Rooftop Bars vs Underground Bars in Singapore: Which Vibe Is Right for You?

If you’re trying to decide between a rooftop bar in Singapore and an underground bar, here’s the short answer: choose a rooftop bar if you want skyline views, open-air energy, and an Instagram-worthy night out. Go underground if you’re after intimacy, craft cocktails, and a scene that rewards those who know where to look.

Both experiences sit at opposite ends of Singapore’s nightlife spectrum — and knowing the difference can make or break your evening.

Singapore’s bar scene is one of the most dynamic in Asia. The city ranks consistently among the top nightlife destinations in Southeast Asia, with over 1,500 licensed bars and nightclubs operating across the island. Whether you’re a tourist discovering the city for the first time or a local looking for something new, this bar guide for Singapore has you covered.

What Is a Rooftop Bar in Singapore — and Why Is It So Popular?

A rooftop bar in Singapore is exactly what it sounds like: a bar perched on the upper floors or terrace of a building, offering elevated views of the city skyline, Marina Bay, or the surrounding urban landscape. They’re designed to impress.

Singapore’s skyline is one of the most striking in the world, and rooftop bars capitalise on that visual drama. Think glittering skyscrapers reflected in the Straits, golden-hour light over Chinatown, or the iconic Marina Bay Sands light show framed between your cocktail glass and the horizon.

They’re popular for a reason — they combine a social, high-energy atmosphere with a sense of occasion. For tourists, they’re often a bucket-list tick. For locals, they’re the go-to for celebrations, dates, and entertaining out-of-town guests.

What Makes Underground Bars in Singapore Different?

An underground bar in Singapore refers to basement-level bars or speakeasy-style venues that are intentionally hidden, intimate, and often harder to find. The vibe is deliberately low-key: dim lighting, curated playlists, and bartenders who actually talk to you about what’s in your glass.

Rooftop Bar vs Underground Bar: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Which One Is Better for Your Budget?

Both bar types can get expensive in Singapore, but there are ways to drink smart.

Rooftop bars tend to charge a premium for the view. Expect to spend S$20–S$35 per cocktail at well-known spots. Many operate happy hour deals between 5 pm and 8 pm, where prices can drop to S$12–S$18. Some rooftop bars also charge a cover fee on weekends, typically S$25 to S$40, which includes a drink.

Underground bars can actually be more affordable per drink when you factor in what you’re getting: a hand-crafted cocktail from a skilled mixologist using quality spirits and house-made ingredients. Prices typically range from S$18 to S$28, but the experience-to-dollar ratio is often higher. No cover charges are the norm.

Budget verdict: If you’re watching your spending, underground bars offer better value. If you’re splurging on a special night, a rooftop bar gives you the spectacle to match.

Is a Rooftop Bar in Singapore Right for Your Mood Tonight?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want to start the night with energy and buzz? Rooftop.
• Are you celebrating something — a birthday, a promotion, a first trip to Singapore? Rooftop.
• Is the group large (four or more people)? Rooftop handles crowds better.
• Do you want to take photos that actually look incredible? Rooftop.
• Is it raining? Reconsider — many rooftops are partially open.

The best rooftop bars in Singapore include:

1. LeVeL33 — Marina Bay Financial Centre. Craft brewery with panoramic city views. Known as the world’s highest urban craft brewery.
2. Loof — Odeon Towers rooftop. One of the oldest rooftop bars in Singapore, with a more laid-back, local crowd.
3. OTTO — Beach Road. Italian dining meets skyline views with a slightly less tourist-heavy crowd than the Marina Bay cluster.
4. 1-Altitude — OUB Centre, 282 metres above sea level. One of the highest open-air rooftop bars in the world. The views are unbeatable on a clear night.
5. Smoke & Mirrors — National Gallery Singapore. Faces the Padang and Marina Bay with a sophisticated art-crowd atmosphere.

Is an Underground Bar in Singapore Right for You?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want to have a real conversation without shouting? Underground.
• Are you on a date or with a small group of two to three people? Underground.
• Do you want to drink something genuinely creative and well-made? Underground.
• Are you a cocktail nerd who wants to discuss ingredients with the bartender? Absolutely underground.
• Do you prefer discovering places that feel like secrets? Underground.

The best underground bars in Singapore are worth knowing:

1. Operation Dagger — Ann Siang Hill. One of Singapore’s most acclaimed cocktail bars, known for house-made ingredients and a no-pretense approach.
2. Jigger & Pony — Amara Hotel. A perennial entry on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Classic cocktails done with exceptional precision.
3. Manhattan — Regent Singapore. Award-winning hotel bar with a prohibition-era speakeasy atmosphere and an impressive barrel-aged cocktail programme.
4. 28 HongKong Street — A pioneer of Singapore’s underground bar scene. Dark, intimate, no-frills, brilliant cocktails.
5. Native — Amoy Street. Uses regional Asian ingredients — think fermented coconut, pandan, and tropical botanicals — in cocktails that tell a story about the region.

What Does Singapore’s Nightlife Scene Actually Look Like in Numbers?

Singapore’s nightlife economy contributes significantly to the city’s F&B sector, which was valued at over S$11.5 billion in recent years. The Clarke Quay, Ann Siang Hill, and Tanjong Pagar corridors are the three most concentrated bar districts in the city.

Ann Siang Hill and Club Street have become the heartland of Singapore’s craft cocktail scene, while Marina Bay and the CBD skyline views are where most rooftop bars cluster. Both zones are well-served by the MRT — Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place stations put you within walking distance of most of the action.

Singapore’s legal drinking age is 18, and bars are permitted to operate until 1 am on weekdays and 2 am on weekends, with extended licences available for special events.

Where Should Tourists Go First — Rooftop or Underground?

If you’re visiting Singapore for the first time, start with a rooftop bar on your first or second night. The city skyline at night is genuinely jaw-dropping, and experiencing it from elevation is part of understanding what makes Singapore visually distinctive. A drink at 1-Altitude or Smoke & Mirrors while the city lights up below you is a proper introduction.

Once you’ve done the views, spend a later night going underground. Pick one of the craft cocktail spots on Ann Siang Hill or Amoy Street. The contrast in experience — the openness of the rooftop versus the closeness of the basement — is actually part of what makes Singapore’s bar scene so interesting.

Singapore is small enough that you can do both in the same night if you plan it right: start high, end low.

Can You Do Both in One Night? A Simple Bar Crawl Structure

Yes — and it works really well. Here’s a practical approach:

7:00 pm — Arrive at a rooftop bar for happy hour. Catch the sunset and get the skyline shots done. Two drinks maximum; pacing matters.

9:00 pm — Head to Ann Siang Hill or Amoy Street by taxi or MRT (Tanjong Pagar exit, about 10 minutes from Marina Bay).

9:30 pm — Settle into an underground bar. Let the bartender guide you. This is where the night actually begins.

11:30 pm — If the energy is right, there are late-night cocktail bars in the same neighbourhood that run until 2 am.

For a more detailed breakdown of where to drink across different budgets and neighbourhoods, check out this curated list of the best drinking places in Singapore — it covers everything from hawker-adjacent stickyback bars to hotel rooftop terraces with dress codes.

Conclusion: Which Bar Experience Should You Choose?

Choose a rooftop bar in Singapore when: you want the full visual spectacle, you’re celebrating, you’re travelling with people who may not be into niche cocktail culture, or you simply want to feel the buzz of a busy city from above.

Choose an underground bar in Singapore when: the quality of what’s in the glass matters more than what’s outside the window, you want to connect with Singapore’s genuine cocktail culture, or you’re looking for something to remember rather than something to photograph.

The good news? Singapore is compact, well-connected, and has world-class options in both categories. You don’t have to choose forever — you just have to choose for tonight.

For more guides to eating, drinking, and exploring the city, Top in Singapore covers the best of what the island has to offer, from hidden neighbourhood bars to the iconic spots every visitor should know.