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Singapore’s late-night options have expanded in recent years to include more highbrow lounges with million-dollar views, mixologists shaking up the trendiest ingredients, and bars tapping into some of the beers from all over. After work, professionals and expats typically congregate at watering holes on Club Street and pubs in Boat Quay, as well as at some of the cocktail bars that have been popping up around Chinatown and Haji Lane.
Nightclubs featuring electronic dance music have a massive following here, and that's been true since the opening of Zouk, back in 1996. Additional clubs can be found around Clarke Quay and throughout the CBD.
First-time visitors should be prepared for the exorbitantly expensive prices that clubs charge. Beer guzzlers on a budget are best off sipping on a few at the hawker centers, one of the only places to find reasonable rates.
Be aware that although the once-bawdy Bugis Street has been sanitized, a seedy underworld still exists elsewhere in town. Red-light districts, which are mostly found in parts of Geylang, have buildings that really are lit by red lanterns. Soliciting for prostitution is illegal, but the deed itself isn't; it's actually tolerated, monitored, and contained, with most prostitutes registered and subject to regular medical checks. If karaoke is what you seek, keep in mind that it is common for "KTV" lounges to be a cover for prostitution.
This bustling bar alongside Emerald Hill has been rocking for more than 15 years. It has a nice outside seating area—great for people-watching—and a cozy interior where live bands play every evening. The artists tend to be up-and-coming, so the music can sometimes be hit or miss, but it's a good place for a few drinks and dancing. It tends to be quite noisy, so don't come if you're looking for a quiet conversation.
An institution of the Kampong Glam area and Singapore's live music scene, this lounge-bar fills three floors and has a spacious outdoor seating area. Known as a hub for stand-up comedy acts, live music (especially jazz), and international DJs, it always has a lively vibe. The bar menu is a mix of Eastern and Western dishes. The owners also own the nearby Mexican restaurant Piedra Niegra, on the corner of Beach Road and Haji Lane, and have a second outpost on Pekin Street.
For some good, clean, retro fun, head to this spacious lounge for darts, foosball, or pool. Singapore's branch of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) runs this club, along with several others.
One in a group of affiliated bars and cafés that cater to young and debonair Singaporeans, Tipsy Penguin is a hotspot in the student-dominated eastern district of Tampines. Good vibes, a better-than-average choice of bar food, and live music make it a brilliant choice for a fun night out. It's popular for its Hyogo Japanese oyster platters, tenderloin steak fries, and Italian pastas. The menu also includes an eclectic choice of international tapas (from wagyu cubes to smoked chicken nachos). Patrons can rent popular board games while trying the literally mind-numbing selection of well-priced wines, beers, and shots.
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