Key Takeaways
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Singapore is one of those cities where you do not necessarily need a big plan for the evening. You might head out for dinner and end up staying out for a few more hours, or somehow still be out long after you thought you would be home.
There are places for a proper night out, but there is no pressure to make your evening about drinking or clubbing. The city works just as well when you want to take things slowly.
This Singapore nightlife guide covers different ways to spend an evening in the city, from laid-back plans to nights that carry on well past midnight.
Best Nightlife Experiences in Singapore
Singapore’s nightlife goes well beyond clubs and bars. Once it’s dark, you can watch light and water shows, walk along the waterfront, take a river cruise, visit a historic neighbourhood, head out for a late-night meal, and more.
Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a waterfront attraction in central Singapore, with 25- to 50-metre-tall Supertrees rising above its gardens. Garden Rhapsody brings these trees to life with lights and music every evening.
You can watch the show standing, sitting or lying down right beneath the illuminated trees. Try to arrive at least 20-30 minutes before the show to find a comfortable spot before the crowd builds up. You can easily add this nighttime experience to your Singapore trip at no extra cost.
For an elevated view, the OCBC Skyway and Supertree Observatory are two options, although they both require separate tickets. The show runs daily at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM at Supertree Grove, and admission is free.
Marina Bay Waterfront After Dark
Marina Bay is a great spot for a night out in Singapore, with several attractions close enough to reach on foot. Start near the Marina Centre waterfront and cross the Helix Bridge, a 280-metre pedestrian bridge with a double-helix design inspired by DNA.
Once across, you’ll reach the Marina Bay Sands side of the bay, where you can walk towards the Event Plaza, where the free Spectra light-and-water show is held.
Spectra runs at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday, with an additional 10:00 PM show on Friday and Saturday. Each show lasts around 15 minutes.
Continue along the promenade around the bay to reach Merlion Park, home to Singapore’s famous Merlion statue and another good spot for views across the water.
Singapore River Cruise at Night
A night cruise on the Singapore River takes you past the city’s landmarks against the backdrop of its illuminated skyline. The standard Singapore River Cruise lasts for about 40 minutes and passes Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, the Fullerton area, Merlion Park, Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum and the Esplanade before returning.
Most operators run regular river cruise departures from Clarke Quay, Bayfront South Jetty, Clifford Pier Jetty and Read Bridge Jetty.
Approx. ticket prices: 28 SGD (approx. 2,100 INR) for adults; 18 SGD (approx. INR 1,350) for children aged 3-11 years
The cruise is a relaxed evening activity in Singapore for couples, first-time visitors, and families. You can schedule it before dinner or bar-hopping around Clarke Quay, one of Singapore’s major nightlife districts.
Bar-Hopping Around Clarke Quay & Boat Quay
If you’re looking for the party side of Singapore nightlife, start with Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. They sit along the Singapore River and are very close together.
Both areas have plenty of places to stop for a drink, from riverside pubs and cocktail bars to karaoke rooms, speakeasies and late-night clubs.
A simple evening could start with a dinner at Boat Quay, continue along the river for a drink and then move towards Clarke Quay as the night goes on.
Where to Drink and Have Fun Around Clarke Quay & Boat Quay
- Zouk: An established nightclub in Clarke Quay with electronic, house and dance music, along with regular DJ nights and late-night events. It is one of the area’s main choices for a full night of clubbing rather than just a quick drink.
- The Penny Black: A relaxed riverside pub in Boat Quay serving drinks and casual food. It is open from 3:00 PM to midnight on Mondays, 11:30 AM to midnight from Tuesday to Friday, and noon to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
- 28 HongKong Street: Located about 500 metres from the Boat Quay area, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is hidden behind an unmarked entrance. It is open daily from 6:00 PM until late.
- Cash Studio Clarke Quay Central: A private karaoke venue with individual rooms for groups. Rooms include karaoke equipment, a selection of songs and food and drinks. Open daily from 12:00 PM until late.
Singapore’s Rooftop Bars and Skyline Views
Singapore’s skyline is particularly impressive after dark, and several rooftop bars and cocktail lounges let you enjoy the city views with a drink in hand.
Marina Bay has some of Singapore’s most famous rooftop bars, while the CBD, Boat Quay, Chinatown and Orchard Road also have several high-rise spots with city views.
For a quieter skyline evening, arrive before the late-night crowd. If you want DJs and a more club-oriented atmosphere, go later.
Top Spots for Drinks and Skyline Views in Singapore
- CÉ LA VI Singapore: Located on level 57 of Marina Bay Sands, with views across Marina Bay. The club lounge becomes a late-night venue with DJs, while the rooftop bar is best for an earlier evening drink.
- VUE: A rooftop bar and restaurant at OUE Bayfront on Collyer Quay, along the Marina Bay waterfront. It has views across the bay and serves cocktails, wine and food.
- Lantern: A rooftop bar at The Fullerton Bay Hotel on Collyer Quay, overlooking Marina Bay. The menu includes cocktails, wine and spirits, along with light bites.
- SKAI: A restaurant and bar on the 70th floor of Swissôtel The Stamford in the City Hall area, with panoramic views towards Marina Bay. It serves contemporary grill dishes, wines, spirits and craft cocktails beside floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Spago: On Level 57 of Marina Bay Sands, Spago overlooks the Singapore skyline. It serves cocktails, wine and food, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Kampong Glam at Night
Kampong Glam is a good choice for an evening built around food, music and bars rather than clubs. Kampong Glam is easily reached via Bugis MRT, from where you can walk into the neighbourhood and tour its main streets.
The historic Malay-Arab quarter has restaurants, bars, live-music venues and late-night spots, centred around Arab Street, Haji Lane and Bussorah Street. The golden-domed Sultan Mosque stands at the heart of the neighbourhood and is a beautiful sight when the area is lit up at night.
Arab Street: A historic street in Kampong Glam lined with textile shops, restaurants and cafes. At night, it is a good place for Middle Eastern food and an outdoor meal near Sultan Mosque.
Haji Lane: A narrow pedestrian street lined with colourful shophouses and street art. By night, many of the daytime boutiques close, while bars, cocktail spots and live-music venues become the main draw.
Bussorah Street: A wide, pedestrian-only paved street lined with shops and outdoor eateries, with a clear view of Sultan Mosque at the far end.
Bars and Music Spots: Visit Bar Stories for custom-made cocktails, or head to Blu Jaz Cafe for live music and drinks in a relaxed setting.
Night Photography: The colourful shophouses, illuminated street art murals, and Sultan Mosque exterior make Kampong Glam a great spot for night photography.
Arrive around 6:30-7:00 PM and walk around before settling down for dinner or drinks. Haji Lane tends to become busier later in the evening.
Beachfront Nightlife and Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony at Sentosa
Siloso Beach is one of the liveliest parts of Sentosa Island, with plenty to do after sunset. The beach has bars and restaurants that stay open into the evening, with music and beachside seating. Here are some spots worth checking out:
- Ola Beach Club: A beachfront restaurant and club, with food, drinks and a relaxed beach setting.
- Bikini Bar: A casual beachfront bar serving drinks and food with seating close to the sand.
- Trapizza: A beachfront Italian restaurant at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, serving pizzas, pasta and drinks.
- Good Old Days Singapore Flavours: A Halal-certified, air-conditioned food court near Sentosa’s Beach Station, serving local and Asian dishes. Its location is convenient for visitors heading to the nearby Wings of Time show.
Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony: It is a ticketed outdoor night show at Siloso Beach, a short walk from Sentosa Beach Station, and is staged over the open sea.
The 20-minute show combines water-screen projections, fountains, laser lights, and music, ending with fireworks. There are currently two shows every evening at 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM, with tickets from SGD 22 (approx. INR 1655).
You can also watch the show from the surrounding areas of Siloso Beach without a ticket, although the ticketed seating area provides a closer view of the performance.
Singapore’s Late Night Food Scene
One of the easiest ways to extend a night out in Singapore is to eat after an evening of bars, clubs and attractions. Singapore’s late-night food scene picks up after 10:00 PM when locals and tourists head out for everything from satay and noodles to dim sum and roti prata.
Here are some places and areas to consider for late-night food in Singapore:
Lau Pa Sat: It is a historic and famous hawker centre in Singapore, housed in a Victorian-era cast-iron building in the CBD. It is open 24 hours, making it a convenient late-night food stop. Its Satay Street section on Boon Tat Street operates from 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM on weekdays and 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM on weekends.
Geylang: One of Singapore’s main supper areas, with food shops and restaurants staying open well into the night. You’ll find 24-hour dim sum, frog porridge, seafood and zi char dishes, along with casual places serving noodles and rice meals.
Jalan Besar & Rochor: Jalan Besar and Rochor are two central neighbourhoods with a long-standing food scene and plenty of late-night eateries. You can find dim sum, noodles, curry, rice dishes and other local favourites here, with some restaurants staying open into the early morning. If you’re staying in Singapore around Little India, Bugis or the city centre, Jalan Besar and Rochor are convenient areas for a late-night meal.
Night Safari at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
The Night Safari at Mandai Wildlife Reserve is an after-dark wildlife experience where you can see nocturnal animals in habitats lit for nighttime viewing.
The visit includes tram rides and walking trails through different animal zones. Night Safari is one of Singapore’s top family attractions.
The Safari Adventure Tram is a 40-minute narrated ride through different habitat zones, where you can see animals such as rhinos, deer and lions. After the tram ride, four walking trails take you closer to smaller nocturnal animals and species that are harder to spot.
The Creatures of the Night presentation is another part of the visit, where selected animals from the park are brought out to demonstrate their natural behaviours and skills.
You can also catch a short fire-and-light show near the entrance before heading into the park. If you like, you can have dinner in an open-air setting at Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant within the Night Safari complex.
The park is open daily from 6:00 PM to midnight, with the last entry at 11:15 PM. Entry is timed, so book your date and preferred time slot in advance.
Arriving around 7:00-7:30 PM gives you enough time for the tram ride, walking trails and the evening presentation without rushing.
Singapore Nightlife Tips
- Start early: Waterfront walks, Garden Rhapsody and Kampong Glam are worth visiting in the early evening, while clubs tend to get busier later at night.
- Check MRT timings before heading out: Singapore’s MRT does not run 24 hours a day. So, if you plan to stay out late, check the current train schedule before heading out. And keep a taxi or ride-hailing app as a backup.
- Legal drinking age: You must be at least 18 years old to buy or drink alcohol at licensed venues in Singapore.
- Check cover charges before going to a club: Entry prices can vary depending on the night, event and venue. Check the club’s latest event listing or ticket information before heading out.
- Dress appropriately for venues: Places like CÉ LA VI have a smart-casual dress code. Check the venue’s latest dress-code rules before visiting.
- Expect higher prices at rooftop and high-end bars: Cocktails at these venues can cost SGD 35 (approx. INR 2600) or more. Drinks at standard bars usually fall around SGD 25-32 (approx. INR 1900-2400). Casual bars and happy-hour deals can bring the price down to SGD 18-22 (approx. INR 1300-1600).
- Choose the area based on your timing: Kampong Glam is more active around dinner and the early evening, while Clarke Quay is more of a late-night option, with some clubs and bars continuing until 3:00 or 4:00 AM.
Conclusion
Singapore nightlife can be as relaxed as watching Garden Rhapsody, walking around Marina Bay or having supper at Lau Pa Sat or as lively as clubbing around Clarke Quay and Boat Quay.
Kampong Glam adds another side of the city with its shophouse bars, live music, Middle Eastern restaurants and streets around Sultan Mosque. Marina Bay and the CBD with their rooftop lounges pair drinks with high views of the city.
Families and travellers who prefer activities over bars and clubs can take a night cruise along the Singapore River or spend an evening at Night Safari.
With so many options spread across the city, you can build an evening around one area or combine several experiences. For help planning your Singapore trip and choosing the right experiences, contact Dimaak Tours.
FAQs About Singapore Nightlife
1. Which area in Singapore is best for nightlife?
Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are good choices for bars, clubs, riverside pubs, karaoke and late-night entertainment. Kampong Glam is best for live music, restaurants, bars and a more relaxed evening, while Marina Bay is good for rooftop bars and skyline views.
2. What are the best things to do in Singapore at night?
For first-time visitors, Garden Rhapsody and the Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony are two of Singapore’s top nighttime experiences. Families can add the Night Safari, while those looking for a typical nightlife experience can head to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay for bars, clubs and late-night entertainment. A night cruise along the Singapore River and trying late-night food at places such as Lau Pa Sat or Geylang are also worth adding to your evening.
3. Is Singapore nightlife expensive?
Singapore can be expensive at rooftop and high-end bars, where drinks can cost SGD 35 (approx. INR 2600) and even more. But there are also free nighttime experiences such as Garden Rhapsody and Spectra, as well as affordable options such as late-night hawker food.
4. Is Singapore safe at night?
Singapore is generally safe for going out at night, including around the main nightlife and waterfront areas. Although you should still take normal precautions, keep an eye on your belongings, and plan your return trip in advance.
