The folks behind Ume San 100 — yes, the quirky speakeasy hidden behind a row of vending machines in Fortune Centre — have unveiled their latest venture, Ume Maru.

They pride themselves as being Singapore’s first secret craft whisky and bespoke cocktail bar inspired by Jimbōchō Book Town, a well-known area in Tokyo, Japan filled with hundreds of bookstores.

It’s tucked away in Far East Plaza behind a row of floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with manga comics, Japanese literature, and graphic magazines.

Once you enter, you’ll be greeted by an casual 40-seater space decked out in hanging book-shaped lights, wooden furnishings, and even a comics corner for your reading pleasure.

True to its concept, the menu boasts an exciting line-up of cocktails inspired by renowned anime and manga titles like Naruto, Death Note, and One Piece, just to name a few. Let’s just say that anime enthusiasts are in for a treat!

For instance, fans of the Studio Ghibli classic Princess Mononoke can go for the Light Of Nara (S$22), a sweet and fruity blend of muscat and nashi (pear) umeshu, rose vermouth, and persimmon vinegar. Fun fact: it’s inspired by the Forest Spirit, or Shishigami (Deer God).

There’s also the Songbird (S$22), which pairs homemade strawberry umeshu with vodka, sakura, lavender, and citrus — it gets its vibrant red hue from the iconic gown worn by Suzu in animated sci-fi film Belle.

As a matcha fanatic, I can’t wait to return for the Matxha (S$22), a refreshing concoction of matcha umeshu, matcha tea, elderflower, and yuzu marmalade. It takes a leaf from the animes K-On! and Hyouka, both of which feature matcha-loving characters.

But if classic cocktails are more up your alley, you’ll probably get a good laugh out of the Hentai Martini (S$23), a riff on the P*rnstar Martini, as well as the Tokyopolitan (S$23), which replaces the vodka and orange liqueur with shiso umeshu and homemade shiso syrup.

Otherwise, keep it simple with their ever-so-reliable selection of umeshu, whisky, and highballs.

Naturally, you’d want to pair your tipples with hearty izakaya-style bar bites like Truffle Fries with Spicy Mentai (S$14), Mala Karaage (S$16), and Wagyu Kushi (S$24), tender and buttery grilled wagyu skewers.

Feeling a little more peckish? Order the Truffle Hotplate Maki (S$20), a maki roll comprising baked unagi, salmon, kyuri (Japanese cucumber) and tempura bits served on a hotplate. You’re supposed to top it off with the accompanying truffle cream — pretty tasty, only if you don’t mind having your sushi warm.

I preferred the Kitsune Udon (S$22), which sees a fried tofu pouch topped with minced beef and spring onions, that breaks apart to reveal inaniwa udon in a light yet comforting dashi broth.

For something more refreshing, the Yuzu Soba (S$24), chewy matcha soba tossed in a tangy yuzu sauce with pan-seared scallops, may be right up your alley.

The food is on the pricey side, and so I’d recommend grabbing dinner elsewhere and heading down for drinks afterwards. After all, where else would you be able to geek out over your favourite manga series while enjoying crafted cocktails at the same time?

Reservations can be made here.

Ume Maru
Instagram
Far East Plaza, #05-26/26A, Singapore 228213
12pm–2pm, 5pm–11pm (Daily)

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Photos by Christabel Tan

The post Sip on Hentai Martinis & Naruto-inspired cocktails alongside Japanese street eats at this hidden manga-themed bar in town appeared first on Confirm Good.

Hidden in Fortune Centre, you might have a bit of a struggle finding the entrance to this hidden gem. But once you find the correct machine to push, you’ll be greeted with a nice and cosy Japanese bar. The interior is modelled after traditional izakayas in Japan so you can expect lots of wooden furniture and very chill vibes. 

Ume San 100 has the largest collection of umeshu in Singapore — the menu has over 40 different varieties of plum wine alone. In case you don’t know what umeshu is, it is a type of Japanese liqueur made from steeping ume plums in liqueur. From Classic Ume Highball to Shiso Ume Highball, Tea Ume Highball and Whisky Ume Highball, there’s certainly one in the Umeshu Bible that will tickle your fancy. 

My favourite was the Lemon and Ginger Umeshu which tasted like honey lemon with a slightly spicy finish (from the ginger). If you prefer something sweeter, the Umeshu with Black Tea is another noteworthy mention for its light and fruity profile. We also tried a spicy Umeshu which left me feeling slightly confused. It was sweet like you would expect from umeshu but with a strong chilli taste and a lingering spiciness — truly an interesting combination. 

Being a sucker for cute and gimmicky theatrics, the Sea Garden cocktail was right up my alley. Inspired by the famed diving centre of Wakayama, the drink comprises a blend of gin, lime acid, prosecco, butterfly pea flower and edible fairy dust — yes fairy dust. It comes served with a cute diver statue that you unfortunately cannot take home. Taste-wise, the gin was a little too strong for my liking, although the prosecco added a nice fizz to the mix. Unfortunately, we were not able to try the P!NK and the Pot De Fleurs cocktails, but don’t worry as I’ve already made plans to go back for seconds! 

Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, and thankfully Ume San 100 serves some delicious nibbles that pair perfectly with their drinks. One of the must-try dishes here is the This Uni is The Bomb (S$14) and it certainly lives up to its name. The crust is fried to a nice golden brown and as you bite into it, a creamy and buttery molten sea urchin centre oozes out. My only gripe is that I wish the flavour of the uni was slightly stronger in the otherwise perfect snack. 

Other noteworthy snacks on the menu include the Garlic Chicken Karaage (S$16) which was juicy and fried in a garlic infused oil to give it that extra umami. The Umesan Nachi Pagoda (S$20) is also a great dish for sharing, as it features four unique and freshly made chinmi. The lobster salad with the crispy wanton skin reminded me of eating a deconstructed wanton, while the seasoned jellyfish was tangy, sweet, and spicy. 

For something heartier, go for the Wagyu is the New Black Chahan (S$22), a rice bowl with fragrant charcoal rice topped with juicy wagyu beef cubes. I loved that the beef still flavourful, despite being just lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. The tobiko sprinkled on top also added a burst of flavour to every bite. 

If you’re craving a soothing bowl of ramen, the Angry Asari Soup Ramen (S$16) will certainly hit the spot. The base is a full-bodied pork bone broth with a hint of sweetness from the succulent clams. Take this dish up a notch by mixing in the special chilli paste which elevates the flavours of the broth, giving it a mildly spicy kick.

If you’re looking for a chill place with great vibes to unwind after a long work week, you should definitely head down to Ume San 100! Oh, and the bar is having an opening promotion where you can enjoy a 50% discount on the Umesan Nachi Pagoda (U.P. S$20) for the entire month of June! 

Looking for a chill place to unwind and celebrate the end of a work week? Head down to this cosy Japanese bar!  

Reservations can be made here. 

Ume San 100 
Instagram | Website 
???? 190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre #02-07, Singapore 188979
???? 5pm—11pm (Daily)

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The post This quirky Japanese speakeasy hidden behind a row of vending machines serves over 40 varieties of umeshu, unique cocktails & more appeared first on Confirm Good.