2 Best Bars in Singapore

Background Illustration for Nightlife

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.

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.
Wine Bar Fodor's Choice
350 Orchard Rd., Singapore, 238868, Singapore
6733–1111

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Ginett Singapore

Kampong Glam

Drinking isn’t a cheap affair in Singapore unless you plan to guzzle beers at a hawker center, and sometimes not even then. That's exactly why Ginett deserves special mention for its extensive wine menu with affordable pours for both glasses and full bottles. There’s also a full (mainly French) food menu—items from the charcoal grill are recommended.