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Singapore |
 Singapore Nightlife - Bars Clubs Nightlife Singapore.
Whenever I go to Singapore, my male colleagues are enthusing about yet another late night hotspot they have found .Last year it was Forbidden City in River Valley Road and the award winning Ministry of Sound on Clarke Key. This year it was Velvet Underground (the club for slightly older folk in the Zouk complex at Jiak Kim Street) and Insomnia at Fountain Court, Chijmes. From the look of them in the morning, the entertainment lives up to the expectations of these internationally well travelled gentlemen! It’s a long way from sipping Singapore Slings in the Long Bar at Raffles (although that has to be done as well).
When I first visited Singapore, not that many years ago, pretty much everything was shut by midnight. These days, while it might be difficult to keep hotel bars open much past 1am (though it can be done), at night Singapore parties down with the best of them transforming itself from the ever-so-efficient business city of the day. Yes, the Lion City has finally shrugged off its reputation as a ‘goodie two shoes’ state where the inhabitants don’t know how to have fun. |
 Getting round Singapore is pretty easy. Taxis are cheap (though you may have to wait a while late at night), making up for the not so cheap drinks. Most bars, though, have happy hours and many places offer Ladies Nights (usually Wednesday), offering finger food snacks and pub grub, European and/or Asian. The best nightspots are found in five main areas: Boat Quay and Clarke Quay "which you can’t beat for alfresco dining, Orchard Road, Mohammed Sultan Road, Zouk, and the Civic District "between them offering a full cultural and international mix of entertainment styles. So yes, you CAN have your pint of Guinness/Murphys at Molly Malone’s on Circular Road at Boat Quay or Father Flanagan’s Irish Pub in the charming, historical setting of Chijmes, City Hall. Chij (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus)mes is now a restored national heritage site thriving with pubs, restaurants and clubs and well worth a visit. The atmosphere in both are great, but personally I still don’t understand this male need to go Irish in Singapore. If pubs are your thing, though, Mohammed Sultan Road, a once forgotton back alley - is a veritable paradise of watering holes slightly more ‘local’ in flavour. Wong San’s, The Siam Supperclub and Day Bed Lounge are said to be some of the best. Incidentally, there aren’t that many gay clubs in Singapore, but I’m reliably informed that Sugar, in this area, is ‘hip’. |
 Clarke Quay is currently ‘the hottest’ area in town and though there are just too many places to mention here, great bars include The Clinic, Barfly and The Highlander. Look out for Dempsey Park, said to be a fast up and coming area. This used to be full of old antique showrooms, which have now made way for outdoor restaurants, bars etc.
For bars with great views of the City, the Equinox complex of the Swissotel The Stamford has got what it takes. The New Asia bar on levels 71/72 is the highest bar in Singapore offering excellent drinking, dining and the latest music spun by the house DJ. Above is the exclusive Club 72, offering stunning views, while below on level 70 is the intimate City Space lounge bar where, if you’re feeling flush you can enjoy Raffles private label Iranian caviar. For utter sophistication: the Post Bar at The Fullerton and The Bar & Billiard Room at Raffles. |
 When it comes to eating , Singapore is unbeatable, offering a true tapestry of flavours influenced by its multicultural heritage and everyone will have their personal favourites whether seafood, Indian, Chinese, Singaporean, or European. Choose from five star restaurants or (some would say for ‘real food’ late at night) there’s usually and Indian roti prata stall, hawker centre (Newton Circus buzzes all night) or coffee shop open somewhere. The chilli and black pepper crab at Long Beach seafood restaurant, East Coast Parkway is to die for; Sukhothai at Boat Quay has the best Thai food I’ve tasted; and head to Blue Ginger in Tanjong Pangar Road (wedding dress district) for the best in authentic Peranaken cuisine. You have to try Assam Puteh, a Peranaken version of the famous Thai Tom Yam seafood soup, simmered with tamarind juice flavoured with lemongrass and lime leaves.
And as for partying into the night, I’m not sure where my fellow visitors will be hanging out next year, but there are plenty of places to choose from. I might even get to join them. |
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