Drinks by the class in Singapore
Singapore has earned its nightlife stripes year after year. While it may not be as debaucherous as Miami or Ibiza, what it may lack in craziness it makes up for in class.
There are the big clubs like Zouk and Avalon for those who want to party into the early hours; but the growing array of microbreweries, rooftop and bespoke cocktail bars makes the nightlife unique.
Of course, as Asia’s business hub, these venues are also perfect for sealing that very important deal. One place to hit is N√©ktar, a cocktail bar with “bar chefs” ready to custom-craft a drink to your specifications, no matter how complex they are. Try their signatures like the N√©ktar Club amid a plush and chic setting that will certainly impress. Another great watering hole to visit is the ultra-modern Tippling Club located at Dempsey Hill. While you’re there, be sure to try its cocktail classics like the Rhum Diaries and Juniper Sling by award-winning mixologist Matthew Bax.
In the Central Business District (CBD), there are two gems to visit for that carefully concocted tipple. Martini lovers should drop in at Orgo, situated atop the Esplanade, for its impeccable specialities by renowned Japanese mixologist Tomoyuki Kitazoe. Then, there’s 28 Hong Kong Street, a reservation-required hotspot with a cult following of arty types, scenesters and chefs. While it might take an effort to find, thanks to the lack of signage, you’ll soon find that it’s well worth the search once you’re within its refined yet cosy space.
Innovative cocktails can also be found in the culturally rich Chinatown district, home to watering holes Drink Culture and Jigger & Pony. The former is a glamorous spot with an equally dazzling drinks list to match, while the latter is a charming and lively 70-seater which focuses on old school concoctions but also some updated classics.
If you are looking for a great sky dining experience, a good bet would be one of the many swanky rooftop bars, which offer picturesque views of the city. Rising above the rest is alfresco spot 1-Altitude, one of the highest in the world at 282 metres (63 storeys) above ground with unobstructed 360-degree views. Here, you can indulge in a drink as you take in a panoramic sweep of the CBD.
Ditto KU DÉ TA, located at Sands SkyPark at the Marina Bay Sands, for its private booths, spacious drinking patio and impressive view across the water. Its luxurious space, sophisticated vibe and first-class service is set to make you feel like a VIP.
Want to enjoy great scenery but not at such dizzying heights? Try Lantern, located on the seventh floor of The Fullerton Bay Hotel. Its elegant, Mediterranean-inspired space with panoramic views of the Marina Bay waterfront is inspiring, coupled with the occasional balmy sea breeze. Just next to the hotel you’ll find the conservation building of Customs House, home to modern Japanese bar Kinki on the second floor. Expect a groovy vibe here with its graffitied walls, cool drinks with an Asian twist and a beautiful crowd for people watching.
Nearby, Prelude atop the Fullerton Boathouse is also highly recommended for its wide variety of cool summer cocktails. Away from the bustling CBD district are Ying Yang and Loof. Styled like a modern resort and roosted atop boutique hotel The Club, Ying Yang offers a lively and upbeat vibe. It is a great place to unwind, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when it has resident DJs spinning.
Loof, on the other hand, is a quirky, timber-decked space surrounded by tropical vegetation, with a small pop-up store near the entrance selling old school knick-knacks and souvenirs. The localised food and drink menus are a refreshing alternative to the standard bar grub and tipples.
For those who relish ice-cold pints at the end of the day, the city is also replete with microbreweries and a myriad of craft beer options that provide drinking experiences as inspiring as any other. There’s LeVel33, officially the world’s highest urban craft-brewery in the penthouse of Marina Bay Financial Centre. Its small but excellent range of beers stays true to European brewing traditions. German beer fans should not miss Paulaner Br√§uhaus, a high-ceilinged, three-storey microbrewery that delights with its warm country-styled d√©cor and delectable Munich lagers. Or try some artisanal Japanese brews at JiBiru Japanese Craft Beer Bar, which has Hitachino Nest ales and Sapporo premium lagers on tap alongside guest beers from Shiga Kogen.
For riverside views and more great brews, head over to the Singapore River. Here, craft beer stalwart Brewerkz offers excellent standards like the golden ale and oatmeal stout, alongside interesting, experimental seasonals. Also check out RedDot BrewHouse, whose steel-structured glass roof lets you knock back unique brews like the spirulina-infused Monster Green Lager under the stars. At sQue Rotisserie & Alehouse, you’ll find a remarkable beer list of over 200 international beers from Belgium, Germany, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, India and more.
Game for the unexpected? Then be sure to check out The Good Beer Company, a hawker stall in Chinatown Complex that stocks over 50 different beers and ciders from countries like Taiwan and the US. Its impressive range of brews—some exclusive to the place—makes up for the not-so-posh location. And hey, it’s certainly a memorable experience pairing your beer with local hawker fare for a change. With such diverse drinking experiences available all over Singapore, you’ll be hard-pressed to find reasons to call it a day early.
Latest News
South Africa eyes affordable tourism to grow market
Australian tourists feeling the pinch from the cost-of-living crisis, might find an unlikely ally in South African Tourism in the future according to a panel at Africa’s Travel Indaba (ATI). With six out of ten young Africans failing to explore their own continent, despite constituting the largest demographic within the 1.3 billion-strong African population, the […]
ATIA applauds government’s fast-track passport announcement
Excellent news if you've ever experienced the sheer horror of realising you don't have a functioning passport.
DayAway names Aussie partners for luxury community based membership
Tired of dining with the riff raff? Get yourself a DayAway membership and slip into a life of luxury.
Silversea expands Nova Class with Silver Ray
Be prepared - this article has more silver than your local jewellers!
Tourism Tasmania CEO says a trip to Tassie could cure your Aurora Australis FOMO
With images like these - you're bound to regret being asleep during Australia's version of the northern lights.
Flight searches to Ho Chi Minh City skyrocket by 246% as city strengthens ties to Oz
We aren't endorsing ditching your work to look at flights to Ho Chi Minh but we're also not not endorsing it.
On Location: Rejoice! It’s Your Daily Wrap Of Africa’s Travel Indaba
Spare a moment to think about the cleaner who had to pick up all the confetti after this one kicked off.
Lack of budget spend will hit international visitor recovery, says Australian Tourism Industry Council
We've done the monotonous trawl through budget reports so you don't have to. You can thank us later!
On Location: Expedia CEO assures AI will not replace human roles, announces AI text assistant
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless its announced at a big conference, then it'll probably be reported.
VietJet walks away from Bonza investment, administrators look to maximise chance of survival
VietJet's making big plays in Australia but is drawing the line at buying a defunct airline.
Top four airports return to profit after post-Covid period comes to an end
If you feel like we just haven't spent enough of our lives talking about Covid, then boy is this the article for you!
COMO launches new family-sized farmhouse in the heart of Tuscany
COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched its new farmhouse apartments in the heart of Tuscany, just in time for Australians to escape our wet winter. And it’s also an ideal time for Aussies of Italian ancestry to explore their home country as 2024 has been declared the year of Roots and Heritage Tourism by the […]
Green light, green fuel for Townsville Airport as passenger numbers set to double to 3.7m
All things sounding positive for Townsville, apart from the fact its football team is playing like 10 year olds.
New Caledonia in lockdown and airport closed after violent riots rock Noumea
New Caledonia officials have announced a 6pm-6am curfew, a liquor ban and have closed the country’s main airport after overnight riots in which vehicles were torched and roads blocked in the wake of proposed constitutional reforms. Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued an alert informing visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in metropolitan […]
‘Appalling’: Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO describes gaming rules at sea after P&O death
Gambling reform policy makers are shocked at the news surrounding the passing of a guest onboard last week.
Sydney gets excited for Vivid at the city’s favourite entertainment venues
Get lit! Well maybe not the kiddies, but there is a heap of bright and colourful events on at Vivid Sydney 2024.
Novotel Cabramatta launch reveals the start of new hotel and F&B partnership
Brothers will offer hotels bang for their buck in Sydney's booming southwest.
Roots & Heritage Tourism in 2024 with Italian Tourist Board’s Emanuele Attanasio: Travel Weekly TV
Don't blame us if you're yearning for a carb-filled pasta lunch after watching this week's episode!
Aeronology accepted into Virtuoso network as travel-tech company continues to thrive
Aeronology's the new kid on the block making big waves and lucky for you, we're here to get you up to speed.
Qantas suspends flights to Shanghai due to low demand
Low demand prompts Qantas to drop its Sydney-Shanghai flights like a hot dumpling.
From Castle Hill to Paris, local wellness cosmetics brand makes good in world’s best hotels
The harsh glare of our monitors on the news desk have been relieved somewhat by this local brand done good...
Ponant’s $2500 flight credit reward for polar expeditions booked by ANZ travellers
Tap into your inner explorer an save a couple of $K on flights? The trade-off will be frozen fingers.
Portugal, Spain or Morocco? Here’s how to spend a European summer in 2024
Hit a festival in Spain, enjoy a Portuguese tart or take in the raw beauty of North Africa. This feature has it all!
Vietjet’s summer lucky draw event, plus business flights slashed in half
It's not even winter yet and Vietjet's already talking about summer. We certainly aren't judging them!
ERDI offers a path for hospitality leaders of the future, says hotel group CEO
Teaching the next gen in hospo how to serve drinks, take a restaurant order and hold a conversation - yep we're in!
Marketing costs double for tourism operators as Australia’s global footprint shrinks
Cost of living crisis? Forgeddaboutit! If you run a tourism business, your costs have doubled since Covid.
APT adds fourth ship to Travelmarvel fleet in Europe to meet demand
APT punches above its weight in European river cruising - let's see what its got when it comes to naming conventions.
Getting married? W Melbourne has three new packages perfect for the special day
The 'W' themed lights and settings are optional, we hope!
SKYE Suites gets behind Australian Fashion Week, partners with Shark Beauty
We were hoping to get a start at a fashion week event, but apparently our dress sense wasn't up to scratch...
Roadshow Vietnam focus on Ho Chi Minh City heads to Sydney and Melbourne
It's all happening tomorrow in Parramatta and we're sure you'll be able to find a good bahn mi somewhere.
NCL announces two new Aussie BDMs as cruising goes from strength to strength
Cruising may be getting stronger, but we want to know which new BDM is the strongest. We should arrange an arm wrestle.
Inspiring Vacations announces Josh Grocke to new partnerships role
We're sure the best partnerships come about over a long lunch, something Josh will certainly be looking forward to.
Dondra Ritzenthaler announced as Azamara’s new CEO
Dondra's got big news to celebrate, meanwhile we're celebrating a break in the rain today in Sydney.
TTC’s hosting a masterclass series for Aussie agents unlocking the secrets of its five brands
Become an agent of many hats with TTC's new masterclass series!
Dorsett Melbourne appoints new director of sales Maggie Wong
This top female team at the Dorsett Melbourne aims to take the hotel to new heights - even the lucky eighth floor.
Western Sydney Tourism unveils fresh board ahead of ’26 airport opening
'Connect-Stay-Experience', that's the Western Sydney's tourism taskforce's motto. We sort of prefer 'West Is Best'!