Peter Ng never intended to start a cigar, whisky, and jazz bar. Originally, Robusto began as a small space above the Que Pasa tapas bar, just down the road from Ng’s residence, where he and his friends could have a cigar after lunch. Eventually, it became a boutique retail outlet, but sales were the farthest thing from his mind. The man with a penchant for the fine life, thanks to decades of working in London and wining and dining clients at its private members’ clubs, had already made his pile, thanks to his astute real estate acumen, and was ready to indulge in his passions.
In 2019, a decade after Robusto started, Ng had the opportunity to take over the floor above French restaurant Atout in the Dempsey enclave. It was a compelling proposition and Ng thought it was the perfect time to combine two of his loves: cigars and jazz music.
A younger Ng had taken classical piano lessons before turning to jazz. He played for several years on the local music circuit before exchanging the ivory keys for those that opened property doors instead. He named the place Maduro, which means ripe or dark in cigar parlance.
The time was indeed ripe for a cigar and jazz bar. Maduro thrived through word of mouth, as more and more businesspeople who valued privacy swung by to listen to music, drink whisky, and enjoy its selection of fine smokes. Its ethos remained the same. “Integrity is very important in the property world. We are functional and respectable, and we want to make sure you have a good time. I’m inviting you to my house, and anyone in my place will always have a chair to enjoy a cigar and the music,” says Ng.
Of course, he is incredibly fastidious about both. The cigar selection is arguably one of the best in Singapore, thanks to Ng’s deep knowledge of the product. He started smoking cigars after giving up cigarettes. His first was after a performance at a fine dining room when he fished out a cigar from a humidor. Thus began the obsession.
Five years after hosting people at Dempsey, it was time for Maduro to move. Now, it occupies a slightly bigger space within the lower lobby of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa.
The music programming remains stellar. There are performances almost every weekend featuring rising musicians and artistes whose names can easily pack bigger venues. For example, King of Swing Jeremy Monteiro and his trio have regularly popped by to perform.
“I’m an accidental F&B entrepreneur,” Ng says, laughing. A lot of thought has gone into Maduro’s latest spot. There are three rooms for customers to have private discussions. Each features unique knick-knacks from Ng’s travels and comfortable couches for you to sink into. In the main room, a massive piece from graffiti artist Cyril Kongo hangs on the wall, facing a picture of a ballerina in motion on the other side. It’s a beautiful dichotomy, and one that encapsulates Maduro’s eclecticism.
The bar has also become a flagbearer for the local classical and jazz music scene. “We’re not a concert hall, but we understand how to create the atmosphere and manage the crowd during performances. Our space complements the music and listeners can enjoy a drink while listening to the artistes. There’s nothing quite like this in Singapore. We control the quality here,” says Ng.
It’s ironic that Ng doesn’t drink alcohol despite having an enviable whisky list. Not a single drop, and he says he has never been tempted. He doesn’t need it. The music wafting through the space is Ng’s stimulant of choice.
