Mel John Chavez

THE WONDERFUL RACE 2025 Greatful beyond words. ❤️ I am honoured to take home the win at the Woodford Whiskey Competition, an experience I'll fondly cherish. To @brownforman & @maltwineasia @jonizj , to the judges @danielgoh @coltonpayne @saki_kelvin , and the whole team behind this incredible event — thank you for creating a platform that brings out the best in all of us. To my wife @jeaneloukeychavez and son Johan, you are my everyday inspiration. Everything I do, every push, every late night practice, every idea… it all comes from wanting to make you proud. Thank you for being my strength and my biggest motivation. And of course, to everyone who has supported me during the competition @iammirkofebbrile @donvino.official @j.sugan0212 @khai.osman____ @not_michelinsal @wee_siong0528 and to whole team of @barsomma And to the rest of the competitors, what a lineup. What a battle. This wasn’t just my win… it was a win for all of us. The talent, the creativity, the passion — absolutely next level. I am proud to stand alongside each one of you. Let’s keep creating, keep shaking, and keep raising the bar.

No. 122 It's been a crazy busy month for the bar, events, and takeovers. Being recognised among the Top 500 bars, we are beyond grateful. ❤️ To our team @j.sugan0212 @khai.osman____ who pours their heart into every shift. To our guests who’ve supported and believed in us since day one, this ones for you. 🫰 Cheers to more nights of good vibes, shots, and shared stories over good drinks. Thank you @top500bars ! 🫶

1 year at Bar Somma! 🍸 Time really flies when you're doing what you love, surrounded by good people and great vibes. Super grateful for the opportunity to be part of this amazing spot, and a big thank you to everyone in the industry who's shown love and support along the way. From the late nights to the small wins — it’s all been worth it. Cheers to more good times, more growth, and another year of countless cocktails and shots! #BarSomma #cocktailporn #1styearanniversary #goodvibes #bartender #cocktailbars #newbahru #Italiancocktailbar

Golden hour hits different when there’s cabonara involved! Favs: Amatriciana, Pine Highball, Nutty By Nature, IL Perugino

From Singapore’s creative district comes @barsomma — a design-led Italian cocktail bar where contemporary classics, signature cocktails, and good cooking come together. Led by Bar Manager @chavezmeljohn , the programme celebrates artistry and craft, breathing new life into familiar favourites with creative twists, drawing on his time at Tippling Club and Smoke & Mirrors. Behind the bar, technique meets instinct, supported by a R&D lab where flavours are constantly refined. BAR SOMMA, Singapore Ft. Mel Chavez Tuesday, 21 April 2026 8PM onwards at Modernhaus Join us and experience cocktails that feel familiar, yet entirely reimagined. RSVP at +62 817-7233-3368

T A T L E R Didn’t see this one coming. Truly grateful and humbled to receive this award for @barsomma . This award belongs to the entire team who always stay late night, every detail, every push for excellence. It all adds up. Proud of what we’ve built together in a span of 1 and half year. This is what teamwork and hard work look like. To our clients, regulars and people who always supporting us we can’t thank you enough.

Meet Mel Chavez ( @chavezmeljohn ) — Bar Manager of @barsomma , Singapore's Italian-inspired gem, and reigning Woodford Reserve Champion. We sat down with Mel to talk craft, culture, and what it means to build a bar with a sense of place. He is is the kind of bartender who tells a story through every glass — thoughtful enough to make you think, creative enough to surprise you, and fun enough to keep you coming back for the next. 📩 Book a table: +63 917 160 1162 📍 The Spirits Library — 4963 Guerrero St, Poblacion, Makati

Vogue called and @chavezmeljohn let it go to voicemail. #BarSomma 📸 Shot on @fujifilmsg X-H2.

Get ready for another guestshift at The Spirits Library! Mel Chavez from Bar Somma is joining us for a night of unique experiences from their bar in Singapore. Mel's Philosophy is Simple: True luxury lives in experience, not extravagance. Through his meticulous research and a gift for storytelling, he crafts cocktails that challenge convention while feeling like home - every glass an invitation to slow down and savour. Join us on March 24, 2026. Contact us at our social media platforms for reservations or message our number +63 917 160 1162 See you there 😉 @chavezmeljohn @barsomma #GuestShifts #spiritslibrary #cocktailsph #thespiritslibraryph #thespiritslibrary #barsomma #singaporebarscene #singaporebars

Happy World Bartenders Day. Never forget where you started. Stay humble. Respect everyone. That’s the real craft. 🍸 #BarLife #WorldBartendersDay #Hospitality

What a pleasure collaborating with @ciottisalo ! Big thanks to @federicobalzarini for spending time with us and for sharing your upcoming drinks — we can’t wait for everyone to experience them. All the best for the opening of Ciotti soon! Huge appreciation to our partner @michterswhiskey @ethan_ananasgram for bringing this together. #BarSomma #Ciotti #Grateful #michters

[ Bar Somma ] Dim candle lit ambience, tall cathedral like ceilings and perhaps the best representation of Italian cocktails in Singapore. The newest menu continues its original narrative — modern classics with thoughtful reinterpretation. 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 A bolder Bloody Mary. Brighter, smokier, unapologetically savoury. Pasta inspired, Guanciale-infused vodka delivers a deep, meaty backbone. 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗳𝗶 𝗚𝗶𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘁 Cool, bitter herbal notes evolve from start to finish. Celery and liquorice deepen the usual botanicals beautifully. 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 A milk punch Negroni riff. Nutty, chocolatey, almost Ferrero Rocher-esque. Lighter in body, though slightly outside my preference. 𝗜𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗼 The Nutty earthy profile of Beetroot leads the way. Roasted before to give a slight char, the drink is a sour with an additional dimension, it comes off rather “green” but highly engaging. 𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗢𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶 A dirty martini where extra virgin olive oil takes centre stage. Clean salinity, bright, not briny. Hardcore favourites like Rum Happiness and Miso Sidecar remain. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘂 Borrowing from the expertise of Somma, it is simply exceptional. The pasta is undeniably among the best in Singapore, and I would confidently place the overall offering within the top three bar food menus in the city. That said, it does sit at a higher price point, and the desserts, for me, fell short of the same standard — pleasant, but ultimately forgettable. Bar Somma itself is a thoughtful exercise in restraint and intent. Italian in spirit but never rigid or predictable, the narrative behind the drinks programme reveals a delicate hand. Classics remain structurally intact and comfortably familiar, yet are gently reworked with savoury inflections and unexpected elements. The result is a menu that stands apart, not for the sake of novelty, but through considered evolution. Nothing but absolute love. - My own subjective opinion / Media Invite / Recommendation Ratings: ⬥⬥⬥⬥⬦ [ 4.1 ] - #explorepage #cocktails #bars #50best