Singapore nightlife spans a spectrum that ticks every travel bucket list. Expect to have nights where you track down a bar hidden behind a fridge, sip cocktails as the sunsets on a rooftop garden or charm your way onto the guest list of an exclusive club. And while schmoozing for a spot in the VIP booths might not always be your thing, you’ll want to get in on this one for the ferris wheel and three-storey slide. Unusual? Yes, in the BEST way! Alternatively, swap dance floors for ocean views and sandy toes with an evening at a Singapore beach club.
Sunsets and DJ sets
Ola Beach Club
Singapore nightlife is undoubtedly astronomical. But it can be hard leaving the laidback and sun-kissed shoreline behind and stepping straight into party mode. That’s where venues like Ola Beach Club come in. Segueing nicely from scorching days by the pool into sunset cocktails, this club’s the perfect place to eke out those last few hours on the sand. Start the night with Japanese Hyogo oysters and wine or arrive a little earlier to make the most of the Grey Goose cocktail package. Sipping ice-cold vodka from a cabana as the sun goes down is the ultimate intro to a night out in Singapore.
Rumours
Bringing a touch of island paradise to Singapore, Rumours breaks out the Bali big guns to make sunsets worth staying for. Balinese beds are to be expected – but a Jimbaran Bali barbecue? Well, we didn’t have that on our beach club bingo cards. This Siloso Beach hotspot gets pretty bustling – but with good reason. A no frills menu of pizza, salads and satay pairs oh so well with the no shoes no news beach stylings. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Singapore’s best restaurants tend towards the pricey and gourmet end of the market, so a slice and a shot of tequila could be just the thing you’re looking for.
Clubs
Marquee
Would you expect to find a ferris wheel and three–storey slide in a Singapore nightlife hotspot? Unlikely. Unlikelier still is the prospect for the slide toting club in question to be an uber exclusive A-lister hangout. But somehow Marquee makes it work. Fun photo-booths (complete with selfie light rings) and sets from big budget DJs secure Marquee the number one spot on everyone’s Singapore nightlife list. Steve Aoki, Tiesto, Kaskade and Afrojack regularly get the dancefloors of this Marina Bay Sands project jumping.
Cherry Discotheque
If the VIP vibes at Marquee aren’t for you, head underground to Cherry Discotheque. The decor hits all the right notes on the ‘futuristic diner’ shade card, with plush booths and neon signs brushing up against a street and grunge edge that keeps the club from tipping over into kitsch. Cherry’s fashion forward merch mixes playfully with their 80s and 90s nights, bringing yesterday’s music to a very hip crowd. Shots, beer jugs and jaegerbombs pair well with wings, popcorn chicken and fries. Though, there’s also a Moet, Grey Goose and Cristal menu that leaves you in no doubt that while Cherry Discotheque comes across as cheeky and casual, it’s making a play for Singapore’s wealthier clubbers.
Orbzii tip: Buying a piece of Cherry Discotheque merchandise gets you free entry into all of the club’s events.
Cocktails
Lantern
Rooftop bars reach dizzying heights in Singapore. So the modestly lofty, 6th floor terrace at Lantern is a welcome sight for vertigo sufferers everywhere. Luxurious and accented with enough greenery to take the urban edge off the steel skyline, the terrace overlooks Marina Bay. Arrive early enough and you’ll catch the orange-pink hues of a Singapore sunset.
The lengthy happy hour than runs from 11am-6pm is worth catching, too. Drop by a little later for twinkling city lights shimmering over the harbour. Cocktails are the star of the drinks menu – particularly Lantern’s Negroni recipes. Elsewhere, a solid selection of soft drinks and zero alcohol beers, wines and Seedlip spirits offers a touch more than the dreaded tonic and lime limitations you might experience elsewhere. Of course, no Singapore bar menu is complete without a strong Champagne list. Bottles start with a $178 Moet right through to the Dom Perignon at $798.
Orbzii tip: The views from the 6th floor of the Fullerton Bay Hotel draw a crowd. If you’re planning on pairing your cocktails and bubbles with a dinner, be sure to book a spot in advance.
The Dragon Chamber
Fair warning, The Dragon Chamber takes a bit of detective work to track down. Hidden behind a fridge in a street food stall on the Circular Road, the thrill of finding this bar doesn’t outweigh the reveal once you’re inside. Unconventional – and far more than a place to sip cocktails, The Dragon Chamber pairs Chinese-American fusion food with sake, shots, gins, beers and a cocktail menu that infuses yuzu and Earl Grey into some classic recipes. And the Dragon Claw itself? Well… on the food menu, that’s a crocodile foot served on a ring of fire. Braised in herbs (and rumoured to taste like chicken), it’s a menu option for fearless nightlife pioneers looking for something truly different in Singapore.
Orbzii tip: The street food stall is at the north end of Circular Road. If you reach Jidai Restaurant, double back and scout for that all-important fridge door.
Craft Beers
Red Dot Brewhouse
By now, you’ll have gathered that we’re not here to bring you the usual round up of Singapore nightlife options. Yes, you can pop to Raffles for a Singapore Sling, but don’t miss out on the beers at the Red Dot Brewhouse. Why? Well, you’ll want to taste their instagram hit – the emerald-tinted Monster Green Lager. But Red Dot is more than just a spirulina infused gimmick.
One of the few family-run breweries in Singapore, they aren’t afraid to test new brews and bring unique flavours to the bar. Its Summer Ale is a must for craft beer traditionalists, while the Sauvignon Ale piques your curiosity. Beer and wine yeast shouldn’t work, but this one brings enough tropical notes to see you ordering just one more pint.
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