BOP lavishes fun energy & tight Korean-forward mixology — Jigger Group at its best
Undisputedly Singapore’s biggest cocktail bar in the last year, BOP (Bartenders of Pony) answers the question: “What happens when the most successful bar group in Singapore lets the world’s most popular Korean bartender have creative freedom?”
To that query, BOP replies with an “Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 No. 52”, as it debuts on the rankings with glamour.
While BOP is ultimately a group effort, the face behind this Korean-inspired concept is unmistakably Uno Jang, an icon of Jigger & Pony and the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender of the Year in 2025.
The Korean bartending extraordinaire is an industry legend known for his supremely affable personality and a magic touch that melds Japanese precision and creative pizzazz.
The bar is snuggled inside Tras Street — which always had some buzz, but couldn’t quite compare to Amoy Street — and allows for convenient routes to top guzzling spots such as Night Hawk, Elephant Room, Cat Bite Club, and even Jigger & Pony itself.
As Uno’s brainchild, BOP is a mix of conviviality and chic modern aesthetics, all doused with a Korean accent, with resounding echoes of Seoul’s urban edge.
Longer than it is wide, it is a flourish of sleek teak-hued wooden detailing, with shelves carved into the walls, holding vinyl records and artsy trinkets — almost reminiscent of sibling Pop City, but with a much livelier, electrifying energy.
Seats are a hot commodity, so reservations are almost imperative, though you can try your luck earlier.
Jigger & Pony, but Korean?
And, if you ask me, the best time to visit BOP is actually at 6pm, not late at night — you might lose out on the late-night buzz, but you are rewarded with happy-hour prices from 6pm to 7.30pm, where cocktails come in at just $16.
For an immaculate start, the Hallabong Bellini (U.P. $23) sets the tone for the night, pampering your palate with a potpourri of bright, aromatic Jeju Mandarin and mellow rice makgeolli sweetness.
Building on it, the drink is balanced against the charming off-dryness of Campari for a satisfying touch of complexity.
While happy hour options are the most persuasive lure, BOP’s signature Iced Somaek is a star that only asks for a reasonable $16 all night long.
Redesigning the trite soju-bomb concoction, BOP’s somaek is sharply crowned with a mound of delicate shaved soju ice.
Far from an avant-garde creation, but close to perfection—the plush, melting soju ice elevates the beer wondrously. So, so refreshing.
So far, it’s evident that BOP adopts many of Jigger & Pony’s best traits. Its menu offerings have that creative flair, but ideas aren’t overly wrought and are easily understandable with a clear shape of a classic cocktail.
That sense for balance and elegance benefits the BOP Martini ($23), a dirty martini riff jazzed up with the veritably Korean ensemble of soju, takju, and seaweed.
Besides starting with a mix of slight florals and sweetness, the essence of the martini was in how a fragrant and subtly sweet rice note develops on the palate.
The finish lingers with a crisp dryness, stained with traces of mellow, rice-tinged fragrance and faint brine.
For a quirkier shade of creativity, BOP also leans heavily into more recent food trends from Seoul — the Honey Butter Godfather ($23) and crowd-favourite Dalgona Iced Coffee ($23) are great examples.
The latter is actually quite a bold spin on a classic, eschewing classic Italian Amaretto for a Jeju millet-based spirit and a herbaceous fermented liqueur.
Come to BOP for food
Given the names attached to it, this Tanjong Pagar hotspot would be viewed as a cocktail bar, more than anything — however, BOP might just be one of the mythical bars where food is as good as the drinks.
As with its cocktails, the modern-Korean food options on BOP’s menu aren’t boundary pushers, but they pull off the basics on such rock-solid foundations.
The LA Galbi ($38)? Dreamily succulent pork, sexily smoky, pristinely caramelised, bursting with juices and umami. An unadulterated, no-holds-barred indulgence.
Owing to its partiality towards Korean influences, it’s natural that the Crispy Fried Chicken ($18) became one of its most recognisable table hogs.
Does BOP have the best Korean fried chicken in Singapore? Not really, if you ask me. That’s by virtue of the type of chicken served, more reminiscent of karaage in both facets of seasoning and texture.
There is no denying that the fried chicken’s tender insides and crackling exterior are marvellous, though — especially when given the carte blanche of sauce application.
I find myself prone to smothering them in the rich and fragrant peanut sauce, with a dollop of the moderately numbing mala jang to enliven things.
Is there one of those usual overpriced gimmicks? That title belongs to the Yukgaejang K-Cup Ramyeon ($14) — but to be fair, these cup noodles are accoutred with tender pork slices and a literal bushel of perilla leaves for extra oomph.
It hits the spot for sure. Just not sure I would pay $14 for this without the affliction of a drunken haze.
And that’s basically the worst I can say about BOP. This is a bar that deeply impressed me in concept and execution — and possibly the best commercially viable bar Singapore has seen in ages.
Uno and the other Bartenders of Pony deserve the plaudits that continue to come their way, no doubt about that.
Make a reservation online before visiting BOP for some of the most interesting Korean-based cocktails in Singapore!
BOP (Bartenders of Pony)
- Address: 76 Tras St, Singapore 079015
- Hours: (Tues — Thurs, Sun) 6pm to 1am, (Fri — Sat) 6pm to 2am