Quays

Eat and meet

Quays

Crazy Elephant

Clarke Quay's only live music

#01-03 Blk 3E River Valley Road, Clarke Quay
T: 6337 7859

Even if it weren't the only live music bar at Clarke Quay the Crazy Elephant would still be the best. The resident blues band takes the stage at 22:00 and on weekends the soulful songs draw such a crowd the bar overflows and people line the Singapore River to listen. Once the music starts even a ... read more
Clarke Quay

Singapore's trendiest restaurants and bars

Home to Singapore's trendiest restaurants and bars, Clarke Quay is the place to see and be seen. The tables alongside the river go fast and, in spite of their size, favourite sun-down drinking spots like Brewerkz, Cafe Iguana and Harry's Bar are always full. Of course, popularity translates to ... read more
Robertson Quay

Wine bars and family-friendly restaurants

With wine bars and family-friendly restaurants (kids eat free at a few), Robertson is by far the most laid-back of the three Quays. The area is home to a lot of expensive expat housing and looks more like Sydney than Singapore on a Sunday afternoon when the parents brunch by the river and blonde ... read more
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Perpetually busy

11 New Bridge Rd
T: 6533 6128

Opposite Clarke Quay MRT, Song Fa is a perpetually busy spot specialising in bak kut teh — literally pork bone tea. Fatty pork ribs, a secret blend of herbs, and many hours of boiling result in a soup so flavourful you'll want to eat a large bowl despite the heat. The soup is eaten with ... read more
Ricotti The Riverwalk

A winning Italian option

#B1-49 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Rd
T: 6533 9060

With a picturesque setting by the Singapore River and fresh Italian fare at very reasonable prices, Ricotti Restaurant will instantly win you over. Gnocchi, linguine, penne, and other pasta dishes are so tender you know they've been made in-house and are accompanied with rich tomato or cream ... read more
Café Iguana

Singapore's go-to Mexican restaurant

30 Merchant Rd, #01-03 Riverside Point
T: 6236 1275

Fresh ingredients and prime real estate along the river make Café Iguana Singapore's go-to Mexican restaurant. In addition to the usual tacos, burritos, quesadillas and sizzling fajita plates the menu offers some authentic Latin fare like chile rellenos (whole chilies stuffed with sausage and ... read more
Alegro Spanish Street Food

One of the rare deals at Clarke Quay

#01-13 3D River Valley Road

This al fresco Spanish spot is one of the rare deals at Clarke Quay. Chewy baguettes stuffed with premium ingredients like Serrano ham or chorizo sausage are big enough for a full meal and lots of tasty finger foods will tempt, like empanadas, calamari and potato wedges. If you've got a sweet ... read more
Prince of Wales

Reliable live music joint

51 Boat Quay
T: 6536 9697

At their second location beside the river the Prince of Wales feels less like a backpacker bar and more like an Aussie pub. Like the Little India location it's a reliable spot for live music with a changing line-up of local bands and international indie bands plus a Sunday afternoon jam session. ... read more
Actors the Jam Bar

Great or terrible

13A-15A South Bridge Rd
T: 6535 3270

If you've always wanted to perform for a crowd but were held back by your lack of talent, this is the bar for you. Anyone is welcome to pick up the mike or an instrument and jam with the house band as long as they add their name to the performer's queue. Depending who takes the stage and how many ... read more
Home Club

Wildly popular open mike nights

B#01-01/06 , 20 Upper Circular Rd
T: 6538 2928

After the closure of Singapore's last comedy club, Home Club filled the void with their open mike "Comedy Masala" every Tuesday night. With a seriously funny MC and anyone able to participate, it's become wildly popular. The club has lots of comfy seating so you can relax and enjoy the show and ... read more
Archipelago Craft Beer Hub

Singapore's real best beer

79 Circular Rd
T: 6327 8408

Ignore the touts at Boat Quay offering discounts on Tiger and try Singapore's real best beer at this pub just off the river. Archipelago has been around since 1931 and is known for using Asian ingredients like palm sugar and tamarind to create complex flavours. Beers are brewed in small batches on ... read more
Brewerkz Riverside Point

Handcrafted brews

30 Merchant Road, #01-05/06 Riverside Point
T: 6438 7438

Singapore's best known microbrewery handcrafts its beer at this huge restaurant at Clarke Quay — the al fresco area alone can seat 300. Some beers, like the golden ale and European-style pilsner, are always on the menu while more experimental brews, like one flavoured with dragonfruit, may not ... read more
Zirca Mega Club

Get ready to party

#01-02/05 Blk C River Valley Road, Clarke Quay
T: 6305 6768

This massive club at Clarke Quay plays electro, house, trance and anything else worth dancing to. The infectious beats are accompanied by light shows and aerial performances that make clubbing here a multi-sensory experience. Zirca isn't as exclusive as neighbouring Attica, but it's equally ... read more
Attica

Boogie with the beautiful

#01-03 Blk 3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay
T: 6333 9973

Boogie with the beautiful people at this Clarke Quay hotspot. In the early evening Attica will let almost anyone have a drink at their riverside patio, but later in the night a long queue forms outside the main door and the bouncer can be very particular — definitely dress to impress. The music ... read more
Viet Inn

Pho plus

49 Circular Rd
T: 6536 1847

Go with the pho at this authentic Vietnemese joint near Boat Quay. If the beef broth with fresh herbs, springy noodles and generous slices of meat isn't flavourful enough for you, add even more zing with sliced chilies and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. If you find Singapore is too hot for soup, ... read more
Tomo Tempura Bar

Casual Japanese dining

3D River Valley Road, #01-14 Clarke Quay
T: 6333 0100

Everything from shitake mushrooms and sweet potatoes to king prawns and sausage get the tempura treatment to make a casual Japanese-style meal at this Clarke Quay spot. Prices start from S$1.20 per skewer and there's a small selection of sushi and sashimi. Japanese beer and sake are as integral a ... read more
Annalaksmhi

Great food, pay what you can

#01-04 Central Square, 20 Havelock Rd
T: 6339 9993

Don't be confused by the absence of prices, elegant Annalakshmi Vegetarian Restaurant operates on an "eat what you want, pay as you feel" philosophy. Start the meal with some fried samosas then move on to north Indian mains like vegetable jalfrezi (mixed vegetable curry) or paneer butter masala ... read more
Shah Alam

A near-Boat Quay bargain

20 Circular Rd
T: 6536 1672

This 24-hour greasy spoon near Boat Quay is popular with the post-bar crowd and its full tables attest that nothing soaks up alcohol like roti prata and curry. If you need more to sate your appetite try the mee goreng (fried noodles) or chicken briyani leftover from lunch — it's amazing when it's ... read more
Boat Quay

Infested with touts

This riverside strip of restaurants has the best views of the Singapore River but an unfortunate infestation of touts. It's impossible to walk along Boat Quay without being harassed to eat at each restaurant, but if you're willing to deal with them you may get a free drink or a discount from the ... read more
Singapore Sling Restaurant

Chilli crab pizza and spaghetti - really

#01-05 3B River Valley Road
T: 6334 4033

More of a Singapore-themed restaurant than a Singaporean restaurant, this spot deserves a mention for their fusion creations of chilli crab pizza and spaghetti. Both dishes, the most popular items on their very limited menu, are surprisingly tasty and pack in all the chilli crab flavour without ... read more
Tom Yum Kung Fu

Thai classics on a budget in the Quays

16 Circular Rd
T: 6536 1646

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant amid the bars on Circular Road does many of the standard Thai classics. Expect fried rice, spicy soups and phad Thai plus some not-so-Thai dishes like steamboat — a do-it-yourself meal of meat and veggies cooked in soup broth. The tom yum goong contains a generous ... read more
Tampopo

Go for the ramen

177 River Valley Road, Liang Court Shopping Centre
T: 6338 3186

Though the huge menu covers everything from Japanese curry to sushi, Tampopo has made a name for itself with its ramen. This noodle soup is nothing like the stuff you forced down in college or uni and has rich broth, springy noodles and generous portions of meat or seafood. Their signature soup is ... read more