Top 10 bars and clubs to visit in Singapore
PUBLISHED May 24th, 2014 02:02 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:31 pm
Singapore is spoilt for choice when it comes to drinking venues – from upmarket martini bars to casual beer gardens, and everything in-between. Whether you favour wine bars, dance clubs or bespoke cocktails, Singapore has got you covered. The next time you’re heading on a night out, hit up one of our picks for the top 10 bars and clubs to visit in Singapore.
1. Tippling Club
38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088461
After five years of bringing carefully crafted drinks and gastronomic delights to Dempsey Hill, Tippling Club has moved to a brand spanking new CBD venue. Located in the ever-hip Tanjong Pagar region, the revamped Tippling Club spans across three shop houses with décor that screams European design and modern practicality. The bar and kitchen keep true to their roots in avant-garde cuisine and experimental cocktails – the new Tippling Club promises to continually think outside the box. Read our full review of Tippling Club here.
2. LeVeL 33
#33-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 8 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018981
Beer lovers rejoice – LeVel 33 is, quite literally, the highest urban craft brewery in the world! Not only do they brew their own ale on site, but beer culture is incorporated into every element of the venue – from the copper brew house kettles behind the bar to the rustic menu designed to perfectly compliment a pint. The bar has a sky-high location in an urban office building on (unsurprisingly) level 33, ensuring it has one of the most impressive views in Singapore. Sit back with your beer and take in the panoramic city skyline across the CBD and down to the stunning Marina Bay.
3. Bar Stories
57A Haji Lane, Singapore 189248
Tucked away on colourful Haji Lane, Bar Stories is a specialty cocktail bar like no other! Staff have no drinks list for guests, instead the talented bartenders will handcraft you a bespoke cocktail to suit your specific mood and palate. Simply state your tastes – fruity, sour or sweet – and let the mixologists creative flare get to work. The décor is quirky and modern and with quiet semi-lit corners and long communal tables, Bar Stories makes a perfect spot for a more intimate night out. To read our full review of Bar Stories see here.
4. Kyo
133 Cecil Street, #B1-02, Keck Seng Tower, Singapore 069535
You might not expect to find one of Singapore’s premiere dance clubs in the basement of a CBD office block, but yet here sits Kyo, nestled below brightly lit skyscrapers. Kyo is a dance club, come elemental music venue, come hedonistic wonderland – a space where traditional Japanese flavours meet modern Singapore charm. The raw, masculine décor features deep greys, dark wood paneling and shiny DJ booths – which all make it easy to forget you’re in the heart of Singapore’s pulsating metropolis. Kyo also sports Singapore’s longest bar, which is reassuringly stocked with an array of wines, beers and spirits – if you can drag yourself off the dance floor that is!
5. Blu Jaz
11 Bali Lane, Singapore, Singapore 189848
Blu Jaz began as a pokey burger joint in Little India a decade ago, and has gone on to become a performance hub for live music, comedy nights and dance parties. In their current location in historic Kampong Glam, Blu Jaz takes over 3 floors of a shop house with busy, colourfully eclectic décor reminiscent of a Mardi Gras float. In the early evening Blu Jaz is a relaxing Mediterranean sheesha bar downstairs, but as the night progresses the higher bars open up and crowds file upstairs for live music covering everything from jazz and pop to old school hip hop.
6. Lantern
80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326
Lantern, at The Fullerton Bay Hotel, is a sophisticated rooftop bar complete with pool, lounge areas, and a stunning aspect across Marina Bay and the iconic Singapore skyline. Lantern is an urban oasis with an LA feel, perfect for a sunset cocktail or after work drinks. The menu offers a wide range of wines and cocktails, or if you’re feeling a bit flash with cash, also boasts an impressive champagne selection. Bubbly by the pool looking over the bay as the sun goes down? Yes please!
7. eM by the River (Closed)
1 Nanson Road #01-05, Singapore 238909
Part of the Gallery Hotel in Robertson Quay, eM by the River is a casual wine bar nestled under shady trees by the Singapore River. It’s a relaxed beer garden outside with mismatched rustic furniture, cool breezes and a very relaxing vibe. During the afternoon the bar hosts housewives reading, hipsters working on MacBook Pros and the odd business meeting, but as the sun dips down the bar heats up. A friendly mix of locals and expats flock to eM for the excellent happy hour every evening until 9pm.
eM by the River currently remains closed as it is undergoing renovations, as of 20 March 2015.
8. 1-Altitude
1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616
Views, view and more views! If you want to enjoy your beverage with a truly spectacular outlook over Singapore, head direct to 1-Altitude. The 1-Altitude Gallery stands at 282 meters on the 63rd floor of a CBD office block (not for those with a fear of heights!). The triangular shape of the bar allows guests to see an impressive 360-degree outlook over Singapore and the city’s major landmarks – so it’s the perfect spot for when visitors are in town. Compliment the view with a drink standing at the world’s highest alfresco bar – the cocktail list is extensive and takes inspiration from tastes of a patisserie – yum!
9. Zouk
17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420
Zouk is a Singapore institution, a world-renowned dance club that regularly ranks top of its class in the Asia-Pacific region. Zouk lives and breathes the Asian dance music culture and the club has singlehandedly managed to put Singapore on the world dance map. Within the Zouk complex, five differently themed clubs jostle for attention – a myriad of pumping beats, eye-popping LED lights, and hedonistic indulgences. Zouk embodies the Singapore dance scene at its finest – head down for a night of heavy beats, flowing drinks and energetic crowds. You’ll need to commit to a big night though – the club doesn’t get pumping until 11pm and kicks on well into the morning.
10. Tanjong Beach Club
120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942
A Sunday afternoon at Tanjong Beach Club is a rite of passage for anyone who’s new to Singapore. The bar feels like it’s been transported direct from Bali – a welcome escape from the frantic hum of Singapore’s urban metropolis. A sun-kissed adult playground, Tanjong Beach Club is everything you’d expect from a prestigious beach bar – poolside lounges, beach views, deck chairs, sun umbrellas and tropical cocktails. Weekends at Tanjong go wild with bikini-clad guests embracing beach culture, celebrating the sun, sand and sea and dancing long into the night.
Written by The Dreamer, Updated on 18 March 2015 by Stephanie Yeap
Read more about Singapore’s yummy local cuisine at YourSingapore.com
