Nightlife in Clarke Quay and Riverside presents some of Singapore's top bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in a vibrant after-dark playground. As soon as the working day is over, Clarke Quay is the buzz word on everybody’s lips. Lying in close proximity to the Central Business District, this cute collection of bars and restaurants is Singapore’s go-to area for chilled out alfresco wining and dining.

The colourful intertwining boulevards are perfect for bar hopping on any night of the week, and there’s also a good helping of all-out nightclubs for those that want to keep the party going well into the morning. Food, drink and partying are what this area specialises in. Most of the best nightlife spots in Clarke Quay and Riverside are a short walk from Clarke Quay MRT Station.

    • Nightlife

    Love it or hate it, Attica is up there with Singapore’s most popular clubs. Easily reachable on Clarke Quay’s waterfront, Attica epitomises a certain type of Singapore venue, one in which fashionistas come to look pretty, chart-friendly tunes appease the masses, and young professionals let their money do most of the talking.

    To give credit where it’s due, Attica’s recently revamped interior certainly looks the part, and they do occasionally play host to some international names like Paul Oakenfold. It’s huge too, and with four different areas, you can easily switch to the more underground-feeling hip-hop, house and electronic zones if you get bored with the party pop soundtrack in the main room.

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    Location: 3A River Valley Road #02-05 Clarke Quay, Singapore

    Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 10.30 am to 3.30 am, Friday–Saturday from 10.30 pm to 4.30 am

    Phone: +65 6333 9973

    Map

    photo by celebrityabc (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

    • Nightlife

    Serious about your dance music? Then you should probably take note of Zouk, Singapore’s first real super club. It's always been at the forefront of the nightlife scene in the country, welcoming pioneering local DJs, as well as big-hitting international names like David Guetta, The Chemical Brothers and Tiesto.

    You’ll find a mixed crowd, most of whom couldn’t care less about the price of your brand of vodka, but rather who’s on the night’s line-up. The venue is comprised of various interconnecting clubs and zones allowing revellers to switch areas with ease (most just refer to the whole complex as ‘Zouk’). The massive converted warehouse-club can be found upriver from Clarke Quay on Jiak Kim Street.

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    Location: 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, Singapore 179022, Singapore

    Open: Wednesday and Friday from 10 pm to 3 am, Thursday from 10 pm to 2 am, Saturday from 10 am to 4 am (closed Sunday–Tuesday)

    Phone: +65 6738 2988

    Map

    photo by Jorge Láscar (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 3

    Harry's @ Boat Quay

    Harry's @ Boat Quay
    • Food
    • Nightlife

    Renowned for its live jazz acts, Harry’s @ Boat Quay is the first flagship venue of the restaurant and bar group that has several other branches spread throughout Singapore.

    Besides live jazz, you can also order beer on tap while watching live sports feeds ranging from rugby to Formula One racing. At the Boat Quay spot, you can also join in on the quiz nights every Wednesday night and stand a chance to win a free bucketload of beer.

    Location: 28 Boat Quay, Singapore 049818, Singapore

    Open: Sunday–Thursday from 11.30 am to 12 am, Friday and Saturday from 11.30 am to 1 am

    Phone: +65 6538 3029

    Map
    • Nightlife

    Canvas Nightclub in Singapore promises punters a strict bass-heavy music policy that shies away from all the pop hits and EDM-style tracks found in most of the nearby Clarke Quay clubs.

    The club has a yellow-on-black branding on its wall that’s bold and a bit hard to miss. You can expect a DJ roster that is filled with local and international performers who play on a weekly basis – encompassing genres such as a garage, techno, progressive, minimal house, and thumping drum and bass.

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    Location: 20 Upper Circular Road, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, Singapore

    Open: Tuesdays from 5 pm to midnight, Wednesday–Friday from 5 pm to 3 am, Saturdays from 8 pm to 4 am (closed on Sundays and Mondays)

    Phone: +65 8125 0166

    Map

    photo by celebrityabc (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

  • 5

    Harry's @ Riverside Point

    Harry's @ Riverside Point
    • Food
    • Nightlife

    Harry's @ Riverside Point presents live bands every Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7.30pm onwards. Don't forget the popular Singapore bar and restaurant chain's delicious treats such as soy-glazed beef cubes its signature classic jazz burger alongside beers nd cocktails.

    Location: 30 Merchant Road, #01-04 Singapore 058282, Singapore

    Open: Sunday–Tuesday from 11 am to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 am to 1 am, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 12 am

    Phone: +65 6438 8852

    Map
  • 6

    G-Max Reverse Bungy

    G-Max Reverse Bungy
    • Adventure
    • Nightlife

    As long as you’re not afraid of heights, G-Max Reverse Bungy is a great alternative to Clarke Quay’s usual activities of eating and drinking at the many picturesque waterside bars or restaurants. This is Singapore’s first ever bungy and offers some great views of the city as well as an adrenaline fix to satisfy even the biggest of thrill seekers.

    The daredevils that try it out (or just those who have plucked up enough Dutch courage at a nearby bar) are launched skywards at 200 km/h to a height of 60 metres. Although open from 5pm every day, G-Max is best enjoyed when the sun goes down and the city is lit up in spectacular fashion.

    Location: 3 River Valley Rd, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179024, Singapore

    Open: Daily from 5 pm until late

    Phone: +65 6338 1766

    Map

    photo by Schristia (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

    • Nightlife

    The Quayside at Robertson Quay is perfect for anyone looking for a combination of dining and drinking in alfresco style around Singapore's popular riverside area.

    With a modern and exclusive atmosphere, The Quayside complex offers accommodation, eating, and drinking venues, and is connected to the Intercontinental Singapore Hotel, offering high-class services in the heart of Singapore.

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    Location: 60 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238252, Singapore

    Map
  • 8

    The Crazy Elephant

    • Nightlife

    The Crazy Elephant in Clark Quay throws class and sophistication right out the window, replacing it instead with a nightly dose of quality live rock music and a non-pretentious, casual atmosphere. Nestled alongside lines of swanky new ‘boutique’ and ‘bistro’ bars on the Clarke Quay riverfront, The Crazy Elephant stands out with its scruffy graffiti-lined walls and long-haired rockers nodding away to the blues and classic rock bands until the early hours.

    Drinks are reasonably priced too; at just over S$10 for a beer, this is one of the cheapest spots in the area. Arrive before the music starts (around 10pm) to grab a good spot, and don’t forget to bring your air guitar.

    Location: 3E River Valley Rd, #01-03/04, Singapore 179024, Singapore

    Open: Monday from 5 pm to 1 am, Tuesday–Thursday from 5 pm to 2 am, Friday–Sunday from 5 pm to 3 am

    Phone: +65 6337 7859

    Map
  • 9

    Shuffle Bistro Bar

    • Nightlife

    This spacious pub/restaurant is a good bet for groups or couples looking for a more chilled out venue with no shocks when the bill arrives at the end. Shuffle Bistro Bar boasts 150 seats, meaning the common Clarke Quay predicament of limited seating space at peak times is not so much of a problem here.

    They also serve up a tasty menu, mostly comprised of comfort food like chicken wings, pizzas and burgers - all coming in at a very reasonable S$10-15. At the back, there’s a small stage welcoming local bands who play a mix of Chinese classics and chart covers – not exactly rocking the place like other Clarke Quay joints but certainly creating a more relaxed vibe that many people prefer.

    Location: 3D River Valley Road, #02-03, Clarke Quay, Singapore

    Open: Monday–Tuesday from 6 pm to midnight, Wednesday–Thursday from 6 pm to 1 am, Friday–Saturday from 6 pm to 3 am (closed on Sundays)

    Phone: +65 6338 9438

    Map
  • 10

    The Chupitos Bar

    • Nightlife

    Those with even the most basic grasp of Spanish will know what The Chupitos Bar is all about: shots, shots and more shots! Just don’t expect the miniature glasses of liquor to be served in any ordinary fashion. Many of the shooters come with their own themed trick or gimmick, often with fire or funny props involved in the process.

    Some shots are delightfully exotic (lychee martini), some are a bit disgusting (liquid steak), and others are just downright dangerous – gas chamber, absinth trilogy and torture bong, among others. It’s lots of fun and a great place to impress your friends, but probably not the best bar to spend an entire evening; with shots starting at S$12, both your wallet and your stomach won’t thank you in the morning.

    Location: 3B River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-05, Singapore 179021, Singapore

    Open: Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30 pm to 1.30 am, Wednesday and Friday–Saturday from 6.30 pm to 3.30 am

    Phone: +65 6333 4513

    Map
  • 11

    Cuba Libre Cafe & Bar

    • Nightlife

    Singaporeans and expats might be a little too quick to dismiss Cuba Libre as just another tourist bar at Clarke Quay, but when it comes to living music and feel-good vibes, this lively bar wins top marks in our book. Yes, you won’t find too many locals here, but that’s all but irrelevant with cosy venue jumping every night (apart from Sunday) with their excellent house bands who play Cuban hits and some particularly fun Latino infused covers of pop songs.

    The dancing starts at around 10pm, and don’t forget to try one of the signature Mojitos – highly recommended despite the S$24 price. Come between 6pm and 9pm and ask them about their promos for discount drink offers.

    Location: Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd, #01-13, 179021, Singapore

    Open: Daily from 5 pm to 4 am

    Phone: +65 6338 8982

    Map
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    Little Saigon Singapore

    • Nightlife

    Little Saigon is a long-favourite restaurant and bar located at Clarke Quay, Singapore’s famed nightlife hub. Serving all the Vietnamese classics (think pho, lemon beef, spring rolls, and roasted duck), the relaxed dining vibe here during the day turns more lively as the evening goes on, with a house band belting out Top 40 hits well into the night.

    Décor at Little Saigon lives up to its name, with obvious references to Vietnam’s second city such as hanging lanterns, colonial-style wooden surfaces and a generous helping of colour to brighten the whole place up. They are located right in the middle of Clarke Quay’s action (at Block E, underneath the bubble-like roof). Their tempting happy hour also gets you 50% off all beers, cocktails and house pour every day when you arrive before 8pm.

    Location: 3 River Valley Road, 01-02-E Clarke Quay, 179024, Singapore

    Open: Monday–Thursday from 4 pm to 1 am, Friday from 4 pm to 2 am, Saturday from midday to 2 am, Sunday from midday to 1 am

    Phone: +65 6337 5585

    Map
Paul Smith | Compulsive Traveler