Singapore Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs [2024]

Singapore nightlife, once boring and sleepy, has become one of the best in Southeast Asia.

The range of options for going out at night has no equivalent elsewhere in the region: Michelin-starred restaurants, top-ranked cocktail bars and nightclubs, world-class concerts, music festivals, and a vibrant cultural scene (opera, ballet, etc).

Enjoying a night out in Singapore is safe, easy, and fun, with only one downside: It costs money. If you party from evening to dawn in the best nightclubs, bars and restaurants, expect to spend at least SGP 150-200 in one night.

If you are new to the city and wondering where to party, here's a quick summary of everything you need to know.

As you can see on this map (click here to enlarge it), most of the best spots are located in the southern part of the island, near the Central Business District, in a square about 3km by 3km in size.

If you are a new-comer/tourist, you can probably head directly to Clarke Quay and drink in one of the open-air cafés there. Not far away, Chinatown, Orchard Road and the Marina Bay Sands are also good areas for partying.

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. You can just walk there and choose the place that you like.

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.

Recommended hotel Near Clarke Quay:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Paradox Merchant Court at Clarke Quay (8.6 rating, 250$ per night)

- Zouk: Mega club with 3 rooms (EDM, house, hip-hop) and a 1,500-people capacity. Famous, international DJs come weekly. Crowd is a mix of 20-something Singaporeans, tourists and expats. Entrance fee is around 50$ with 2 drinks (more or less depending on the DJ).

Chinatown is an older part of town with low-rise buildings and small streets, among which the busiest for nightlife are Club Street, Amoy Street and Ann Siang Hill. In those, you'll find some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in town, all walking distance from one another.

In some places, the crowd is almost 100% expats, usually richer and older than the ones in Clarke Quay. It is a great place for bar-hopping and meeting people.

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, wine lounges and hipster bars.

Arab & Bugis Street, Little India, Haji Lane - ARTSY, TOURISTY
These streets are next to each other and are bordered by smaller, two-storey 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.

Orchard Road - EXPATS, BUSINESSMEN, TOURISTS
Orchard Road is the most famous street in Singapore for shopping and entertainment. It is also home to several 5-star hotels. While it isn't really a trendy area anymore, it has some world-renowned bars.

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.

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 parlors.

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 looking 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.