Marina Bay Singapore

When the sun goes down in Singapore, the city’s bars are the place to be, from seductive rooftop bars with spectacular views over the skyline to low-key hipster bars hidden in the forest.

Here are some cool bars to add to your Singapore travel list…

Lantern

Lantern is the stylish rooftop bar on the seventh floor of The Fullerton Bay Hotel, one of Singpore’s most luxurious hotels. The name is derived from Clifford Pier’s historical Chinese name, ‘red lantern’ and this is reflected in the lantern-themed circular bar.

After dark, the pool and deck are lit up with twinkling lights and guests sip cocktails in the elegant marquee with billowing drapes or lounging at the cabanas. Lantern has a cool Latin American feel with expertly-mixed Latin cocktails and Cuban music from a live band or a subtle loungey DJ set.

I tried the delicious Merlion, a cocktail made with tequila, young ginger, honey, lime and soda. Accompany a cocktail with a selection of bar plates – the truffle and garlic fries are particularly good.

With spectacular views over Marina Bay and a buzzing atmosphere, Lantern is one of the most chic rooftop bars and a ‘must see’ in Singapore.

1-Altitude

For a unique bar experience with cocktails above the skyline, try the world’s highest al fresco bar, 1-Altitude. 282 metres up on the top of One Raffles Place, 1-Altitude includes two other concepts – City Golf and Stellar restaurant, but the most impressive is the rooftop bar. The triangular-shaped glass gallery offers a 360 degree view of the city, with spectacular views of Marina Bay.

It attracts a young, affluent, well-heeled set who like to party. There is a lower dance floor area and DJs play loud Latin American and house while guests laze on the cabana beds and watch the hourly light show.

The cocktails are decent, but it’s the views and the experience that brings the crowds to 1-Altitude.

Tippling Club

Tippling Club could easily be one of the coolest bars in the world. Hidden among the lush forest in Singapore’s stylish Dempsey Hill, Tippling Club combines molecular cuisine and superior cocktails with an unpretentious neighbourhood atmosphere.

British chef and owner Ryan Clift offers a tasting menu of experimental dishes, prepared in the Testing Kitchen, a culinary laboratory where you can watch the chefs at work.

I tried Don The Beachcomber Zombie ($27) – tiki rum potion, apricot brandy, pineapple, bitters, passionfruit and flaming volcano, served in a tiki cup. Another unique cocktail is the Juniper Sling, created to celebrate the launch of Penhaligon’s fragrance of the same name. It’s served in the original perfume bottle and box, finished with a fragrant spritz.

Members of the Tippling Society can buy alcohol at a special rate and their bottles are kept overhead at the bar, ready for when they come back for a drink. The open-air Tippling Terrace is perfect for spending a balmy evening with cocktails and tempting bar snacks, under a canopy of trees and stars.

Wild Oats

Wild Oats is a real hidden gem, tucked away in a colonial mansion atop Mount Emily in Dempsey Hill.

Just a few steps from Chef Willin Low’s Wild Rocket restaurant, Wild Oats is a hip, low-key bar, sharing a building with artist studios. The terrace is the place to chill out over drinks and gourmet bar plates. If you’re going for cocktails, try the refreshing Emily Royale – Champagne, strawberry purée and crème de cassis.

Dempsey Hill is a cab ride away from the city centre, so I’d recommend making an evening of it and dine at Wild Rocket or Long Beach Seafood, followed by cocktails at Wild Oats and Tippling Club.

Zouk

Zouk is the multi-concept super-club that attracts big name DJs and crowds from all over the world. Velvet Underground bar however, is a much more slick, high end affair. Tables and drinks here are expensive and access is exclusive, so be prepared to make an effort.

Renovated last year, Zouk has an impressive multi-million pound art collection, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Takashi Murakami and Keith Haring.

Other notable cool bars that are on my list for future visits are the KU DÉ TA rooftop bar and restaurant on the top of Marina Bay Sands, New Asia bar at Swissôtel The Stamford and Bob’s Bar at Capella on Sentosa island.

For more cool bar recommendations, visit: www.yoursingapore.com

Singapore is a great city of contrasts, embracing both East and West, tradition and the future. Singapore’s downtown Marina Bay boasts spectacular modern architecture and luxury yet a slower pace of life can be found in the food centres and Chinatown, where elders play checkers in the afternoon heat.

Officially founded by Sir Stamford Raffles back in 1819, Singapore is now its own fully independent state, yet traces of its former British sovereignty make it accessible for Western travellers.

The Journey

I travelled to Singapore with a group of bloggers for a whirlwind trip, squeezing the city’s best sights into three days.

We flew there directly from Heathrow with the wonderful Singapore Airlines. Regarded as one of the best airlines in the world, its reputation is well-deserved as our 13.5 hour flight was made as enjoyable as possible. There was a large selection of new movies to get through and the food was excellent, offering a choice of western or Asian food – I loved the Beef Rendang, chicken noodles and lemongrass panna cotta dessert.

We were in awe of the charming ‘Singapore Girls’ (the affectionate name for the air stewardesses), who gracefully glides around the aircraft in their exquisite Balmain-designed traditional dresses. The male air stewards were also very distinguished and were chatty and helpful. Even Singapore airport had a tranquil, zen feeling and offered a stress-free arrival.

The Hotel

Our base in Singapore was the new high end budget hotel Innotel, located in a central part of town on Penang Lane. The staff were very friendly and hospitable and highlights included complimentary wifi, tea and coffee making facilities and bottles of mineral water replaced twice a day. The bed was exceptionally comfy and the quiet location of my room (overlooking a garden) helped with getting a good night’s sleep.

Henderson Waves

The first stop after a long-haul flight (after a few hours sleep, of course) should be Henderson Waves. This spectacular wave-like 274 metre-long pedestrian bridge overlooks Henderson Road and connects Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park, offering a panoramic view of the city. Start at the top and walk down through the lush greenery along metal walkways, taking in the unique flora and fauna.

At the bottom of the hill is a modern visitor’s centre, where you can relax with a cold drink and enjoy the manicured gardens. We found this to be an exhilarating way to get over the fatigue of flying and ease into the hot and humid Singapore climate.

Singapore Flyer

Another great way to see the city up on high is a flight on the Singapore Flyer, standing at an impressive 165m. The 28 glass air-conditioned capsules rotate slowly and offer an unrivalled 360 degree view over Singapore.

Night Safari

Tigers and elephants may be an unexpected sight in Singapore, but the city’s popular Night Safari offers a nocturnal view of some of the world’s endangered species. Take a tram ride around the park with an experienced tour guide and hop off to get closer and experience one of the special trails. It’s a strange experience being so close to predatory animals, but there are in fact deep moats between the public and the animals, creating an optical illusion. Singapore Night Safari is committed to conservation and animal welfare and flash photography is forbidden.

Before beginning the night safari, visitors can watch a show by Malay fire-eaters, dine at the food court or try the fish foot spa. It might be a bit too tourist-orientated for some, but it’s a rare chance to see the world’s most beautiful animals.

As guests of Singapore Tourism Board, we zipping around the city in our own Your Singapore private bus, however, the MRT (mass rapid transit metro system) is famously efficient and taxis are very affordable and frequent.

Trishaw Uncle Ride

But one of the most enjoyable ways of touring the city is to take a Trishaw Uncle ride. Trishaws were used as the main transport method in Singapore before cars, buses and trains and Trishaw Uncle pays tribute to this tradition with a fleet of contemporary motorised bike-carriages, each operated by an ‘uncle’ (an affectionate name for elders in Singapore).

We rode through the city, accompanied by audio commentary, taking in the sights, including a spin through Little India. Uncle kindly provided some bottled water and rice cracker treats to keep us going throughout the ride.

Chinatown

Another must-see is Chinatown, where you can visit the breath-taking Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple (Singapore’s oldest Hindu Temple). In Chinatown you can find wet markets and stalls selling everything from brightly coloured chopsticks and Chinese remedies to traditional horse hair brushes and pickled snakes in a jar.

My favourite area of Singapore is the nearby Ann Siang Hill, lined with hip designer boutiques, concept stores, a quirky patisserie, great restaurants and design hotels.

Sentosa Island

The island of Sentosa is just a short distance from Singapore, so visitors can combine a city break and beach holiday. Sentosa is family-orientated with a number of attractions including the MegaZip Adventure Park, Fort Siloso and a Dolphin Lagoon. However tranquility can be found on the more secluded Tanjong beach and at the chic, refined hotel and spa, Capella Singapore.

Sentosa also hosts the annual music festival Zouk Out, attracting big name DJs who have played at Singapore superclub, Zouk.

Singapore is a vibrant, developing city with so much to see that you could easily spend a week there and not tire of it. It’s an immaculately clean, well-mannered city with vast areas of greenery. However, with Malaysia nearby, a tour of south-east Asia a tempting prospect.

Look out for more on Singapore’s street food, fine dining, shopping and arts & culture…

For more information on Singapore, visit: www.yoursingapore.com

Chérie City was a guest of Singapore Tourism Board.

All photos by Chérie City (except Innotel).

The Best Bars In Singapore