When Singapore says they're bringing their flavors to Manila, they don't mean a token kaya toast in a small pop-up. They mean Candlenut's Malcolm Lee in the flesh, whipping up dishes alongside the stars of Hapag. They mean Asia's 50 Best Bars (#3) and World's 50 Best Bars 2024 (#5) Jigger & Pony, crafting their take on the Singapore Sling, the OG tropical cocktail. They mean Don Julio-infused cocktails, seaweed-laced Tanqueray tipples, and Poblacion's finest bars.

Welcome to SingaPob 2025, the third annual takeover hosted by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), with partners Diageo, Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, Tanqueray, Singleton, and Zacapa. Happening from Aug. 28 to 30, 2025, SingaPob pairs the best of Singapore's food and bar scene with some of the best hangouts in Makati's vibrant party district.

This year, SingaPob took things up a notch by including not just bar collaborations but restaurant collabs too, giving foodies a more immersive gastronomic experience.

“SingaPob is our way of sharing what makes Singapore a true culinary haven, where passionate culinary talents from diverse backgrounds come together to create and innovate," said Terrence Voon, Executive Director, Southeast Asia, Singapore Tourism Board. "Much like the Philippines, our dining scene is rooted in heritage yet constantly evolving, blending tradition with new ideas to elevate familiar flavors. By bringing this spirit to Poblacion, we hope to celebrate our shared love for food and drinks and invite more Filipinos to discover Singapore’s vibrant culinary community and be inspired to experience it firsthand in Singapore."

Here's a quick rundown of the participating spots and their pairings:

• Malcolm Lee x Hapag: Lee of 1 Michelin-starred Candlenut and Pangium partners with Thirdy Dolatre and John Kevin Navoa of Hapag.
• Keng Eng Kee x Super Uncle Claypot: A family-run hawker stall, Keng Eng Kee is a Michelin Guide-recognized landmark.
• Jigger & Pony x OTO: Asia's 50 Best Bars (#3) and World's 50 Best Bars (#5) Jigger & Pony is Singapore's best bar, ready to sling cocktails at OTO.
• Fura x Ayà: Redefining sustainability, as evidenced by their Ketel One Sustainable Award from Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, you can catch Fura at Ayá.
• Mama Diam x Polilya: Retro, nostalgic, and best of all, hidden, Mama Diam partners with Polilya for an enticing food and drinks menu.
• Offtrack x Run Rabbit Run: Another Asia's 50 Best Bars (#23) awardee, Offtrack serves both drinks and beats at Run Rabbit Run.
• Origin Bar x The Spirits Library: Tucked inside Shangri-La Hotel, Origin Bar (Asia's 50 Best Bars, #60) has left the hotel and found a home in The Spirits Library this weekend.
• Night Hawk x ???: Located in a secret location, you'll find Asia's 50 Best Bars (#77) and their special drinks only after you've completed the crawl's secret mission. Trust us, it's worth the effort.
• OnlyPans Tacqueria: Those who frequent Poblacion would know OnlyPans. It's the go-to before and after drinking, so why not drop by for their exclusive SingaPob menu?

Aside from the drinks and dishes, SingaPob has another surprise for its patrons: a raffle that could win you a trip to Singapore! All you have to do is visit at least two participating venues, get stickers on your wristbands (after showing your receipt, so don't forget to get and keep those!), and post about the crawl on social media using the hashtags: #SingaPob #MadeInSingapore#PassionMadePossible. Once verified, you could enter the raffle at the secret location where Night Hawk is. The SingaPob crew posted at each location will hand over the details for the secret location once they've verified your two stickers.

Apart from the raffle, you can also check out Klook's special travel offer from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30, 2025, featuring exclusive Singapore travel discounts. If the crawl isn't enough, then book that plane ticket to Singapore and take advantage of Klook's promos!

For this weekend, however, The Beat Asia took on the crawl, and while we didn't manage to try all the stops, here is what went down yesterday evening at SingaPob 2025:

Stop #1: Fura x Ayà

Sustainability has never been sexier. Fura's takeover of Ayà promised cocktails made from "abundant" and "invasive" ingredients, and we weren't disappointed. We got to try "New Yuck City" and "Dirty Banana," kicking off the crawl on a high note.

"New Yuck City" was a citrus-forward combo of Tanqueray No. 10, seaweed, shio kombu, calamansi, guava, and lime leaf coco foam. It danced between briny and bright, a tropical, beachfront cocktail that took us (mentally and spiritually) out of Makati's bustling business district. If it were a one-drink kind of night, the "New Yuck City" would've been a perfect companion to nurse, idly chatting with your friends in the dim, cozy seats of Ayà.

The citrus notes from calamansi and guava cut through the subtle oceanic umami from the kombu, lifting the drink, while the creamy foam with bright lime rounded off the flavors. Comforting, layered, slightly adventurous. Our SingaPob crawl started off in the best way possible.

Then came the "Dirty Banana," which took Johnnie Walker Black Label and mixed it with Prefer bean-free coffee, green cardamom, dates, banana, and banana skin caramel. It looked like an espresso martini, but behaved like an elevated breakfast or dessert cocktail. The date-banana trio delivered a velvety sweetness, while the cardamom injected a spice-heavy depth balanced against the faint bitterness of the coffee.

Fura's use of banana skin caramel highlighted their sustainability ethos without compromising flavor. The caramel gave the cocktail a toasty, almost burnt sugar complexity that only added to the drink's comforting flavor. In all honesty, both of Fura's drinks were easy to love. They were like warm hugs on a rainy day, and we need more of that feeling with Manila's weather right now.

Stop #2: Jigger & Pony x OTO

At OTO, Jigger & Pony flexed why they're amongst the Top 5 bars in Asia and in the world. We tried out the "Singa Sling" and "Peanut Alexander," the former is their take on the classic Singapore Sling cocktail, while the latter is a dessert in a glass.

Starting off with the "Singa Sling," a light but subtly lethal mix of Tanqueray No. 10, Cointreau, cherry, pineapple, and carbonated soda. It looked unassuming but went down like a summer sunset (that is, until you've had three of them, and the gin comes swinging). If you can imagine yourself watching the sun go down atop one of Singapore's stunning rooftop bars, this drink is right up there with you in that daydream.

The cherry note was upfront, clean, and the pineapple added a subtle acidity. Carbonation lifted the drink, while the Cointreau balanced the drink with a hint of bitterness. It reminds us of a cherry soda, but don't get us wrong, it's not a sugary bomb. It's delicate, intentional, and well-rounded.

Next up was the "Peanut Alexander," which reminds us of a creamy dessert. If that dessert comes with simmering rage. With the combination of Don Julio Blanco, salted peanuts, ube, cacao liqueur, fig, and cream, this drink reminded us of an upbeat, dance-worthy pop song hiding painful lyrics that catch you off guard, but still, you can't help but sing-scream to it anyway, cause it makes you feel "all the feels." The first song we thought of while drinking this? Paramore's "Hard Times," and we love it.

The Don Julio Blanco tequila gave the drink a strong backbone, softened by ube and fig. On the other hand, the bitter cacao and salty peanuts added more depth to the cocktail, as the finishing touch of cream rounded it all out. Comforting, while carrying hidden heat.

Stop #3: Mama Diam x Polilya

If Mama Diam's "Chai Tarik Brew" develops a cult following over the course of SingaPob 2025, we wouldn't be surprised. And we would be joining too. At Polilya, we wasted no time in ordering this drink we were fortunate enough to sample at the Media Launch the day before. Isn't it obvious that we loved it enough then to order it all over again?

Served in a retro milk can with a side of Biscoff biscuit, it felt more like a childhood memory than a cocktail. Even though it still packed a punch, the drink was still, at its core, nostalgia in a glass — or rather, in a can. Made with chai, brown sugar, bitters, and whisky, this was a complex, but oh-so-familiar sip that transported us directly to a small provision store in Prinsep Street.

Flavor-wise, the chai was king. Rich and spice-laden, but still, it managed to mesh well with the whisky. The brown sugar gave it a sweet depth, while the bitters kept it from turning into a sweet tea drink. It was a feat to balance strong, individual ingredients while delivering a soulful drink that keeps its heart. The Biscoff biscuit on the side added an additional touch of sweetness to the drink, allowing the drink to lean even heavier on the nostalgia.

All in all, this drink was a whole mood, evoking memories in people even if you're not a local Singaporean. In all honesty, it remains one of our personal favorites.

Stop #4: Night Hawk x ???

For this one, the venue is secret. But one hint is that it's near Polilya, which was perfect as it served as our next stop. To know the location, you'll need to visit at least two of the partner establishments. When you visit those bars or restaurants, make sure to approach one of the SingaPob representatives with your receipt proving that you ordered from their limited-time menu. They'll add a sticker to your wristband, and once you have at least two of those stickers, you'll be given a card showing the name and location of the stop where Night Hawk is residing for the weekend.

We went to the final location, and with our wristbands verified, we signed up real quick to join the raffle for a free trip to Singapore. Then it was time to check out Night Hawk's special menu for SingaPob 2025. We tried "Lion 60 Sling" and "Polite Provisions."

The former, "Lion 60 Sling," was a floral-forward beauty (with a literal flower on top): Tanqueray No. 10, clarified pineapple syrup, pear, cherry, citrus, and hibiscus soda. It looked great on Instagram, but that was only the cherry (pun intended) on top of a drink that tasted even better beyond its looks. It ended the night on a delicately sweet note.

"Polite Provisions," meanwhile, was anything but polite (in the best way possible). The drink blended together Tomato Don Julio Blanco, tomato mezcal, jalapeño syrup, citrus, and salt for a powerful, chaotic beast. It was spicy, savory, punchy — truly, a rollercoaster in a glass. The jalapeño hits you first, followed by the tomato's umami and then a salt-citrus combo that leaves you reeling. If, rather than a smooth, sweet way to end the night, you'd much prefer to go out with a bang, then "Polite Provisions" delivers.

Night Hawk also served bonus shots of vodka and tequila to patrons, cause why not? Even though the bar had no idea they were going to be the final destination of crawl, it was like they read our minds and pulled out all the stops to complete our crawl's vibe on a high.

SingaPob 2025 wasn't just a bar crawl. It's a borderless blend of cultures, cocktails, and culinary vibrance in a district that captures all of that energy and is capable of amping it up even further. Whether it was the elevated artistry of Malcolm Lee at Hapag or the chaotic brilliance of each award-winning bar slinging cocktails you'll dream of for years to come, each stop reminded us of Singapore's wildly diverse, ever-evolving F&B scene. So, gather your friends and take on the crawl!

And if you've conquered the crawl and can't help but long for more? Well, Singapore's just a short plane ride away. So, here's to hoping you'll win that free trip to Singapore!

For more updates and information, check out the Singapore Tourism Board's website and follow them on Instagram. You can also follow Visit Singapore on Instagram to know more.

Get to know the participating bars and restaurants by following them on Instagram.

Representing Singapore: Jigger & Pony, Offtrack, Candlenut, Fura, Mama Diam, Origin Bar, Night Hawk, Keng Eng Kee, and Pangium.

Representing Philippines: OTO, Run Rabbit Run, Ayà, Polilya, The Spirits Library, OnlyPans Taqueria, Super Uncle Claypot, and Hapag.