The latest chapter of The HEINEKEN Company’s global Praise the Bar series explores
Singapore’s unique bar culture through the story of YIN at The Riverhouse.
SINGAPORE, 13 August 2026 – A bar in Singapore has become the first bar in the Asia Pacific region to be featured in HEINEKEN’s global Praise The Bar series, a YouTube series celebrating people, places, and stories behind bars that bring communities together around the world.
The story of YIN at The Riverhouse, a bar located in Clarke Quay highlights the role bars continue to play across the island, as neighbourhood gems, heritage establishments, and innovative new concepts make up the city’s diverse and evolving culture, enabling shared passions, conversations and experiences.
“Bars play an important role in bringing people together and creating spaces where communities can connect. Through Praise the Bar, we are celebrating the stories behind these venues and the people who make them special. Every bar has its own story to tell, and we are especially proud that YIN is the first bar in Asia Pacific to be featured in this global series, showcasing Singapore’s culture to the world,” says Engkiat Ng, Corporate Affairs Director, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore.
A Window into Singapore’s Bar Culture
Set within the 150-year-old Riverhouse, YIN stands at the intersection of Singapore’s past and present. Housed within one of Clarke Quay’s historic landmarks, the venue reflects how Singapore’s bar culture continues to evolve, blending heritage with contemporary hospitality and social experiences. As the space evolves from an intimate cocktail destination into a vibrant latenight venue, it continues to welcome different communities, occasions and experiences under one roof, mirroring the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the local bar scene.
“From the very beginning, we wanted YIN to be more than just a bar. We wanted it to be a place where people come together to celebrate, connect and create memories. Set within the historic Riverhouse, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming people from all walks of life, from regulars who’ve made YIN part of their routine to first-time visitors from all over the world discovering us for the first time. We’re honoured that Praise the Bar chose to tell our story, and we hope it reminds people that behind every great bar is a community that makes it what it is”, says Joseph Ong, Managing Director, 1-Group.
Supporting the People Behind Singapore’s Bar Culture
Beyond celebrating the stories and communities behind Singapore’s bars, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) has long invested in the skills and capabilities of hospitality professionals, working alongside bar owners, operators and bartenders to raise serving standards and deliver consistently great experiences for consumers.
Over the past two years, APBS has trained more than 700 hospitality professionals across 140 outlets in Singapore through the Guinness Perfect Pour and HEINEKEN Star Quality
programmes, strengthening serving standards and supporting consistently high-quality beer experiences across on-trade. The HEINEKEN Star Quality Programme equips bartenders with the skills to deliver its signature five-step Star Serve. Outlets that meet the programme’s standards are certified as Star Quality outlets and receive the distinctive StarMark glass, which is exclusive to certified venues. Recognisable by its star-shaped base, the glass gives consumers a visible way to identify outlets where they can expect a consistently high-quality Heineken® serve. Star Quality-certified outlets include SANTAi, Fourgather, PRO by Good Cheer, Summerhouse and OUE Level 1 Bar, among others.
APBS’s investment in bartender development also extends beyond its own brand programmes. Since 1993, APBS has supported the Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers Singapore (ABSS), including through its sponsorship of the IBA Elite Bartenders Course. The programme equips experienced bartenders with professional skills spanning beverage knowledge, responsible service, bartending techniques, bar operations and management, while facilitating the exchange of bar cultures.
Beyond building capabilities behind the bar, APBS also supports outlets by helping bring
consumers through their doors. Drinkies, a platform powered by APBS, connects consumers with beer experiences and promotions at participating bars and outlets across Singapore, helping drive discovery and footfall while supporting the vibrancy of the local bar scene. The platform has supported initiatives such as the Guinness Digital Passport during St Patricks’ Day, which encouraged consumers to discover and visit participating Guinness outlets across the island.
Together, these programmes reflect APBS’s continued investment in the people behind
Singapore’s hospitality industry, building bartender capabilities, raising serving standards and supporting the quality experiences that contribute to a vibrant bar culture.
The Next Pour
The Singapore episode of Praise The Bar offers a glimpse into the story of YIN and reflects a broader truth about the city’s bar scene: every bar has its own community, personality and story to tell. Building on The HEINEKEN Company’s global platform, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore will continue celebrating the diversity of Singapore’s bar culture through There’s A Bar For That, an upcoming local initiative that shines a spotlight on the different bars, communities and passions that make up the city’s vibrant social landscape.
More details on There’s A Bar For That will be announced in the months to come. Stay tuned to Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore’s social channels for more details.
The latest episode of Praise the Bar is now available on The HEINEKEN Company’s channel. Watch the full episode here and learn more about the Praise the Bar platform at
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/.
