56 Best Nightlife in Singapore

Atlas

Kampong Glam Fodor's choice

Truly one of a kind, this grandiose bar with a high, ornate ceiling is mesmerizing—and one of the most buzzed-about lounges in Singapore. It holds more than 1,000 gins and 250 Champagnes, including a rare bubbly that was served on the Titanic (yes, the actual Titanic). The revolving, themed menus are inspired by the 1930s with a strong focus on (you guessed it) gin and Champagne. For a splurge, any cocktail can be made with your Champagne of choice, and there's also a dining and high tea menu. 

Crane

Joo Chiat Fodor's choice

What most people see of this beautiful 1920 corner lot shophouse is through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Japanese-inspired café Natsu, but like a hushed secret, what really happens at Crane is hidden both inside and on the charming rooftop. Part co-working space, part hipster café, and part community space (including a podcast recording studio) it's become a place to share urban experiences and transform them into real-life projects. On weekdays, people come for pizza nights on the terrace, interest groups' meet-ups, and private dining. On weekends, the East Comedy Club and a Farmer's Market bring the space's three delightfully retro floors to full-scale life.

Employees Only

Chinatown Fodor's choice

Conceived in downtown New York City back in 2004, Employees Only has become one of the most iconic cocktail bars in Singapore since it opened here in 2016. Describing itself as a "neo-speakeasy restaurant and bar," this slice of the Big Apple has been ranked among Asia's best bars in the annual "Best Bars" awards every year since its inception. Enjoy classic small plates like steak tartare and shrimp cocktail as you drink the innovative NYC creations.

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Good Luck

Kampong Glam Fodor's choice

If the only Singapore beer you’re acquainted with is Tiger, you’re in luck—quite literally—at this bar offering nine different local brews on tap. The offerings range from pilsners to IPAs and even a stout; ask the bar staff to decode each to match your preferred beer profile. Their menu of local bites like XO Carrot Cake and a ramly burger with all the trimmings does a good job of lining your stomach so you can drink well into the night. 

Jigger and Pony

Chinatown Fodor's choice
Yet another of the city's establishments to make the list of the "World's 50 Best Bars," Jigger & Pony serves up exceptional classic cocktails such as negronis, martinis, and Old Fashioneds, as well as signature cocktails with a local twist (think gin fizz with orange flower bubbles or whiskey sour with a touch of yuzu marmalade). Located in the Amara hotel, the dimly lit space is cozy and inviting.

Kaku-Uchi Sake Bar

Orchard Fodor's choice
This tiny six-seater bar is very easy to miss, tucked away as it is at the back of Isetan's supermarket near the alcohol section. It's almost always busy, so you usually have to wait for a seat. Once you've settled in, though, you can enjoy premium sake by the glass or bottle as the knowledgeable bartender talks you through the tasting notes. If you've been here for a while, and it's quiet, the staff will sometimes allow you to buy a bottle of sake from the supermarket to drink at the bar instead.

Manhattan Bar

Orchard Fodor's choice

Recalling the golden age of New York, with a menu that takes you on a journey of cocktail history, this dark and sultry cocktail bar in the Conrad Singapore Orchard offers more than 220 whiskeys. It's also the first in the world to craft negronis with ingredients that have been solera-aged—and right in the hotel’s own 100-barrel rickhouse. No wonder it often ranks in the World's 50 Best Bars.

Marquee Singapore

Marina Bay Fodor's choice

For a night you will (or possibly won’t) remember, party at this glittering club kid hotspot with Vegas vibes. Also Singapore’s largest nightclub, it goes big with eight private dance pods suspended 20 meters in the air as well as a massive Ferris wheel you can board for a spin.

Native

Chinatown Fodor's choice

At this sophisticated cocktail lounge and restaurant, the drinks are designed around stories and cultures from around southeast Asia. Many drinks are made using ingredients foraged from nearby areas and include local alcohols such as jackfruit rum; there's a strong focus on in-house, seasonal fermentation. Enjoy bespoke cocktails with a full restaurant menu on level one, or head upstairs for a more intimate drinking experience.

New Asia

CBD Fodor's choice

To get to the top level of this bar on the 71st and 72nd floors of the Stamford, you'll need advance reservations; the striking views there are enhanced by the way the floors are at a 20-degree slant. There are Asian food options in the grill section, as well as shellfish and sushi stations. The vibrant decor features strong colors and unusual designer furnishings. A DJ pushes up the beat with disco music on the weekend.

No. 5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar

Orchard Fodor's choice

Pretty red lanterns hang above you at this chic cocktail bar inside a restored two-story Paranakan terraced house, reflecting the design style of the early-20th-century Straits-Chinese shophouses. There are a variety of enticing cocktails on offer (sampling the signature chilli-infused vodka is a must) plus an impressive selection of spirits, shooters, beers, and mocktails. You can enjoy regular live music and performances; sample the bar snacks, which include pizza and chicken wings; or just sit back and enjoy the ambiance.

Papa Doble

Chinatown Fodor's choice

Opened in 2019, this Hemingway-inspired bar was formerly an outpost of Hong Kong's Old Man bar (the Singapore outpost also used to share its name), which was deemed "Best Bar in Asia" by the World's 50 Best Bars. The cocktails live up to the hype, with high-quality takes on classics like old fashioned and sazerac, alongside inventive, delicious signatures.

Screening Room

Chinatown Fodor's choice

This five-floor film, food, and bar complex is part of a cluster of trendy shophouse bars and restaurants. A lounge area takes up the basement and first floor, but the biggest draw is on the third floor, where there's a small, funky theater with its own bar. Classic films from around the world are shown, and menus are created to match the theme. (The film schedule is online, and reservations can be made via email or phone.) The rooftop bar attracts a cool after-work crowd.

Smith Street Taps

Chinatown Fodor's choice

Occupying a space on Level 2 of the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, this tiny bar is a hidden gem. It would be easy to mistake it as just one of the hundreds of food vendors that occupy the center if it weren't for the number of people drinking the excellent craft drafts at the tables that surround it. The friendly, knowledgeable staff will happily talk you through the tasting notes of each beer, many of which are brewed in Singapore. Grab some food from one of the many excellent hawker stalls around the bar and spend an evening watching the crowds throng through Chinatown below.

Tanjong Beach Club

Sentosa Island Fodor's choice

For those looking to lounge in the sun among the palms or play outdoor games, this trendy beach bar often tops world's-best lists and has pretty good food as well. Daybeds are available (they can also be reserved) as well as lounge chairs, a swimming pool, and DJs that are often on deck. The weekend crowd is typically young professionals looking to let loose over a game of beach volleyball or beer pong. This stretch of sand, shaped like a numeral three from above, is also popular with dog owners and their water-trained pooches. To avoid the crowds; come on a weekday, then linger for the sunset, which is especially pretty here.

Taylor Adam

CBD Fodor's choice

Walk through the bespoke tailor shop in front, built in collaboration with Meiko Tailor, to get to this hidden, charming speakeasy. As you may expect, cocktails can be "tailored" to taste and preference, alongside a regularly changing menu of signature creations.

The Other Room

Orchard Fodor's choice

Recognized as one of Asia's 50 best bars, The Other Room is a moodily-lit speakeasy where mixologists sling cocktails until the early hours. The allure is its location: hidden behind a largely unmarked black door inside the Marriott Hotel. It’s small and snug inside, so it’s better to reserve ahead if you want to secure a table, especially if you want to try their version of the classic Reuben sandwich. The cocktails are the real stars, though, made using the 100 different cask-finished spirits blended in-house.

Underdog Inn

Chinatown Fodor's choice

Moodily lit and uniquely designed, this lively bar is a great choice for an evening drink. Choose from one of the whiskeys or agaves of the month, or from the regular cocktail menu, which offers a twist on the classics. There’s also a rotating menu of draft beers, and a specials board centered around nose-to-tail dining.

Acid Bar

Orchard

This bustling bar alongside Emerald Hill has been rocking for more than 15 years. It has a nice outside seating area—great for people-watching—and a cozy interior where live bands play every evening. The artists tend to be up-and-coming, so the music can sometimes be hit or miss, but it's a good place for a few drinks and dancing. It tends to be quite noisy, so don't come if you're looking for a quiet conversation.

Alley Bar

Orchard

Tucked between two heritage Peranakan shophouses on Emerald Hill, this low-key cocktail bar has atmospheric lanterns hanging from its ceiling and gold and copper decorations dotting its 15m-long brass bar. The excellent daily happy hour (5 pm to 8 pm) makes it a popular after-work haunt with locals. Prices are very reasonable given the Orchard Road locale. On Wednesday, women can enjoy free-flowing bubbly from 7 pm to 9 pm during the Singaporean tradition of Ladies Night.

Bar Stories

Kampong Glam

One of the first mixology bars in Singapore, this hole-in-the-wall still turns out some of the more surprising concoctions on the island. While there’s no formal menu—a bespoke cocktail is created based on your flavor profile—you can rest assured that your drink will be to your liking. Reservations are highly recommended as it is a small space. There's also a full food menu and omakase offering

Bitters and Love

Chinatown
A 19th-century shophouse in Chinatown is the perfect location for this speakeasy-like cocktail bar, where you'll have a one-of-a-kind experience. Tell the bartenders what you like, and they'll create a cocktail especially for you. There are also signature cocktails and bar bites available. Be sure to call for reservations in advance.

BluJaz Cafe

Kampong Glam

An institution of the Kampong Glam area and Singapore's live music scene, this lounge-bar fills three floors and has a spacious outdoor seating area. Known as a hub for stand-up comedy acts, live music (especially jazz), and international DJs, it always has a lively vibe. The bar menu is a mix of Eastern and Western dishes. The owners also own the nearby Mexican restaurant Piedra Niegra, on the corner of Beach Road and Haji Lane, and have a second outpost on Pekin Street. 

Bob’s Bar

Sentosa Island

Sentosa’s resident blue-and-green peafowls are regularly sighted at this unforgettable spot—the perfect place for sunset drinks. The cocktail menu is extensive with libations like the tropical rum-based Palawan Fizz and the gin and prosecco-based Pandan Spritz. To try something uniquely theirs, order a drink containing Navegante, a rum made exclusively for the bar. Time your session to coincide with the daily "Bosum’s Call" at 6 pm, when the staff hand out tasting portions of rum and canapes.

Brewerkz

Robertson Quay

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.

Brix

Orchard

Renowned for being one of the hottest nightlife destinations in Singapore, this hotel bar often has a line outside. Drinks are fairly standard—expect whiskey, wine, and beer—but the music is great, featuring everything from disco and soul to R&B and jazz. A live band usually begins playing around 10 pm each night, and the dance floor can get busy.

Cé La Vi Singapore

Marina Bay

At this stunning restaurant-bar 57 stories above ground, you can take in Singapore’s late-night vistas while vibing to resident and celeb DJs. To make a full night of it, you can start with a mod-Asian dinner at Cé La Vi Restaurant, before enjoying a tipple at the Skybar and then hitting the dance floor at the Club Lounge.

1 Bayfront Ave., Singapore, Singapore, 018971, Singapore
6508–2188

Chinese Theatre Circle

Chinatown

The Chinese Theatre Circle (CTC) is a nonprofit organization that's been cultivating an appreciation of Cantonese opera since 1981. Check out one of their dinner performances every Friday and Saturday night from 7 to 9 pm and gain some insight into this particular art form (translations are provided). For S$40, you can dine on a set Chinese dinner with special-brewed tea while you watch, or for S$25 you can simply sit back and enjoy the show. There are daily karaoke singing concerts held in the afternoons, as well. The Theatre Circle is set up along a stretch of Smith Street that transforms into a pedestrian zone nightly and brings to mind the hustle and bustle of the street hawkers from the 1970s.

D’Underground

Orchard

This bar-club is a popular spot among younger Singaporeans who come to play games and dance until 6 am. The bar has a range of nostalgic table games, including Crocodile Dentist, Penguin Trap, and Pirate Roulette, as well as a large area dedicated to beer pong. The free-flowing alcohol packages make it an affordable place to dance the night away, listening to live bands.

360 Orchard Rd., Singapore, Central Singapore, 238869, Singapore
6834–1221
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Mon.–Thurs. 7.30 pm–3 am, Fri. and Sat. 8 pm–5 am, closed Sun.

Foc Pim Pam

Orchard
This open-air watering hole near the top of Orchard Road is popular with locals looking for a gin and tonic or glass of wine before they head home. Although it's open from the late morning, it's generally only busy in the evenings, especially Friday night, when the happy hour runs from 3 pm to 9 pm. There's also a great range of Spanish finger food, from Padrón peppers to cheese platters.
442 Orchard Rd., Singapore, Central Singapore, 238879, Singapore
6100–4242
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.