New in town: Rails, Tanjong Pagar — Pei Pa Kao cocktails and chicken bites in steampunk-inspired bar

Nothing screams a fun night out like sipping on drinks and noshing on delicious grub. If you’re looking to get your drink on, Rails is the place to be. This new spot in the heart of Tanjong Pagar promises a slew of fun concoctions in a thoroughly unique setting. Drawing inspiration from the Tanjong Pagar railway station and the Jinrishika station, this dining destination is unlike any other in our little red dot.

Decked out in beautiful steampunk-inspired furnishings, this secluded enclave hides behind steel shutters and beneath a playful ceiling constructed of gears and cogwheels. I reckon you’d be hard-pressed to find a bar with an ambience as unique as that which Rails puts forth.

Here, the menu is equal parts drinking and munching. Boasting an intriguing selection of cocktails and a selection of plates from Chix Hot Chicken, diners here can look forward to heady pairings of deep-fried chicken and unique cocktails to ensure that their time spent here is anything but dull.

First up, the Apothecary ($24) is a fantastic choice for all the drink aficionados out there. With a familiar oriental and minty remedy of cognac, Amaro and the familiar flavour of pei pa koa, this cocktail is one to be heavily enamoured by. If that’s not your thang, perhaps the Murder On The Orient Express (S$25) is more your speed. Taking its name after Agatha Christie’s classic novel, this one’s a cunning pairing of absinthe, coffee liqueur, pear, pineapple and orange juice shaken with activated charcoal. 

Moving away from the bar side of things, the food selection here isn’t too shabby as well. Chicken lovers, rejoice! This fine selection of freshly fried hot chicken is courtesy of Chix Hot Chicken. The Soul Slider (S$8.90) promises a hunk of boneless chicken things between plush bread. The Dirty Taters (S$9.90) is another perfect sharing plate that comes by way of potato tater tots, fried chicken bits, and a liberal slathering of cheddar and gouda sauce. 

With such an exciting lineup of drinks and bites, Rails is shaping out to be one of the hottest spots in town.