When it comes to bars, the magnificent metropolis of Singapore has it all: hidden speakeasies, decadent drinking dens and buzzing rooftop escapes where unbeatable city views come standard.
From the swanky to the secret, you’ll never go thirsty in this glam city, where cocktails are curated, beers are crafted and spirits are swilled and sipped. Singapore combines the best aspects of drinking cities around the world with a unique approach to ingredients, techniques and experiences. The result: a bar scene like no other – reflected in the inclusion of five favourites listed in the World’s 50 Best Bars.
Take your next night out to new levels with our guide to the best bars in Singapore.
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Jigger & Pony
With its compelling marriage of tradition and innovation, the ultra-fashionable Jigger & Pony takes the #14 spot in The World's 50 Best Bars. Long established in the Singapore cocktail scene, the bar pays homage to the art of concocting classic cocktails by adding a subtle twist. Its signature ‘menuzine’, SMASH, is a magazine-style menu of 20 colourful cocktails, mocktails and punch bowls. The avant-garde drinks list holds plenty of intrigue: the gin-based Ugly Tomatoes (an upcycling initiative utilising beefsteak tomatoes that didn't make the grade for restaurants) and the Japanese gin-based Dirty Martini are easy favourites.
Where to find it: 165 Tg Pagar Road, Singapore
ATLAS
Ranked #27 of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023, there’s no wonder ATLAS continues to be a mainstay on Singapore’s best bars list. The high-ceilinged, art-deco cocktail bar is the epitome of grandeur, taking inspiration from the Roaring Twenties to create a space that’s resplendent with metallic details and plush textures. The cocktail list is equally as detailed, with classics and innovative new creations both featuring alongside a strong selection of spirits, wines and beers. Best of all, it’s home to the largest collection of gin in the world, dazzlingly displayed in a tower at one end of the space.
Where to find it: In the opulent Parkview Square. 600 North Bridge Road, Parkview Square
Manhattan Bar
Take just a few steps into Manhattan Bar, perched on the second level of Regent Singapore, and you may feel yourself floating back to the sophistication of 19th-century New York City. The dimly lit spot is perfect for snuggling up against a loved one in an oversized leather Chesterfield, with a barrel-aged cocktail in hand. Warm and professional bartenders are happy to shake or stir whatever you fancy, but we suggest choosing something that utilises ingredients from the world-first in-hotel rickhouse – unique concoctions feature hand-cut ice and house-made ingredients.
Where to find it: The second floor of the luxury hotel, Regent Singapore. 1 Cuscaden Road, Level 2 Regent Singapore
The Old Man
Culinary cocktails are the order of the day at The Old Man, a hidden cocktail bar marked by a single pineapple lamp hanging above a shophouse façade. Techniques and traditions more commonly found in kitchens dot the menu here – expect fat-washed spirits, sous-vide infusions and clarified concoctions, resulting in drinks like The Torrents of Spring, made with glutinous-rice cooked mezcal, grain Wild Turkey whiskey, amaro nonino, Campari, pom-beet shrub and charcoal. If that name sounds familiar, there’s a reason why: just like the bar itself, cocktails share a title with the novels of Ernest Hemingway.
Where to find it: 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-04, Singapore
Native
Native in both name and nature, this hidden cocktail bar pays homage to the regional flavours of Southeast Asia through a succinct and seasonal cocktail menu. Exotic fruits, herbs and vegetables, some foraged from the local area, are combined with spirits from the Philippines, Thailand, India and beyond to create curious combinations, like Peranakan (jackfruit rum, laksa leaves, goat’s milk, candlenut and gula melaka). The local focus is just one part of their sustainability ethos – they have a rooftop garden, coasters are made from lotus leaf and menus are printed on recycled paper.
Where to find it: On the second floor of an unmarked shophouse, 52A Amoy Street, Singapore 069878
28 HongKong Street
As one of the city’s first speakeasies, it’s impossible not to include 28 HongKong Street in a list of best bars in Singapore. Hidden in an old shophouse with no visible signage, this shrouded-in-secrecy drinking den is all about the classics: 90s hip-hop and soul form the soundtrack, while the cocktail list features creative spins on much-loved sours, juleps and martinis. Reservations are required and are snapped up quicker than you can say ‘shall we?’ so be sure to book ahead.
Where to find it: The clue is in the name – look for a door with a ‘28’ sign at 28 Hong Kong Street, Singapore
Nutmeg & Clove
There is no better place to experience the melting pot of cultures that is Singapore than with a drink at Nutmeg & Clove, which uniquely captures the heritage of the country in its progressive mixology. A regular in the 50 Best Bars of Asia and the world over the last decade (it's currently #7 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars), the bar has found a new home on Purvis Street, complete with powder pink decor and staff uniforms. Its latest menu, Singaporean Identities, features the showstopping mezcal-based, toasted-rice flavoured Fried Rice Paradigm. Accompanied by stunning dishes like tofu satay and rendang mac'n'cheese, Nutmeg & Clove ensures all senses are indulged.
Where to find it: 8 Purvis Street, Singapore
Atico Lounge
Sip among the stars at Atico Lounge, a hedonistic rooftop bar that’s landed on the list of Singapore’s best bars almost immediately after opening. With 360-degree views from its spot at the top of ION Orchard, the penthouse luxe lounge is bound to impress any date, with soft lighting, discreet service and plush couches and armchairs. Expert mixologists use top-shelf ingredients and cutting-edge techniques to create concoctions like Purple Rain (Japanese vodka, raspberry liqueur, Caribbean Blue Curacao, fresh citrus, fresh cranberries and homemade soda) and Cara (spiced rum, homemade salted caramel, hazelnut liqueur, fresh citrus and egg white).
Where to find it: At the very top of ION Orchard. Level 56 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore
Ce La Vi SkyBar
Dine and drink amongst the clouds at Ce La Vi SkyBar, a luxurious alfresco rooftop bar in the heart of Marina Bay Sands. Venture to the 57th floor to find an outdoor oasis with jaw-dropping views of the city beyond, offering the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of sipping and sampling. Cocktails are inspired by Asia’s diverse cultures and exotic ingredients: try the Golden Age for a contemporary Thai twist on a classic daiquiri, or order a Native Garden, inspired by the Nam Dok Anchan drink (Butterfly Pea Tea), popular in Thailand and Vietnam.
Where to find it: At the top of the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Level 57, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Hotel Tower 3, 1 Bayfront Avenue
Sago House
Hidden on the third floor of a shophouse off vibrant Chinatown, Sago House is a raw gem, whose unique approach and innovative mixology has seen it land at number 10 of Asia's 50 Best Bars. Its three owners (of HongKong Street and Spiffy Dapper, among others) are committed to sustainable practices, with the bar hand-built using upcycled, reusable materials, resulting in a true labour of love. The hospitality is award-winning, with the name of each punter chalked on their respective table. The highlight: a weekly rotating menu of six core cocktails crafted from local produce, like the amusingly named Don't Go Bacon My Heart, crafted with bacon-washed mezcal, root beer and tequila.
Where to find it: 37 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089615
Looking for more inspiration? Check out The Best Five-Star Hotels in Singapore.
