Sandwiched between &Sons and Folk Collective, inspired by hedonistic writers like Oscar Wilde and Hemingway, the interior of Mad Poet is dark and sexy, in tones of leather and wood, with a extremely high-backed leather chair. That’s my throne!

To meet the needs of stressful CBD workers, in addition to a wide range of whiskeys and wines, there are some very interesting drinks, such as toffee apple cider ($13), a strawberry-and-vanilla cider ($14), and beers like Lucifer ($14), Dead Pony Club ($12), 5am Saint ($12), and Even More Jesus ($34). The cocktails by Jo Sunafri (from Coq and Balls) are equally fun, Death & Resurrection ($15, white rum with yuzu) and A Made Man ($15, twist to Old-Fashioned). My shaken, not stirred Blood & Skull ($17, award-winning Canadian crystal head vodka, sweet vermouth and cherry heering) was divine! A sweet aroma of orange rind, chased by a very smooth vodka, leaving a sweet aftertaste of cherry.

The Western food by a Muslim chef Sunny, with halal suppliers, is generally healthy and competitively priced, with lunch starting at $10 nett. For bar grub or starters, go for the rather spicy jalapeno poppers ($10, above), whole jalapeno stuffed with cream cheese, fried in a light tempura style–eat while it’s hot, not so good when it cools–OR the cheese board ($18) with three cheeses, garlic herb, blue cheese and camembert. The board comes with dulce de membrillo, a quince jam that makes all cheese palatable. So even if you can’t take blue cheese, just eat it with membrillo.

For mains, the yellowfin tuna steak ($20, above) was nicely seared on the surface, which was then coated with sesame seeds. Not bad, but nothing extraordinary. The smoked duck breast ($18, below) was better. More than just your average salty smoked duck, this one had layers of tastes and texture: from a lightly salted hamlike taste to a sweet aftertaste, from a tenderness to a chewy skin.

The desserts were the weak point: only 3 options, and the warm homemade brownie ($8) was so-so. Better to save your calories.

All in all, the drinks are worth many visits, and the food is healthy. Sexy interior too.

Mad Poet Gastrobar

20 Cross Street, China Court #01-23, Singapore 048422
T: 6557 0312
M-Th & Sat: 11am-11pm, Fri: 11am-12am. Closed on Sun
Rating: 3.108/5 stars

Written by A. Nathanael Ho.

Thanks, Suzy, Sunny & Jo, for the hospitality.