The best wine bars in Singapore

Ditching seaside shack high tables for a proper sit-down affair, Humpback has evolved into a vibey seafood restaurant with proper wines to boot. But first, ask anyone and you’re likely to hear rave reviews about the oysters. The shells from Hama Hama are flown in within 36 hours just for the restaurant. We recommend tingling your palate with the classic pairing of Muscadet Domaine L’Ecu 2020 ($19 per glass) from Loire Valley which complements the balmy bivalves with crisp, floral and saline notes. Confident in your own pick? Peek into their extensive wine list from soft refreshing whites and bold juicy red to even funky orange wines from Slovenia.

At Apéro, every hour is aperitivo hour. The 20-seater French wine bistro is set in a shophouse, offering a quiet haven amidst the bustle of Circular Road. Outside is an alfresco garden that offers a change of environment for those who enjoy people-watching with a glass in hand. Oenophiles can look forward to a curated wine list that features accessible pocket-friendly labels, organic wines from independent boutique wineries and even some of the finest French vintages to tickle your taste buds. And if you're hungry, there's more than just charcuterie and cheese boards at this wine bistro. Instead, tuck into the decadent slow-braised oxtail pappardelle ($28), best paired with a light-bodied glass of burgundy red.

This vibey French brasserie may be headlined by its inventive French plates by handsome young chef Louis Pacquelin but it is also an oenophiles' paradise. And wine is definitely an integral part of every dining experience in Clos Pasoh. After all, their impressive wine list has over 1,100 bottles, including a range of renowned Premier Grand Cru Classe wines from Bordeaux that are available at a snap of a finger. Overwhelmed with choices? Fret not, you can always leave it up to the knowledgeable crew or even the wine-loving chef himself to make the perfect pairing. All that's left to do is to revel in the verdant atmosphere that is deliberately crafted to cradle you in effortless luxury.

Located in Duxton is Kumi Den, a fun and casual drinking den that is all about bringing forth low-intervention wines from artisanal small-batch producers around the world. And the brainchild behind this new venture is Joel Lim, one of Singapore’s best sommeliers who has clocked in time at wine institutions including Praelum Wine Bistro, Les Amis, and Park90. Here, the effervescent lad cherry-picks from a plethora of wine options including orange wines and pét-nats. And each month, the list expands and features exciting new additions of interesting labels – some even from wine motherland, Georgia. 

In an intimate 54-seater space, this wine bar places proud emphasis on vino from the Old World, with 32 European wines rotated every week alongside a Grands Crus selection – the highest level of vineyard classification in Burgundy, France. Owner Jean-Christophe Cadoret works closely with his team in France to select wines for import. You don't have to commit to a full glass either, there are tasting (25ml) and half-portions (75ml). If complex vino jargon puts you off the stuff, worry not, because wine is demystified here: reds are divided into categories such as ‘smooth’, ‘fruity’ and ‘spicy’, while whites are split into ‘dry’, ‘rich’ and so forth, complete with a colour-coding system.

This trendy new wine bar and retail store in Orchard is making wine culture more accessible for everyone. The highlight here is the automated wine dispenser featuring 24 different bottles at once. Wine lovers, be ready to be spoiled for choice as you get to choose wines from regions such as France, Italy, Australia and Spain served between three pour sizes (30ml, 90ml or 150ml). From pocket-friendly options (from $2.50 a glass) to higher-end vinos such as the Penfolds Grange Bin 95 ($44 for 30ml), there's something for wine lovers of every level.

It's hard to miss two-Michelin star Cloudstreet's sister restaurant. The Boon Tat Street resident wine bar is nothing short of an all-around fun time with tasty food, great wines and groovy tunes to boot. There's no room for snobs in this space as the extensive wine list curated by Beverage Manager Vinodhan Veloo and Head Sommelier Wolfhart Knipp is experimental yet approachable.

Yes, we all know of – and love – the handmade pastas here. But Sommelier Ronald Kamiyama also runs quite possibly one of the city's best natural wine programmes here. Think natural wines such as the 2017 Pojer e Sandri 'Zero Infinito' Frizzante, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, an unfiltered pét-nat with bright citrus notes that pair really well with the seafood dishes. Despite that, those who prefer their regular reds and whites are also treated to a well-curated list of seasonal wines from all around. Though it is pretty clear that Italian wines do have a stronger showing than most.

This monochromatic bar is your best bet if you’re looking for a crash course on wine. Praelum stocks about 1,000 labels in its walk-in cellar that you can order in tasting pours (from $10/25ml) and half-portions (from $28/75ml). Or leave it to the somm with the ‘Learn-a-Drink’ option ($29). Also check out the wine bistro’s flight tastings (from $45) that range from random to thematic. For serious oenophiles, you can look forward to sipping on fine luxury wines by the glass that are set to rotate every month.

Club Street Wine Room is yet anither smashing concept by chef Andrew Walsh (also behind Butcher’s Boy, Catfish, and other international ventures). The minimally seductive 45-seater space offers a diverse option of labels and bottles – including the unique sea-aged Sea Soul No. 4 ($405). Club Street Wine Room is also the first in Asia to offer a style of fermented wine that is transported in terracotta clay vessels (Chateau Kefraya Collection Amphora 2018). From the kitchen, expect the same playful approach to the bar bites offerings. Nibble on whole guinea fowl and pithivier pie ($64), oysters grilled with bacon jam ($10), and more.

Like a magic trick, café Common Man Stan turns into a natural wine bar named Common Man Night Shift with the pulling of decorative roller blinds and flashy vintage cinema projections at the strike of 6 o'clock. Once a travelling wine bar – you may know it from its regular pop-ups around town – the organic wine outfit has ditched the nomadic lifestyle for permanent digs on Stanley Street. Grab a bottle from the house selection of over 80 natural, organic, biodynamic, and sustainably farmed labels. Sourced straight from winemakers in France, Italy, Chile, and Spain, these delicious wines are hand-harvested, spontaneously fermented, and have no added sulfites.

Think of wine bars and what often first comes to mind first are chic, sexy lounges with towering fridges filled with labels from the Old World. But as more people beyond the debonair become interested in wines, wine bars too have to adapt. It's not just about making spaces less exclusive and more welcoming; it's also about bringing in labels that surprise and delight – regardless of price point. Rebel Rebel ticks all the right boxes. The cheery space is filled with portraits of winemakers smiling at you drape yourself over a leather couch or sink deeper into an oversized armchair. Feel free to ask the sommelier for recommendations from its 200-strong list. It offers a variety of bottles below $100, more mid-range options in the $200 bracket as well as 'unicorn' wines prized for their rarity.

With a glass of wine going for as low as $6 and bottles priced from $30, Ginett is set to be your new favourite watering hole. The buzzy dining hall in Hotel G stocks a well-represented range of labels available at various price points. Our favourite? Wine down Wednesdays where selected bottles are one-for-one after 6pm – it is the perfect hump day treat after slogging it out in the office. Prefer to stay in? You'd be pleased to know it is three bottles for the price of two when you choose to buy the wines home.

This is hands down, every oenophiles' most beloved shrine to natural wines. And you know it’s legit because it’s always buzzing with industry folks. There’s no catalogue at this gastrobar – its 150-or-so labels (from $78) are all on display and constantly changing. If it’s an education you’re after, swing by often, because the wines by the glass change daily;  there's usually one white, one red and if you're lucky, an orange (from $16).

This natural wine bar by The Lo & Behold Group sees chef-owner and Burnt Ends alumnus, Keirin Buck, team up with head sommelier Jos Kjer's ever-evolving wine list to bring ‘fine casual’ to the local bar scene. Bottles from boutique natural producers are paired with elegant yet approachable plates from a thoughtful menu that changes daily in tandem with the day’s best produce. Get these if you spot them on the menu: vegetable crudités with whipped roe, heritage chicken, and a stellar beef tongue sandwich.

With over 600 labels and 3,000 bottles of wine on offer in its leather-bound tome of a menu, Ma Cuisine has cemented itself as a gastro wine bar for serious connoisseurs. That's not to say that only the stuffy Bordeaux-sipping elite are welcomed here – the restaurant's young owners Anthony Charmetant and Mathieu Escoffier want to share their passion for wine with beginners and experts alike, all within a casual setting that also serves homey French food. 

A value-for-money wine bar in the heart of the CBD might seem like an impossible ask but the folks behind Hermitage Quality Wines have made it a reality. This intimate spot has none of the usual pretences of a wine bar and instead feels like a cosy bistro serving comfort food and affordably priced bottles – all with warm, genial service that makes this place feel like a second home. Peruse its menu of hearty mains like the beef rendang pie ($14), Thai green curry ($18) and beef stew ($18). It's an eclectic mix but the focus here is on keeping you well-fed and happy. Make jolly with wines from $8 a glass and bottles from $35.