The best alfresco bars in Singapore
Step out of air-conditioned bars and take your drinking outdoors and even to the skies
We can all agree that Singapore’s weather is pretty temperamental – one second it’s scorching hot and suddenly, it’s pouring. But if there’s anything we should be thankful for, it’s definitely how we’re able to go outdoors comfortably at any time of year (except when it’s raining, of course). To appreciate this tropical weather of ours, as well as the city view or lush scenery that our country has to offer, hit up any of these alfresco bars.
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Timbre X @ The Arts House
This live music restaurant and bar by the Singapore River features both alfresco and indoor seating, with the former making up the bulk of this venue. Its menu sees a wide selection of pasta, pizza and tapa that leaves you spoilt for choice. It offers daily promotions on tipples as well, like a glass of gin and tonic going at half the price of its usual $12, and a bucket of five bottled beers for just $38. While you sip on your poison and fill your bellies, enjoy nightly music performances by resident musicians like The Common People and SuperSonic.
Tanjong Beach Club
This is the place to be if drinks on the beach at any time of day sounds perfect to you. This restaurant and bar in Sentosa has a huge list of drinks options, ranging from beers like Little Creature Bright Ale and cocktails like a Piña Colada to wines and bubbly. All you have to do is pick your booze, lay on one of its daybeds, and savour the ocean view while you get a tan or star-gaze. For ravers looking to enhance their alcoholic adventures at the beach, head down on Sundays for its Smack My Beach Up beach party where you can boogie to soul, house and disco music.
Chimi's
Head down to Chimi’s for a different type of alfresco experience. Located in the CBD, this ground-level Mexican cantina is set in a 20-foot container with bar tables and stools surrounding it. Providing unblocked views of the Marina Bay Sands, the spot serves tipples like frozen margaritas, good ol’ raft beers, spirits, and bubbly. Pair your drinks with bar bites like tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and guac and chips.
The Rabbit Hole
Rabbit Hole is the country’s only gin-focused bar set in a garden. Its located in the lush grounds of Dempsey, giving off a classy yet serene ambience. The menu follows a botanical theme, comprising a selection of craft gins that are garnished with herbs that the bar grows and mixed with housemade tonic. This garden escape also serves signature cocktails like Roast Pepper Margarita, and Pineapple and Sage Mojito, spirits, wines, beers, and mocktails.
Lucha Loco
Go loco and indulge in delicious Mexican grub at this cocina and garden bar. Priding itself in providing an authentic and casual Mexican experience, Lucha Loco’s menu is inspired by Mexico’s street fare. It dishes out contemporary Mexican food, artisanal tequilas like Flight 808 To Tequila Town – one of the best of aged tequila – and cocktails like Sparkling Sangria.
BQ Bar
Situated along Boat Quay, BQ Bar is an unpretentious and modern riverfront bar in the CBD. It features both interior and alfresco seating, with the latter being the majority’s preferred choice as you’ll get stunning views of the Singapore River, Asian Civilisations Museum and The Fullerton Hotel. This drinking hole is known for its mojitos, martinis and specialty kebabs, so make sure to try them all when you visit. If not, it offers the usual cocktails – like Singapore Sling, Cosmopolitan and Long Island Iced Tea – along with wines, beers, champagne and shooters, as well as typical bar grub like truffle fries and hot wings.
Le Noir
If it isn’t the live music that draws your attention to this bar, it’s probably the walk to neighbouring clubs Zouk and Get Juiced that got you to turn heads. Le Noir’s renowned live music scene, alfresco location that treats you to views of the Singapore River, as well as occasional football screenings has made this Clarke Quay drinking hole a crowd-favourite. On its menu are the usual spirits, wines, and cocktails, plus bar bites to complement your drink. It offers happy hour deals like $10 house pour spirits and wines, and $13 beers like Guinness, Kilkenny and Erdinger from 5pm to 8pm daily. Stay till late and you’ll get to jam to old-school R&B and retro hits inside the bar’s indoor space.
Beer Factory
As its name suggests, Beer Factory specialises in beer from both international and local brands. There's the typical Hoegaarden, Corona, and Heineken but if you're down to try something different, it carries Monster Green Lager from RedDot BrewHouse too. You can also find a selection of wines, cocktails and shots at this alfresco bar. Feeling peckish? Its food menu features dishes from a variety of cuisines, like pizzas, pastas, quesadillas and kebabs.
Lady Wu
Occupying what used to be The Mad Men Attic Bar, Lady Wu is the newest rooftop bar in Boat Quay. The concept of this drinking venue is based on the Tang Dynasty, so expect an oriental feel from the decor and staff uniforms right down to the food and drinks. Tuck into Asian tapas like wagyu beef cubes, kung po chicken, and lobster garlic fried rice. Then wash them down with signature cocktails like Wushu Sling and Wushu Tini while you groove to live music performances from local acts Juni and Dayvid, Who’s Wu, The Mad Trio, Jack and Rai, and S,M,L.
1-Altitude Gallery & Bar
Sitting at 282 metres above the ground, 1-Altitude proclaims itself to be the highest alfresco bar in the world. This popular rooftop haunt offers not just oh-so-amazing panoramic views of the city but also an extensive list of high-end cocktails and drinks. It sees live music performances from top local bands and internationally renowned DJs, and even has a lowered dance floor for party animals to show off moves after having a couple of tipples.
Loof
Treating you to sweet views of the CBD and the rooftops of neighbour Raffles Hotel, Loof is the place to be for locally-inspired cocktails like Changi Apricot and Little Pink Dot, and dishes like the chilli crab waffle fries and Loof original ramly burger. Its happy hour promo is probably one of the best in town, with prices of spirits and wines increasing by a dollar every hour from 5pm to 8pm. It’s also got a beer pong table where you and your pals can play at while bopping to infectious beats from its resident DJs.
Bar Canary
The tropical vibes at this rooftop bar is real – think a garden setting with bright alfresco furnitures and fairy lights. And that’s not all. Other than the predictable list of alcoholic drinks you can find elsewhere, Bar Canary’s menu features summery-inspired drinks like boozy ice pops made from fresh ingredients which you could have by the stick or dunked into unique alcoholic concoctions.
No Milk Bistro
Climb up to the second floor of No Milk Fish Soup and Bistro and you'll find an outdoor rooftop platform that overlooks Singapore's heritage district. On the menu are a mix of Mexican, Italian and fusion dishes with a local twist. Pasta is made in-house and come tossed in beef rendang sauce ($16.80) or mala bacon and shiitake ($15.80). Wash it all down with cocktails priced at a steal from $10 to $20.
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