One of the best features of Singapore is the food. There is a seemingly endless array of restaurants and dining options across the city, and especially in the heart of the island. A plethora of cultures has resulted in a melting pot of menus from around the globe. Of course, Malay, Chinese and Indian are popular, but tourists will also find a large number of Italian, French, Japanese, Thai, and other international restaurants. The Nonya cuisine is also common, which is a mix of Chinese, Malay and other traditional flavors. The nightlife in Singapore is exciting, but it is no match for other destinations in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, there are plenty of funky bars and dance clubs scattered around the city-state. Some establishments remain open 24 hours, but others tend to close around 3:00 a.m.
Bars and Pubbing in Singapore
Riverside has a number of bars and clubs, many around Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay. Zouk (17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore) is Singapore’s most famous dance venue, which is actually comprised of four spots including Phuture, Velvet Underground and Wine Bar. Attica (34 River Valley Road, Singapore) is another popular dance club at Clarke Quay. For a more social outing, head to Bar 84 (76 Robertson Quay, Singapore) at Robertson Quay, but be sure to bring plenty of cash as it is pricey.
Chinatown is another popular spot for a night out. O’Bama’s Irish Pub (54 Tras Street, Chinatown, Singapore) is the only traditional Irish pub in town, so it gets a lot of regular nightly customers. A romantic establishment is Beaujolais Wine Bar (1 Anne Siang Hill, Chinatown, Singapore). The Breeze (33 Erskine Road, Chinatown, Singapore) sits atop the Scarlet Hotel, which offers stunning views and relaxing décor.
Orchard Road has intriguing nightlife too. Alley Bar (2 Emerald Hill, Singapore) is a chic and modern venue nestled in a small corridor between two shops; while Number 5 (5 Emerald Hill, Singapore) is located at Emerald Hill, a bar with a relaxing upstairs and rowdy downstairs. Monkey’s Café (400 Orchard Road, Singapore) is a more social pub with great food and reasonably priced drinks.
Dining and Cuisine in Singapore
Although more expensive than other areas, Riverside has a plethora of interesting dining spots and most of the noteworthy restaurants are found along the waterfront. Gya-Kaku (81A Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore) is a popular Japanese grill, although not recommended for vegetarians. When it comes to Chinese food, Jade (1 Fullerton Square, Singapore) is top notch. The best Italian restaurant in Singapore is Prego (80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore), found in the Riverside district.
Chinese is obviously the staple of Chinatown, but other cuisines can be sampled. Travelers should try Uluru (36 Duxton Hill, Chinatown, Singapore), which is an Australian steakhouse with great service and charm. A standout Chinese restaurant is Fatty Ox Hong Kong Roast Duck (10 Murray Street, Chinatown, Singapore). Italian restaurants are popular, but none moreso than Da Paolo (80 Club Street, Chinatown, Singapore).
Orchard Road’s dining culture is almost equal to that of its shopping scene. If you enjoy sushi, Sushi Kikuzawa (360 Orchard Road, Singapore) is the place to be with its all you can eat buffet of fresh fish. Renowned Thai food is available is available at Sabai (391 Orchard Road, Singapore), which serves traditional cuisine. No brunch in Singapore can beat Mezza 9 (10-12 Scotts Road, Singapore), albeit a little pricey.