Singapore Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Singapore

  Singapore by Night

Nightlife in Singapore has come a long way since the colonial era, when Singapore Slings were the order of the day and everyone left their hats and canes with the cloakroom attendant…

It’s still worth tipping your hat to that bygone era with a ‘Sling down at Raffles Hotel – but only expect to have one before your wallet screams in pain! In reality, these days the city is home to an eclectic mix of nighttime haunts, that prove much better and cheaper.

Perhaps the best backpacking spot is along Mohamed Sultan Road, where locals and travelers alike congregate to dip in and out of the many smalltime bar/clubs. There can be a nominal entrance fee, although queues are non-existent due to the high number of joints.

Many choose to begin their evening with a meal or drinks in nearby Clarke Quay before heading up River Valley Road to dance the night away on Mohamed Sultan. A teeming, vibrant, and newly modernized area, Clarke Quay can suck you in for the duration…

Along the river lies Boat Quay (a bridge separating the two). A slightly dingier and cheaper sibling of Clarke Quay, it nonetheless is a great spot for a riverside, nighttime drink. And, this being Singapore, it’s hardly exactly dangerous or dirty.

The main advantage of hanging out in the Quays is their diversity. Whilst they may feature restaurants more prominently than nightclubs, head away from the river for just a couple of minutes and you hit a host of night-long haunts that cover everything from jazz to acid house.

Away from the Quays, Orchard Road’s variable nightlife really comes to sum up what Singapore is about. Some of the most expensive clubs in Asia can be found here, (along with the infamous Orchard Towers and an ‘exotic’ side much more common to the continent!)

Perhaps the best bet when looking for a spot around Orchard is to try the adjoining Emerald Hill (just behind center point), where wholesome and authentic bars sell chilled beer in an enjoyably sociable atmosphere.

Another side of Singapore can be experienced down on the east coast, where numerous bars offer cheap drinks and even cheaper meals to a boisterous, and predominantly local, crowd. Joo Chiat Road, the Dunman Market and the old Joo Chiat Police Station are particularly lively.

As with many of the Southeast Asian cities, Singapore ripples with energy after dark. Cruising around its many diverse districts on a steaming hot night, the sense of excitement is tangible. And very few visitors manage to resist its pull.

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