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Singapore Night Life

You have a few options for “going out drinking” in Singapore, mainly depending on your budget:

  1. Cheapish – go to one of the many hawker centres or food courts, buy a few beers and sit down and make a night of it. Alternatively, you can buy some drinks at 7/11, there is one a few doors down from the hostel, or at the supermarket and bring it back to the hostel
  2. Moderate – visit some of the more dubious nightspots in Singapore, where happy hours are cheap and non-happy-hour prices not too high. You could also visit some of the many nice (but expensive) bars, but only during happy hours, which are roughly between 17:00 and 21:00
  3. Expensive – most of the bars and nightclubs in Singapore after happy hour

On the “Betel Box Beer Index”, Cheapish is less than S$6 per beer during non-happy hours, Moderate is less than S$10 per beer and Expensive is S$10 or more per beer.

You probably find that cheapish beers mostly exist at a "coffee shop" or a drinks stall in a hawker centre. where entertainment value is limited.

I have to add one for the ladies; one of the great things about Singapore nightlife are the ladies' nights...drinks (mostly Champagne, draft beers or housepoors) are free for the ladies! Sorry guys, there are no “gentlemen's nights”...Most ladies' nights are on Wednesdays & Thursdays.

 


Boat Quay & Clarke Quay

Boat Quay has a number of bars and restaurants along the Singapore River. Unfortunately, prices are high and competition is tough, which means that waiters and other people working for the bars and restaurants will come up to you and try to convince you to eat or drink at their establishment.

Having said this, the setting of Boat Quay is stunning with views across the Singapore River towards the new Asian Civilisations Museum and the area is very lively. It would probably be better to walk around Boat Quay, have a beer at the famous Harry's Bar and explore some of the other bars in the back streets rather than spending your night on Boat Quay itself.

One Fullerton

At the mouth of the Singapore River, is the One Fullerton and the Esplanade. Both venues are the current "to-be seen" areas with classy restaurants and lounges. Any water views come with a price tag but there are a couple of night spots that are notable.

 

To get to Boat Quay, take bus number 2, 33 or 51 from near the Betel Box Hostel (see Map & Transport Connections).

 

CHIJMES & Raffles Hotel Vicinity

 

CHIJMES

CHIJMES is a great place to go for a few drinks. This is an old cloister, dating from the 1850s, which has been converted into a “premiere lifestyle destination”, i.e. lots of expensive bars and restaurants...

It is a lovely place with many bars, cafes, restaurants and a few shops, and it is definitely worth going for a drink here. Raffles Hotel is just across the street from CHIJMES (but don't bother with the Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel; it is very pricey!).

You have quite a few options for getting to CHIJMES. You could take the MRT to City Hall MRT station (quick and easy) or take the bus (numbers 2, 7 and 51). See Map & Transport Connections

 

 

Mohammed Sultan Road Area

Mohammed Sultan Road has changed quite a fair bit in the last year. Nowadays its a quieter nightlife venue.

To get to Mohammed Sultan Road, take bus 51 from the bus stop near the Betel Box Hostel ( See Map & Transport Connections ) and ask the bus driver to notify you when you get to River Place on Havelock Road. From there it is only a 5 minute walk to Mohammed Sultan Road.

 

 

Orchard Road Area

 

Emerald Hill

This is one of my favourite places to go out for a drink. Emerald Hill is a small street off Orchard Road (near Somerset MRT) with rows of 19th century Peranakan shophouses, some of which are used for the bars listed below and some for small shops, but the majority of these shophouses are still used for residential living.

Bus number 7 will take you directly to Orchard Road, including the Orchard Road entrance to Emerald Hill. Just ask the bus driver to notify you when you reach Centre Point (a shopping mall) on Orchard Road. You can also get here by MRT; the nearest MRT station is Somerset and it is less than 5 minutes walk to Emerald Hill from the station.

 

 

Others

See Map & Transport Connections for information on how to get to Orchard Road/ Tanglin Road vicinity from the Betel Box Hostel.

Zouk & Velvet Underground

To get to Zouk, Zouk Winebar and Velvet Underground, take bus 16 or 51 leaving from near the Betel Box Hostel, just have a look at the Map & Transport Connections section.

 

Changi Village

A little enclave tucked in the east side of Singapore more famous for its ferry services to Pulau Ubin has a number of bars, cheap restaurants and hawker center. A more laidback environment compared Orchard Road area; check out Charlies Corner (cheap beers, chicken wings and hotdogs), Nasi Lemak at the Hawker Centre and take a stroll along Changi Beach. The car parks next to the Hawker Centre is a hangout place for lady-boys in the night.

To get to Changi Village, take bus 2 leaving from near the Betel Box Hostel or from Victoria St area, just have a look at the Map & Transport Connections section.

 

Holland Village

This little town is popular with local and expats alike. Just a short distance away from Orchard Road and Botanic Gardens, this suburbian town has a bohemian and laid back feel. Do check out the Holland Road shopping centre which has a range of enthic furnishings and second hand books stores.

To get to Holland Village, take bus 7 leaving from near the Betel Box Hostel, just have a look at the Map & Transport Connections section.

 


Chinatown & Tanjong Pagar

This area is adjacent to the main Chinatown district. Couple of area of interests include the URA City Gallery and the Red Dot Museum.

To get to Chinatown, take bus 33 leaving from near the Betel Box Hostel, just have a look at the Map & Transport Connections section.

 

Sentosa

KM8 - Beach club on Tanjong Beach with swimming pool, sun deck. Hosted a number of international names at its parties.

Other Info

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