The best rooftop bars in Singapore

The view Perched at the National Gallery, Smoke and Mirrors is a prime spot for views of the city from the Padang to the Bay. After dark's the best time to take in the night glow of the city. 

The drinks Its drinks menu features the spirit-forward Pony Express selection, including a herbal Feel My Energy ($19) made with sweet vermouth and bitter aperitif for a bitter-sweet aftertaste. There is also the Special Sips menu, inspired by the artworks of Salvador Dali.

The view From the outdoor terrace of this microbrewery perched on the Marina Bay Financial Centre, the Marina Bay, Esplanade and the city's eastern neighbourhoods splay out under its roost. 

The drinks The craft beers brewed in-house go for $9.50 for 300ml before 8pm, then climb to $12.50 a pour after. If you're not sure what to go for, platters of five 100-millilitre samplers of Level33's blond lager, IPA, stout, house porter and wheat beers can be ordered at $23.50. These brews also go into beer cocktails, but if you're avoiding malt altogether, shoot for the house wines or premium vintages.

The view It’s clear what this rooftop dining destination is known for; Vue is the French translation of the word ‘view’. From its high floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoy breathtaking views of the Civic District from the 19th floor of OUE Bayfront. The open air space is also home to Singapore’s first rooftop spritz bar. 

The drinks Pair the dramatic views with vibrant spritz cocktails. The Basil Spritz ($20) is a refreshing combination of dry gin, basil, and lemon, or try the special Reiwa Highball ($18) made with umeshu and rum with hints of shiso and mint. Drop by between 5pm and 7pm – prime hours to catch the sunset – and enjoy complimentary servings of canapés with your drinks. 

The view Perched on level 39 of Andaz Singapore, Mr Stork has teepee huts hidden amid lush greenery for you and your date to nest in while enjoying panoramic views of the city skyline. Order a drink from the striking bronze pavilion bar and stroll along the cobbled paths that wind around the entire level, giving you a 360-degree city-viewing experience.

The drinks Choose Ruby ($22) – a citrusy concoction of lemon, ginger, fresh mint, vermouth and Ceylon arrack - served in an incredibly Insta-worthy elephant mug. Those who like their drinks fizzy can opt for Rhubarb ($22), a medley of rhubarb puree, strawberry and lemon juice, sparkling wine and a shot of vodka.  

The view The OG of local rooftop bars might be – literally – overshadowed by younger upstarts on taller buildings, but it hasn't yet lost its place on our list of watering holes for a fun night out. 

The drinks There are locally inspired cocktails like the Kopi Cat ($19), an alcoholic take on the breakfast coffee staple made with salted caramel vodka, kopi, hazelnut and condensed milk. The spiked bubble tea cocktails (from $22) are a fun treat to suck on too.

The view Just like how The Other Room redefined speakeasies in Singapore, The Other Roof is out to raise the bar of rooftop bars. Take the lift up to the top of Ann Siang House and be greeted by the massive space that seats 75 (or even 150 upon request). There's a view of Chinatown and the surround Ann Siang district but the real draw has to be the eye-candy that flock to this bar after work.

The drinks Blending tea time with cocktail o'clock, the bar offers drinks like Stairway to Heaven ($22), a love-it-or-hate-it concoction of pineapple, coriander, celery and vanity tea rum, or La Boheme ($22), a refreshing blend of créme de cassis, bubbly and black currant soul tea gin.

The view Cinematic (read: long and narrow) views of the city and straits waters. Occasionally the reverie is broken by a half-togged infinity pool swimmer sauntering by, but the vibe is otherwise über-cool. 

The drinks A substantial list of mixed tipples. Some, like the Run Like Hell ($26) and I'm So Sexy ($26), are carry-overs from the bar at CUT by Wolfgang Puck, found downstairs. Touches of Asian flavours – guava, Thai basil, calamansi and lychee, for instance – show up in the cocktails, too.

The view Escape the bustle of the city, and views of the concrete jungle, and trade it for the sea instead. Perched on Faber Peak some 100m above sea level, Dusk provides panoramic views of the water and Sentosa Island – best enjoyed, of course, at dusk.

The drinks They are as dramatic as the views. Like the smoking nitro margarita ($16), or the Nitro-frost caviar martini ($16) topped with fruit caviar for flair and flavour. From 10pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, a selection of drinks goes for just $20 for three, with light bites like truffle steak fries and crispy chicken mid wings going at $20 for two. 

The view Take in the view of the Marina Bay area from 57 floors up. The breezy rooftop lounge offers postcard-worthy snapshots of Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore River. 

The drinks Craft your own negroni ($25) if you’re in the mood, or simply kick back and enjoy a handcrafted cocktail ($25). It ranges from the vodka-based Dragon Spritz with Aperol and dragon fruit, to the sparkly Frozé made with rosé wine and raspberry.

The view Zafferano’s sky-high location in the middle of the CBD gives it an unrivalled view of Singapore’s cityscape. Soak in the final glow of sunlight of the day during golden hour over a couple of drinks. The Terrace Lounge alfresco space is also fitted with a canopy of blooming tulip umbrellas that not only provide shelter from the elements, but are set aglow with pretty hues at night. DJs also take the deck to set the mood on selected nights

The drinks Cocktails lean toward the fruity side with the likes of Zafferano ($20), saffron gin zinged with citrusy lime and passionfruit. Thirsty? There's also a newly launched two-hour package ($50), available from Tuesdays to Sundays after 5.30pm, where you can sip on free-flowing sparkling wine, house red or white wines, or beers – all while taking in the views from the Terrace Lounge.

The view It's a pity that Bar Canary doesn't offer much of a view – a formidable wall cordons off the edge that looks out to the bustling road, trailing up to Mount Elizabeth Link. But the open-air, high-rise space at Grand Park Orchard still makes for a swell rooftop bar. The gorgeous garden setting, cheery alfresco furnishings such as lawn chairs and oversized bean bags make for relaxing environment to unwind with a tipple in hand. At night, Bar Canary is magically lit with fairy lights and the tall skyscrapers that stand rebelliously against the dark.

The drinks Aside from the predictable beer, wine and spirits list, Bar Canary embraces Singapore’s perpetual summer heat with a slew of boozy ice pops. Offered by the stick or presented luxuriating in a potent cocktail, these alcohol-laced popsicles come in six deliciously unique flavours such as Imperial Tea Garden ($6 per stick, $18 per glass), featuring a blend of Earl Grey tea and sake, and The Exotic Escape ($6 per stick, $22 per glass) where a dragonfruit popsicle is served in a refreshing lime and tequila concoction. 

The view Decorated with feisty urban murals to reflect its philosophy and pop-culture credo, the open-air Kinki Rooftop Bar on the third floor is where you can catch a calming vista of the Marina Bay skyline and waterfront with a bucket of five beers ($50/6-9pm) or one-for-one housepours (5-8pm). 

The drinks The trellis-lined bar and Japanese writing on bamboos add to the underground, home-run feel of this place, even if the menu strikes a different chord: a little less than half the drinks menu is Japanese, while the cocktails have Western elements shaken in. The house special Spicy Hachimitshu ($19) is a refreshingly spicy martini glass of vodka, honey umeshu, a tinge of wasabi gomme, fresh lemon and Japanese cucumber.

The view 360º panoramas of the city, 282 metres above sea level, with Marina Bay, the CBD and the snaking banks of the Singapore River in its immediate vicinity. Those glass walls are not for the vertigo-prone, but it does mean you can reserve seats by them to enjoy your sundowners. 

The drinks 1-Altitude shakes up its own brand of cocktails (from $18) that come with quirky names like the vodka-based Pink Floyd and gin-mixed drink, Berry Crush. Also on the menu, bubblies pour from $30 a flute while a whiskey selection starts at $16 a glass.

The view Skyscraper stacks, the Marina Bay Sands and, if you're at the right spot, those futuristic trees at the Gardens by the Bay. Starchitect Toyo Ito's giant red flower – it channels air in to cool the building – lords over the roof deck, and CapitaGreen's rooftop garden is also accessible to punters.

The drinks A wide variety of boozy beverages are available on the menu. Gin and tonic go for $15 each, highball are $16, and fruity cocktails are at $17. 

The view The architectural marvel that is The Pinnacle@Duxton, and the colourful roofs of the heritage buildings surrounding Potato Head Folk's top-floor, twinkly tiki bar.

The drinks Rum-forward tropical cocktails, including the Zombie #36 ($20) that's made with a mix of rums, pomegranate and grapefruit. 

The view Panoramic vistas of the sun setting over the Lego-like assembly of skyscrapers the city, the Gardens by the Bay, the east of Singapore and the ships parked on our southern straits. The Sky Deck and Club Lounge at CÉ LA VI at the Sands is the clubby and hipper counterpart to Spago and Flight down the deck. 

The drinks Classic, aperitivo and tropical cocktails ($23). Bottle service notably features large format (1750ml and up) vodka and champagne to water a swinging party.

The view Sweeping 360º cityscapes of the Boat Quay end of the Singapore River, top half of the Singapore Flyer, and, at night, radiance of The Fullerton Hotel, Parliament House and Asian Civilisations Museum. 

The drinks Rum-shaken cocktails ($18-$22), zingy vodka cocktails with fruit ($18-$19) and a respectable list of vermouth and bitters ($12) like Campari, Cynar and Aperol. During happy hour – until 8pm on weekdays – bubblies pour for $16 a flute and housepours go from $12 to $16.

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The view Roosting up on the seventh floor of the luxurious The Outpost Hotel is restaurant and poolside day club, 1-V:U. Offering a bird's eye view of Sentosa's warm orange sunsets, Palawan Beach and the Singapore Straits, the lifestyle destination is where you can party from dusk till the early morn to the tunes of resident DJs Sherpa and Kaylova.

The drinks Kick up your feet on the turquoise sunbeds by the infinity pool as you sip on tropical cocktails. Service can run a little slow, so you might want to order Head In The Clouds ($60) a 500ml punchbowl of fermented pineapple, rum and elderflower syrup that will keep a crowd happy.

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The view Unlike other centrally-located bars that boast views of the city’s skyline, Aqua Luna’s western location provides a calming view of verdant greenery at The Southern Ridges. The view, framed by Park Hotel Alexandra’s 25-metre infinity pool, showcases our Garden City in the best light possible. 

The drinks The selection is lean, but stand-outs include a mojito shaken with sour plum ($18) and the collagen margarita ($25) you can toast to good health. Also on the menu is a predictable beer (from $12) and spirit (from $13) selection.

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The view A worm's-eye vantage of the Financial District, and the Esplanade's prickly domes from the retail and dining end of the arts centre.

The drinks Cocktails made with Japanese meticulousness. Head bartender Tomoyuki Kitazoe and his team portfolio of martinis ($20) and fresh mojitos ($22) is a draw for the ladies. Non-alcoholic versions of the mojito ($16) can also be shaken to order.