Singapore, 19 June 2018 – Paying tribute to the hedonistic era of 1980s Hong Kong, Sum Yi Tai (meaning “Third Wife” in Cantonese) offers modernised Chinese dining without losing the soul of classic Cantonese dishes. Mona Lounge is Sum Yi Tai’s back-room cocktail lounge, located on the second floor of the shophouse, where the lounge’s matriarch Mona invites her friends to be unencumbered from the watchful eyes of onlookers, imbibe dangerously on cocktails and soak in jazzy Chinese tunes.

The intimate space transports guests to the glamourous period of 1980s Hong Kong with mahjong tables and cosy leather seats. The modernised Asian cocktail menu combines the expertise of Head Bartender Byron Tan and Group Chief Bartender Sam Wong, and tells the story of Mona through glimpses into her past.Begin the journey with Mona’s Tea (S$22), a cognac-based cocktail made with oolong PX sherry and Fernet Branca, beautifully presented in a teacup. Served with salted egg chocolate made by Singapore’s own craft chocolatier Fossa Chocolate, the sweetness from the cognac is perfectly balanced with the bitterness of the Fernet Branca, elevated with a touch of oolong PX sherry. 

Songstress (S$22) is a twist on the old-fashioned, and is based on a famous Chinese herbal remedy. This cocktail starts off sweet and leaves a pleasantly bitter taste. Merging Bulleit Rye whiskey with pi pa gao and angostura bitters, it gives a sweet herbal taste with a kick of menthol at the end.

Luxuriate in Lady’s Elixir (S$22), a skinny cocktail made with Remy Martin VSOP as a base, topped with monk fruit soda, infused in-house, and sea salt drops. The delicate cocktail is garnished with a lemon peel, adding citrus notes to this near-zero calorie drink.

That First Bouquet takes guests back to when Mona first fell in love. Made with Encanto pisco, thyme infused Aperol, hibiscus syrup, lime juice, grapefruit bitters and sour plum powder, the drink encapsulates the feeling of falling in love, with a twist. Dangerous Romance is Mona Lounge’s tribute to two classic cocktails – the bloody Mary and the Margarita. This balanced cocktail is made with Espolon Blanco as a base, triple sec, tomato shrub, honey, lemon juice, and served with a slice of bak kwa.

While sipping on modern Asian cocktails, indulge in classic Cantonese bar bites such as deep fried wanton, Hong Kong style curry fishballs, prawn wanton tossed in chili and crispy pork chips covered in shrimp paste. With a focus on bar bites that complement the cocktails, Mona’s bar and kitchen have worked closely to ensure that the flavours work well together.

Mona Lounge invites guests over from Monday to Saturday, from 6 pm to 1 am. Access can be requested at Sum Yi Tai, where guests can ask to see Mona and be presented with a unique code for a locked door that leads to Mona Lounge.

About Sum Yi Tai

Conceptualised to pay tribute to the decadent glamour of 1980s Hong Kong, Sum Yi Tai (meaning "Third Wife" in Cantonese) propels traditional Chinese cuisine into the realm of designer bars. Offering three concepts over three storeys in a conservation shop house, the ambience is surreal & suitably clandestine, ensuring that all who enter have a blazing good time.