Singapore Hotels

In 1999, TIME magazine described Singapore as "swinging" and "funky". The truth is that in the past decade, bars and nightspots have blossomed in a big way in the Lion City. Previously perceived as an over-protected nanny state where its well-behaved inhabitants just don't know how to have fun, partying the night away has instead become the norm.

Don't worry if pubbing and clubbing is not your thing. You can also enjoy Chinese street operas, night markets, theater productions, classical music performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, dances performed by the Singapore Dance Theatre, international bands and off-Broadway productions. Singapore's nightlife does, indeed, make the country a truly bustling city.

Night Guide
Many of the bars and clubs have taken on a unique Singapore or Southeast Asian character. You'll find restored Chinese godowns (Asian warehouses) pumping out rap or retro, trendy bars of glass-and-steel exteriors and Buddhist temple-style interiors, and historic drinking dens. There's definitely enough to keep pub-crawlers and other nocturnal creatures well occupied. Moreover, nightspots in Singapore tend to exist in clusters, making bar hopping even easier. The golden triangle of nightspots -- Zouk-Mohammed Sultan-Boat Quay -- is all a short taxi ride from one another. Be warned though - on Friday and Saturday nights the clubbing herd comes out in full force and you may have to call for a taxi to avoid waiting in line.

After a hectic night of activity, settle down to supper at one of the many 24-hour coffeehouses in the city and superb food stalls scattered throughout the island. Teochew porridge, caramel bean curd or just coffee and cake are just some satisfying ways in which Singaporeans end a pleasant evening. The Newton Circus hawker center is alive all night, while many hotels have coffeehouses that welcome the tired and hungry until the wee hours of the morning.

Orchard Road
Apart from being famous for shopping, this well-known stretch also harbors some great clubs.

Venom (Pacific Plaza Penthouse, 9 Scotts Road, 6-734-7677) boasts a state-of-the-art dance floor and a sweeping view of Orchard Road. The theme changes every night, and the music ranges from pop to retro to house.

For a touch of soft sophistication, go to Brix (Basement Level, 10-12 Scotts Road 6-730-7107), which is situated in the luxurious Grand Hyatt Hotel. The underground place is lit up with candles, and the d?cor is warm and woody. The pub's resident band plays every day, and the place also has a great wine bar. Another trendy spot is Bar None (320 Orchard Road, 6-831-4656) at The Marriott Hotel. Bar None's resident band, Energy, is often said to be Singapore's best homegrown music group.

If you can't get over the '80s, there's Sparks (391, Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre, 6-735-6133). This huge entertainment complex houses a dance floor where retro music booms loud and clear, as well as many karaoke rooms. If you've never tried karaoke, there's no better place to do so.

For a cozy environment, head for the Emerald Hill part of Orchard Road. Here, Peranakan-style shophouses allow you to cradle a glass of Beaujolais at the Que Pasa wine bar (7 Emerald Hill, 6-235-6626), or a mug of frothy Tiger at No. 5 (5, Emerald Hill, 6-732-0818) or Ice Cold Beer (Emerald Hill, 6-735-9929). The latter's specialty is beer - it has over 35 varieties -- chilled in ice tanks. There's also the carnival-like atmosphere of Papa Joe's (180, Orchard Road, Peranakan Place) with its colorful d?cor and catchy dance music.

Mohammed Sultan Road
In the past few years, this once-forgotten back alley has taken on legendary proportions. Once a ramshackle row of old Chinese godowns, the street has been transformed into a vital, throbbing artery of Singapore's nightlife. The godowns have retained their colorful Peranakan facades, and many of the bars in this area have adopted a Shanghai Old World type of interior.

Needless to say, Mohammed Sultan is pub-crawler paradise. As good a place to start as any is Wong San's. The d?cor here revels in its Chinese warehouse-like ambience -- scarred wooden furniture, antique calendars and faded photos of a bygone era. The crowd is hip and young, the music pop and retro. There are monthly parties that play around a theme, such as The World of Suzie Wong.

Another joint with an Oriental ambience is Madam Wong's, which is swamped every Friday night. Rumor is that the place is haunted by Madam Wong, but that doesn't seem to worry the people jiving to the retro music on the dance floor. The clientele is definitely on the young side. Expect lots of tabletop dancing.

If you're tired of the Oriental thing, Sugar is a funky place to be. One of the few gay clubs in Singapore, this nightspot stands at the cutting-edge of hip and draws in a more creative and avant-garde crowd. Sugar is also known for changing its d?cor every few months - a recent makeover had make-believe chickens, plucked and headless, hanging from the walls.

Across the road, try out the Siam Supperclub for a more upscale ambience. While the bar is housed within the steel-and-glass monolith of a condominium, the mood inside is definitely Far Eastern with a modern twist. The walls are adorned with antique stone figurines from Thailand and Vietnam, set off by the lighting from huge red lampshades. If you wish to go even more upscale, hop onto the minimalist dance floors of Lush or Amoeba (207, River Valley Road, #01-5/60, 6-735-6193), both places where you can usually spot a local celebrity or two. The look here is spare but definitely posh.

Boat Quay & Clarke Quay

Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are dotted with restaurants as well as pubs, so the mood here is slightly laid-back and the crowd mixed. Patronized by serious party-goers, but also people just out for a drink after work, couples chatting over a leisurely dinner and tourists. The pubs are old Chinese godowns and shophouses given a heartening facelift.

You can't walk down Boat Quay without noticing Harry's Bar (No 28, 6-538-3029), Singapore's best-known jazz joint. The live jazz here is of the more classic variety, although sometimes the music branches out to acid jazz. Harry's is a popular haunt of expatriates, especially those working in the towering skyscrapers nearby. Nick Leeson, the infamous trader who brought down England's Barings Bank, frequented Harry's. They've concocted a drink there in his honor - it's called the Bankbreaker.

Another highly popular watering hole is Molly Malone's (42, Circular Road, 6-534-5100) an Irish pub and grill that won the Newsweek International World's Best Bar accolade in 1996. The d?cor is so authentically Irish that you'd be forgiven for thinking yourself in Ireland, while the mood is friendly and mellow.

To savor more beer, take a bumboat to nearby Clarke Quay and pop into Brewerkz Restaurant & Microbrewery (30 Merchant Road, #01-05 Riverside Point, 6-438-7438). The large steel vats are where the beer is made, and Brewerkz churns out the best India Pale Ale in town. The crowd here is mostly yuppie and expatriate, and the menu consists of pizzas, salads and American-size burgers.

For a strong blast of the blues, head for nearby Crazy Elephant (3E River Valley Road, #01-07 Traders Market Clarke Quay, 6-337-1990). This laid-back pub has live blues and rock n' roll bands playing after 10pm every night except Mondays. The d?cor is warm wood recalling the hey-day of rock n' roll, and the graffiti makes for great reading when the band's taking time out.

Zouk
Any review of the Singapore club scene will not be complete without Zouk (17, Jiak Kim Street, 6-738-2988). This hugely popular club, which has been compared with some of the best in Europe, plays mainly techno, house and hip hop to a mostly young crowd. Zouk's music is spun by its seven resident DJs, while regular live acts from visiting artists such as Galliano, Chemical Brothers, Heart and Kylie Minogue are an added draw. Wednesday is Mambo Jambo night, when the club shakes off its techno garb and plays a mix of 70s to 90s pop.

For those with an aversion to heavy techno, the Zouk establishment also houses Velvet Underground, where the crowd is slightly older and the music is mainly Soul and Garage. The mood here is sophisticated and futuristic - the walls are adorned in velvet and hung with original modern art works, and the furniture has a Bauhaus feel.

Adjoining Zouk's main building is Phuture, where the music is a more eclectic mixture of trip hop, drum 'n' bass and down tempo. The d?cor is a futuristic, space-agey blend of steel, liquids-in-glass-vials and state-of-the-art lighting.

As the real action at Zouk and its sister discos don't begin until midnight, the popular place to hang out in the meantime between dinner and dance is the Zouk Wine Bar. This stylish bar is a great place for people-watching.