Off on the Road to Singapore
August 18, 2013 11:43 AM Subscribe
Traveling for work later this week to Singapore with a colleague. We both enjoy interesting bars. Any particularly odd sights to see? We have a couple mostly-open days to recover from the 12 hours in coach. What will impress two business travelers whose previous travel focuses around Northern Europe and the USA?
As noted in the question, we have a couple open days and could use some good recommendations for bars, so we don't end up drinking only at the hotel every night. Leanings would be more toward casual/less trendy/hole-in-the-wall/interesting theme kind of places, but can be convinced otherwise if there is some particularly interesting feature. We are both beer drinkers. So, no super trendy wine bars...but yes on the border-line hip bar with the revolutionary theme--even if it only serves beer in bottles and especially if it has some sort of Singapore twist to it.
As for off-the-wall sights, I have already found the Haw Par Villa and the other items listed on Atlas Obscura. And have seen the suggestions here and here. Are any of those particularly recommended for well-worn business travelers with most of Europe and the USA under their belts?
For food, from what I have read, it looks very easy to find great food. Are there any particular experiences/types of food recommended?
As noted in the question, we have a couple open days and could use some good recommendations for bars, so we don't end up drinking only at the hotel every night. Leanings would be more toward casual/less trendy/hole-in-the-wall/interesting theme kind of places, but can be convinced otherwise if there is some particularly interesting feature. We are both beer drinkers. So, no super trendy wine bars...but yes on the border-line hip bar with the revolutionary theme--even if it only serves beer in bottles and especially if it has some sort of Singapore twist to it.
As for off-the-wall sights, I have already found the Haw Par Villa and the other items listed on Atlas Obscura. And have seen the suggestions here and here. Are any of those particularly recommended for well-worn business travelers with most of Europe and the USA under their belts?
For food, from what I have read, it looks very easy to find great food. Are there any particular experiences/types of food recommended?
Best answer: This is trendy and obvious, but having a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel's Long Bar is worth doing once. It's swanky and expensive, but you get to eat peanuts and toss the shells all over the floor (if you're into that sort of thing). The hotel itself is worth seeing, too.
And the hawker centers are great. I don't remember eating at any actual restaurants, just hawker centers. The vast selection can be overwhelming, and everyone's food preferences are different... but you can't really go wrong.
posted by perryfugue at 1:24 PM on August 18, 2013
And the hawker centers are great. I don't remember eating at any actual restaurants, just hawker centers. The vast selection can be overwhelming, and everyone's food preferences are different... but you can't really go wrong.
posted by perryfugue at 1:24 PM on August 18, 2013
I wrote here before about two of my favorite things in Singapore.
posted by seasparrow at 4:21 PM on August 18, 2013
posted by seasparrow at 4:21 PM on August 18, 2013
IS Magazine is the local sort of scene magazine that has good listings for bars, restaurants and events. It's not super-hipster but it should give you an idea of what's available. The iPad version is good and free.
I always recommend the mangrove swamps at Pulau Ubin. They're amazing and with the kayaking tour, you can go right into them. I grew up going to islands and swamps, and this is the best tidy adult version I've had since. It'll take a morning or an afternoon and if you also add in Changi Village, a nearby local area, for good hawker food and wandering around, you get a great lazy day.
posted by viggorlijah at 8:05 PM on August 18, 2013
I always recommend the mangrove swamps at Pulau Ubin. They're amazing and with the kayaking tour, you can go right into them. I grew up going to islands and swamps, and this is the best tidy adult version I've had since. It'll take a morning or an afternoon and if you also add in Changi Village, a nearby local area, for good hawker food and wandering around, you get a great lazy day.
posted by viggorlijah at 8:05 PM on August 18, 2013
Best answer: I've lived in Singapore for several years. It's not a great city for bars, unfortunately. Alcohol is heavily taxed so drinks are expensive no matter where you go, and high real estate prices have resulted in understaffed, cookie cutter bars that sell weak drinks. As noted above, probably your best bet for a "dive-y" experience is to go to a hawker center. One hawker center places with a decent beer selection:
The Good Beer Company (Chinatown)
That said, a few more recommendations:
For nice views of the city:
1. Ku De Ta (on top of Marina Bay Sands)
2. Level 33 (another view of Marina Bay) http://www.level33.com.sg/. This bar has decent microbrew beer and good, albeit pricey, food.
3. New Asia Bar in Swissotel
4. One Altitude.
Of the above, Level 33 is probably the best mix of view and drink quality, but they all have great views.
One of my personal favorite bars is Colbar. It used to be a canteen for British soldiers in colonial days and is in a nice quiet leafy part of town. A bit off the beaten track but worth it. And it has a nice selection of British beers and ciders for a reasonable (for Singapore) price.
For places in the city center, Brewwerkz is probably as good as you're going to get. Decent food and beer (brewed on premises) at reasonable prices -- especially if you take advantage of the happy hour.
Another good place for atmosphere would be to have a beer somewhere in East Coast Park by the beach.
You should probably stop by Clarke Quay just to say you've been there, but I personally hate the bars there -- overpriced, shitty music and artificial atmosphere.
There's some other places that are extremely popular but I don't like (overpriced, poor service). They might be good for a visit if you're just trying to see what bars people go to in Singapore. For example, Ice Cold Beer Bar on Emerald Hill Road - a beautiful street with old shophouses in the middle of Orchard. But this bar is always packed to the gills and difficult to get drinks.
posted by banishedimmortal at 1:59 AM on August 19, 2013
The Good Beer Company (Chinatown)
That said, a few more recommendations:
For nice views of the city:
1. Ku De Ta (on top of Marina Bay Sands)
2. Level 33 (another view of Marina Bay) http://www.level33.com.sg/. This bar has decent microbrew beer and good, albeit pricey, food.
3. New Asia Bar in Swissotel
4. One Altitude.
Of the above, Level 33 is probably the best mix of view and drink quality, but they all have great views.
One of my personal favorite bars is Colbar. It used to be a canteen for British soldiers in colonial days and is in a nice quiet leafy part of town. A bit off the beaten track but worth it. And it has a nice selection of British beers and ciders for a reasonable (for Singapore) price.
For places in the city center, Brewwerkz is probably as good as you're going to get. Decent food and beer (brewed on premises) at reasonable prices -- especially if you take advantage of the happy hour.
Another good place for atmosphere would be to have a beer somewhere in East Coast Park by the beach.
You should probably stop by Clarke Quay just to say you've been there, but I personally hate the bars there -- overpriced, shitty music and artificial atmosphere.
There's some other places that are extremely popular but I don't like (overpriced, poor service). They might be good for a visit if you're just trying to see what bars people go to in Singapore. For example, Ice Cold Beer Bar on Emerald Hill Road - a beautiful street with old shophouses in the middle of Orchard. But this bar is always packed to the gills and difficult to get drinks.
posted by banishedimmortal at 1:59 AM on August 19, 2013
Response by poster: We ended up working far more than expected due to some confusion on the dates. We made it to One Altitude, which we liked, as well as the Raffles. Otherwise, though, we just drank on Clarke Quay since it was close to the hotel and required little thought. I'll keep these in mind for the next trip, though!
posted by chiefthe at 8:42 AM on September 5, 2013
posted by chiefthe at 8:42 AM on September 5, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Can't help on bars; I was always too busy downing sugar cane juice like it was my job.
posted by olinerd at 12:15 PM on August 18, 2013 [1 favorite]