The best rooftop bars in Singapore
Nothing beats the feeling of the wind in your hair and a tipple in your hand. Take drinking to the next level (literally) as you enjoy your favourite cocktail on cloud nine at these swanky rooftop bars in town. And you get a pretty neat view of our gorgeous city skyline from up here too – we suggest heading up during sunsets – so whip out your phones to immortalise the moment on the 'Gram.
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Mr Stork Rooftop Bar
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 ($16) – 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 ($16), a medley of rhubarb puree, strawberry and lemon juice, sparkling wine and a shot of vodka.
Kinki Restaurant and Bar
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.
Loof
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 beer is cold, the vibe casual, and the food now deserves special mention, thanks to Bjorn Shen.
The drinks To pair with Shen's good and greasy grub, 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 $20) are a fun treat to suck on too.
1-Altitude
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 ($20) that come with quirky names like the vodka-based Pink Floyd and rum-mixed drink, Shut up and Drink. Also on the menu, bubblies pour from $30 a flute while a whiskey selection starts at $18 a glass.
Artemis Grill
The drinks Happy hour promos (5-7pm) price Old World wines between $10 and $12 a glass, and Italian Bierra Menabrea lager at $10, while refreshing fruit-forward cocktails – like one with Pimms, peach liqueur, Sauvignon Blanc and seasonal fruit – go for $15 a glass. An extensive wine list of Old World labels (from $95) is also available.
CÉ LA VI
The drinks Classic, aperitivo and tropical cocktails ($24), the latter filled with fresh fruits, and the occasional mix-in of regional ingredients like lime, shishito peppers, chilli and crysanthemum. Bottle service notably features large format (1750ml and up) vodka ($700-$2,600) to water a swinging party.
LeVeL33
The drinks The craft beers brewed in-house go for $13.33 a pint before 8pm, then climb to $17.33 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 $23.33. These brews also go into beer cocktails, but if you're avoiding malt altogether, shoot for the house wines, or premium vintages of Baron Philipe de Rothschild.
Lantern
The drinks Themed promos every day of the week prices cocktails as cheap as $16 a glass (on Tuesdays) for vodka and gin long drinks. The bar also barrel-ages its own Negronis and Manhattans for those who like their drinks strong, and the team has created a list of fruity gin Slings inspired by the city's namesake cocktail.
Me@OUE
The drinks On weekdays, enjoy happy hour from 6 to 8pm with tipples going as low as $8 for a beer, vodka or rum, while wines pour at $12 a glass and $68 to share. Also on its menu are cocktails priced at $20 each.
Orgo
The drinks Cocktails made with Japanese meticulousness. Head bartender Tomoyuki Kitazoe and his team's 13-strong portfolio of fresh fruit martinis ($20) and champagne martinis and mojitos ($28) is a draw for the ladies. Non-alcoholic versions of the martinis ($15) can also be shaken to order.
The Rooftop at Potato Head Folk
The drinks Rum-forward tropical cocktails, including the Zombie #36 ($25): it's made with a mix of rums, absinthe, pomegranate and grapefruit – and it's so potent you're not allowed to order more than three. Bottled cocktails ($100) for sharing with five pals are also on the menu.
Smoke and Mirrors
The drinks Yugnes Susela's Asian riffs on the classics are all about theatre. Black and White c. 1970-1980 ($24), inspired by Anthony Poon's acrylic on canvas in the Gallery, is a rich, complex drink that sips of dark chocolate, cream and rum, curaçao orange, and a long finish of liquorice from absinthe. A simple tiki mix of Trinidadian dark rum, Campari, and lime and pineapple juice in the Jungle Bird ($20) is as potent as it is pretty, with an orchid blossom for garnish. Besides cocktails, there are Archipelago Brewery's Bohemian Lager ($16) and Samui Ale ($16) on tap, wines by the glass ($16-$24) and mocktails ($12).
Spago
The drinks A substantial list of mixed tipples. Some, like the Tainted Love ($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, soursop and lychee, for instance – show up in the cocktails, too.
Southbridge
The drinks Mixed sparkling drinks ($16-$22) with touches of Italian flavours, zingy vodka cocktails with fruit ($18-$20) and a respectable list of vermouth and bitters ($10) like Campari, Cynar, Martini Rosso and Aperol. During happy hour – until 8pm on weekdays – bubblies pour for $20 a flute and housepours go from $8 to $13.
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