4 Best Bars in Singapore River, Singapore

Dedicated to the blues, with occasional forays into R&B and rock, this popular, laid-back bar in a heritage shophouse by the river hosts jam sessions that draw gifted musicians.

The long-running Zouk always manages to reinvent itself. The huge dance club, carved out of renovated riverside warehouses, is four venues in one: Zouk, the main dance room that specializes in all genres of electronic music; the more sophisticated and intimate Capital; and Phuture for hip hop lovers; and Red Tail Bar for cocktails and sharing bites. Visiting international DJs take the decks weekly, and the club consistently gets rave reviews overseas.

Join the post-work throng at this long-standing bar by the water to watch sports and drink ice-cold beer. There's an eclectic menu of Asian and Western favorites served throughout the day, with fish and chips always a popular choice. Expats and business executives make up most of the crowd, which spills out onto the sidewalk on weekends.

Classic fish-and-chips join the beers, cocktails, and whiskeys at this friendly Irish bar, which was originally built in Ireland before being transported in full to Singapore in 1995. The bar is full of interesting characters and is the closest you'll come to a local joint in the area. There's also live music most nights, TVs screening live sports, and a full menu of pub classics.