Indra Kantono

Is there a more compelling success story in Asia’s bar scene than that of Jigger & Pony?

When Indra Kantono and Gan Guoyi, his wife and business partner, opened Jigger & Pony in 2012, Singapore's cocktail culture was still in its infancy. Fourteen years later, they have built one of Asia's most respected hospitality groups, with a portfolio spanning Jigger & Pony, Gibson, Humpback, Caffe Fernet, Live Twice, Pop City, BOP (Bartenders of Pony) and, most recently, Cosmo Pony in Jakarta.

The group’s flagship venue has been named The Best Bar in Singapore by Asia’s 50 Best Bars for six consecutive years while remaining a regular fixture among The World's 50 Best Bars. But for Kantono, success today is measured by far more than accolades. Increasingly, his attention has shifted from creating award-winning venues to building enduring brands, nurturing future leaders and strengthening the culture that underpins every concept.

That philosophy is also shaping the group’s regional ambitions. Following the opening of Cosmo Pony in Jakarta in 2024—its first venture outside Singapore—Kantono has become convinced that great hospitality cannot simply be exported but must be thoughtfully translated for every city. Rather than replicating a successful formula, he believes each venue should reflect its local culture while remaining anchored by the group's values of convivial hospitality and continuous improvement.

Kantono now sees Singapore not simply as home, but as a springboard for hospitality innovation. His ambition is no longer just to prove Singapore can produce some of the world's best bars, but to demonstrate how a distinctly Singaporean approach to hospitality can resonate across the region and, eventually, the world.