venue is modelled after a vintage luxury train cabin, right from its street-level exterior. 

Step inside and you’ll notice seats that mimic those in a carriage, complete with vintage-styled windows and even metal racks overhead. If you make a reservation, you’ll even find a retro mini suitcase on your table, bearing your name — the dedication to the theme is impressive, right from the get-go.

If the theatrics and vintage vibes ring a bell, you might have visited The Backdrop, which is just a few doors down at Voco Orchard. Both are by bar veteran Dario Knox, who has more than two decades of industry experience and has stewarded concepts that have placed on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, such as The Other Room.

The Singapore Martini Club’s debut menu is divided into seven main sections based on different flavour profiles — zesty, savoury, tea, fruity, and herbal — alongside sections dedicated to popular martini riffs and dry classics. Given that there are over 50 different martini variations, this categorisation makes it easy for those new to the cocktail to find their way around.

Each drink comes with visual flavour scales, showing where it lands — from sweet-sour, to sour-savoury, and sweet-dry — to help you pick your poison.

The menu itself is telling of the drinks to come: approachable, varied, and designed with different palates in mind. 

One of the more interesting options is the Italian Caprese martini (S$26), a tequila martini that tastes just as you’d imagine, with bright tomato notes and hints of basil and oregano. 

It also comes with a sizeable basil-mozzarella garnish on the side — reminiscent of its namesake salad — to really drive the theme home. 

The punchy Tokyo spice martini (S$25), also tequila-based, was just as intriguing, with Japanese shichimi togarashi adding a hit of spice. You’d love this if you love a good Bloody Mary.  

For something else with Japanese influences, the vodka-based Karuizawa martini (S$25) is a zestier take, with green apple, shiso, celery, and lime. 

Those who love a bolder yet manageable drink will enjoy the Swiss choco martini (S$28), a vodka riff with cacao and PX sherry. 

It isn’t all just fun and flavours — if you’re after a more conventional stiff martini, you can get the Sub-Zero dirty martini (S$36), a blend of gin, brine, and vermouth, chilled at sub-zero temperatures and served tableside, alongside classic variations, such as a Gibson (S$28). 

And if you need some bites to go with all these drinks, there’s a small tapas menu with items such as tuna belly tartare (S$28), red pepper hummus (S$13), and olives (available in four different variations, starting from S$12). 

Taken together — and despite its moniker — The Singapore Martini Club feels less like a bar exclusively for martini purists. It’s more like a spot for those curious about the cocktail to explore a tipple or two, while having fun with it.

The railway theme, complete with photo-worthy props, also makes for an interactive, immersive experience. Who says you can’t pretend to be the protagonist of a retro flick, sipping on an icy-cold martini as your train to nowhere chugs on?

This was a hosted session.

For more drinking spots nearby, check out Bar Kap, housed in the historic House of Tan Yeok Nee, or check out St. Regis Bar at The St. Regis Singapore.