Tantric is both quaint and a little avant-garde.

By Michael Riches

TANTRIC
78 Neil Road
(+65) 6423 9232

Whereas watered-down drinks are the order of the day at trendy bars that look to sell as little alcohol as expensively as possible, gay bars are infamous for swinging the other way – doubling their shots for bargain prices. After all, lowered inhibitions are what these places are about, and it’s here where you get bang for your buck.

Located near Chinatown within a row of renovated shophouses, Tantric is both quaint and a little avant-garde. Its interior has the atmosphere of a stylish lounge, while the courtyard has its own bar (for when things inevitably get too cozy to budge for a refill).

Given that half the premises are outdoors, this is the place for the boys to pose on a warm, dry evening. The Long Island iced teas are the house specialty and, like everything that comes out of the Tantric shaker, they are strong. And the live DJ is always spinning a hot mix to get the throngs primed for the nearby discos.

Between midnight and 1am, much of the crowd staggers across the street to the raunchy Taboo to bump and grind the night away, and the popular Maxwell Food Court is around the corner, too, making this the perfect neighbourhood a for a late-night nosh.