6 nightclubs in Singapore opening as bars, diners, fitness studios and more

The new kid on the block, Rails is the brainchild of the team behind Nineteen80 and Pinball Wizard, A Phat Cat Collective. The steampunk-inspired bar and lounge was initially scheduled for take-off in April 2020 as a bar and dance club but pandemic regulations put a halt to that. Nonetheless, we're glad to see that things are back on track (pun intended) at this unique nightlife venue which opened earlier this year. All aboard, folks.

Now: Fancy a drink in a Victorian-era underground railway? Let Rails make your fantasy dream come true with bold drinks like Murder on the Orient Express, a concoction of absinthe, coffee liqueur, pear, pineapple and orange juice shaken with activated charcoal. Pair it up with some Nashville-style hot wings from Chix Hot Chicken. Expect house and disco, downtempo and world music as the soundtrack to your night of debauchery.

A cool kid's cave, Cherry Discotheque is the epitome of underground parties. It first opened doors in 2016 beneath York Hotel before relocating to Cecil Street. Before the circuit breaker, you’d find Millenial and Gen Z night owls in their freshest streetwear drip flocking to the nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s known for getting wavy with the sleek spins of new and old-school hip-hop.

Now: It’s a supper club called Cherry Diner. Besides retaining its Instagrammable neon digs and hip-hop soundtrack, it dishes out American comfort food like hotdogs, pizzas, and ice-cream waffles on the dancefloor.

Singapore’s longest-running icon of a nightclub first opened its doors to revellers back in 1991, famously championing and propelling the dance music movement throughout Asia. It has had some of the biggest names in dance music on its decks including Hardwell, The Chemical Brothers, and the late Avicii. In fact, anyone who’s anyone on the Southeast Asian clubbing circuit has passed through its doors. Loved by generations, it continues to stand the test of time and stay ahead of trends.

Now: Not letting their state-of-the-art sound systems (for all those Grade-A spins) and lightings – including the spaceship-like light structure that suspends directly above the dancefloor – go to waste, Zouk is en route to becoming a 360-degree lifestyle destination, turning into a spinning studio during the day, and a cinema by night.

Press start to play at the city's retro arcade bar and discotheque. Since June 2018, the neon-lit tunnel entrance of Nineteen80 has transported party owls to throwback tunes, vintage interiors and magical cocktails that quench your thirst for nostalgia. Just a couple of weeks before the circuit breaker, it expanded its sweet digs from one single unit to span across four units, complete with Instagram-worthy backdrops – think playful details like the classic 80s Memphis and retro synth-wave designs.

Now: Parties on hold, the bar remains open to serve bar bites and OG cocktails like vodka Ribena as well as funky remixes like the signature Blue Lagoon with a yuzu finish. Once powered up, flex those fingers and challenge a mate to a game of PacMan, Space Invaders, Mortal Kombat, and Street Fighter. Just remember to sanitise after every game.

Of all the rooftop bars in all the towns in all the world, CÉ LA VI’s one of the top (geddit?) ones – its inclusion in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs of 2016 list is a testament to that. Perched atop the Marina Bay Sands, it boasts 360-degree views of the city skyline and incredible parties including those headlined by dance music titans Armin van Buuren, Fedde le Grand, Bob Sinclar, and Jazzy Jeff.

Now: Despite the lack of parties, its restaurant and bar are still kicking with food and drink events including Saturday lunchtime affair, Breezy Brunch, and monthly Sky High Hawker. Plus, the opening of the Sky Lounge on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (from 3pm) makes it the perfect post-brunch paradise, with an open-air seating area and spectacular views of the Marina Bay and The Sands Skypark Infinity Pool. It's also open on weekdays (from 4pm) so you can soak up the sunset hour with an after-work drink in hand.

Housed in a dingy space that’s set with laser lights and a cage behind which the likes of Peggy Gou, Eric Duncan, and Kaiser Souzai have spun, Headquarters by The Council is highly raved for its laid-back, no-frills vibes and tasteful mix of techno, house and disco that you'd be hard-pressed to find at other more commercial establishments. Prior to the circuit breaker, it ran its signature parties from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Now: It has opened a snack bar concept in their second-floor space. Simply called Upstairs, it dishes out pub grub from Argentinian Gourmet BBQ and Sidecar Handcrafted, as well as a selection of cocktails to complement a full rotation of natural wines and sakes. Like Headquarters, it’s only open from Wednesday to Saturday.