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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This outstanding mixology bar doubles as an award-winning restaurant where the cocktails are inspired by the food. There are two ways to experience it: the bar, which requires no reservations, or the restaurant, which does. Get a dinner reservation if you can so you can try the innovative cocktails with their excellent modern cooking.
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.
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
This avant-garde cocktail bar, a regular in Asia's 50 Best Bars, delivers a proudly Singaporean-influenced experience. Drawing inspiration from Singapore's progression from colony to independent metropolis, the extensive cocktail menu uses herbs, fruits, spices, and flora in concoctions that reflect Singapore's history in every sip. Accompanying nibbles are as experimental (and delicious).
This speakeasy-style bar serves exceptional cocktails, developed from both their large collection of boutique spirits from American distilleries, and from their homemade infusions and concoctions. There’s also a short selection of beers and wines, and a snack menu led by the renowned oyster happy hour.
