Listen up, party people! Get your drink on and brace yourselves for all the good vibes you can handle with Singapore’s celebrated and innovative bars! From home-grown ingredients to the rarest and celebrated spirits from different parts of the world, the Singaporean bar drinking scene never fails to disappoint. Whether you want your beloved drinks accompanied by a majestic view, an exquisite meal, a tranquil ambience or a good conversationalist, expect to find your fancy in the local bars all over the city. With a multitude of award-winning and internationally recognized bars, Singapore might just have the strongest contenders for the best bars in the planet. So, here are 10 of the Top 50 bars in Singapore to look out for your next shindig. Cheers!
Manhattan
Catch a glimpse of the Big Apple’s vintage fine drinking scene by stepping into Manhattan, a classy New York-inspired bar housed inside the glamourous Regent Hotel. Recently recognized as one of Asia’s and the World’s Best Bars, Manhattan certainly lives up to all the accolades it’s been given. Made from homegrown ingredients and in-hotel rickhouse, this esteemed bar boasts of its selection of gourmet food offerings and cocktails meticulously hand-crafted by Manhattan’s passionate and convivial team of bartenders.
Aficionados with exquisite taste for whiskey will be charmed to know that Manhattan is home to more than 200 bottles of the finest and rarest whiskies from USA. The Whiskey Glasshouse has become one of Manhattan’s main showstoppers, a precious gem that has catapulted Manhattan to be branded as one of the best in the world. At Manhattan, experience the famous Violet hour, where your beloved drinks are served with the blockbuster in-house pastrami – the best way to spend the wee hours approaching dusk where the sky turns into a vibrant sheet of violet. If you are feeling a little adventurous, indulge in Manhattan’s Adults-Only Sunday Cocktail Brunch, the perfect choice to spice up anyone’s Sunday afternoon. With free-flowing DIY cocktails, sophisticated bar dishes and a touch of Golden Age setting, prepare to be transported into another place and time with every glass of world-class concoctions.
Location:
Regent Singapore
1 Cuscaden Rd
Singapore 249715
Contact:
Tel.: +65 6725 3377
Email: manhattan@regentsingapore.com.sg
Opening Hours:
5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Sun-Thur)
5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Fri-Sat)
Last order for food on Sun - 9.30 pm
Sunday Cocktail Brunch: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Violet Hour: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Weekdays)
The Tippling Club
Thinking of experimenting and trying out new ideas? Chef Ryan Clift’s Tippling Club might be a bar worth visiting. The place was thought up with avant-garde in mind, testing out unique, innovative ideas in Singapore’s bar and cocktail scene. Tippling Club’s main attraction is their selection of fun, innovative food and cocktails. Included in Asia’s 50 Best Bars of 2017, Tippling Club offers patrons with unique cocktail creations based on a central theme – their newest offering is their Perfume menu, which stimulated not only your taste buds but your olfactory glands as well.
Developed in partnership with the International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), the Tippling Club’s Perfume menu contains stimulating cocktails such as Oud & Lust, Cream of Sandalwood, and my personal favourite, the Bloody Cologne. Every single item brings a unique scent and taste that is sure to delight patrons. Their previous menu, Dreams & Desires, which was a literal edible menu where you can sample their drinks with gummy bears was another testament to the fun, innovative ideas that Tippling Club brings to the table. Food selections are also artistically delivered to customers.
Not only are the dishes carefully prepared and plated by their creative, experienced chefs, each dish is a surefire delight to your taste buds. Their five-course tasting menu is sure to surprise even the most experienced food critics. Located at Tanjong Pagar Road, Tippling Club is not just a bar but also a special experience you surely wouldn’t want to miss.
Location:
38 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088461
Contact:
+65 6475 2217
enquiries@tipplingclub.com
Opening Hours:
Lunch: Monday to Friday, 12 nn - 3 pm
Dinner: Monday to Saturday, 6 pm - late
Bar: Monday to Friday, 12 nn - 12 mn
Saturday, 6 pm - 12 mn
Spiffy Dapper
The Spiffy Dapper isn’t one to mince words for the sake of politeness. Dropping by their website will tell you exactly what you’re getting by visiting this (in their own words) half-decent space with a truckload of booze. This might scare some people, but in reality, The Spiffy Dapper is one of the most well-regarded bars in Singapore, with its unpretentious, straightforward philosophy. Located at the lively nightlife district of Boat Quay, the Spiffy Dapper tells you directly that their drinks are “probably crap, but that they should start to taste great once you’ve had five drinks” – while it doesn’t sound particularly inviting, but it sparks curiosity and got me visiting one Friday night. After my visit, I can assure you one thing: they lied. Their drinks are some of the best I’ve had in Singapore!
One thing you should know before coming, The Spiffy Dapper has no menu. Instead, you can tell the barkeep your favourite cocktails, or give him/her a list of spirits you like, and he/she will whip out a delicious alcoholic mix that is sure to get you satisfied and maybe drunk with contentment. This unassuming, speakeasy bar is frankly a breath of fresh air in Singapore’s bar scene. If you’re interested in getting drunk at The Spiffy Dapper, be warned – the place is pretty hard to find. Look for a sign for a quaint little coffee shop at Boat Quay called Dapper Coffee. At the 2nd floor, you’ll find a chill, relaxing spot for great coffee in the morning, but this transforms into one of the best speakeasy bars in Singapore at night.
Location:
73 Amoy Street, Second Floor
Singapore 069892
Contact:
+65 8742 8908
https://spiffydapper.com/contact/
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 5 pm till late
Saturdays and Sundays: 6 pm till late
Spago Bar and Lounge at Marina Bay Sands
Want to enjoy unrivaled blends with the best views in town? Then, atop of the glorious Marina Bay Sands is your best bet — there’s no question about that. Make your experience even more special with mouthwatering bar bites and dishes from award-winning celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck at the Michelin-starred Spago Bar and Lounge at the 57th floor. While sophisticated rooftop bars may have a reputation of being snobby, Spago Bar and Lounge will make your inhibitions dissolve into thin air.
Walking into the bar, you will be welcomed by friendly staff who will usher you to your tables. You can even ask to be seated at the bar or at the lounge, whatever fits your liking. The staff also know their menu by heart and are always willing to offer helpful recommendations. The ambience is so heartwarming with vast windows all around, welcoming the sunshine into the place with open arms. Bask in the splendour of Singapore’s skyline and the world-famous Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool with Spago’s artisanal drinks and spirits at your fingertips. Don’t pass up on the Big Eye Tuna Tartare Cones, their in-house specialty that will surely bring a smile on anyone’s face. With breathtaking views, on-point service, world-class menu, elegant cocktails and spirits, Spago Bar and Lounge have definitely perfected the formula for the ultimate bar and dining experience.
Location:
L57, Sands SkyPark, Hotel Tower 2
Nearest carpark: Central (Orange Zone)
Contact:
Tel.: +65 6688 9955
Operating Hours:
Daily: 7 am – late
Breakfast buffet: 7 am – 10.30 am (Daily)
Lunch: 12 pm – 2.30 pm (Daily)
Bites: 12 pm – late (Daily)
Drinks: 7 am - late (Daily)
Smoke and Mirrors
Set at the top of National Gallery Singapore, marvel at Singapore’s skyscrapers with your favourite drink in hand. At Smoke and Mirrors’ alfresco area, you get a magnificent panoramic of view of the and dazzling Marina Bay. Taste the magic of artfully concocted classic cocktails with Smoke and Mirror’s “Illusion of Flavors”. Pioneered by head bartender Jorge Conde, the “Illusion of Flavors” was birthed by the fusion of attention to detail and the quest for novel and stirring flavours. Jorge’s almost two decades of bartending experience in Europe and his history as a graphic designer has moved and prepared him to create a series of cocktails inspired by classical artists such as Dali, van Gogh and Picasso. Despite being handed the hefty baton of succeeding former Head Bartender Yugnes Susela, Jorge’s selection of new cocktails looks poised to live up to high expectations.
The Illusion of Flavours menu is divided into six distinct categories – Fizzy and Elegant, Sour and Neat, Long and Refreshing, Strong and Neat, Fruity and Punchy and Savoury and Umami – each with their own unique tastes and themes. A great first drink is The Heart of Vincent, inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous quote: “The heart of a man is very much like the seas. It has storms, it has its tides, and, in its depths, it has its pearls too.” An agave-based mixture, the drink contains hints of sea salt and pickled purslane giving it an acidic and savoury flavour that excites your taste buds. Appropriately named Picasso’s Pencil is another drink you should experience firsthand. Mixing sherry wine, apple vinegar and distilled pencil wood creates an unusual progression of aroma and flavours that starts with woody, acidic musk and ends with a fruity, oaky taste. Specially crafted to tease the senses, every cocktail masterpiece at Smoke and Mirrors tells a story of unwavering technique and passion that brings a magical experience at every sip.
Location:
#06-01 National Gallery Singapore
1 St. Andrew’s Road Singapore 178957
Contact:
Tel: +65 9380 6313
Email: reserve@smokeandmirrors.com.sg
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 3 PM
Sat, Sun, Eve of; Day of PH: 12 PM
Loof
One can never get enough of rooftop bars and even though Loof isn’t perched atop a skyscraper nor an iconic landmark, Loof has earned a reputation of being one of the must-go rooftop bars in Singapore. Refreshingly surrounded by a lush urban garden at the top of a three-floor building in the heart of the city, this quintessential haven boasts of their mix of articulately crafted cocktails that are inspired by the different regions of Southeast Asia. From the bar’s name itself, you can already catch a hint of playfulness as Loof’s name is derived from how Singaporeans pronounce ‘roof’—a fun and quirky way of embracing the local culture. As advocates of celebrating local culture, Loof’s delectable bar specials are heartily prepared by local talented chefs and mixologists and brought to your table by the ever-welcoming wait staff.
As Singapore’s first-ever standalone rooftop bar, Loof brings a whole new level of happiness into our beloved ‘happy hours’. At Loof’s happy hours, specialty cocktails and crafted beers are available at reasonable prices and attract a lot of young and vibrant crowds. Pair up your exciting drinks with Loof’s famous Chili Crab Waffle Fries and Original Ramly Burger for a gastronomic experience that will surely “raise the loof!”. If you are looking for the perfect place to chill out with friends or cap a hard day’s night at downtown CBD, Loof will definitely make anyone say “I’m glad I came up here!”.
Location:
331 North Bridge Road
#03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop
(Opposite Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade)
Singapore 188720
Contact:
Tel.: +65 6337 9416
Email: loof@loof.com.sg
Opening Hours:
Sunday – Thursday: 5 pm – 1 am (Last call for drinks at midnight)
Friday – Saturday: 5 pm – 2 am (Last call for drinks at 1 am)
Employees Only
Employees Only trace its roots back in New York City where five bar industry enthusiasts shared the same vision to bring impeccably concocted cocktails and high-end dining experience in a hospitable space seething with an enigmatic and cool vibe. Since opening its doors in America fifteen years ago, Employees Only has received recognition from the bar community all over the world and even made it to the Drinks International’s “World’s 50 Best Bars” list for eight consecutive times and eventually bagging the "Legends of the List" award in 2016. This award-winning bar definitely deserves a spot in the hall of fame of top-rated bars, if there is one.
Since 2016, Employees Only has graced the city of Singapore with its presence and it has been nothing but astounding. With a touch of the New American fare, this chill bistro at Amoy Street is bursting with the mysterious yet convivial ambience that makes it the best place to have a really good time. At Employees Only, you will also find a good conversationalist behind the counter, as the bartenders are very engaging you will feel like you have already been friends for a long time. Most importantly, the crowd at this bar never disappoints as everyone is always ready to have fun, all thanks to the on-point music and booze-infused classics. The next time you want to enjoy the night away, grab an invigorating Ginger Smash at Employees only and drink to your heart’s content.
Location:
112 Amoy St
Singapore, 069932
Contact:
Tel: 6221 7357
Opening Hours:
Daily 5:00 pm - 1:00 am
The Other Room
Spirits aged in oak barrels then transferred into another barrel that had formerly stored and aged an entirely different liquid are famously termed as “finished drinks”. Following the footsteps of the renowned David Stewart, the discoverer of the celebrated aged barrel drinks, Dario Knox, the founder and owner of The Other Room have added a modern twist on the conventional cask-finishing technique and has brought it to Singapore in a whole new level. The Other Room houses more than 300 “finished drinks” and is truly one-of-its-kind in the world.
This bar is a hidden gem behind an unmarked door inside the stylish Marriot Tang Plaza Hotel, that finding it and walking through its doors are part of the overall experience. It’s like a grownup version of our beloved treasure-hunt games. And surely, at the end of the search, treasure you will find. Inside The Other Room, you will be welcomed by barrels of your favourite classics, adorned with matching interior hues highlighted by the glistening caramel-coloured cask-finished drinks on the shelves behind the bar. To add to the theatrics, the smoke-infused drinks are sure to mesmerize your senses. Every Thursday night, the ladies are in for a treat and are welcome to shuck the freshest oysters in town with their “Shuck all Night” specials that comes along with the drinks. The world is your oyster, after all. Want a booster after your all-day shopping at Orchard? Or looking for a relaxing new place to catch-up with friends or even go on a date? Come find the door to The Other Room for a hidden bliss waiting to be discovered.
Location:
Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road #01-05, Singapore 238865
Contact:
Tel.: +65 6100 7778
reservations@theotherroom.com.sg
Opening Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 6 pm to 3 am
Friday - Sunday: 6 pm to 4 am
D.Bespoke
True to its namesake, D.Bespoke is home to intricately crafted mixtures that are specifically tailored to an individual’s personal taste and partialities. The D in the name is the initial of the first name of its visionary founder and sole bartender Daiki Kanetaka. By sole bartender it means that literally every drink served to each customer is perfectly crafted only by Daiki alone—which speaks volumes about his consistency and dedication to the art of mixology.
If you’re wondering how the drinks are suited to each person’s preferences, for starters, the bar doesn’t have a menu. Simply utter whatever fits your fancy to the hospitable staff, and they will gladly write it down and pass to Daiki Kanetaka to create your personalized drink. Whether you want your drink sweet, sour, bitter, strong or umami tasting, just say the words and the boss bartender will whip up an unforgettable drink to satisfy your cravings. And yes, as you might have guessed, the drinks are not cheap but definitely worth every penny. The cocktails are so divine you might even end up ordering more than one drink. Did I mention that D.Bespoke is also as classy as classy gets? At the bar, you will be seated in robust brown leather armchairs and coupled with elaborate high-end interiors, gallery and glassware, this place is the perfect fit for every gentleman and lady.
Location:
2 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089816
Contact:
Tel.: +65 8141 5741
reservations@dbespoke.sg
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 6 pm - 1 am (Last order at 12:30 am)
Friday & Saturday: 6 pm - 2 am (Last order at 1:30 am)
Closed on Sunday
Native
As you might have probably guessed, Native is grounded on embracing native, organic produce. For the tribe of purveyors of Native, transforming our well-loved locally grown ingredients into a world-class work of art is a way of life. And speaking of home-grown, Native stays true to its philosophy by having their distillery in-house. Equipped with state-of-the-art apparatuses, think of a laboratory for the possibly the best drinks you will ever have! In this charmed little corner of the world is where the magic happens and where the delightfully innovative Native cocktail recipes are perfected.
Notably, Native also embraces the richness of the culture of our neighbouring regions. Wanderers who have acquired a fondness for Sri Lankan Arrak will be enthralled to know that at Native, this sought-after mildly sweet liquor is available to make your day and bring back the good old memories of your trip. The service is also impeccable for as soon as you are seated, the staff serves you a refreshing Sparkling Sake as a welcome drink—just the right remedy you need to take a break from the all-year humidity in Singapore. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a good conversation with the bar owner and be invited to have an exclusive peek at their “lab”—the perfect cherry-on-top on your Native bar experience. Whether you are a local or a traveller in Singapore and want to make your day extra special, and most of all, extremely memorable, do yourself a favour and book a reservation at Native. Trust me, it will be worth your time and may even exceed your expectations.
Location:
52A Amoy Street, Singapore 069878
Contact:
+65 8869 6520
Opening Hours:
Mondays - Saturdays 6 pm-midnight