Need a breather? We all do. And there’s nothing like unwinding at one of the many rooftop bars in Singapore to shoot the breeze with your best buds, drink in hand, the cares of the world a million miles away. From low-rises to skyscrapers, Singapore is packed with opportunities for rooftop spaces to perch upon. So whether you’re looking for a quaint low-slung hangout or a veritable space in the clouds, here are some of the best spots in town to check out.
1. Smoke & Mirrors: For art-inspired cocktails
A desire to play with your senses seems to be the only thing not illusory about this terrace bar found atop the National Gallery Singapore. Smoke and Mirrors‘ cocktail menu features drinks that are either inspired by a famous artist or artwork, or pays homage to the neighbourhood it occupies. Its latest menu, The Real Art of Drinking Volume II, features 16 cocktails that serve as interpretations of South East Asian art and culture. The Monochrome ($25), for instance, is inspired by Anthony Poon’s Black and White from 1970. The cocktail is rich, creamy and sweet, and like the painting it was inspired by, a striking monochromatic delight. Next to each menu item, you’ll also find a QR code that helpfully links to the painting the cocktail was inspired by. With mixology taking new meaning as an artform here, it comes as no surprise that the bar snagged 60th place in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022.
2. Mr Stork: For sky-high tipples under teepees
Perched on the 39th floor of Andaz Singapore in Singapore’s Bugis district, Mr Stork a lush wraparound rooftop garden with views of the National Stadium, Singapore Flyer and the Marina Bay Street Circuit on one side, and the urban sprawl of Singapore’s suburbs on the other. Adding to its appeal are 10 teepees which offer cosy private spaces to wine and dine. For cocktails, there’s a selection of six classics ($25) using artisanal distilled spirits. You can also pick from their range of Batch & Tap cocktails ($22) that have been perfectly pre-mixed and stored in a kegerator. Visit during the F1 weekend (30 Sep-1 Oct) and you can look forward to a lineup of live DJ performances. Starting from October 2022, catch local and international and bartenders working behind the bar during their guest stints.
3. Atico Lounge: For the highest rooftop bar in Orchard
Look up from street level at ION Orchard, and chances are you won’t even be able to see what’s at its pinnacle. But travel up a mezzanine level from the highest floor the elevator takes you, and you’ll find Atico Lounge, a swish social space offering panoramic views and the highest viewpoint in downtown Orchard Road. Opened by the same folks behind 1-Altitude (the highest alfresco bar in the world), you’ll bet these guys know how to make best use of their natural sky-high allure. So take it all in while their curated Mixologist Specials ($26 each) bring your taste buds on a wild journey.
4. CÉ LA VI: For iconic Singapore skyline views
Postcard perfect is not a superlative when used to describe the view from CÉ LA VI. The place to see and be seen, its vantage right atop the famed Marina Bay Sands has been a coveted spot for flattering Instagram selfies and glamorous Hollywood productions (that final scene in Crazy Rich Asians, to name one) alike. It’s cocktail menu includes a selection of classic IBA cocktails as well as a signature selection featuring their mixologists’ own creations. Try the Dewfinity ($25) for a Piña Colada-like tipple with refreshing melon and citrus flavours, or get the High “T” ($25), a chai-infused take on the classic whisky sour.
5. Kinki: For Japanese-influenced drinks
Looking for rooftop bars in Singapore where you feel the pulse of the city? This edgy bayfront spot went through a major revitalisation a decade after it first opened. Kinki now sports a more sophisticated look and feel, while retaining its counterculture roots and its menu of Japanese-influenced tipples and nibbles. The Tears of a Geisha ($22) is a great cocktail to kickstart the evening. Inside the Roku Gin-based concoction hides a lightly tart yuzu umeshu jelly, where you’re encouraged to have a sip, then take a bite.
6. Levant: For mezzes to go with your tipples
Modern mezzes, craft cocktails and an elevated perspective of Singapore’s CBD are all the reasons you’ll need to check out Levant in Tanjong Pagar. Its central location makes it the ideal buzzy, after-work joint to meet up with coworkers and friends, where you can then conveniently settle both dinner and drinks. The smoky baba ganoush ($17) with homemade flatbread is a great appetiser, while the beef kofta sliders ($21) is a crowd favourite if looking for something heftier. Pair them with the Moondust ($20), a heady potion of Moroccon almond-infused vodka, peach liqueur, Mediterranean pistachio bitters, Maglini lemon and gold dust.
Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking and seating requirements before visiting.
