Okay, first thing: you’re going to walk past it. Probably twice.
Apollon Singapore hides inside Orchard Plaza on the first floor with a nondescript entrance that gives absolutely nothing away. No flashy sign, no crowd spilling out, no menu board begging you in. And honestly? That’s the whole appeal. This Japanese izakaya-style restaurant is a Tokyo-alley-bar kind of place dropped into an Orchard mall, and once you find the door, you get it.
So here’s my take after settling into the cosy counter space with a cold glass of draft sake on tap: this is a serious little sake bar dressed up as a casual one. Let me tell you why it’s worth the hunt.
Finding It in Orchard Plaza
Push through that unassuming entrance on the first floor, and the room opens up small. Like, really small. We’re talking around 8 to 10 counter seats at #01-29, and that’s basically it. AM-Bar next door handles the darker, aged sake side of things, but Apollon itself is one tight, warm little counter.
The lighting is low and golden, the kind that makes everyone look good and everything feel a bit more intimate. It’s quiet-to-conversational, never rowdy, because there simply isn’t room to be rowdy. You sit, the staff cook right in front of you, and the whole thing feels less like dining out and more like drinking in someone’s very stylish kitchen. The ambience is cosy, perfect for small groups of friends or solo customers looking for a great experience. For more on the vibrant dining scene around Orchard Plaza, check out the details here.
Apollon Singapore: The Sake Is the Point
Let’s be clear about the order of operations here. You come for the sake, and the food follows.
Apollon runs draft sake on tap, yes, on tap, with rotating unpasteurised nama sake that keeps things interesting. Draft pours start around S$10–15++, premium sake by the glass from about S$15++, and if you drift next door to AM-Bar, aged sake kicks off around S$18++. There’s a minimum one-drink expectation, which, honestly, why would you even be here otherwise?
This isn’t a bar where sake is an afterthought. The team behind it knows the pairings cold, and if you tell them what you’re eating, they’ll steer you right. Take the recommendation. That’s half the fun.
What to Order: Japanese Dishes That Impress
The food here isn’t background snacking. It’s proper sake-friendly dishes, built to drink with. Portions are small-bar sized, so plan on ordering a few things if you actually want dinner.
Start with the Oden. This is the quiet hero and an all-time favorite. Slow-simmered in a rich dashi broth, melt-in-your-mouth soft, with daikon that’s soaked up the broth so deeply it basically dissolves on your tongue. It’s warm, gentle, home-style, and it makes total sense next to a cold pour. I’d order it every single time.
Then the Crab Croquettes, around S$15++. Golden, flaky shell, creamy interior. This is the rich, fried counterpoint to the oden’s softness. It’s got that satisfying sake-friendly weight, not a dainty little appetizer. Get these.
The Potato Salad deserves a mention purely for showing up looking architectural. Yes, potato salad, plated like it means business. It’s a signature for a reason: creamy, savoury, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t expect to obsess over but do.
Chicken Liver
The chicken liver is another standout, properly rich and a popular choice among customers. Its deep, earthy flavor pairs perfectly with the clean, crisp notes of the draft sake, making it a must-try for those who appreciate bold tastes.
The negitoro and kimi maki featuring perfectly cooked egg yolk is a dish that melts in your mouth and leaves a lasting taste.
From there, build out. The uni omelette is a standout, the karaage hits, and the sashimi platter and wagyu are there when you want to go bigger. Everything leans salty, creamy, fried, or brothy, which is to say, everything is designed to make you keep drinking.
One honest heads-up: some diners find the food runs too salty. I noticed it lean seasoned, and there’s been chatter about a curry udon that crossed the line into way-too-salty territory. So if you’re salt-sensitive, pace yourself and let the sake balance it out.
Service and Atmosphere
At a counter this tiny, the staff basically become part of your meal, and here, that’s a good thing. Service is attentive and friendly, and the sake knowledge is the real draw. Ask questions. They’ll happily talk you through what’s on tap, what’s worth the splurge, and what pairs with your croquettes.
It’s personal and counter-led rather than formal table service. If you want a big laminated menu and someone refilling your water every four minutes, this isn’t that. If you want a genuine conversation about sake, it absolutely is.
The atmosphere feels cosy and intimate, with just enough space to feel comfortable but not crowded. It’s a popular spot for customers who love the casual, social vibe of an izakaya in Singapore’s Orchard Plaza area.
Before You Go: Practical Info for Your Visit
Apollon sits at 150 Orchard Road, #01-29 Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841, about a five-minute walk from Somerset MRT. Driving’s possible with Orchard-area parking, but for a sake bar? Just take the train or grab a ride. Future-you will thank present-you.
It opens around 5:00pm daily, roughly 5:00pm to 10:30pm, and with so few seats, reservations are basically essential. Booking runs through Inline, and heads-up, it needs your credit card details, with a S$30 per person charge for same-day cancellations, no-shows, or shrinking your party last-minute. So lock in your numbers.
Budget around S$60 per person for food and drinks. A light session with a couple of snacks runs S$40–60; a proper sake-and-tapas evening lands S$60–100+; and if you’re chasing premium bottles or aged sake, climb from there. It’s not cheap, and the pricing skews higher, but for what it is, most nights it earns it.
Best time to go? Early weekday, hands down. Friday and Saturday nights are the hardest to snag given the seat count and the destination crowd.
My honest verdict
Perfect for when you’re:
Sake lovers, solo diners, pairs, and small groups of two or three who want a hidden Orchard counter with serious sake and tapas that punch above their size.Maybe not your thing if you’re:
You’re a big group, a non-drinker, chasing full-restaurant portions, on a tight budget, or sensitive to salty, sake-forward food.What I’m ordering on repeat:
Oden, Crab Croquettes, the architectural Potato Salad, chicken liver, and whatever draft nama the staff point me toward.
Would I go back?
Apollon is tiny, hidden, a little pricey, and occasionally too salty, and I’d still return in a heartbeat. It’s a real sake bar with real knowledge behind the counter, the kind of place that rewards you for booking ahead and letting the staff run the night.
Come early, sit at the counter, order the oden and croquettes, and drink well. That’s the assignment. Just don’t expect a cheap casual dinner. Expect a proper little sake session, and you’ll leave grinning.
