Literary concoctions at Writers Bar

MIXING literary inspiration with liquor is the Writers Bar in Raffles Hotel, where works inspired by the hotel are translated into cocktails.

The cosy space is screened off from the lobby by bookshelves, set snugly into arches. Leather, brass, and dark wood evoke a bygone era; as head bartender Nicholas Alexander puts it: "It has this timeless effect."

But there's also a sleek bar and a decidedly modern sculpture hanging from the high ceiling, creating a space that is both classic and classy.