Ever had boujee chicken rice infused with whiskey? Now you can, as this new modern Japanese restaurant by the House of Suntory offers probably one of the most atas chicken rice dishes in Singapore, and it’s infused with actual booze.
BARREL is one of the more highly-anticipated openings in the CBD area, and is also the first-ever Hibiki whiskey-centric dining experience outside of Japan. True to the whiskey theme, the restaurant’s interior is also chic yet homey, with wood accents and honey-hued lighting emanating a warm glow that’s reminiscent of the golden colour of whiskey.
BARREL Chicken Rice, $30
Suckling Pig, $22
Even the menu utilises whiskey as well, even in some of the food dishes. One such standout is the restaurant’s signature, a whiskey-infused BARREL Chicken Rice ($30) that’s inspired by the beloved classic Singaporean dish itself. The dish comes served with a bowl of fragrant chicken rice made with chewy short-grain Hokkaido rice, along with condiments like cucumber slices, freshly-grated ginger sauce and homemade chilli sauce. The whiskey element that makes this dish “not-safe-for-kids” lies in the whiskey-infused soy sauce that’s drizzled on the steamed chicken slices. You can definitely taste a hint of whiskey in the sauce that adds a touch of warmth and smokiness, without overpowering the dish.
Sashimi Moriawase (5 Types), $58
XL Fresh Prawn, $30
Sashimi lovers will definitely want to get in on the Sashimi Moriawase (from $38), which comes with a seasonal selection of either 3 types ($38) or 5 types ($58) of sashimi—all served on a gorgeous platter. Interestingly, the “nigiri” pieces that are served in the platter are made with no rice: like the Kinmedai nigiri that’s crafted on a bed of Ika Diced Squid instead of the usual rice. In the absence of rice, you really get to savour the natural taste and freshness of each seafood.
Uni-Corn Croquette, $24/2 pieces
Mochi Cheese Nugget, $15/5 pieces
Shine Muscat Maki Roll, $18
One of our favourite dishes has got to be the Uni-Corn Croquette ($24/2 pieces), a deep-fried creamed corn croquette that’s made with uni butter sauce and topped with uni. This was so flavorful, sweet and simply packed with umami—a perfect pairing with alcohol. In fact, most of the dishes at BARREL are designed to be enjoyed with drinks, with plenty of izakaya-style bar bites and sharing plates to choose from. Their Mochi Cheese Nugget ($15/5 pieces) is a fun twist on the iconic McDonald’s chicken nuggets, even down to the cult-favourite curry sauce; except that it’s made with chewy mochi instead of chicken. The Shine Muscat Maki Roll ($18) is also a hot favourite, with juicy-sweet shine muscat grapes wrapped in cream cheese and prosciutto, you’ve got a balance of sweet, salty and creamy all in one bite.
Soft Serve “BARREL”, $12
Japanese Crane Sour, $28
BARREL’s Godfather, $28
Finish your meal with a sweet treat, like the whiskey-infused Soft Serve “BARREL” ($12), a generous serving of milk soft serve that’s drizzled with Hibiki-infused honey and maldon salt. Don’t skip out on their drinks either—it’s an izakaya, after all—especially when they’ve got a selection of 16 signature cocktails starting from $18 each, as well as an extensive whiskey menu to choose from.
BARREL’s space is housed in The Quadrant, a 100-year old heritage building that used to be an actual bank; they’ve even managed to retain parts of the original bank vault structure for one of their private dining rooms downstairs. If you want in on some of the live grilling action, we’d recommend sitting at the Chef’s Table, otherwise the other booth seats and tables also offer great vibes for group gatherings. BARREL officially opens to the public from 6th December 2025.
BARREL
Date: 6th December 2025
Address: 19 Cecil Street, Singapore 049704
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday, 12pm-3pm & 6pm-10pm daily
