Drinking Sky High in Singapore

With over a month in the Lion City and a seemingly endless number of rooftop bars I wanted to visit, many of which were located thirty floors above ground, or higher, it's no exaggeration when I say almost every evening was spent checking out a new bar in the sky - I’m not complaining!

So, if like me you enjoy drinking whilst staring at an incredible vista, then I urge you, the next time you're in Singapore make sure you visit at least one of these bars below - just be prepared for some rather eye-watering drink prices (begin saving, now)!

For all the best places to eat in Singapore view Hungry in Singapore: The Ultimate Dining Guide

For accommodation in Singapore read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands and Grand Park City Hall

CÉ LA VI | Marina BAY

Atop tower three of the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel sits CÉ LA VI, comprising a club lounge, restaurant, and sky bar. When it comes to rooftop bars in Singapore, this one should feature high on the list, as the views from 57 floors up are truly incredible and provide a unique vantage point to gaze back at the dense cluster of soaring skyscrapers of Singapore's CBD. Plus, a visit to the Marina Bay Sands hotel is an absolute must for all first-timers to Singapore! Notably, an admission charge of S$22.00 applies for all non-hotel guests before 10.00pm, however, this is redeemable towards food and beverage purchases.

For overnight accommodation read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands

View Ce La Vi’s a la carte menu.

1 Bayfront Avenue Level 57, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Hotel Tower 3, Singapore 018971

Open 7 Days Midday - 4.00am (Sunday - Tuesday closes at 2.00am)

LeVeL33 | downtown

The aptly named LeVeL33 is, well, located on level 33 (if, you hadn't guessed) of tower one of the Marina Bay Financial Centre and holds the title as the world's highest urban craft brewery. The space is divided into three distinct zones, the refined LeVeL33 Dining Room, suited to business lunches, dinners and/or special occasions, the LeVeL33 Social, designed for more social interactions and relaxed dining, and LeVeL33 Terrace, an open-to-the-sky space offering incredible unobstructed, panoramic views of the Marina Bay.

Hot Tip: Visit before 8.00pm to enjoy a fresh-on-tap beer for an actually reasonable price (almost equivalent to what you'd pay in Australia), which can be difficult to come by in Singapore, and impossible with such an incredible view!

8 Marina Boulevard Tower 1, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore 018981

Open 7 Days 11.30am - 11.00pm (Friday & Saturday open till 1.00am, Saturday & Sunday opens at Midday)

Skai Bar | ESPLANADE

Skai Bar sits at the very top of the acclaimed 70-storey high Swissôtel The Stamford, considered to be the tallest hotel in all of Southeast Asia. Being so high up and with oversized floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the restaurant and bar both offers breath-taking, completely unobstructed views of Singapore's CBD, Marina Bay, the Singapore River, and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Notably, the photographs below are actually of the restaurant Skai, which is a refined yet contemporary grill restaurant, with the Skai bar smaller in scale and less grand, located right next door, offering the same incredible view. Though you can enjoy simply a drink at the restaurant. Plus, although I did not get an opportunity to visit, Bar Rouge, located higher again, on the hotel's 71st floor, is supposed to be one of the city's best nightclubs.

View Skai Bar’s menu.

2 Stamford Road Swissôtel, Level 70 The Stamford, Singapore 178882

Open 7 Days Midday - Midnight

1 Altitude | downtown

1 Altitude is considered the highest alfresco bar in the world, located on the 63rd floor of 1 Raffles Place (above the nightclub and restaurant on the 61st and 62nd floor respectively), 282 metres above sea level, offering sweeping 360-degree views of the whole of Singapore. The gallery rooftop bar is completely exposed to the elements and allows visitors to freely wander around the entire perimeter of the bar.

Entry to 1 Altitude is ticketed and requires you to pay a cover charge, specifically, from 6.00pm-9.00pm, the cover charge is S$35.00 and from 9.00pm onwards increases to S$45.00. However, notably, this cover charge is inclusive of two drinks which you choose before riding the elevator up. When we visited, we both enjoyed a Singapore Sling and another specialty, limited-edition cocktail at dusk.

View 1 Altitude’s bistro dining menu and rooftop bar menu.

1 Raffles Place, 048616, Singapore 048616

Open 7 Days 6.00pm - 2.00am (Friday & Saturday open till 4.00am)

Mr. Stork | BUGIS

Mr. Stork occupies the entire 39th floor of the five-star hotel, Andaz Singapore - a concept by Hyatt - and offers visitors complete 360-degree views of Singapore. Mr. Stork, named after the white and long-legged birds, which are often viewed as a good omen, is one of my favourite rooftop bars in the city, for it has a very relaxed feel to it, being open-air and quite spread out, yet still definitely feels luxe and sophisticated at the same time.

The bar is unique also in the fact you can freely roam around the whole rooftop, where you'll discover more intimate seating set amid lush tropical landscaping, as well as ten teepee huts!

View Mr. Stork’s menu.

5 Fraser St, Level 39, Andaz 189354

Open 7 Days 5.00pm - Midnight (Friday & Saturday open till 1.00am, Saturday & Sunday opens at 3.00pm)

Artemis Grill & Bar | downtown

Situated amidst the soaring skyscrapers of Singapore's CBD, Artemis Grill and Bar can be found by riding the elevator to the 40th floor of the Capital Green building. Passing through the contemporary, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant (last picture below), you'll come across the Artemis Sky Bar which offers a terrace-like setting conducive to more relaxed dining and drinking, with a 100-year-old olive tree taking centre stage and continuing the Mediterranean feel of the restaurant.

Due to its location in the city, this bar definitely seems to attract a more business demographic and offers one of the best views of Marina Bay Sands. Also, this bar is home probably the best happy hours I've come across, well if you can call it a happy hour, considering it runs daily from 3.00pm to closing! During these hours, a vast selection of G&T's, cocktails, and premium wines are S$15.00 each, whilst beers closer to ten.

138 Market St, Capital Green, Singapore 048946

Open 6 Days Monday - Saturday 11.30am - 9.30pm (Saturday opens at 5.30pm)

Southbridge | BOAT QUAY

Located along Singapore River, rising slighting above the red-tiled rooftops of Boat Quay is the oyster and gin bar, Southbridge. Although I would've liked to spend more time at, or re-visited this bar, Southbridge still remains one of my favourites, mainly due to its location along Singapore River. Plus, the fact it's elevated, though not too high up, and quite small in size, makes it feels quite private and exclusive. The view (like all these bars on this list) is pretty breath-taking also, as you are so close to the soaring skyscrapers of the city's CBD, offering an incredible view of Marina Bay Sands and the Parliament of Singapore.

View Southbridge’s menu.

80 Boat Quay, Level 5, Rooftop 049868

Open 7 Days 5.00pm - Midnight (Sunday - Tuesday closes at 11.00pm)

Potato Head Folk | chinatown

Potato Head Folk is unlike any of the other rooftop bars which feature on this list (or that I visited during my time in Singapore), as it has a completely unique feel (and look) to it. Affiliated with the much-loved Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia, Potato Head Folk is located in the very heart of the bustling neighbourhood of Chinatown, one of my favourite places in the whole of Singapore, absolutely teaming with incredible, often quite hidden restaurants and bars. Like the whole neighbourhood, Potato Head Folk is super colourful, quirky and fun, and just oozes character.

Before reaching the open-air rooftop, you'll pass a casual dining area on level one and a speakeasy slash decadent drinking den, known as Studio 1939 on level two. Once you reach the top, you'll be greeted to this rustic-style, small-scale rooftop area that feels like it could be atop someone's home - as if you've just stumbled upon a rather secretive, hangout spot reserved for locals, or people in the know.

In such an ultra-modern, cutting-edge city, it's so refreshing to come across a bar that's a little different to the rest - this is the place to hit if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air. Plus, even know it's only on level three because all the buildings in Chinatown are low-rise, the view is stunning, as you overlook heritage shophouse rooftops and the modern skyline of the city.

View Potato Head Folk’s menu.

36 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089143

Open 7 Days 11.00am - Midnight

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

BABY HUEY Tasmanian Vintage beef patty, ketchup, cheese, pickles and spiced mayonnaise in a toasted brioche bun.

APRICOT SPRITZ

ATLAS Bar | bugis

Ever seen Crazy Rich Asians? Well, if there was one bar in Singapore that summed up that film and epitomised the incredible wealth of the island, it would, without doubt, be ATLAS, which graces the ground floor of Singapore's iconic, art-deco inspired, Parkview Square building. Although there is no view to speak of, this ridiculously grand, glamorous lobby bar, that looks like it's straight out of The Great Gatsby is a must-visit spot to enjoy a drink - preferably one that is gin-based, with a fifteen-metre tall gilded gin tower of nearly a thousand labels sitting in the middle of the bar!

There is usually always a wait for a seat here, and due to this, unfortunately, we did not enjoy a drink here, but definitely next time!

600 North Bridge Rd, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778

Open 6 Days Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 1.00am (Friday & Saturday open till 2.00am, & Saturday opens at Midday)

Long Bar | ESPLANADE

Have you really visited Singapore without sipping on a Singapore Sling at the world-famous Raffles Hotel Long Bar?! It's a question that repeatedly played in my mind throughout the entire month I was in Singapore, as I wasn't sure paying close to forty dollars for one drink (yep, you read that right!) was really, what do you say, value for money, worth it! Hence why it was the very last thing we did in Singapore (literally just before we headed to the airport). Though, I must say the drink was pretty damn good, and whilst I'm not sure it was worth forty dollars (what drink is?!), I am glad we sat there at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel enjoying where the original Singapore Sling was born over hundred years ago.

Plus, the massive, included bag of peanuts - the shells of which you can, and are in fact encouraged to the throw on the floor - were delicious - probably because we skipped (couldn't afford) lunch that day!

Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188719

Open 7 Days 11.00am - Midnight (Friday & Saturday open till 1.00am)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

THE ORIGINAL SINGAPORE SLING Widges London Dry Gin, Benedictine, Luxardo Cherry Sangue Morlacco, Ferrand Dry Curacao, Raffles signature grenadine, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and Angostura Bitters.

Lavo Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar | marina bay

Positioned at the opposite end of Ce La Vi, atop tower one of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, is the Italian restaurant and rooftop bar, Lavo Italian Restaurant and Rooftop Bar. The rooftop bar area of Lavo is reasonably small and provides limited seating, especially facing the city, though it is a nice spot for a pre-dinner drink, and if you time your visit, an ideal spot to watch the light and water show below.

For overnight accommodation read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands and Grand Park City Hall

View Lavo’s brunch & lunch menu and dinner menu.

10 Bayfront Ave, Tower 1, Singapore 018956

Open 7 Day 10.30am - 2.00am (Sunday opens at Midday)