Nightlife in Singapore
Clarke Quay has enjoyed a recent facelift, with new bars and clubs like Zirca packing in the crowds. Around Orchard, traditional Peranakan houses on Emerald Hill house friendly bars. Tanglin has upmarket bars including leafy Oosh. At the fast-developing Marina, international concerts draw culture-lovers into the striking Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. At weekends, most bars and clubs are open until 2am.
The Long Bar
Famous cocktails
The Long Bar in Singapore's central Raffles Hotel famously invented the
Singapore Sling cocktail. Sip the gin and cherry brandy concoction and snack
on monkey nuts - it's traditional to simply discard the peanut shells on the
bar's mosaic floor.
E-mail this item
Address
Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Telephone
+65 6337 1886
Loof
Rooftop martinis
Loof's popular location, on a cooling Colonial District rooftop overlooking
Raffles Hotel, is popular with young professionals and media types. The huge
sofas and cushion-filled booths are perfect for lingering with cocktails,
including the white chocolate martini.
E-mail this item
Address
331, North Bridge Road #03-07, Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop, Singapore 188720
Telephone
+65 6338 8035
Alley Bar
After-work happy hour
An upmarket after-work crowd fills the narrow Alley Bar on Emerald Hill,
especially for complementary early-evening tapas and 5pm happy hour.
Refurbished from a derelict building, the contemporary high-ceilinged
interior has tall bar-stools and striking gilt-framed mirrors.
E-mail this item
Address
180, Orchard Road, Emerald Hill, Singapore 238846
Telephone
+65 6738 8818
Bar Opiume
Sophisticated people-watching venue
Bar Opiume has bags of kitsch upmarket glamour, with its great views of
Singapore's skyline and river. Party crowds fill the venue late at night,
but you can still find a quiet spot outside to sip your mojito in style.
E-mail this item
Address
1, Empress Place, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore 179555
Telephone
+65 6339 2876
Ice Cold Beer
Relaxed pool and darts
Located in an old Peranakan shophouse off Orchard Road, Ice Cold Beer
has around 50 international beers, which are served extremely cold. Popular
features with the laid-back patrons are the pool tables, dartboards,
football on TV, and sunny patio.
E-mail this item
Address
9, Emerald Hill Road, Singapore 229293
Telephone
+65 6735 9929
Transport
MRT to Somerset
Oosh
Outdoor garden seating
In nightlife hub Dempsey Road, stylish Oosh has a huge leafy garden with
tables cleverly partitioned to give them an intimate feel, plus a
sofa-filled roof terrace. The moody dark-wood lounge hosts live singers most
nights. Popular with couples.
E-mail this item
Address
22, Dempsey Road, Singapore 249679
Telephone
+65 6475 0002
DBL O
Cool crowd favourite
A cavernous place with a light-up wall and popular dance music, DBL O is very
popular with those who want to hang out without the pretenses of some of the
newer fashion-victim clubs. Two bars within the club have a garden terrace
and pool tables.
E-mail this item
Address
11 , Unity Street 01-24, Robertson Walk, Singapore 237995
Telephone
+65 6735 2008
Zouk
Three clubs in one
Zouk on Singapore River is set in a vast warehouse space. It has three
different zones, all packed with clubbers. The stylish dance to trance, then
cool down on the terrace. Phuture plays R&B, and chic Velvet
Underground offers house.
E-mail this item
Zirca
Clubbing with circus acts
Zirca on Clarke Quay keeps trendy dance fans raving till the early hours. The
no-frills, industrial-style decor is brought to life by circus-style
entertainment, from contortionists to acrobats suspended from the club's
soaring ceilings.
E-mail this item
Address
Block 3C, The Cannery, River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179022
Telephone
+65 6235 2292
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Landmark concert hall
Nicknamed The Durian because of its distinctive durian fruit-like roof, the
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay on the Marina is a landmark venue boasting a
world-class concert hall, theatre and gallery. The Singapore Symphony
Orchestra plays here regularly.
E-mail this item
Address
1, Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Telephone
+65 6828 8377
Transport
MRT to City Hall or River Taxi to Esplanade Waterfront
Website
Acid Bar
Quality cover bands
Singaporeans love cover bands, and those at Orchard Road's friendly Acid Bar
are better than most. With two acoustic sets every night, most people come
to listen to the bands, rather than chat.
E-mail this item
Address
Perankan Place Complex, 180 Orchard Road, Singapore 238846
Telephone
+65 6738 8828
Bhaskar's Art Academy
Indian dance performances
Based in Little India, Bhaskar's Arts Academy is the only dance troupe
outside India that specialises in Kathakali, a dance-drama style
specific to Kerala. The venue also hosts occasional performances from
visiting troupes or musicians.
E-mail this item
Address
19, Kerbau Road, Singapore 219158
Telephone
+65 6396 4523
St James Power Station
Nine different music venues
St James Power Station is a vast 6503m² space making up nine venues.
Indecisive music-lovers, on one ticket, hear Mandarin bands in Dragonfly,
Middle Eastern singers in Movida, dance in Powerhouse or relax on the
terrace at Peppermint Park.
E-mail this item
Address
3, Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098544
Telephone
+65 6270 7676
Substation
Where Singapore's creatives work
The Colonial District's Substation has been Singapore's main centre for
contemporary arts and performance since 1990. The unconventional programme
of events includes modern dance, independent film festivals, local rick
bands and ongoing projects with Singaporean artists.
E-mail this item
Address
45, Armenian Street, Singapore 179936
Telephone
+65 6337 7535
Harry's Bar
Jazz on the Quayside
A popular live jazz venue, Harry's Bar has several Singapore branches, but
the one on Boat Quay is the original. Traditionally favoured by expat
bankers, the friendly bar attracts jazz lovers for nightly sessions from
local and visiting artists.
E-mail this item
Address
28, Boat Quay, Singapore 049818
Telephone
+65 6538 3029
