About Us
About Us
Vision, mission and philosophy
The Hopscotch Family
The Hopscotch Family
The Hopscotch’s team consists of individuals from various backgrounds, each with unique skill sets and personal qualities. However, we all share a common passion for continuous learning and refining our abilities, as well as a genuine desire to serve. Our goal is to provide a welcoming environment reminiscent of being invited into our own homes. We strive to cultivate an atmosphere of joy, lighthearted conversations, and authentic connections with our guests, from whom we also gain valuable insights.
OurHistory
Our Story
In early 2014, an exciting opportunity popped up at the Red Dot Traffic Building on Maxwell Road—a pop-up space became available, and Mixes from Mars was approached to take it over. A team of former Bar Stories employees—Roger, Louis, Kino, and Joe—saw the chance to fill a unique gap in the Singapore cocktail scene. They wanted to create something different, focusing on Singapore-themed drinks, and that’s how Hopscotch came to life.
With a tight budget but big dreams, the team rolled up their sleeves and tackled the renovation themselves. They embraced an industrial theme to keep costs low but full of character. With a little help from a DIY-savvy friend, they transformed the 28 Maxwell Road space into what would become the original Hopscotch, all in just a month!
The debut menu featured 14 Singaporean-style craft cocktails, each carefully crafted to capture the essence of the local scene. These drinks were presented on foolscap paper, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the classic days gone by. Hopscotch soft-launched on 18th September 2014, and just a month later, they celebrated their grand opening on 17th October 2014, marking the start of something truly special.
2015
A Milestone of Creativity and Celebration
In the third quarter of 2015, we refreshed our menu with a whole new twist! We introduced 16 brand-new cocktail creations, each designed to offer something fresh and exciting. What made this menu even more interesting was that we categorized the drinks into fun themes, like “The Bro Code” and “Girls’ Night Out,” with each cocktail showcasing the essence of Hong Kong through its unique design and presentation.
But that’s not all! Hopscotch went global, welcoming top bartending talents from around the world. International guest bartenders like Antonia Lai, John O’Toole, and Toru Ariyoshi brought their expertise to our bar, infusing it with some serious international flair.
The excitement didn’t stop there—our bartenders were swapping experiences too! We had a memorable NOX x Hopscotch bar swap, and to top it off, Kino—our incredibly talented bartender—was sent off to Longplay Bar as a guest bartender, spreading our Hopscotch magic far and wide.
And let’s not forget—Hopscotch’s first anniversary was a momentous occasion. We celebrated in style by introducing live music to our space, with the talented Iris Judotter gracing us with her tunes for the very first time, setting the perfect soundtrack for the night
2016
To New Beginnings and Unforgettable Celebrations
Energized by the exciting news of a lease extension through 2017, we launched our third menu, a bold new concept inspired by comic books. This collection told a story through twenty unique cocktails, each one brought to life with stunning illustrations by our talented part-time artist, Zae.
The menu became a visual and flavorful adventure, capturing the imagination of our guests and offering a fresh, creative twist to our offerings.
In 2016, Mixes from Mars, our events bartending company, moved into its first office, marking another milestone. The year also brought major changes to the team, with key members leaving and new faces joining us following the closure of our sister bar, Mars Bar.
With the help of our close friend Bryan, we began to step up our event game, starting with our second anniversary celebration. The event was a blast, setting the stage for even more exciting things to come. Soon after, we kicked off our first-ever countdown party, Hop-in, which featured live DJs and a night full of energy and excitement. The event was an overwhelming success, bringing together a crowd of people who helped make it a night to remember!
2017
Red Dot Traffic Building
In 2017, Hopscotch’s time at the Red Dot Traffic Building came to an end as the lease couldn’t be renewed. The building was set to undergo a major revamp for higher purposes, and we had to say goodbye to our beloved Maxwell location.
To bid farewell in style, we launched a “Best Of” menu, showcasing the top drinks from our first three menus. We celebrated our final months at Maxwell with a series of weekly parties, sending off our space with plenty of fun, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
Then, in April 2017, Hopscotch Maxwell closed its doors for the last time. We marked the occasion with an epic farewell party that raged until 6 am, celebrating all the memories we’d made. Afterward, we took a short hiatus, focusing our energy on finding the perfect next chapter for Hopscotch.
With the Maxwell outlet now closed, the team decided to do something special—our first-ever company trip to Bali! It was the perfect opportunity to create new memories before the next exciting chapter began.
Though Hopscotch was temporarily without a home, we weren’t down for long—an exciting new location was just around the corner!
2018
Gillman Barracks
In April 2018, we couldn’t resist having a little fun—so we teased our return with an April Fools’ video introducing “Hops Lick,” a completely fictional technology that supposedly allowed you to taste our new cocktails through your screen. Of course, it was all in good fun, but it got everyone talking and left them eagerly anticipating our comeback.
Hopscotch soon found its exciting new home at the arts cluster of Gillman Barracks. Though it was a bit further from the CBD, this location offered something special—a beautiful outdoor setting and an experience that felt like stepping into a world beyond Singapore. It was the perfect place for our next chapter.
We weren’t just sitting around, though—we continued to do the renovations ourselves, just like the old days, and somehow managed to complete everything in just two months! It was a whirlwind, but the result was well worth it.
With the move, we decided to introduce something new to our offerings: food! We launched a menu featuring delicious grilled dishes and skewers, giving our guests even more reasons to stay and linger.
The 5th cocktail menu was launched as well , packed with 16 entirely new drinks, and to help our guests make the best choices, we added cocktail attributes and descriptions—making it easier to find the perfect drink to suit their mood.
2019
Challenges and Comeback
The start of 2019 brought its share of challenges for Hopscotch, as our new location at Gillman Barracks initially saw much lower foot traffic than anticipated. However, by mid-year, we were back on our feet and making a strong comeback, largely thanks to our increased focus on event participation and a big boost in brand awareness.
We started by bringing back some of our beloved classic parties that had become staples of the Hopscotch experience. National Day celebrations, Anniversaries, and the always-popular Hop-In Countdown were revived, with our loyal guests returning to join in the fun, making these events bigger and better than before.
But we knew we needed more than just the usual—so, we decided to switch things up with some fresh, exciting new events designed to attract a wider audience and create memorable experiences. From the vibrant “Art After Dark After Party” to the laid-back Reggae Nights and even sophisticated wine tastings. All these new and returning events helped reignite the energy in the space, attracting new customers and bringing old friends back through the doors.
By the end of the year, we had successfully created a more diverse event schedule that catered to all kinds of guests—whether they were looking for a fun night out, a cultural experience, or a chill evening of great drinks and music.
2020
A Year Of Resilience and Reinvention
Mixes from Mars took a major step forward in 2020, upgrading to a spacious 4,000-square-foot office at 203 Henderson—a move that seemed like the start of an exciting new chapter. But just as things were looking up, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Singapore entered its Circuit Breaker period, forcing Hopscotch to close its doors and put a pause on the bustling energy we’d worked so hard to build.
With significant investments in renovations to our new location, the sudden shutdown was a tough blow. The founders and the entire team had to dig deep, even taking on part-time jobs to weather the storm. With so much on the line, we knew we had to stay flexible and creative to keep Hopscotch’s spirit intact.
Two months later, we adapted to the new reality by pivoting to food delivery and offering bottled cocktails—a move that allowed us to continue serving our loyal customers and stay connected with the community while our physical doors remained closed. It was our way of keeping the Hopscotch vibe alive, even in the face of adversity.
As the Circuit Breaker lifted and restrictions eased, a new sense of optimism filled the air. We welcomed the return of our guests with open arms and a refreshed mindset. We launched our 6th cocktail menu, filled with fresh creations, and introduced new food offerings to complement our drinks, giving our guests even more reasons to return. The resilience of the team and the community’s unwavering support helped us bounce back stronger than ever, setting the stage for a new era of Hopscotch.
2021
Capitol Arcade
With renewed optimism and a favorable tenant market in the wake of the pandemic, Hopscotch opened a brand-new outlet directly opposite Capitol Theatre, in the Capitol Arcade. It was the perfect opportunity to expand, and the team came together once again to build and set up the space, each contributing their own personal touch to make the new location feel like home.
However, just two months after opening, the impact of COVID-19 struck again, leading to extended Circuit Breakers and strict dining restrictions that reduced our seating capacity. Despite these challenges, we adapted quickly and continued operations by adhering to the new rules.
By December 2021, most restrictions were lifted, and a wave of “revenge drinking” followed, as people eagerly returned to socializing and reconnecting after months of uncertainty. The air was filled with excitement, laughter, and the buzz of long-awaited reunions. With the “new normal” in place, Hopscotch became the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with friends, whether over a carefully crafted cocktail or a plate of delicious food. The atmosphere was charged with positive energy, and it felt like every corner of the bar was buzzing with stories to catch up on.
2022
Gardens By The Bay
With COVID restrictions fully lifted, 2022 marked a year of renewed optimism and smooth sailing for Hopscotch. We expanded to a new location at Bayfront Plaza, Gardens by the Bay, our third outlet, where a larger space and extensive DIY efforts allowed us to complete renovations in just over two months. The new design featured a striking structure that mimicked the iconic Supertree, adding a unique and memorable touch to the space.
We proudly opened the doors in October, and after a long hiatus, Hopscotch was finally able to resume hosting its signature parties. Our first event at Gardens by the Bay—the Hop-In 2023—was a huge success, bringing our vibrant community back together for a night of unforgettable fun.
That very year, in July, live entertainment made its long-awaited return to Hopscotch Gillman Barracks, reviving the lively atmosphere. In September, we welcomed the Singapore GP Truck to Hopscotch Gillman Barracks, where we live-streamed the Dutch Grand Prix and hosted a racing simulator challenge alongside F1-themed games. It was a thrilling event that brought the excitement of the races to our guests. We were also excited to be part of Singapore Restaurant Week in October at Hopscotch Capitol, showcasing our menu and celebrating the culinary diversity of the city.
2023
A Year of Refinement
2023 started off with a bang as we launched our seventh cocktail menu, our most elaborate and sophisticated selection yet, showcasing our continued passion for creativity and innovation. We were also excited to be part of the Singapore Cocktail Festival, where we featured an exclusive cocktail, the Paper Crane, which quickly became a favorite among our guests.
The year also saw us taking part in Singapore Restaurant Week, which was held at both our Gardens by the Bay and Capitol outlets, where we offered exclusive menus to highlight the diverse culinary scene in Singapore.
2023 also brought exciting updates to Hopscotch Gillman Barracks. We renewed our lease and gave the space a fresh new look, including the addition of a new shelter across the road. This improvement addressed issues that had remained unresolved back in 2018 due to budget constraints, giving the area a more inviting and comfortable feel for our guests.
In the same year, we made history by hosting our first-ever large-scale countdown party at Capitol Piazza, drawing over 500 attendees for an unforgettable night of celebration. The event marked the start of a new chapter for us, as we brought together our community in a way we had never done before, creating memories that would last for years to come.
2024
A Decade of Hopscotch
2024 marks a major milestone for Hopscotch—our 10th anniversary. To celebrate a decade of innovation, creativity, and growth, we’re launching a “Best of 10 Years” menu, featuring 20 iconic cocktails from our most celebrated past menus, alongside a special cocktail crafted exclusively for this occasion. It’s our way of thanking everyone who has been part of our incredible journey.
Earlier this year, we achieved another exciting milestone: Hopscotch obtained its catering license, allowing us to bring our food and drinks to external events. We also launched our third food menu, expanding our selection of starters and making our dishes more inclusive to cater to a variety of dietary needs. In a bid to further strengthen our concept, we’ve infused Southeast Asian flavors into our offerings, enhancing the unique fusion experience we’re known for.
Today, we stand stronger than ever with three thriving outlets and a dedicated team of around 70 full-time staff.
We have also managed to expands into other brands and concepts such as Cherki, a Peranakan-Modern fusion restaurant and Onori, a Japanese craft handroll diner, serving handrolls at affordable prices.
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our customers, friends, and family. Looking ahead, we remain committed to constantly innovating and creating an extravagant, one-of-a-kind experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Here’s to another decade of memories, growth, and unforgettable moments.