Since my first visit in 2004, Singapore nightlife has seen tremendous changes, though not always for the best. As the GDP of Singapore almost tripled during that time, the number of foreigners went from 875,000 persons in 2006 to 1,632,000 in 2015. In the meantime, more and more Singaporeans went working or studying abroad, often in prestigious universities. Combined with the Government's ambition to develop Singapore as a tourist destination, this cosmopolitan atmosphere has encouraged restaurants, bars and nightclubs owners to open always more sophisticated and ambitious venues.
As a result, Singapore nightlife has become one of the best in Southeast Asia. You have 28 restaurants with Michelin stars, 3 bars among the 50 best in the world, and 2 nightclubs in the DJ Mag Top 100.
On the downside, prices have reached a ridiculous level, especially for wine and alcohol. If you are planning to go to the best nightclubs, bars and restaurants, you can expect to easily burn 300$ within a few hours. If you don't have such a budget, don't worry as I'll give you tips on how to spend less at the bottom of this review.
One of the fascinating aspects of Singapore nightlife is that behind its polished image, it is also home to large red-light areas with bordellos, seedy massage parlors, hostess bars, KTVs and in-your-face street prostitution. Even though this is not the focus of this guide, I'll mention a few venues for the sake of getting more clicks.
Writing this nightlife guide was challenging because of the huge amount of worthy spots, and also because it's hard to keep up with the pace of the new openings. If you find a mistake, a place that is missing or that is closed, please leave a comment below. It would be very useful, thanks!
Note: All prices are in Singaporean dollars.
Nightlife Areas:
As you can see on this map, almost all the nightlife of Singapore is located in the South of the island, near the Central Business District, in a square about 3km by 3km in size.
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay - MOST POPULAR
The most famous nightlife area in Singapore is located along a 1-km riverside walk running from Boat Quay to Clarke Quay. This would be my first recommendation if you don't know where to start partying. You have a large choice of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, many with a terrace directly on the street.
It is busy almost every night of the week with a young crowd. You'll find it easy to meet other people, particularly students and young tourists from all over the world. One of the reasons is that the prices here are relatively affordable for Singapore, especially during happy hours (generally from 4-5pm up to 7-8pm every day) or ladies night (most often on Wednesday).
Very near from there, Circular Road and Hong Kong Street are also both filled with nightlife spots that are a bit more refined. There is some discreet prostitution as well.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Clarke Quay.
Chinatown - MOST TRENDY
Chinatown is an older part of town with low-rise buildings and small streets. It is made of the famous Club Street, Amoy Street and Ann Siang Hill, where you'll find some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in town. In some places, the crowd is almost 100% expat, usually richer and older than the one in Clarke Quay. It is a great place for bar-hopping and meeting people, who are often just hanging out outside the bars. A good place to start is the Gem Bar, CATO or the rooftop of the Screening Room.
If you walk a bit further, you can also visit the streets near Keong Saik Road (Jiak Chuan Road or Neil Road for gay nightlife) with even more restaurants (check the cool izakaya Neon Pigeon), wine lounges (Alba 1836) and hipster bars. It used to be a red light district though there are only two brothels left.
Arab Street, Bugis Street, Little India, Haji Lane - ARTSY, TOURISTY
These streets are next to each other and are bordered by smaller, two-stories buildings. You have some coffee shops, small eateries, a few live music venues and a growing number of upmarket bars and restaurants. There are many backpackers staying here in dorms. A recommended bohemian, alternative bar in this area is Kult Kafe.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Bugis.
Orchard Road - EXPATS, BUSINESSMEN, PROSTITUTION
In the 1990s, Orchard Road used to be the best location for nightclubs in Singapore with China Black at Pacific Plaza and Bar None at Marriott Hotel (replaced since by the speakeasy The Other Room). Today, it is more famous for its shopping malls, both luxurious and middle-range, and its 5-star hotels.
It has a rather seedy nightlife. The low-end malls are known to have massage parlors plus plus on their upper floors (Cuppage Plaza, Far East Mall and Lucky Plaza). This is also where the infamous Orchard Towers, a complex with blowjob bars, executive KTVs and hostess bars, are located. BRIX, the bar of the Grand Hyatt, also falls in the "red-light" category.
If this is not your scene, I recommend you to try KPO, an after-work pub popular with expats. A tiny street off Orchard Road is also worth a look. It is called Emerald Hill and features small bars in a vintage, Peranakan-style neighborhood. The best one is 5, famous for its cocktails, but you can also check the Alley Bar and Que Pasa.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Orchard Road.
In the 1990s, Orchard Road used to be the best location for nightclubs in Singapore with China Black at Pacific Plaza and Bar None at Marriott Hotel (replaced since by the speakeasy The Other Room). Today, it is more famous for its shopping malls, both luxurious and middle-range, and its 5-star hotels.
It has a rather seedy nightlife. The low-end malls are known to have massage parlors plus plus on their upper floors (Cuppage Plaza, Far East Mall and Lucky Plaza). This is also where the infamous Orchard Towers, a complex with blowjob bars, executive KTVs and hostess bars, are located. BRIX, the bar of the Grand Hyatt, also falls in the "red-light" category.
If this is not your scene, I recommend you to try KPO, an after-work pub popular with expats. A tiny street off Orchard Road is also worth a look. It is called Emerald Hill and features small bars in a vintage, Peranakan-style neighborhood. The best one is 5, famous for its cocktails, but you can also check the Alley Bar and Que Pasa.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Orchard Road.
Geylang - RED LIGHT DISTRICT
Geylang is the historical red-light district in Singapore. Apart from street prostitution and short-time hotels targeting lower income residents, you have some more luxurious KTVs, discotheques and massage parlor .
Note that the prostitution is mostly concentrated in the small streets (lorongs) 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. During the day, it is barely visible. When the night comes, it remains discreet and if you are not actively look for it, it shouldn't bother you much.
Nowadays, most of the cheaper hotels in Singapore are in Geylang. If you don't mind the sex trade, it is a good option for an affordable stay in the city. It is still safe, convenient and with many street food options. You should choose a hotel near Aljunied MRT station, which is easy to reach from the airport and connected to the city center. Please click on Hotels Near Aljunied MRT Station for more information.
Other busy nightlife locations:
Golden Mile: A famous mall with several Thai discos and massage parlors. If you plan on leaving Singapore by bus to Malaysia or Thailand, you'll probably depart from here. It is not far from the center and it can be reached from the Circle MRT Line and the East-West MRT Line.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Golden Mile.
Tiong Bahru: A hipster neighborhood, a perfect example of a residential area turned trendy. Not for partying but for coffee/eating.
Dempsey Hill: Also hipster/hippy. Again, more for lunch and dinner than for nightclubs.
Geylang is the historical red-light district in Singapore. Apart from street prostitution and short-time hotels targeting lower income residents, you have some more luxurious KTVs, discotheques and massage parlor .
Note that the prostitution is mostly concentrated in the small streets (lorongs) 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. During the day, it is barely visible. When the night comes, it remains discreet and if you are not actively look for it, it shouldn't bother you much.
Nowadays, most of the cheaper hotels in Singapore are in Geylang. If you don't mind the sex trade, it is a good option for an affordable stay in the city. It is still safe, convenient and with many street food options. You should choose a hotel near Aljunied MRT station, which is easy to reach from the airport and connected to the city center. Please click on Hotels Near Aljunied MRT Station for more information.
Other busy nightlife locations:
Golden Mile: A famous mall with several Thai discos and massage parlors. If you plan on leaving Singapore by bus to Malaysia or Thailand, you'll probably depart from here. It is not far from the center and it can be reached from the Circle MRT Line and the East-West MRT Line.
If you need a place to stay nearby, check: Hotels Near Golden Mile.
Dempsey Hill: Also hipster/hippy. Again, more for lunch and dinner than for nightclubs.
Sentosa Gateway/Saint James Power Station: Maybe 10 bars and clubs that target local customers. The most famous one are the Taiwanese nightclub Luxi, Millian and Rupee (Indian Club).
You will also find many nightlife spots in Marina Bay Sands complex, the Marina Promenade, Jalan Besar, Chijmes, Holland Village and around the City Hall.
Best Nightclubs in Singapore
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The following places are listed in no particular order. I linked to the Facebook page of each venue so you can verify the latest information about prices, opening hours and general policy. If you see a page has not been updated for a couple of months, you should assume that it has closed down.
The most famous nightclub in Singapore (and in Asia probably). It is a mega-club with 3 rooms, each with different music and design (EDM, House, Hip Hop). International guest DJs come weekly, and you can expect a full crowd on most nights. Clients are a mix of 20-something expats, tourists and Singaporeans. The entry is 30$ for men and 25$ for women, with 2 drinks included. You can avoid the entry fee by booking a table in advance. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Note: Zouk will move to a new 30,000 square feet location in the Cannery on Clarke Quay at the end of 2016.
There is also a Zouk in KL. Check Kuala Lumpur Nightlife - Best Bars and Nightclubs.
Note: Zouk will move to a new 30,000 square feet location in the Cannery on Clarke Quay at the end of 2016.
There is also a Zouk in KL. Check Kuala Lumpur Nightlife - Best Bars and Nightclubs.
Kyo
A nightclub with an underground, yet exclusive feel. It is located inside what used to be a bank vault and designed with a Japanese themed. Very popular with younger foreigner, particularly international students (though minimum age is 21 for girls and 23 for guys). The entrance is 25$ during the week (with 1 drink) and 28$ during the weekend (with 2 drinks). Open from Wednesday to Saturday until 3/4am. The music is deep house, electro, tech-house and some minimal.
A nightclub with an underground, yet exclusive feel. It is located inside what used to be a bank vault and designed with a Japanese themed. Very popular with younger foreigner, particularly international students (though minimum age is 21 for girls and 23 for guys). The entrance is 25$ during the week (with 1 drink) and 28$ during the weekend (with 2 drinks). Open from Wednesday to Saturday until 3/4am. The music is deep house, electro, tech-house and some minimal.
Nicknamed "sluttica", this nightclub on Clarke Quay is where most expats and tourists go if they are hoping to score a one-night-stand in Singapore. Two rooms, one with commercial Top40/Hip-Hop and one with EDM/House. It has been renovated recently and its trashy side has lessened. It seems they are no longer accepting too many "unattached" single ladies. Open from Wednesday to Saturday. 30$ entry with 2 drinks. Ladies night on Wednesday and Thursday.
Bang Bang (ex Mink)
Inside the 5-star hotel Pan Pacific, this is a medium-sized "bottle" club which is generally packed. If you are not on any guest list or not planning to open a bottle, expect to queue and to be treated as a second-rank guest. There are a lot of girls, some of whom are semi-professional. Lots of expats in their late 20s as well. They have gogo dancers from Latin American/East Europe and other shows regularly. Strict dress code: Shirts for guys and high heels for girls. Open Wednesday until 5am and on weekends until 6am. Avoid if you are alone and poor. Rn'B or house depending on the night.
The bar/club on top of the Marina Bay Sand Hotel, 200 meters from the ground. It is open every day but the best night is probably on Wednesday for ladies night (though it is a steep 38$ entry for guys). Tons of girls from all over the world, 20% of whom are escorts and the rest tourists, expats and locals. The music is commercial hip hop, dance and Top 40.
An alternative to Cé La Vi is 1-Altitude Gallery and Bar on the rooftop of One Raffles Place, near Boat Quay. You can actually see the Marina Bay Sand Hotel from there. It is a bit more quiet but you also have live music and DJs on weekends.
Just 2 floors below, Altimate is an indoor nightclub with a 250-pax capacity. It is open on Friday and Saturday and the entrance is 30$ with one drink. Bottle service recommended. The music is commercial: EDM, clubbing anthems, Top 40. The crowd is mostly local.
Just 2 floors below, Altimate is an indoor nightclub with a 250-pax capacity. It is open on Friday and Saturday and the entrance is 30$ with one drink. Bottle service recommended. The music is commercial: EDM, clubbing anthems, Top 40. The crowd is mostly local.
Canvas (ex-Home Club)
Not far from Altimate, Canvas is considered the "alternative" nightclub of Singapore. It is an art space during the day and a relatively busy nightclub at night. Most customers are regulars. It seems popular with the LGBT crowd as well. The music is non-commercial and eclectic. At the moment, you have old school nights on Wednesday, Hip Hop on Friday and House on Saturday. They often have guest DJ playing just about every genre (techno, house, electro, minimal, drum and bass, dubstep, etc). They also have live bands and comedy shows. My advice is to check what is the program before visiting to avoid bad surprises. Ladies night on Thursday with free flow vodka from 10pm to 1am.
The first Fashion-TV-branded nightclub, it has two rooms: Ruby with hip-hop, Rn'B and Top 40 remixes ; Diamond Hall with House/Progressive/EDM. Young and superficial crowd + some tourists wandering on Clarke Quay. Girls get a record of 12 free drinks on ladies night. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 30$ entrance with 2 free drinks. Strict dress code.
Suite 26 - Twenty Six (ex- Filter and ex- Fenix) and Penthouse
Boutique "bottle" nightclub with a house party concept. Same group as Bang Bang. Mostly for Singaporeans who prefer clubbing within their own. Open only on Friday and Saturday. Avoid if you are alone. The DJs play mostly clubbing anthems.
Next to it, Penthouse is a more private club. It costs 35$ to get in with one free drink, or 45$ with 2 drinks and free entrance to Suite26.
Boutique "bottle" nightclub with a house party concept. Same group as Bang Bang. Mostly for Singaporeans who prefer clubbing within their own. Open only on Friday and Saturday. Avoid if you are alone. The DJs play mostly clubbing anthems.
Next to it, Penthouse is a more private club. It costs 35$ to get in with one free drink, or 45$ with 2 drinks and free entrance to Suite26.
An underground nightclub, Berlin-style, featuring techno and minimal DJs. Very small but great vibe if you are into that kind of stuff. No drugs though. Open from Wednesday to Saturday. European crowd (and particularly French).
Baliza
One of the newest nightclubs in Singapore, managed by the same group as Attica. It has a main room with hip hop and a smaller VIP room with EDM/open format. It is already quite popular, especially after it received the patronage of Selena Gomez. Their ladies night on Wednesday is very generous with free champagne, gifts and male gogo dancers. Open from Wednesday to Saturday until 6am (28$ entry with a drink).
One of the newest nightclubs in Singapore, managed by the same group as Attica. It has a main room with hip hop and a smaller VIP room with EDM/open format. It is already quite popular, especially after it received the patronage of Selena Gomez. Their ladies night on Wednesday is very generous with free champagne, gifts and male gogo dancers. Open from Wednesday to Saturday until 6am (28$ entry with a drink).
Space (ex Trace)
Near Clarke Quay, this is a mainstream, rather local nightclub with mostly commercial EDM and Top 40. They currently have two ladies night, one of which on Saturday. Special discounts for flight attendants. Open on Wednesday (20$ entrance without drinks), Friday (28$ entrance for girls, 35$ for guys with two drinks) Saturday (35$ entrance with 2 drinks).
Nova (ex Sonar)
A new venue that opened in the summer 2016 on Orchard Road in the Orchard Hotel. Same management as Bang Bang and Suite 26, in partnership with the Neverland group, which is behind several Asian-style clubs in Malaysia and Singapore. Mostly crowded with Asians, it is more suitable for groups/bottle service. Music is commercial, either EDM or hip hop, with occasionally foreign guest DJs (they had Afrojack in September). Sexy dancers and shows. Open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until 6am (25$ for guys and 18$ for girls with 2 free drinks). Free flow nights on Wednesday until 3am (free for girls, 35$ for guys). Minimum age 18.
This nightclub and live hall is in Saint James Power Station, near VivoCity. They are open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with different events every night. They often welcome foreign DJs and bands, particularly Japanese ones. Wednesday is their ladies night (5 free drinks for girls, 25$ entrance for guys with 2 drinks). Do check their Facebook before heading there as they don't have a regular schedule.
VLV
A high-end bottle club located in a complex on Clarke Quay that targets Chinese clients. 30$ entry. Open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
A high-end bottle club located in a complex on Clarke Quay that targets Chinese clients. 30$ entry. Open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Hip Hop Nightclubs in Singapore
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To my knowledge, the only dedicated hip hop nightclub in Singapore is the brand new Cherry Discotheque inside York Hotel. Its DJs includes some of the most famous acts in the city, playing trap, Rn'B, old school and funk. They also welcome international acts. It is open on Friday and Saturday until 4AM and on Wednesday (ladies night) starting on October 19th. The entrance is 28$ with a drink. It is has a cool, flashy, retro design, that seems popular among girls.
There used to be a hip hop nightclub called Refuge, opened by the same group behind Kyo, but it closed in June 2016. On their Facebook page, they write that they are planning to open in a new location so you may want to check again to see if there is an update.
There used to be a hip hop nightclub called Refuge, opened by the same group behind Kyo, but it closed in June 2016. On their Facebook page, they write that they are planning to open in a new location so you may want to check again to see if there is an update.
Some of the biggest Singapore nightclubs have dedicated hip hop rooms: Attica, Zouk, F Club and Baliza.
Finally, Trace has a hip hop night on Wednesday, Kyo on Thursday, Canvas on Friday and Bang Bang on Saturday.
Finally, Trace has a hip hop night on Wednesday, Kyo on Thursday, Canvas on Friday and Bang Bang on Saturday.
After-Hour Clubbing in Singapore
Most clubs close around 3am during the week and 4am on weekends. If you want to continue partying after this time, you may go to Bang Bang, Baliza or Nova, all of which close at 6am. After this time, you may try Naughty Girls in Orchard Tower (until 7am).
Trendy Bars, Speakeasies, Cocktails Lounges
- Manhattan (ranked 11th), in the centrally located 5-star Regent/Four Seasons Hotel, is a classic 1920s' NY-style bar. Cocktails cost about 25$ each. They have a free-flow cocktail brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 150$++.
- 28, in Hong Kong Street, was ranked 14th best bar in the world and 2nd best in Asia. It is a speakeasy with an almost invisible entrance, a retro atmosphere and, of course, tattooed/bearded bartenders.
- Not far away, Operation Dagger is led by Luke Whearty, one of the city's most famous mixologists. It is as hipster as it can get, and most normal people would not enjoy it I guess. If you are looking for unique cocktail creation though, this is the place.
Generally speaking, the best cocktail bars in Singapore are located in Chinatown. Apart from 28 and Operation Dagger, you can also give a try to the nearby Sugarhall (rum bar, latin and reggae music), Jigger & Pony (classic cocktails), The Spiffy Dapper (hole-in-the-wall, customized cocktails), Employees Only (a franchise from the famous NY bar), Nutmeg & Clove (cocktails with Asian twist) and the Cufflink Club (unique cocktails, one of the most famous in Singapore, full of expats).
Vasco, latin
If you are looking for a specific type of spirits, you can visit the Caribbean-themed Bago for Rum, The Auld Alliance for whisky (they have over 1,000 bottles in a 70 pages menu), Super Loco for Tequila/Marguerita (Mexican street food) and Oxwell & Co for gin.
Brewery and Craft Beer Bars
There is a growing number of local brewery and craft beer pubs in Singapore. Some of the most reputed are Mikkeller Bar (from the acclaimed Danish brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, 20 beers on tap), Druggist (also serving Singaporean food), Freehouse (also selling cider) and Nickeldime Drafthouse (Vietnamese food, near the more upmarket brewer Paulaner Brauhaus at MRT Novena). Level 33, a spectacular rooftop also brews its own beer.
About 500 meters from Club Street, you have much more unpretentious places, starting with Good Beer and Smith Street Taps. Both are part of the same group and they are located in the same hawker center as the Michelin-starred "Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice And Noodle".
Pubs and Sports Bars
There are quite many pubs and sports bars in Singapore targeting expat communities. I listed the most famous by nationalities:
Australian
Boomerang Bar and Bistro has two locations on Boat Quay and Robertson Quay. It is the place for watching Australian sports (AFL, Super Rugby, NRL) and/or eat kangaroo burgers. Nearby, Mogambo, Bungy and Hero's also feature those sports quite often.
American
The largest and most famous American-style bar is Brewerkz on Clarke Quay, which also happens to have a micro-brewery. They have NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Nascar, etc. Smokey's BBQ is further away but it is known to open early morning during special events like the Superbowl.
Irish
Molly Malone's: Singapore's first Irish pub since 1995. It was built in Ireland and then transported to Circular Road.
Muddy Murphy's is just a year older and opened in 1996, also directly imported from Ireland. It moved from Orchard Road to Claymore Connect this year. They have live bands starting 4.30pm every day.
British
The Victorian Pub Penny Black belongs to the same group as Muddy Murphy's. It is also a sports bar where you can watch English Premier League of course, but also English Football League Championship (EFL), League One, League Two, FA Cup, Cricket, etc.
German
The most famous German pubs in Singapore are the 4 outlets from Brotzeit.
French
French don't really go to pub, but the closest thing to one would be Parisian-style bistros like O'Batignolles (affordable wine and cheese) or Le Carillon de l'Angelus.
About 500 meters from Club Street, you have much more unpretentious places, starting with Good Beer and Smith Street Taps. Both are part of the same group and they are located in the same hawker center as the Michelin-starred "Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice And Noodle".
Live Music in Singapore
If you are looking for your usual Top 40 cover band and a beer, you can just go to Clarke Quay (the Scottish Pub The Highlander or the Pump Room), Boat Quay (Harry's) or Circular Road (Hero's). Many bars there have a live band, especially on weekends, so it won't be too hard to find.
There is also a very entertaining foreign band in Brix in Grand Hyatt, but the entrance fee and the prostitutes may not suit everyone (see below for more details).
If you are looking for something more specific, here are a few suggestions:
Jazz, Blues, World Music
You have two jazz bars in the heritage neighborhood Kampung Glam (near Arab street):
- The SingJazz Club in Sultan Hotel (also called Sultan Jazz Club) is open every day. It is a bit pricey and there is an entrance fee between 15$ and 25$ on most nights. They often have foreign musicians. Jam sessions on Sundays.
- On 3 floors, Blu Jaz Café has live jazz music occasionally, but also other genres such as hip hop and old school.
In June 2016, the Montreux Jazz Café chain opened a Singaporean franchise. Apart from jazz, they have world music and sometimes a DJ.
Barber Shop by Timbré is open to various kinds of music and particularly jazz, soul, blues and funk.
Rock/Alternative
For non-maintream rock and alternative bands, you can visit Mad Men (also a cool rooftop with great parties), Hive by Wala (a popular, cheap place with local bands, sometimes playing covers), Crazy Elephants (classic rock and roll) or any branches of Timbré.
Mandarin/Cantonese/Asian
Mando-pop and canto-pop have a public in Singapore. The most famous venue for that is the popular cabaret/piano bar Shanghai Dolly near Clarke Quay (inside a much larger nightlife complex). The small and less glitzy Switch by Timbré is another option.
There is also a very entertaining foreign band in Brix in Grand Hyatt, but the entrance fee and the prostitutes may not suit everyone (see below for more details).
If you are looking for something more specific, here are a few suggestions:
Jazz, Blues, World Music
You have two jazz bars in the heritage neighborhood Kampung Glam (near Arab street):
- The SingJazz Club in Sultan Hotel (also called Sultan Jazz Club) is open every day. It is a bit pricey and there is an entrance fee between 15$ and 25$ on most nights. They often have foreign musicians. Jam sessions on Sundays.
- On 3 floors, Blu Jaz Café has live jazz music occasionally, but also other genres such as hip hop and old school.
In June 2016, the Montreux Jazz Café chain opened a Singaporean franchise. Apart from jazz, they have world music and sometimes a DJ.
Barber Shop by Timbré is open to various kinds of music and particularly jazz, soul, blues and funk.
Rock/Alternative
For non-maintream rock and alternative bands, you can visit Mad Men (also a cool rooftop with great parties), Hive by Wala (a popular, cheap place with local bands, sometimes playing covers), Crazy Elephants (classic rock and roll) or any branches of Timbré.
Latin
Cuba Libre has a live band from Monday to Saturday playing latin music for salsa or bachata dancing.
Mando-pop and canto-pop have a public in Singapore. The most famous venue for that is the popular cabaret/piano bar Shanghai Dolly near Clarke Quay (inside a much larger nightlife complex). The small and less glitzy Switch by Timbré is another option.
There are quite many pubs and sports bars in Singapore targeting expat communities. I listed the most famous by nationalities:
Australian
Boomerang Bar and Bistro has two locations on Boat Quay and Robertson Quay. It is the place for watching Australian sports (AFL, Super Rugby, NRL) and/or eat kangaroo burgers. Nearby, Mogambo, Bungy and Hero's also feature those sports quite often.
American
The largest and most famous American-style bar is Brewerkz on Clarke Quay, which also happens to have a micro-brewery. They have NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Nascar, etc. Smokey's BBQ is further away but it is known to open early morning during special events like the Superbowl.
Irish
Molly Malone's: Singapore's first Irish pub since 1995. It was built in Ireland and then transported to Circular Road.
Muddy Murphy's is just a year older and opened in 1996, also directly imported from Ireland. It moved from Orchard Road to Claymore Connect this year. They have live bands starting 4.30pm every day.
British
The Victorian Pub Penny Black belongs to the same group as Muddy Murphy's. It is also a sports bar where you can watch English Premier League of course, but also English Football League Championship (EFL), League One, League Two, FA Cup, Cricket, etc.
German
The most famous German pubs in Singapore are the 4 outlets from Brotzeit.
French
French don't really go to pub, but the closest thing to one would be Parisian-style bistros like O'Batignolles (affordable wine and cheese) or Le Carillon de l'Angelus.
Bars and Rooftops with Spectacular Views
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The maximum building height in Singapore is limited to 280 meters. 3 skyscrapers have reached this limit: One Raffles Place, Republic Plaza, UOB Plaza One.
Among these, only One Raffles Place has a rooftop bar, which is called 1-Altitude. You have to pay a 30$ entrance fee to get in and you'll get a free cocktail. In the same building you also have the Altimate nightclub and Stellar restaurant.
On top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Cé La Vi is similar with a club, a bar and a restaurant. It is the most ethnically diverse place I've been to in Singapore, with younger and older people from all over the world. There is a swimming pool as well but only for hotel guests or members. 25$ for a cocktail and 20$ for a beer. You must spend at least 80$ to get a table at the restaurant (and that won't be their best one).
On the other side, Level 33 has a view on the Bay from the Financial Center Tower 1. They make their own craft beer on the spot which they serve for a reasonable 10$ before 8pm (15$ after that). To enjoy the best view, you should call them ahead and book a table outside on the terrace.
The New Asia bar on the 71st floor of the Swisshotel/Fairmont Hotel. It is not as trendy as the places listed above but you have a generous ladies night on Wednesday (5 free drinks for girls) and 2 drinks for 30$ for guys.
The following rooftop bars are also recommended, even though they don't have a truly impressive view: Mad Men, Loof, Kinki Bar and Smoke & Mirrors.
Among these, only One Raffles Place has a rooftop bar, which is called 1-Altitude. You have to pay a 30$ entrance fee to get in and you'll get a free cocktail. In the same building you also have the Altimate nightclub and Stellar restaurant.
On top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Cé La Vi is similar with a club, a bar and a restaurant. It is the most ethnically diverse place I've been to in Singapore, with younger and older people from all over the world. There is a swimming pool as well but only for hotel guests or members. 25$ for a cocktail and 20$ for a beer. You must spend at least 80$ to get a table at the restaurant (and that won't be their best one).
On the other side, Level 33 has a view on the Bay from the Financial Center Tower 1. They make their own craft beer on the spot which they serve for a reasonable 10$ before 8pm (15$ after that). To enjoy the best view, you should call them ahead and book a table outside on the terrace.
The New Asia bar on the 71st floor of the Swisshotel/Fairmont Hotel. It is not as trendy as the places listed above but you have a generous ladies night on Wednesday (5 free drinks for girls) and 2 drinks for 30$ for guys.
The following rooftop bars are also recommended, even though they don't have a truly impressive view: Mad Men, Loof, Kinki Bar and Smoke & Mirrors.
Cheaper Nightlife in Singapore
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Until about a year ago, international students used to gather on Read Bridge, "The Bridge", near Clarke Quay, where it was permitted to drink in public. This is no longer the case but you still have a few options to party on a budget.
Pre-Party Drinks
You should always buy a bottle at a duty free shop in the airport, and drink a few glasses from it before heading out.
Cheap Bars in Singapore
These are the famous cheap bars in Singapore (I'm linking to their Facebook where you'll see the updated promotions):
Prince of Wales, a famous backpacker pub on Boat Quay. It is always crowded and it has daily events (live music, sport, quiz nights, etc). There is also a branch in Little India.
Pre-Party Drinks
You should always buy a bottle at a duty free shop in the airport, and drink a few glasses from it before heading out.
Cheap Bars in Singapore
These are the famous cheap bars in Singapore (I'm linking to their Facebook where you'll see the updated promotions):
Prince of Wales, a famous backpacker pub on Boat Quay. It is always crowded and it has daily events (live music, sport, quiz nights, etc). There is also a branch in Little India.
Not far from there, the Japanese-inspired Five Izakaya Bar owe his name to their 5$ all-day specials. A beer will cost around 7$ though.
Further away in Holland Village, an area close from Singapore University, Wala Wala is a student bar popular with younger Singaporeans. They have a live band every evening starting 7pm. More affordable restaurants and pubs can be found nearby such as Bar Bar Black Sheep.
If you are not homophobic, the gay bar Tantric on Neil Road is the cheapest place in town to get shots (10$ for 2).
Further away in Holland Village, an area close from Singapore University, Wala Wala is a student bar popular with younger Singaporeans. They have a live band every evening starting 7pm. More affordable restaurants and pubs can be found nearby such as Bar Bar Black Sheep.
If you are not homophobic, the gay bar Tantric on Neil Road is the cheapest place in town to get shots (10$ for 2).
Ladies Nights
Ladies nights in Singapore are generally held on Wednesdays in almost every happening bars and nightclubs. Some of the busiest are in Cé La Vi, the rooftop club on top of the Marina Bay Sands (Free entry + 1 premium drink for ladies), Bang Bang (5 free drinks before midnight), Lantern Bar in Fullerton Bay Hotel (Free flow Belvedere Cocktail from 8 to 9pm), The Exchange (Free flow from 6 to 10pm). The newly relaunched Empire has free flow vodka and 5 complimentary drinks from 10.30pm until late.
Some clubs have a ladies night on Thursday: Kyo (Free entry + Free vodka soda from 12am to 1.30am), Attica (Free entry and 3 free drinks before 1am) or Mad Men Attic Bar (Promos on Champagne - 2 Bottles for 168$).
The newest clubs have the most aggressive promotions (which are most likely not meant to last): In Baliza, girls get free flow champagne, small bites, gifts and... males strippers! In Nova, they have a free flow from 10pm until 3am.
There is one ladies night happening on Saturday: It is in Space Club with free flow champagne from 11pm to 1am (and another one on Wednesday with free flow house pours from 11pm to 2am and then 5$ per glasses).
For reasons I ignore, ladies' nights are often combined with hip hop nights.
Some clubs have a ladies night on Thursday: Kyo (Free entry + Free vodka soda from 12am to 1.30am), Attica (Free entry and 3 free drinks before 1am) or Mad Men Attic Bar (Promos on Champagne - 2 Bottles for 168$).
The newest clubs have the most aggressive promotions (which are most likely not meant to last): In Baliza, girls get free flow champagne, small bites, gifts and... males strippers! In Nova, they have a free flow from 10pm until 3am.
There is one ladies night happening on Saturday: It is in Space Club with free flow champagne from 11pm to 1am (and another one on Wednesday with free flow house pours from 11pm to 2am and then 5$ per glasses).
For reasons I ignore, ladies' nights are often combined with hip hop nights.
Happy Hours
Happy Hours are also a good opportunity to drink cheaper. Generally speaking, they work from 5pm to 7pm, sometimes extended from 4pm to 8pm. Almost every bars in Singapore has some kind of promotion during these hours.
An excellent happy hour is in the Loof rooftop bar in downtown Singapore with its "5$ at 5pm, 6$ at 6pm, 7$ at 7pm" promotion.
A few bars have free flow nights, generally for a limited number of hours. If you are a heavy drinker, they can be worth it.
On Club Street, the bar/retailer Drinks&Co has an affordable single night on Tuesday and Saturday (30$ for free flow prosecco, wine and beer for 2 hours). The rest of the time they always have promotions and discounts.
The club Nova has a free flow alcohol buffet on Wednesday for 35$ (from 10pm to 3am - Free for girls).
An excellent happy hour is in the Loof rooftop bar in downtown Singapore with its "5$ at 5pm, 6$ at 6pm, 7$ at 7pm" promotion.
Buffet Drinks and Free Flows
On Club Street, the bar/retailer Drinks&Co has an affordable single night on Tuesday and Saturday (30$ for free flow prosecco, wine and beer for 2 hours). The rest of the time they always have promotions and discounts.
The club Nova has a free flow alcohol buffet on Wednesday for 35$ (from 10pm to 3am - Free for girls).
Asian-style Nightclubs
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Thai Discos
Thai discos are relatively new in Singapore. The concept is to have live performance (singing, modeling and dancing) by Asian girls (most often Thai, Chinese or Vietnamese, but sometimes Koreans, Hong Kongese or Taiwanese in the most upmarket ones). The customers can buy a flower garland to the girl he likes to show his interest. In the cheapest places, 20$ is enough to get the girl to sit with you while in other, you'll need to pay over 200$ just to get an introduction. Once the girl agrees to accompany you, you can buy her some drinks and enjoy her company. Some girls may end up sleeping with a customer, but it is not that common.
One of the best things about Thai discos, as I wrote earlier, is that their prices are generally lower than elsewhere, even in the most high-end venues. This is especially true if you visit during happy hours and order large quantities. Beer towers and jugs are the norm. During happy hours (usually before 10.30pm), 3 liters will often cost around 50$-60$ and 6 liters 100$-120$. The price increase by 30% during normal hours. Beware that the cheapest Thai discos are known to water down the beer.
Free flows are common within Thai discos. For instance, Illusion Club on Clarke Quay has a 28$ free flow beer buffet from 7pm to 9pm and Pixie from 8.30pm to 10.30pm (20$ only).
If you are interested to try, you could visit Thai Disco 1, the first one to have opened in Singapore in 1999. It is located inside the Golden Mile Complex on Beach Road, next to Diva. Both are cheap but starting to be a bit run down. More modern options, but still affordable, you have Sherbet 2 and Nexus in Oriental Plaza, Flux on Serangoon Road, Illusion on Clarke Quay, Kingdom on Balestier Road, Icon II in Parklane Mall, Club 9 on Sophia Road, Tryst on Middle Road or Club LA on Jalan Besar. Those places all have dancers, singers and hot girls from various nationalities on stage. They are usually open everyday of the week but you can check directly on Facebook.
You can also check the venues of the V Group (7 of them, namely V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 and V7).
If you can afford to spend a bit more, the following Asian-style nightclubs all have East Asian models (Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, China): Pixie in Holiday Inn Atrium (Minimum 50$ for flower garlands), Club Easy in Concorde Hotel on Orchard Road and finally the Taiwanese club Luxi in Saint James Power Station (Minimum 100$)
Also in Saint James Power Station, another place worth mentioning is the Vietnamese club Gossip, where the DJ and the models are, unsurprisingly, all Vietnamese.
Indian Nightclubs
About 8% of Singapore's population is from Indian descent. Some of them choose to party in specific nightclubs with hindi-pop or bollywood music. Bollywood Lah is the latest and most recommended. You can also go to Magic Carpet or Rupee.
Thai discos are relatively new in Singapore. The concept is to have live performance (singing, modeling and dancing) by Asian girls (most often Thai, Chinese or Vietnamese, but sometimes Koreans, Hong Kongese or Taiwanese in the most upmarket ones). The customers can buy a flower garland to the girl he likes to show his interest. In the cheapest places, 20$ is enough to get the girl to sit with you while in other, you'll need to pay over 200$ just to get an introduction. Once the girl agrees to accompany you, you can buy her some drinks and enjoy her company. Some girls may end up sleeping with a customer, but it is not that common.
One of the best things about Thai discos, as I wrote earlier, is that their prices are generally lower than elsewhere, even in the most high-end venues. This is especially true if you visit during happy hours and order large quantities. Beer towers and jugs are the norm. During happy hours (usually before 10.30pm), 3 liters will often cost around 50$-60$ and 6 liters 100$-120$. The price increase by 30% during normal hours. Beware that the cheapest Thai discos are known to water down the beer.
Free flows are common within Thai discos. For instance, Illusion Club on Clarke Quay has a 28$ free flow beer buffet from 7pm to 9pm and Pixie from 8.30pm to 10.30pm (20$ only).
If you are interested to try, you could visit Thai Disco 1, the first one to have opened in Singapore in 1999. It is located inside the Golden Mile Complex on Beach Road, next to Diva. Both are cheap but starting to be a bit run down. More modern options, but still affordable, you have Sherbet 2 and Nexus in Oriental Plaza, Flux on Serangoon Road, Illusion on Clarke Quay, Kingdom on Balestier Road, Icon II in Parklane Mall, Club 9 on Sophia Road, Tryst on Middle Road or Club LA on Jalan Besar. Those places all have dancers, singers and hot girls from various nationalities on stage. They are usually open everyday of the week but you can check directly on Facebook.
You can also check the venues of the V Group (7 of them, namely V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 and V7).
If you can afford to spend a bit more, the following Asian-style nightclubs all have East Asian models (Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, China): Pixie in Holiday Inn Atrium (Minimum 50$ for flower garlands), Club Easy in Concorde Hotel on Orchard Road and finally the Taiwanese club Luxi in Saint James Power Station (Minimum 100$)
Also in Saint James Power Station, another place worth mentioning is the Vietnamese club Gossip, where the DJ and the models are, unsurprisingly, all Vietnamese.
Indian Nightclubs
About 8% of Singapore's population is from Indian descent. Some of them choose to party in specific nightclubs with hindi-pop or bollywood music. Bollywood Lah is the latest and most recommended. You can also go to Magic Carpet or Rupee.
High End KTV in Singapore
Older and richer Singaporeans tend to party behind the closed doors of KTVs or Karaoke. Those generally have beautiful hostesses, often from China or Vietnam.
The place to go to these days seem to be the K2 KTV on the third level of Parklane Mall. Sands KTV in Little India or China Doll KTV on Sophia Road are other options.
The place to go to these days seem to be the K2 KTV on the third level of Parklane Mall. Sands KTV in Little India or China Doll KTV on Sophia Road are other options.
Gay and Lesbian Nightlife
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Homosexuality is still illegal in Singapore, but it is tolerated. The city has several LGBT events like IndigNation, Pink Dot or the White Party, and a busy gay nightlife.
The gay clubs and bars are almost all located on Neil Road: The busiest are Tantric Bar/May Wong's on one side, and Taboo nightclub on the other. The latter has cabaret/transvestite shows. Both are not too expensive but they get very crowded on weekends. Two more quiet options on the same street are DYMK (Does Your Mother Know) and Backstage. Elsewhere in Chinatown, you have Lluvia and Dorothy's.
There is not a proper lesbian bar to my knowledge but the group Two Queens organizes dedicated events regularly (the monthly HerStory). Similarly, the event organizer Hypertainment focus on the gay community.
The gay clubs and bars are almost all located on Neil Road: The busiest are Tantric Bar/May Wong's on one side, and Taboo nightclub on the other. The latter has cabaret/transvestite shows. Both are not too expensive but they get very crowded on weekends. Two more quiet options on the same street are DYMK (Does Your Mother Know) and Backstage. Elsewhere in Chinatown, you have Lluvia and Dorothy's.
There is not a proper lesbian bar to my knowledge but the group Two Queens organizes dedicated events regularly (the monthly HerStory). Similarly, the event organizer Hypertainment focus on the gay community.
Ladyboys
There are a lot of ladyboys and transvestites (mostly prostitutes) in some bars of the Orchard Towers: Crazy Horse and more specifically Club Romeo.
Naughty Nightlife in Singapore
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Prostitution is legal in Singapore, but restricted to particular areas and submitted to various regulations. Most of it happens in "health centers" or in Geylang.
Many prostitutes, especially the freelancers that you'll see in 5-star hotel bars or some upscale nightclubs (Attica, Bang Bang, Cé La Vi) are from neighboring ASEAN countries. They benefit from visa-free policies so they come as tourists for a few months, make money and go back home.
Brix Bar
I mentioned Brix Bar before in my article about 5-star hotels in Asia where prostitution is readily available.
Located in the Grand Hyatt Hotel near Orchard Road, it might be the most famous and the most remarkable on this list. Every night from 10pm, it features a foreign live band that plays mostly Top 40 songs. They are very entertaining, dancing with the public and creating a nice party vibe.
The other attraction in Brix is the high number and the diversity of freelance prostitutes among the crowd. I didn't ask everyone's passport but I'm sure there is at least 15 nationalities from every continent. According to my friends, there are girls from Africa, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, Colombia, Brazil, Korea, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Some will ask over 500$ for a few hours of companionship.
The entrance is 30$ with one drink, and if you wish to pick up one of the ladies, you'll probably spend 10 times that amount. Because it is expensive, most customers are wealthy males above 40, expats or businessmen.
Note that even if you are not interested with the prostitution, Brix is still a fun place to party and meet people. Not all girls inside are prostitutes.
Orchard Towers
The second most popular location for Singapore expats looking for prostitutes are the Orchard Towers.
This is quite an odd place and I'll recommend visiting even if you are not into paid sex. There are at least 10 bars and nightclubs, each with certain characteristics. Most are hostess bars, sometimes with sexy dancers, where girls will sit with you and allow you touch them as long as you buy them ladies drink (around 30$ from which they get 10$).
Here is a list of the most famous:
Ipanema
The most famous bar in Orchard Tower. It is a smaller version of Brix with only Asian girls and cheaper prices. Lots of hot Vietnamese freelance girls. Live music. There are always some tourists as well.
Crazy Horse:
Indonesian girls, quite many lady boys.
Queens:
Indonesian girls, nice podium in the middle with amateur dancers. Friendly.
Naughty girls:
Closes at 6am/7am, considered the after-hour nightclub of Singapore, many Eastern European girls.
Top 5
Not sure of the nationality, it seems Thai, Filipinas and Ukrainians.
Club Romeo
This club/karaoke has both ladyboys and Russian/Ukrainians girls. It has a sister club called Ion. Gogo and pole dancing every night.
Downunder
Other bars have mostly Filipinas and Thais: Girl Next Door, Cabin, Baliba, Peyton Place or Blue Banana Bar. Blowfish is similar but in a building one block away. If bargirls are not your thing, the Towers have great and affordable Thai food at Thai Tantric and Korat on 3rd floor.
The area around the Orchard Towers is a great place to stay in Singapore, both for shopping and the nightlife. Hotels walking distance from it are mostly 5-stars (Hilton, Pan Pacific, Grand Hyatt, Marriott), but you have cheaper options like the Orchard Hotel. The cheapest one nearby is this hotel where you can get rooms for less than 150$.
Orchard Towers on Sunday
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of Filipino and Indonesian maids enjoy their unique weekly day off by partying hard in the bars of the Orchard Towers. They are joined by male foreign workers, either expats or low-skilled ones from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is really fun to watch and quite a social experiment. Most of the girls are very average in look and not very young, but their enthusiasm is contagious. Fun is their number one motivation, not money.
Geylang
As I wrote earlier, Geylang is the main red light district in Singapore. While I couldn't tell you precisely how it works, I can give you a few indications.
First, there is not prostitution everywhere. Geylang is a large district but only a rectangle about 500 meters X 200 meters can be considered red light. It corresponds to the lorongs (small alleys) off Geylang Road that have even numbers. Talma Road in the middle is also famous for having street girls. Inside the lorongs, you can find brothels, KTV and massage parlours.
Some lorongs have more Filipinos, some have more Chinese, some have more Indonesians, etc... The prices range from 30$ for 20 minutes (with older girls) to 150$ for the most expensive, with younger Vietnamese girls.
Customers are generally older Singaporeans and migrant workers.
There are a lot of budget, girl-friendly hotels in that area, many accepting short-time. A recommended one is Hotel 81 Hollywood (under 50$).
Naughty Nightlife in Singapore
Many prostitutes, especially the freelancers that you'll see in 5-star hotel bars or some upscale nightclubs (Attica, Bang Bang, Cé La Vi) are from neighboring ASEAN countries. They benefit from visa-free policies so they come as tourists for a few months, make money and go back home.
Brix Bar
I mentioned Brix Bar before in my article about 5-star hotels in Asia where prostitution is readily available.
Located in the Grand Hyatt Hotel near Orchard Road, it might be the most famous and the most remarkable on this list. Every night from 10pm, it features a foreign live band that plays mostly Top 40 songs. They are very entertaining, dancing with the public and creating a nice party vibe.
The other attraction in Brix is the high number and the diversity of freelance prostitutes among the crowd. I didn't ask everyone's passport but I'm sure there is at least 15 nationalities from every continent. According to my friends, there are girls from Africa, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, Colombia, Brazil, Korea, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Some will ask over 500$ for a few hours of companionship.
The entrance is 30$ with one drink, and if you wish to pick up one of the ladies, you'll probably spend 10 times that amount. Because it is expensive, most customers are wealthy males above 40, expats or businessmen.
Note that even if you are not interested with the prostitution, Brix is still a fun place to party and meet people. Not all girls inside are prostitutes.
Orchard Towers
The second most popular location for Singapore expats looking for prostitutes are the Orchard Towers.
This is quite an odd place and I'll recommend visiting even if you are not into paid sex. There are at least 10 bars and nightclubs, each with certain characteristics. Most are hostess bars, sometimes with sexy dancers, where girls will sit with you and allow you touch them as long as you buy them ladies drink (around 30$ from which they get 10$).
Here is a list of the most famous:
Ipanema
The most famous bar in Orchard Tower. It is a smaller version of Brix with only Asian girls and cheaper prices. Lots of hot Vietnamese freelance girls. Live music. There are always some tourists as well.
Crazy Horse:
Indonesian girls, quite many lady boys.
Queens:
Indonesian girls, nice podium in the middle with amateur dancers. Friendly.
Naughty girls:
Closes at 6am/7am, considered the after-hour nightclub of Singapore, many Eastern European girls.
Top 5
Not sure of the nationality, it seems Thai, Filipinas and Ukrainians.
Club Romeo
This club/karaoke has both ladyboys and Russian/Ukrainians girls. It has a sister club called Ion. Gogo and pole dancing every night.
Downunder
Only Pinay girls. They can get very naughty provided you are generous with tips and ladies' drinks. It can be considered a blowjob bar as it happens quite often in their private rooms.
Other bars have mostly Filipinas and Thais: Girl Next Door, Cabin, Baliba, Peyton Place or Blue Banana Bar. Blowfish is similar but in a building one block away. If bargirls are not your thing, the Towers have great and affordable Thai food at Thai Tantric and Korat on 3rd floor.
Orchard Towers on Sunday
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of Filipino and Indonesian maids enjoy their unique weekly day off by partying hard in the bars of the Orchard Towers. They are joined by male foreign workers, either expats or low-skilled ones from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is really fun to watch and quite a social experiment. Most of the girls are very average in look and not very young, but their enthusiasm is contagious. Fun is their number one motivation, not money.
Geylang
As I wrote earlier, Geylang is the main red light district in Singapore. While I couldn't tell you precisely how it works, I can give you a few indications.
First, there is not prostitution everywhere. Geylang is a large district but only a rectangle about 500 meters X 200 meters can be considered red light. It corresponds to the lorongs (small alleys) off Geylang Road that have even numbers. Talma Road in the middle is also famous for having street girls. Inside the lorongs, you can find brothels, KTV and massage parlours.
Some lorongs have more Filipinos, some have more Chinese, some have more Indonesians, etc... The prices range from 30$ for 20 minutes (with older girls) to 150$ for the most expensive, with younger Vietnamese girls.
Customers are generally older Singaporeans and migrant workers.
There are a lot of budget, girl-friendly hotels in that area, many accepting short-time. A recommended one is Hotel 81 Hollywood (under 50$).
General Tips About Singapore Nightlife
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Avoid fines and jail
If you don't want to get fined, or worse go to jail, avoid: Chewing gum, littering, public indecency, jaywalking and vandalism. You should assume that it is forbidden to smoke everywhere in public unless specifically authorized. More serious offenses like drug use may get you a lot of trouble, whatever the quantities.
Public drinking is not allowed from 10.30pm until 7am. If you disobey you might end up paying a 1,000$ fine. It is also forbidden for convenience stores to sell alcohol during this time.
If you don't want to get fined, or worse go to jail, avoid: Chewing gum, littering, public indecency, jaywalking and vandalism. You should assume that it is forbidden to smoke everywhere in public unless specifically authorized. More serious offenses like drug use may get you a lot of trouble, whatever the quantities.
Public drinking is not allowed from 10.30pm until 7am. If you disobey you might end up paying a 1,000$ fine. It is also forbidden for convenience stores to sell alcohol during this time.
Dress code - What to wear at night
While in Jakarta it is rarely acceptable to wear shorts, it seems fine in Singapore in many bars, particularly in Clarke Quay. Still, if you are planning to go clubbing you will need at least a pair of pants, shoes and a shirt. In some venues like Bang Bang, women must wear high heels.
It's hot in Singapore and many cafés are outside. Use deodorant and avoid wearing synthetic fabric like polyester.
Prices - Daily Spending
Hotels: The cheapest double room will cost at least 50$ in a neighborhood like Geylang, 100$ in a more central area.
Transport: It is cheap but you'll need to take a cab after midnight that will cost you 50% more than normal. Night Rider and Night Owl service.
Restaurants: Cheapest street food/hawker meals around 5$, trendy restaurants at least 40$ without wine.
Entrance fees for clubs: The best clubs in Singapore will charge you from 20$ up to 30$. Once inside, a beer will normally cost between 10-20$, a cocktail 15-30$. A bottle of premium spirits 200$.
Hotels recommendations near the nightlife and attractions
If you have no budget constraints, stay in Marina Bay Sand Hotel or Grand Hyatt or Pan Pacific. They each have nightclubs inside.
If you have an average budget, stay in Bencoleen Hotel (100$) between Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.
If you don't mind sleeping in a red light district, stay in Geylang, for instance in Hotel 81 Hollywood (50$).
If you have a tiny backpacker budget, stay in Little India in a dormitory, for instance in Prince of Wales Hostel (30$).
Going around in Singapore after midnight
The normal buses and MRT services stop operating after midnight. After this time, all taxi fares will also cost an additional 50%.
Public transportation is not very convenient, but doable if you don't mind walking and waiting. There are two night buses services: SBS Night Owl (4$, from midnight to 2am on weekends only, operates 6 lines) and SMRT Night Rider (4,5$, from 11.30pm to 4.35am on weekends only, see map here for the lines).
This is only worth if you live far away from the center and these buses do not operate during the week. The cost of taxis is not that expensive, even with the night surcharge, and they are easy to find. Expect to pay around 15$ for a 10 minute ride. App-based transportation like Grab or Uber work well also and they are around 20% cheaper.
Meeting girls
Singaporean girls are said to be materialistic and chasing the 5Cs (Cash, Car, Condo, Career, Cards). It is probably an over-generalization, but still your dating life will be much easier if you have at least a decent job and an apartment.
If this sounds boring to you, the good news is there are not only Singaporean girls in Singapore. Clubs are filled with European, American, Australian, and most importantly other Asian girls. Among expats I know in Singapore, more than half are currently dating Indonesian, Filipina, Thai or Vietnamese girls. Some of them are known by the derogatory term "Sarong Party Girl" or SPG, which describes the ladies you may meet in Attica or Bang Bang: Southeast Asian girls, wearing sexy dresses and chasing foreigners.
The best way to meet girls in Singapore is probably to use Tinder, though most of your matches will lose interest if you are not an expat or a permanent resident.
While in Jakarta it is rarely acceptable to wear shorts, it seems fine in Singapore in many bars, particularly in Clarke Quay. Still, if you are planning to go clubbing you will need at least a pair of pants, shoes and a shirt. In some venues like Bang Bang, women must wear high heels.
It's hot in Singapore and many cafés are outside. Use deodorant and avoid wearing synthetic fabric like polyester.
Prices - Daily Spending
Hotels: The cheapest double room will cost at least 50$ in a neighborhood like Geylang, 100$ in a more central area.
Transport: It is cheap but you'll need to take a cab after midnight that will cost you 50% more than normal. Night Rider and Night Owl service.
Restaurants: Cheapest street food/hawker meals around 5$, trendy restaurants at least 40$ without wine.
Entrance fees for clubs: The best clubs in Singapore will charge you from 20$ up to 30$. Once inside, a beer will normally cost between 10-20$, a cocktail 15-30$. A bottle of premium spirits 200$.
Hotels recommendations near the nightlife and attractions
If you have no budget constraints, stay in Marina Bay Sand Hotel or Grand Hyatt or Pan Pacific. They each have nightclubs inside.
If you have an average budget, stay in Bencoleen Hotel (100$) between Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.
If you don't mind sleeping in a red light district, stay in Geylang, for instance in Hotel 81 Hollywood (50$).
If you have a tiny backpacker budget, stay in Little India in a dormitory, for instance in Prince of Wales Hostel (30$).
Going around in Singapore after midnight
The normal buses and MRT services stop operating after midnight. After this time, all taxi fares will also cost an additional 50%.
Public transportation is not very convenient, but doable if you don't mind walking and waiting. There are two night buses services: SBS Night Owl (4$, from midnight to 2am on weekends only, operates 6 lines) and SMRT Night Rider (4,5$, from 11.30pm to 4.35am on weekends only, see map here for the lines).
This is only worth if you live far away from the center and these buses do not operate during the week. The cost of taxis is not that expensive, even with the night surcharge, and they are easy to find. Expect to pay around 15$ for a 10 minute ride. App-based transportation like Grab or Uber work well also and they are around 20% cheaper.
Meeting girls
Singaporean girls are said to be materialistic and chasing the 5Cs (Cash, Car, Condo, Career, Cards). It is probably an over-generalization, but still your dating life will be much easier if you have at least a decent job and an apartment.
If this sounds boring to you, the good news is there are not only Singaporean girls in Singapore. Clubs are filled with European, American, Australian, and most importantly other Asian girls. Among expats I know in Singapore, more than half are currently dating Indonesian, Filipina, Thai or Vietnamese girls. Some of them are known by the derogatory term "Sarong Party Girl" or SPG, which describes the ladies you may meet in Attica or Bang Bang: Southeast Asian girls, wearing sexy dresses and chasing foreigners.
The best way to meet girls in Singapore is probably to use Tinder, though most of your matches will lose interest if you are not an expat or a permanent resident.