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Calling all night owls: feel right at home in Singapore, where the island is lit up from every angle in the evenings and the masses come out to play, whether it’s for food runs or drinks with friends, or even to hit up a late-night arcade!
Just the same as in cosmopolitan cities, like New York City, Singaporeans go to bed super late, with many people only finishing up work between 6 and 7 PM. This means dinner is usually only at 10 PM.
One of my best friends is Singaporean, and we have this running joke between us: I go to bed at like 8 PM, but wake up at 5 AM, whereas she’s the complete opposite, most nights only crawling into bed at 2 AM.
For those searching for the best nightlife in Singapore, dive straight into my list of the ultimate spots to be, from rooftop bars to nightclubs to iconic hawker centers, and even the world’s best venues!
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Bars
1. Mama Diam 妈妈店: Heritage-flavored drinks and vibes
Take a step back in time at Mama Diam 妈妈店, where feelings of nostalgia reign supreme — even if you’re not a Singaporean local!
Designed as a stereotypical speakeasy, where the entranceway is camouflaged (in this case, by a retro convenience store), it looks totally unassuming from the exterior! If walking by, you’d think it’s a typical Asian sweet/snack shop.
But behind the walls, a world of neon and cool cocktails awaits, many of which are inspired by residential flavors. For example, there’s a Nasi Lemak cocktail, which tastes exactly like, well, nasi lemak! Or try the Golden Barley, with notes of barley and wintermelon. I also love the Ong Lai, concocted with pineapple, Greek yoghurt, milk, barsol pisco, Advocaat, and salted butter-washed Veritas Rum.
Good to know: They do happy hour here, and close around midnight.
2. Nutmeg & Clove: Double award-winning
I have to start by mentioning Nutmeg & Clove’s accolades, making this next spot a no-brainer when it comes to hunting down the top nightlife in Singapore!
Not only did it come in 28th place among the World’s Best Bars, but it was also listed as number 24 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars!
Another spot that celebrates Singapore’s melting pot heritage, they dub their cocktails as “progressive,” but also offer the classics. They aim to show off the country’s interesting history through their drinks, inspired by craftsmanship, national holidays, and even people who left their mark on Singaporean culture.
I especially LOVE the way the drinks are served here: think stunning ceramics, cocktail glasses with little trinkets hanging off of them that correlate in some way to the story behind the cocktail, and illustrated cups completed by local artists.
One of my favorite drinks (and if you love espresso martinis, do yourself a favor) is the kopi coffee cocktail, infused with Guan Guan cold brew, Bacardi Ocho, Fino sherry, berry tea, and cherry brine, and topped with a whipped black sesame foam!
3. Nova: Rooftop bar on Level 63
Is Nova a bar? Is it a nightclub? Perched on the 63rd floor of Raffles Place, and directly above HighHouse, this rooftop bar describes itself as a “multisensorial escapade,” but also often has live DJs if you wanna shake your tail feather whilst Singapore literally twinkles below you!
Doors swing open at 6 PM, and either close at 1 or 3 AM, depending on which day of the week it is.
When it comes to the drinks list, there are signature cocktails, like Soi Sky (tom yum infused Ketel One, lemongrass, kaffir, galanga, Chinese parsley, chilli, and citric acid); rooftop classics (spritz vibes); and draft cocktails — which I think is epic! Try the Triple Lime Swing draft, comprising Roku gin, makrut triple lime cordial, ginger beer, and bitters.
Check their socials to gauge what’s happening on different days of the week, from groovy sunset sessions to AfterDark MTV 90s Throwback nights! How fun?
4. Jigger & Pony: Premium cocktails and classy vibes
Among the vibey nightlife in Singapore, Jigger & Pony is yet another bar making waves in the best bars universe! This time up, the trending bar takes home the title of World’s 5th best bar and wins third place among Asia’s 50 Best Bars!
So, what’s caused such a stir? Honestly…It’s all about the drinks, shaken to absolute perfection. And as one can imagine, they only use premium spirits here. Whilst I would prefer not to always spend extra cash on premium spirits, my hangovers are so severe that paying for good quality booze is much more worth it than the hangover that ensues when I’m drinking cheap stuff. So, this type of bar is right up my drinking alley!
A lot of their cocktails are classics, with a slight spin on them.
For example, a Gin Alexander here is called a Peanut Alexander, infused with salted peanut, fig, cacao liqueur, and cream. How delicious does that sound?! In the mood for something fresh? Order the Basil Smash.
5. Clarke Quay: A plethora of bars, clubs & live music spots
Whilst there’s lots to do around Clarke Quay during the daytime, this waterfront locale really shines come evening, and is a hotspot for nightlife in Singapore!
With bars, restaurants, and clubs all around you, one day is hardly enough time to get through even a quarter of the options around this riverside setting!
To make life easier, I’m listing a few of the must-visit bars with some seriously cool vibes. These include:
But it’s not only drinking holes you’ll find here; oh no. Clarke Quay is also home to nightclubs, such as Zouk. Then, there’s live music and entertainment venues, like Pulse and Level Up – Live Music & Arcade Bar.
6. Marina Bay: Fancy rooftops
Similar to Clarke Quay, there is loads happening when it comes to the nightlife in Singapore around the Marina Bay area.
Starting with one of the island’s most famous and sought-after attractions: the Garden Rhapsody lightshow, presented by Gardens by the Bay!
Moving on to the bars, rooftop options, and clubs, the Roxy bar is fab! Head to Le Noir for live music and cocktails. Dazzling rooftop bars (which around Marina Bay are all pretty upmarket, FYI) include Spago Bar & Lounge (by Wolfgang Puck), CÉ LA VI, and LeVeL33. If you love gambling here and there, the Marina Bay Sands Casino is here, too. It’s not my cup of tea, but we all have our preferences.
P.S. Around the corner from Marina Bay Sands is the iconic Raffles Hotel (where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented) and its famous bars. The Raffles area is home to excellent nightlife in Singapore, such as the Republic Bar (rooftop seating at the Ritz) and VUE rooftop bar.
Hawker Centres
7. The Chinatown Complex Food Centre: Biggest in SG
As I mentioned at the start, Singaporeans are night owls. Apart from all of the cool bars, trendy restaurants, clubs, and music venues, there’s one other place to be for nightlife in Singapore, and that’s the hawker centres!
Useful to know: In Singapore, a hawker center refers to a gigantic eating hall filled with street food-type vendors and stalls.
Home to incredible street food vendors and hawker stalls, the Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the city’s largest hawker center. But more importantly, it’s home of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred eatery: Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice Noodle (i.e., Hawker Chan).
Good luck trying to pick one place to eat…there are 260 stalls total! As an indecisive Libra, I always have to trust my senses on this one. Where is my nose pulling the most?
Travel tip: Another really popular hawker center in the Chinatown area is Maxwell Food Centre.
8. Lau Pa Sat: Open 24/7
I prefer the Lau Pa Sat hawker centre to all the rest, and it is one of Singapore’s most popular and well-known of the lot. If you ask a local about the best hawker center, chances are they’ll mention this one first.
Open for 24 hours a day (although stalls and vendors open and close at their desired times), it’s an excellent option for a late-night dinner run, or post-party chow!
Apart from its all-day, all-night hours, one of the biggest reasons tourists flock to Lau Pa Sat is for its famous Satay Street! Just outside the center on the road, rows of satay-selling vendors set up shop, offering all kinds of satay — one of Singapore’s most popular street foods!
That covers the nightlife in Singapore, but of course, there are daytime hours to consider. Food-wise, here is where to discover the best breakfast in Singapore, as well as a lovely list of the city’s best cafes!
How long do you plan on spending in the Lion City? If you’re planning a two-day trip, check out my Singapore itinerary for two days. Or, for those with longer time to spare, why not consider a day trip from Singapore?
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