Best bars in Singapore
Singapore is not just a food capital but also a nightlife hub. Once the sun sets, expect to find world-class cocktail institutions, wine bistros, stunning rooftop bars and plenty more to satiate one’s thirst. The next time you’re looking for a place to TGIF, or when you want to catch up with friends over top-tier drinks, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best bars in Singapore.
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Table of Contents
1. Jigger & Pony
Image credit: Jigger & Pony
Jigger & Pony is no stranger to those who love a good drink. As one of Singapore’s OG cocktail bars, Jigger & Pony was instrumental in shaping the city’s cocktail culture in its early days. Since then, the bar has become a near-permanent fixture on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, with it coming out on top in 2022.
Image credit: Jigger & Pony
Jigger & Pony’s convivial atmosphere is matched by an equally fun cocktail menu, with drinks priced at $28++ each. Come by during happy hour, however, and you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of cocktails for just $19++. While the menu is dominated by house creations, you’ll also find a fair few classics—think Old Fashioneds, Negronis, and Sours.
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2. Nutmeg & Clove
Image credit: Nutmeg and Clove
Singapore has plenty of top-tier cocktail bars, but very few of these are pioneering a mod-Sin approach to cocktails the way Nutmeg & Clove is. Ranked number seven on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for 2023, Nutmeg & Clove’s cocktails menus are all love letters to Singaporean culture and history.
Image credit: Nutmeg and Clove
Currently, their menu centres around Singapore identities, with drinks that are an ode to famed local movie stars, singers, radio DJs, TV icons—think Phua Chu Kang—and chefs. Aside from being a fantastic spot to hang out on a Friday night, Nutmeg & Clove is also at the top of the list for spots we’d bring out-of-towners to.
3. Manhattan
Image credit: Manhattan
Another longtime presence on the Asia and World’s 50 Best Bars list is Manhattan, Regent Hotel’s crowning jewel. As with most speakeasy-style concepts, Manhattan pays homage to the prohibition era in America, but also New York’s golden age of cocktails.
Image credit: Manhattan
The space here is oh-so-comfortable, thanks to the soft lighting, plush banquettes and armchairs, as well as the snug private rooms that you can choose to book out if you’re hanging with the gang and want a bit of respite from the weekend night buzz. Come the weekend, Manhattan is also great for an adult-only champagne brunch.
4. Sago House
Image credit: Sago House
Sago House has become a Chinatown institution despite having only opened in 2020. Founded by industry veterans, the vibey bar offers a rotating menu of cocktails that change according to the week, depending on seasonal ingredients. This is accompanied by six classic options, and a food menu packed with comfort eats: think grilled sandwiches, mac and cheese and such.
Image credit: Sago House
Sago House is also a standout because the award-winning hospitality here goes above and beyond without feeling too stifling. Also, most of Sago House’s interiors are built by hand, by the founding team, with primarily upcycled materials. The result: a cool, comfortable space with a long U-shaped bar centrepiece where you can watch the maestros work, or smaller, more intimate booth seats where you can hang with your gang. Bookings are recommended.
5. Draft Land
Dubbed the 45th best bar in Asia, Draft Land is a famous Taiwanese bar lined with 20 taps that dispense cocktails in their concrete, minimalist space.
The drink menu sees a whopping 22 items ranging from $13+ to $20+. Some unique items are sure to catch your eye, including the Popcorn & Coke ($20+) made with bourbon, popcorn, salted caramel and more. Something that screams Asian would be their Oolong Tea Collins ($18+), which uses vodka and oolong as the base mixed with plum and osmanthus.
Read our Draft Land review.
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6. Verandah Pool Bar & Grill
Verandah Pool Bar & Grill at Momentus Hotel Alexandra is essentially a mini Bali in Singapore with a 25-metre-long infinity pool and floating tray packed with all sorts of drinks and bar bites.
We recommend taking a breather by the pool while enjoying one of their speciality handcrafted cocktails ($25++ per glass). Else, go big with The Verandah Sundown ($98++ for two) which comes with four alcoholic drinks and six bar bites. Do note that this is only available from 4pm to 10pm every day, and gives you access to the pool for two hours.
Read our Verandah Pool Bar & Grill review.
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7. Ume Maru
Run by the same team behind Ume San 100 is Ume Maru, a new Japanese bar at Far East Plaza that has been the talk of the town. What makes their concept unique is that the drinks are inspired by popular anime and manga.
Fans of Princess Mononoke must try the Light of Nara ($22++) cocktail which boasts a strong alcohol flavour mellowed down by muscut, nashi pear, and persimmon vinegar. There’s also the gorgeous Tiffany Sky ($22++) created with Land of the Lustrous in mind. You get sake, vodka, cucumber, sea salt, and orange liqueur in this one! We recommend pairing your drinks with Crudo ($18++), a bar bite comprising tuna, salmon, abd scallop sashimi.
Read our Ume Maru review.
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8. Daily Beer
Daily Beer has been around for a decade now ever since it was founded in 2014. This celebrity-recognsied fried chicken and craft beer restaurant has more than 370 outlets in Korea, and they recently opened the first branch in Singapore at 212 Telok Ayer Street.
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Out of the seven different craft beers on tap, we tried the popular Seoul Weizen ($14++) and K-Festbier ($14++). The former is a wheat beer with a smoother and milder profile, while the latter is a great balance of bittersweet flavours. Though slightly intense, you get a caramelly flavour that makes this drink addictive. It’s a must to enjoy your beer with the Angry Bird (from $27.90++): we got the regular crispy fried chicken and sweet garlic soy sauce, and I personally recommend the classic flavour.
Read our Daily Beer Review.
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9. No.5 Emerald Hill
Best known for their cocktails and martinis, the two-storey quaint No.5 Emerald Hill in Orchard serves up a lovely variety of Chinese dessert-inspired alcoholic beverages. Even better, they are a quick eight-minute walk from Somerset MRT Station.
Start with their Red Bean Martini (price TBD) which nails the bittersweet and fruity combination. This one’s mixed with flavoured soju, red bean ice cream, and a bit of watermelon. For something with slightly more alcoholic punch, get the popular Chendol Martini (price TBD). You have rum as the base along with chendol jelly and crushed iced to resemble the dessert.
Read our No.5 Emerald Hill review.
10. Tipsy Flamingo
When Tipsy Flamingo collaborated with the celebrity couple Pierre Png and Andrea De Cruz to open their poolside-themed bar at Raffles City in 2021, there was a lot of buzz around the vibrant, trendy addition to the CBD.
If you’re spending the night with a group of friends, we recommend getting their cocktail towers that you choose out of three flavours: Guapo Guava, White Sangria, and Johnnie Walker Lychee Coconut all priced at $78++ per tower. Having just the cocktails is no fun, so get a plate of their Moonlight Truffle Beef Hor Fun ($25++) deliciously charred with flat rice noodles, Wagyu striploin beef, and a poached egg.
Read our Tipsy Flamingo review.
11. Wanderlost
Wanderlost is a great place to bring your friends who can’t take alcohol as this Muslim-owned bar in Bugis offers fairy-tale-themed mocktails.
Served in a mini bathtub, The Ugly Duckling ($14++) is an interesting combination that actually works: mint, grenadine, lemon juice, pink guava, grape sparkling, and a distillate made with Ajwain, a type of herb commonly used in Indian fare. If floral-infused drinks are your thing, get The Alchmemist ($15++) featuring honey, kombucha, sour plum nectar, cinnamon distillate and more. This one’s said to be a crowd-favourite too!
Read our Wanderlost review.
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12. Atlas
Image credit: Atlas
If you’re looking for a bar to impress, whether it be for date night or to flex Singapore’s gems to a tourist friend, then Atlas is your best bet. By now, its stunning Art Deco interiors, champagne selection, and gin tower are world-renowned attractions, but you come for the decor and stay for the food and drinks.
Image credit: Atlas
The world’s largest gin collection finds a home at Atlas, so you’ll definitely find a good G&T here. Otherwise, pore over their wide range of house cocktails, spanning classic gin cocktails such as the martini and French 75, to their innovative, themed cocktail menu. This time around, their cocktail selection is a nod to Paris during the birth of the Art Deco movement. If you’re feeling peckish, the bar also doubles as a restaurant serving up elevated French bistro classics. Be sure to book in advance.
13. Junior The Pocket Bar
Image credit: Junior
Junior The Pocket Bar is the very definition of small but mighty. The space seats 25, living up to its pocket bar moniker, and is well-known for its rotating cocktail menu that changes every few months. Aside from their inventive cocktails, each edition of their drinks menu also casts a spotlight on spirits harder to come by in Singapore, from rare mezcals to rums. Previous menu themes were built around mezcal and tequila, alpine ski culture, the tiki bar movement, and New Orleans’ cocktail scene.
Image credit: Junior
Accompanying the cocktails are a lean handful of bites, which also tie into the menu’s overall theme. It’s not the kind of spot for a full-on dinner, but great for nibbles, or to satisfy a craving in between all the drinking.
14. Barbary Coast
Image credit: Barbary Coast
Get the best of both worlds at Barbary Coast, a double-concept cocktail bar along Boat Quay inspired by the San Franciscan gold rush circa the 1800s. Housed within three historic shophouses, the two-storey establishment is divided into Deadfall, a casual, fuss-free dive bar with affordable, flat-priced cocktails and pub fare.
Image credit: Barbary Coast
For a more elevated vibe, head upstairs to the Barbary Coast Ballroom, an opulent space with private booths, crafted cocktails, and picture-perfect charcuterie boards lined with house-cured meats, cheeses, and the like. It gets pretty packed on Friday and Saturday nights, when the bars both run till 3am.
15. Platform
Image credit: @platform.sg
If you’re someone who takes your coffee seriously, you’d probably know of Platform, the Amoy Street bar known for their seasonal range of filtered coffees, served amidst clean, minimalist interiors that set one immediately at ease. They’re also a cocktail bar with a selection of low and no-ABV drinks, as well as crafted cocktails, priced from $24++. The latter is inspired by flowers, where each drink is light, floral, and refreshing in their own distinct ways—excellent to cool off with after a long day circling the busy CBD.
Image credit: @platform.sg
Aside from tipples, the bar also has a range of sharing plates and plated desserts if you’d like to have a meal here. The dishes are all Italian fare and come from their neighbouring restaurant, Santi’s.
16. Rebel Rebel
Image credit: Rebel Rebel
Singapore has a fair few bars specialising in wines from boutique winemakers, and Rebel Rebel is one such institution. Like the song the bar gets its name from, Rebel Rebel’s wine list is equal measures fun and provocative, with quite the selection of grower—read: artisan—champagne and skin contact, AKA orange, wines.
Image credit: Rebel Rebel
Aside from their vino selection, Rebel Rebel also has a menu focused on nose-to-tail cooking. The minimal-waste dining concept maximises all the ingredients each dish is built upon without skimping on flavour. A handful of the dishes here have a distinct fusion flair, think Wagyu Tartare ($26++) paired with yuzu hot sauce and Amberjack Crudo ($26++) with osmanthus and wakame oil.
17. Native
Image credit: Native
Another one of Singapore’s cocktail darlings is Native, an Asia’s 50 Best Bars regular, as well as one of the early champions of cocktails made with locally sourced, as well as foraged, ingredients, regional produce, and spirits. The cocktails here are as creative as they are sustainable and are all zero waste. You won’t find the classics here. Instead, it’s all about bevvies that embrace quintessential Asian flavours, from sour plum to kaffir lime.
Image credit: Native
Aside from cocktails, Native also has a comfort food menu, with a concise range of Southeast Asian-inspired dishes: think moringa fries to nasi bakar.
18. Analogue Initiative
Image credit: Analogue Initiative
Analogue Initiative is Native’s sibling concept, and stretches the OG’s menu and its sustainable focus beyond its Asian roots. Step into Analogue Initiative and you’re greeted by a stunning bar entirely 3D printed from recycled plastic bottles. Settle in, and get excited by the experimental, low-carbon impact menu. The cocktails, as expected, are excellent, and as accommodating as they are to drinkers as they are to teetotallers, thanks to the equal amount of no-ABV drinks on the menu.
Image credit: Analogue Initiative
Analogue is also the type of spot you’ll want to stay at for dinner. The menu is all plant-based but no less full-flavoured. Even if you’re there for drinks and small bites, the plant-based Nuggetz ($18++) with the addition of their Curry Crack Sauce ($3++) are a must.
19. No Sleep Club
Image credit: No Sleep Club
Another one of Asia’s 50 Best names is No Sleep Club, run by two cocktail industry veterans. It is also about elevating the neighbourhood bar experience here—one gets creative cocktails best enjoyed with their dinner menu, which offers dishes that feed the soul.
Image credit: No Sleep Club
Aside from their cocktails, No Sleep Club also has quite a range of natural wines. Come by on Sunday, when the joint is open from 12pm, to enjoy a bit of a boozy brunch. Book ahead to long wait times.
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20. Praelum Wine Bistro
Image credit: Praelum
Praelum always has a buzz going for it, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The long-standing wine bar along Duxton Hill is perfect for dinner, drinks, or the two, especially if you’re dining in smaller groups. The food menu is predominantly French, though the wine selection branches outwards to offer quite the varied tour around wine regions large and small.
Image credit: Praelum
Prices start at $21++ per glass, though we’d recommend getting their random flights of three or five glasses, from $58++. The resident somm will have a bit of a Q&A with you to find out your preferences and curate a selection.
21. Wine RVLT
Image credit: @winervlt
For a wine bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you have to head down to Clarke Quay’s Wine RVLT. The progressive wine bar spotlights smaller, boutique producers from across the world, so if you’re lost in the sauce when picking a bottle, let the somm take the reins.
Image credit: @winervlt
Come hungry, if possible, so you can enjoy Wine RVLT’s equally comforting food menu, which includes bites such as Parmesan Churros ($18++) and Cod Fish Otah Fritters ($16++), or big plates of their Lobster XO Pasta ($48++) and Chinese Chives & Feta Cheese Ravioli ($36++).
22. Shin Gi Tai
Image credit: Shin Gi Tai
In a city where new establishments come and go, one of the pioneering cocktail bars in Singapore, Shin Gi Tai, has remained a fixture. The Telok Ayer speakeasy is all about Japanese-style cocktails and small bites, served amidst the bar’s cosy premises.
Image credit: @gluggony
While you can have your cocktails omakase here, we also suggest you pore over their concise list of classic cocktails, and grab yourself their Negroni, if you’re a fan. The simple cocktail is executed perfectly here, with hand-carved ice to finish. Japanese whisky fans can also expect an impressive line-up here.
23. Employees Only
Image credit: Employees Only
Employees Only is something of a legend in New York, and its Singapore outpost is well on its way to attaining similar status. This speakeasy is parked under a non-descript neon sign that reads “Psychic”. Once past the doors, you’re greeted by a plush haven split into a long bar area and a dining room, both of which tend to get very buzzy on a weekend.
Image credit: Employees Only
On the cocktail side of things, you get all the EO classics you’d find in the OG New York bar here, as well as some Singapore signatures. If you’re doing drinks and food, the dinner menu stars all American classics and some decadent additions.
24. Republic
Image credit: Republic
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is home to the gorgeous Republic bar, which tips its hat to the glamour and panache of the swinging ‘60s. The spacious lounge-style bar is a beautiful sight and is great for dates or intimate gatherings.
Image credit: Republic
The drinks here are equally impressive—the bar debuted at number 12 on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list shortly after it opened, and it continues to hold its spot on the list today. The extensive house-made cocktail menus are all themed around cultural events in the ‘60s, which share menu space with an awe-inducing line-up of vintage spirits sourced from around the world.
25. Live Twice
Image credit: Live Twice
Ginza’s polished bars have a very distinct vibe of their own, and with Live Twice, you can now enjoy that energy on home soil. The bar is founded by the same folks behind Jigger & Pony, and offers a fuss-free approach to cocktails. The Japanese approach to minimalism manifests in all the drinks here—it is all about letting the combination of simple, premium ingredients shine at Live Twice.
Image credit: Live Twice
Seasonal specials and an equally lengthy list of spirits are also available, alongside their permanent cocktail line-up. Live Twice is also great for food; they’re one of the earlier pioneers of the sando trend in Singapore, and their Wagyu Katsu Sando ($44++) remains a crowd fave. Note that this bar is cashless.
26. 28 HongKong Street
Image credit: 28 HongKong Street
28 HongKong Street has made an indelible mark on Singapore’s cocktail industry. The longstanding speakeasy along Boat Quay is hidden behind a nondescript panelled door at the address, belying its plush, moody confines.
Image credit: 28 HongKong Street
The drinks menu is split into Future Classics, 26HKS Classics, and Classics Classics. The first is defined by experimental cocktails from the team, the second refers to the bar’s time-tested crowd faves, while the third is all about the true-blue signatures. The bar is also a great place for elevated comfort food, with nibbles such as mac and cheese, chips and dip and the like on the menu.
27. Stay Gold Flamingo
Image credit: Stay Gold Flamingo
The dual-concept cafe and cocktail bar, Stay Gold Flamingo, is run by two veterans of the Singaporean cocktail industry. American and Japanese cocktail-making and bartending enjoy a happy merger at this dynamic space, so clean, balanced flavours executed well form the backbone of their cocktail menu, along with some experimental classics.
Image credit: Stay Gold Flamingo
Don’t shortchange yourself of their bar bites, which comprise a range of Asian comfort food. The Fried Oysters ($20++) are especially popular.
28. Mixology Salon
Image credit: Mixology Salon
Mixology Salon will be a familiar name to anyone who has been to Tokyo—the award-winning Ginza establishment is known for their expert bartending and array of tea-based cocktails. There’s no longer a need to board the plane to get to try out Mixology Salon’s menu, as the bar has since opened a local outpost in InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay.
Image credit: Mixology Salon
All the cocktails here are made with tea infusions, with leaves grown and sourced from some of the most notable plantations in Japan, Taiwan, and beyond. The space—all clean lines, dark wood, and a long marble counter—is also very comfortable if you’re looking for a spot to have a nightcap with a date.
29. Long Bar
Image credit: Long Bar
Long Bar has built its reputation as the home of The Original Singapore Sling ($39++), so it’s definitely the place to go to if you’d like to have the local cocktail done right. Housed in the iconic Raffles Hotel, Long Bar is definitely quite the tourist attraction, but that doesn’t mean it is any less good. Swing by, grab a Sling, and enjoy it with the bag of salty peanuts.
Image credit: Long Bar
The nuts are served with the shell on, and guests are encouraged to crack ‘em and toss the shells on the ground for the fun of it. If you’re not big on the Sling, don’t sweat it, as Long Bar has a variety of other classic cocktails for your perusal.
30. Fool
Image credit: Fool
Celebrated chef Rishi Naleendra is behind some of Singapore’s best restaurants, but Fool has extended his influence to the bar scene. The Bib Gourmand wine bistro in Chinatown is all about championing unpretentious drinking and fuss-free fare.
Image credit: Fool
Expect the dishes to sport Naleendra’s signature plays with Australian and Sri Lankan flavours, and a wine list that spotlights small producers. The establishment is open for lunch and dinner, with sets that start at $48++ for the former.
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31. Vin Geek
If going to a wine bar is always an exercise of being spoilt for choice for you, then give Vin Geek a shot. The Pacific Plaza wine bar is quite the hidden gem, offering diners a line-up of DIY wines that you can dispense tasting portions from for cheap. With 24 bottles you can enjoy samples of, you’ll be able to taste your way through whatever tickles your fancy before committing to a full pour.
The wine bar also has quite the classic bistro menu, with pasta, steaks, and desserts to enjoy alongside your vino. Given its offbeat location, it never gets too crowded, which is ideal for a slow weekend lunch.
Read our Vin Geek review.
32. Common Man Night Shift
Common Man Night Shift is one of the best bars for natural wines in Singapore. The selection of organic and biodynamic bottlings here boggles the mind—there’s always something fun and new to try, meticulously sourced and curated by the folks behind the retailer and former bar, Drunken Farmer. Aside from the wines, the bar also serves up delicious fusion Italian fare, including their popular sourdough pizzas.
They also regularly hold masterclasses if you’d like to up your wine education game. Those thinking of buying bottles home will also be happy to know that that Drunken Farmer has an e-store that does same-day deliveries.
Read our Common Man Night Shift review.
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33. Smoke & Mirrors
Image credit: Smoke & Mirrors
For a rooftop bar that delivers cocktails as good as its view, you’ll want to pop by Smoke & Mirrors. The National Gallery destination has stunning views of the Singapore skyline and the City Hall area, best enjoyed with a pick or two from their ever-evolving cocktail menu.
Image credit: Smoke & Mirrors
The current iteration pays homage to traditional and contemporary arts, with 12 different drinks to choose from. Though Smoke & Mirrors doesn’t do full-on meals, their bar bites selection has nibbles aplenty, from smaller crisps to more substantial 8-inch pizzas to share.
10 Best Rooftop Bars In Singapore For Beers And Cocktails With A View
34. SKAI Bar
Another rooftop bar we have a soft spot for is SKAI Bar, housed on the 70th floor of Swissôtel The Stamford. You get panoramic views of City Hall and beyond here—especially beautiful at sunset. While they market themselves as a wine bar, their cocktail menu is also of note, packed with remixed classics and some all-time favourites, like the Negroni and Espresso Martini.
Image credit: @skai.bar
If you’re looking to make the most of your time at SKAI Bar, it is worth noting that the bar shares space with a restaurant that does lunch, dinner, and brunch. P.S.: It’s great for special occasions and dates.
35. Gibson
Image credit: Gibson
Another Jigger & Pony Group destination is Gibson, a regular name on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. This Chinatown bar has been going strong for years. Nestled on the second floor of a heritage shophouse, the bar lives up to its name by offering a wide range of classic cocktails, albeit with an Asian twist.
Image credit: Gibson
Their multi-dimensional cocktails go toe-to-toe with an ala carte food menu of snacks and small plates anchored by fresh seafood. The Lobster Roll ($35++) here is a must if you’re hungry; you get a buttery roll topped with chunks of sweet lobster, dressed simply in a yuzu mayonnaise.
The best bars in Singapore to grab a drink at
You’ll never be caught thirsty again with our guide to some of the best bars in Singapore. For more recommendations for the top places to dine at in our city, check out our guides to the best hawker centres and the best cafes in Singapore.
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