About
The first time we stepped into The Horse's Mouth, we were, quite honestly, stopped mid-gallop. A warm, smoothly finished wood bar, Shoji-inspired light fixtures that dominate the ceiling, and eclectic touches like the bright colour displays, evoke images of autumn and summer. Lit brightly enough for you to appreciate the details, but still seductively dark enough to leave plenty to the imagination, The Horse's Mouth is ahead of the pack when it comes to setting the scene for a great night out.
If you're a hungry horse, then don't fret. The snack menu is feedbag full of tasty, with the nonkotsu (chicken softbone), tatami iwashi (dried sardine crackers), and eihire (stingray fins) the ideal bar food to take the edge off. Feeling like you could eat a horse? We don't recommend that, but you'll be happy to know that you can order from Uma Uma's selection of umami ramen for something more robust.
As for the thirsty ones, well, the menu looked all well and delicious, but when a joint tells you it's a cocktail bar, then we believe that drinks have to be bespoke. You might have some trouble remembering what exactly was in them after all is said and done, but that's the price you pay for delectable cocktails that run the gamut of sweet, sour, fruity, or just straight up strong. Let them know what you want, and there'll be no horsing around.
If you're wondering why, or how, a place can be this slick (or why we made so many bad puns), our advice is not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Round up your drinking buddies, saddle up, and ride on down to The Horse's Mouth. We know a champion when we see one. (May 2014)
The buzz
"In this Japanese Izakaya-inspired, dimly lit 25-seat speakeasy, with only four tables and seats at the bar, the bartenders and servers treat you more like long-time friends than customers. True to its name, the keepers of The Horse's Mouth are a chatty bunch, but there is not a hint of pretention." -The New Paper
"This small izakaya bar has got their technique down pat - we watched the pros mix some classic drinks - but it's not the least bit intimidating. And as enticing as those steaming bowls of ramen smell, you'll rather double up on the drinks once you've tried the cocktails here." -Honeycombers
"The Bison Grass Martini ($28) is a beautiful mix of Zoladkowa Vodka, calvados and dry vermouth. The resident mixologist is constantly experimenting, so ask for his recommendation. We also tried a particularly interesting Japanese beer, Hitachino Nest Red Rice ($16), which has hints of sake and malty sweetness; watch the rounds, though, as this has a whopping seven percent alcohol content." -Expat Living
"While jazzed-up infusions of cocktails can be found here, most of the drinks offered are fairly minimalist. This allows customers to delve deeper into the flavours, instead of being overwhelmed by complex blends." -Lifestyle Asia
"And at the bottom of that staircase is a really rather pleasant bar that takes its cues from Japanese drinking dens (think: exclusive whiskeys, careful techniques and dark corners, courtesy of designers Asylum), but does away with the stuffiness (and the impenetrable menus) to create somewhere that for all its "exclusivity" is a reliable bet for a well-made drink far away from all the Chinatown mixology hoo-ha." -SG Now
"Tucked inside the basement of Forum the Shopping Mall is this hidden gem of a bar that draws inspiration from Japanese drinking dens. Be prepared to leave pretensions at the door at this laid back watering hole, which comes armed with a formidable range of whiskeys, sake and cocktails made by their nifty mixologists." -Time Out Singapore