Sometimes, all one needs is a simple nightcap; a quiet cocktail or two, gentle music, and the familiar company of your trusty bartender—the one you’ve spilled too many of your secrets to. This specific kind of scenario thrives at Bar Miglia – Living Room by BIKO Group, an elegant, hideaway drinkery quietly tucked within the bumping nightlife hub of Senopati.
Serving as an extension to the cocktail-focused Bar Miglia, the path to the Living Room is less than straightforward—but that’s exactly what adds to the experience. Instead of going upstairs to the main bar, enter Breathe Studio on the right; then make a left after the reception area, and approach the first door you find down the hallway. If it has Miglia’s ‘M’ logo next to it, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the right place. That’s when you ring the bell.
Past the door, a narrow stretch of shadowy corridor leads the way to the cosy bar itself, where Living Room’s Head and only bartender, Stephanie (who goes by one name), can be found stirring up cocktails or chatting with a regular in front of an array of bespoke whiskies. The latter are remnants of the speakeasy’s past as an invitation-only whisky bar, and some of that DNA continues to play a part in the offerings at Living Room—albeit with a more beginner-friendly delivery thanks to Stephanie’s guidance.
But for a more updated experience, check out the in-house cocktails instead. Stephanie has conjured up an impressive list of 16 signature drinks, showcasing the skills that made her a semi-finalist in the prestigious Diageo World Class competition in 2024, and her characteristic flair for creating easy-to-drink yet surprisingly strong tipples.
2Killa Mockingbird is her personal favourite, a refreshing Mezcal twist on the classic Tequila Mockingbird cocktail, clarified using watermelon essence for a strong fruity impression that is further balanced with drops of saline solution. Here by popular demand, the Shoga-Hi draws from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (alleged) favourite cocktail Horse’s Neck, mixing Suntory whisky with house-made ginger ale and a squeeze of lemon—lightly sour, fizzy and ever-so-subtly spiced. Meanwhile, Robusto offers something for the old-fashioned enthusiasts: it’s a strong, Mezcal-based Negroni with a touch of smokiness, served alongside tonic water to lighten the kick if needed.
With the room’s capacity strictly limited, the compact bar feels intimate yet roomy. And patrons have the option to enjoy these signature cocktails over at the leather-bound sofas where the ‘living room’ aura is most pronounced, at the tall tables with friends accompanied by Miglia’s bar snacks like Yakitori, or at the bar whilst striking up a conversation with Stephanie—making drinks isn’t the only thing she’s good at, after all. “I’m not just a bartender, I’m also a barkeeper. Why is that? Because I keep all of my guests’ secrets,” she laughed.