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Singapore’s late-night options have expanded in recent years to include more highbrow lounges with million-dollar views, mixologists shaking up the trendiest ingredients, and bars tapping into some of the beers from all over. After work, professionals and expats typically congregate at watering holes on Club Street and pubs in Boat Quay, as well as at some of the cocktail bars that have been popping up around Chinatown and Haji Lane.
Nightclubs featuring electronic dance music have a massive following here, and that's been true since the opening of Zouk, back in 1996. Additional clubs can be found around Clarke Quay and throughout the CBD.
First-time visitors should be prepared for the exorbitantly expensive prices that clubs charge. Beer guzzlers on a budget are best off sipping on a few at the hawker centers, one of the only places to find reasonable rates.
Be aware that although the once-bawdy Bugis Street has been sanitized, a seedy underworld still exists elsewhere in town. Red-light districts, which are mostly found in parts of Geylang, have buildings that really are lit by red lanterns. Soliciting for prostitution is illegal, but the deed itself isn't; it's actually tolerated, monitored, and contained, with most prostitutes registered and subject to regular medical checks. If karaoke is what you seek, keep in mind that it is common for "KTV" lounges to be a cover for prostitution.
Holland Village has seen many bars open and close, but this wildly popular watering hole has stayed the same for decades, pairing its jugs of cocktails and other drinks with Western favorites like pizza and steak. Live music often plays upstairs, and there's a bustling bar downstairs that has a welcoming outdoor sitting area, which occasionally spills out onto the street on a Saturday night.
Hidden in a corner of the Hotel Vagabond Club, this bar houses a collection of 1,000 rare, single-cask, limited-edition whiskies that would impress even the most seasoned connoisseur. It’s styled like a typical whiskey den, with lots of wood, velvet, and a glass showcase. The cigar menu is up to par, and there's live jazz starting at 5 pm from Wednesday to Saturday.
Beer lovers congregate at this large open-plan brewery, which brews its own beers, bitters, and ales. The most popular brews are the Golden Ale and India Pale Ale. Brewerkz also serves English-style "real ale" (aka cask ale), which is a rarity in Southeast Asia. The kitchen serves a typical American menu.
For some good, clean, retro fun, head to this spacious lounge for darts, foosball, or pool. Singapore's branch of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) runs this club, along with several others.
