Purple Agave

The Keong Saik stretch has always been an area filled with intrigue. For the uninitiated, the area was initially a residential zone before evolving to be a red-light district way back in the 60s. There was even word that rich merchants kept their mistresses here. Such chronicles, together with its proximity to the hustle and bustle of both the CBD and Chinatown, simply adds to the charm and mystique of the neighborhood. 

In the early 1990s, the URA put up several of the old shophouses for sale to be conserved and modified for commercial use. The Keong Saik Road of today is home to boutique hotels, bakeries, offices and bars - an interesting mix that sets up a perfect enclave for photography and lifestyle enthusiasts alike.

And it is here, while out on a cool evening stroll along one of the narrow five-foot ways in the district, where I stumble upon this gem of a bar. Located on the second floor just above An Omakase restaurant, you'd have to navigate a narrow flight of wooden stairs to get up here - but it leads to a door that opens to a quaint hideaway.

The Place

Purple Agave was opened 2 years ago by co-owners Jenson and Jerry, who have day jobs but remain very involved in the day-to-day running of the business - on most days, they are on hand to whip up bites and tend the bar.

Relying on the clever use of contemporary furnishings, warm lighting and stunning wall art, the vibe here exudes chic minimalism - a complete transformation from the office that the place once was. With a capacity of up to 60 pax, it has the flexibility to house larger group gatherings or more intimate tête-à-tête sessions, if you so wish. 

Throw in a smooth playlist plus attentive and dapper-looking service staff, and you're all set for a great night.

The Drinks

The cocktails here are what you'd expect, given its Mexican/South American theme - they centre around Mezcal, an alcoholic beverage distilled from agave Espadin in Mexico. Because the traditional production process involves roasting maguey (derived from the agave plant) in a pit covered with firewood and rocks, there is a smokey flavor to Mezcal - and it is this smokiness that gives a refreshing twist to the array of cocktails on the menu here. 

Naked and Famous

The Mezcalrita - Purple Agave's take on the classic margarita

In their words, Mezcal's complex profile lends an interesting dimension to the cocktails here, and there's no lack of choices, be it little twists to classic cocktails, or newly-curated concoctions. Naked and Famous is my favourite here - coming in a beautiful salmon pink, with the Mezcal adding that distinctive smokiness to this bittersweet and citrusy combination. If you can't decide, try the El Cerdo Fumador - Jerry's personal concoction consisting vermouth, port, Cynar and, of course, Mezcal.

Brewlander Freedom Craft Lager

If you just want a pint after a long day, they've got Brewlander on tap too. For something clean and bright, there's the Freedom Craft Lager which has a light floral aroma; while if you're looking for hoppy beer with a fruity flavour, go for the Love Wild IPA. 

The Food

Here at Purple Agave, don't expect to get the typical bar grub.  The menu was specially curated by Jenson, who did a lot of experimenting and cooking while he was studying in Australia. By Jenson's own admission, the food on offer are what he himself would typically eat when he drinks. 

So forget about fries and wedges, or pizza and wings. Instead, what you can expect are sambal prawns, spiced mutton cubes and even rojak (with a unique ingredient - more on that later). 

Chicken Bites ($13)

We started off with something more orthodox - Chicken Bites, a classic crispy breaded chicken patty. It came sprinkled with pepper flakes, but my focus was all on the fiery sambal belacan on the side. It's an in-house recipe that was an explosive combination of spiciness and tartness. A great starter to work up the appetite. 

Prawn Sambal ($15)

Purple Agave's version of prawn sambal is slightly sweet - a little on the milder side in comparison to the fieriness of the sambal belacan earlier. A squeeze of the kaffir lime gave it a fresh and zesty flavour. I'd think this would be a perfect pairing with the Chilean Chardonnay on their wine list. 

Madras Madness ($16)

This was my favourite for the night. The blend of Indian spices, Mexican chili peppers, Batam green chilli and curry leaves came together spectacularly to give a well-rounded flavor profile to the gravy. The mutton cubes were also amazingly tender - I struggle to recall the last time I had mutton cubes that were this succulent. 

In short, if you are receptive to mutton, it'll be madness to give this a miss.

You'd have to be careful with this if you're having a wine though, as tannin and curries aren't exactly the best match. I had this with the IPA and it was a great complement.

Rojak ($14)

I've never had rojak in a bar, but this actually worked for me. The locally-produced rojak sauce here is less pronounced than the ones you get elsewhere, so you'll not get the overwhelmingly-rich feeling. But the highlight here is a special ingredient that's thrown in here - grasshoppers. 

You read that right. Grasshoppers are in fact popular snacks in Mexico & South America, where they are known as chapulines. The crunch from the crispy insects provided an added texture to the dish. There's a slightly sourish aftertaste which actually grows on you. And not only do they taste good - they are nutritious since they are high in protein, so banish all aversive thoughts - YOLO and have a go!

El Puerco ($16)

El Puerco (or the pork in Spanish) is Purple Agave's modified version of pizza. With a slice of prata forming the base, the topping consist of pork belly braised in Shaoxing wine, homemade salsa, pickled purple cabbage, jalapeno pepper, onions, a drizzle of agave syrup and of course mozzarella for the iconic stretchy texture. 

That's a bit of China, Mexico, India, Spain and Italy on a plate. It's a must-try item, since you'll probably never get to taste this anywhere else.

Final Thoughts...

All in, cocktail connoisseurs will revel in the mixology genius on display here at Purple Agave, and the low-key ambience makes it a great space for a night of chillaxing. Their Mezcal-themed cocktails and creative food offerings are crowd-pleasers as well. Go check them out on your next scheduled night out!

Address: 33A Keong Saik Road S(089140)

Opening Hours: 5pm to 12am, Closed on Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays