The '''Singapore River''' forms a central artery in Singapore's densely packed Central Business District. The north bank of the river is where Raffles originally landed and founded his colony, and to this day many central government buildings can be found in the area. The newer south bank, laden with skyscrapers, is where Singapore's bankers make (or break) their fortunes. Between the two are the bulk of Singapore's nightspots, found along the riverside streets of '''Boat Quay''', '''Clarke Quay''' and '''Robertson Quay'''.

Get in

The riverside is best accessed by MRT '''Raffles Place''' (North-South/East-West Lines) and '''Clarke Quay''' (North-East Line) stations, while the nearest station to the Marina district is '''City Hall''', connected by a long underground shopping mall to Suntec and the Esplanade. There is no convenient MRT station for the western end of the river though: you'll have to hike on foot for 15 minutes, try to work out the buses, or hop on a bumboat.

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Get around

By boat

A popular way to see the heart of the city is with '''Singapore River Cruises''' [http://www.rivercruise.com.sg]. Stations are scattered along both banks of the river and reservations are not necessary. Prices start at $3 for a simple ride from point A to point B.

On foot

The Esplanade/Merlion/Boat Quay area has some great views of Singapore and makes for a fine walk (or jogging trail if staying nearby). It can get quite hot during the day though; evenings are cooler and breezier, and the night time skyline is equally attractive.

See

The bulk of Singapore's historical attractions are packed by the river, and the best place to start your tour is at the mouth of the Singapore River.

Monuments

  • Merlion. erlion Park. affles Place MRT exit H, off Fullerton Rd. ree. Singapore's official symbol, 8.6 meters tall and weighing 70 tons, spouts water daily on the south bank of the mouth of the Singapore river. (The statue previously resided further down the river, but was moved in 2002 after the opening of the Esplanade Bridge.) Designed by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964, many a commentator has pondered on the inherent contradictions of a creature that is half-cat, half-fish — much like Singapore itself. Singaporeas themselves regard the monument as a bit of a joke, and indeed in Singaporean slang the verb ''to merlion'' means "to vomit"! But any time of night or day, a steady stream of tourists troops up to see the mythical beast, and a purpose-built pier lets you take pictures with the Merlion and the CBD in the background. When paying your respects, don't miss the bite-sized '''Mini-Merlion''' (officially the "Merlion cub"), a mere two meters tall, just 28m away towards the bridge.
  • Cavenagh Bridge. ext to Fullerton Hotel. Singapore's oldest bridge and its only suspension bridge, constructed in 1869, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River. Note the original sign forbidding cattle to cross.
  • Raffles Statue. Empress Place. ext to Asian Civilisations Museum. This statue of Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, is built on the (supposed) exact spot where he first landed. Second only to the Merlion as most popular place in Singapore to take a picture of yourself, and having the skyscrapers and the shophouses of Boat Quay in the background helps to explain why! The statue here is actually a replica; the original can be found in front of the Victoria Theatre.

    Museums

  • Asian Civilisations Museum. Empress Place. 65-63327798. ttp://www.nhb.gov.sg/ACM. 5, or $10 for Peranakan Museum joint ticket. on 1-7 PM, Tue-Sun 9:30 AM-7 PM. One of Singapore's newest, largest and best-presented museums. As the name hints, all of Asia is covered in the scope, although naturally there is an emphasis on the cultures near and in Singapore. Also hosts visiting exhibitions.
  • Mint Museum of Toys. 6 Seah St. ehind Raffles Hotel. 65-63390660. ttp://www.emint.com/. :30AM-6:30PM daily. $15/7.50 adult/child (under 12). Built to house the 50,000-piece toy collection of local enthusiast Chang Yang Fa, the contents of this five-story building covers come from 25 countries and span over a century of "Moments of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys" (hence MINT), with everything from wind-up toys to Darth Vader masks. Guided tours (45 min) available and recommended.
  • Peranakan Museum. 9 Armenian St. 65-63327591. ttp://www.peranakanmuseum.sg. on 1-7 PM, Tue-Sun 9:30 AM-7 PM. 8, or $10 for ACM joint ticket. Formerly a branch of the ACM, now reborn as a standalone museum dedicated to the exuberantly colorful culture of the Peranakans, the Malay-Chinese and Malay-Indian traders who had a major impact on the Straits Settlements. The three story museum covers Peranakan weddings, religion and food with the latest in audiovisual gear. The building itself, a 1912 pastel blue wedding cake originally built as a school, is also impressive.

    Do

    The entire Singapore river area is a lovely place for a walk, with small green gardens, old-style bridges and historical buildings, and the nightlife-rich expanse of Clarke Quay and Boat Quay.

  • Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. Esplanade Drive. ity Hall MRT. ttp://www.esplanade.com.sg/. Singapore's equivalent of Tokyo.

    Budget

  • Gluttons Bay. splanade Mall #01-15. aily 6 PM-3 AM. 65-63367025. 5-10. Run by famous foodies Makansutra, this outdoor eatery puts together 12 of Singapore's most famous hawkers. Breezy location by the river, great views of the city and pretty good grub make this a winner.
  • Komalas. 11 North Bridge Rd. ttp://www.komalasweb.com/. McDonalds-style fast food, only they serve vegetarian Indian food on a banana leaf instead of burgers and fries. Worth a visit for the cognitive dissonance and good food, with massive meal sets under $5.
  • Lau Pa Sat. 8 Raffles Quay. ear Raffles Place MRT. A nicely done up Victorian-style hawker centre, but unfortunately suffering from a lack of hawkers caused by overly high rents. The ''satay'' here is famous though, and there's a long row of outdoor stalls on the south side (open only in the evening), with '''Fatman Satay''' (Stall #1) generally getting the best reviews.
  • Yong Bak Kut Teh. 33 River Valley Rd. orner of Mohamed Sultan. Well located for late-night snacks, this coffeeshop serves up tasty Inle Myanmar Restaurant. 11 North Bridge Rd. 65-63335438. 5-10. 1 AM-10 PM. This very authentic little eatery is run by and for Singapore's tiny Burmese community, many of whom are gem traders in the office block above. The food is an intriguing mix of Thai and Indian influences.

    Splurge

    The best places for a splurge with a view in the evening are '''Boat Quay''' and '''Clarke Quay''', which have many riverside restaurants offering ''al fresco'' dining. Another good choice popular with the expat crowd is '''CHIJMES''' (30 Victoria St) [http://www.chijmes.com.sg/], the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, now an atmospheric assemblage of high-end food & beverage outlets near the Raffles Hotel.

  • Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria. 0 Victoria St #01-29A. 33/48 lunch/dinner. 65-63349332. HIJMES. ttp://carnivore.com.sg/. A real Brazilian ''churrascaria'' (barbecue), where waiters walk around with skewers of South American beef and you can eat all the meat you want. 11 ''churrascos'' at lunch, 15 at dinner, extensive salad bar, and there's a good selection of wines, cold beer and ''caipirinha'', the Brazilian national drink made with sugar cane.
  • Gyu-Kaku. 1A Clemenceau Ave #01-18/19. E Square. 65-67334001. 35. ttp://www.gyu-kaku.com.sg. Stylish Japanese-style charcoal barbeque joint, with a vast selection of ''wagyu'' (Japanese beef) and side dishes. Vegetarians need not apply.
  • IndoChine Waterfront. Empress Place. 65-63391720. ttp://www.indochine.com.sg. 80. Directly opposite Boat Quay on a terrace outside the Asian Civilisations Museum, the restaurant offers reasonable modern Vietnamese/Lao/Khmer food and gorgeous views of the river at only moderately high prices. Great place for a romantic date, reservations highly advisable.
  • Jumbo Seafood. 0 Upper Circular Road #B1-48. he Riverwalk. 50. ttp://www.jumboseafood.com.sg/. Well-located outlet of the popular seafood chain famed for their chilli crabs, a Singapore specialty. Jumbo has another central outlet at Riverside Point, just across the river from Clarke Quay.
  • Lei Garden. 0 Victoria Street, CHIJMES #01-24. 65 6339 3822. HIJMES. 50. ttp://www.leigardenrestaurant.com/. One of the most expensive Cantonese restaurants in town, this Hong Kong-based restaurant group serves high end cuisine with an emphasis on garoupa, shark's fin soup, lobsters, prawns and other seafood. Popular when entertaining business guests, just hope you're not the one who gets stuck with the bill.
  • Prego. 0 Bras Basah Road. airmont Singapore 1F. 65 64316156. ttp://www.fairmont.com/singapore/GuestServices/Restaurants/Prego.htm. 40. Singapore's largest Italian restaurant seating 320, it has a pizzeria, a deli, a wine bar and the main restaurant. Good for their pastas and pizzas, the calamari rings and mushroom soup is also good for a start. The tiramisu is another highlight.
  • Quayside Seafood Grill. larke Quay Block A. ear Hooters. 65-63380138. 50. One of the better places for Singaporean food on the Quays, open for dinner only. The pepper crab here is good but a little pricy at $4/100g, which translates to $60-80 per critter.
  • San Marco at the Lighthouse. ullerton Hotel 8F, 1 Fullerton Square. 65-64384404. unch $35-55, dinner $98-. Modern Italian fare with French and Asian twists, best known for their crispy ''kurobuta'' piglet.
  • Shiraishi. Raffles Ave #03-01. itz-Carlton. 65-63383788. oon-2 PM, 6-10 PM. unch $30-85, dinner $100-200. A tiny place in a quiet corner of the hotel, you won't stumble into this intimidatingly Japanese place by accident, but the restaurant's many regulars come here for some of the best and most consistent sushi and sashimi this side of Tokyo. Lunch sets are good value, but ordering ''a la carte'' for dinner can be very expensive indeed. For connoisseurs.
  • Viet Lang. Old Parliament Lane, #01-03 Annex Building, Old Parliament House. 40. ust behind Victoria Theatre/Concert Hall. 65-63373379. Among the best Vietnamese restaurants in Singapore, and you can even wash down your ''pho'' and ''cha gio'' with some imported ''333'' beer.

    Drink

    Singapore's nightlife is almost entirely concentrated near the river. The main party zones are '''Boat Quay''', on the south of the river next to the financial district (MRT Raffles Place, exit G) and '''Clarke Quay''' [http://www.clarkequay.com.sg] on the north bank a few blocks inland (MRT Clarke Quay). Less well known but also worth a look are '''Circular Road''', parallel to Boat Quay just behind it, and '''Robertson Quay''', an up-and-coming nightlife/restaurant zone at the western end of the river. Bars and pubs come and go with dizzying speed, so just head out and find today's hip spot. (In particular, superclub Ministry of Sound and topless revenue Crazy Horse have both folded.) All four are within crawling distance of each other. '''Mohamed Sultan Rd''', inland from Robertson Quay and until recently the place to be, has been severely eclipsed by newer upstarts and most bars have been replaced by restaurants and furniture stores.

    Bars and pubs

  • Bar 84. 6 Robertson Quay. Better known by locals as the '''Magic Bar''', you can watch Ginza-trained manager-bartender-magician Hashi-san dazzle and astonish his guests nightly except Sunday. Dim lighting, smooth jazz, and stylish decoration makes this the perfect place of a quiet drink — although beware that, in addition to the $10 cover and $15 drinks, any props used for your amusement will also magically find their way onto your bill.
  • Brewerkz. 0 Merchant Rd #01-05/06. iverside Point, opp Clarke Quay. 65-64387438. oon-midnight daily. 10. ttp://www.brewerkz.com/. Singapore's first microbrewery, still going strong after ten years and now brewing up no less than 12 types, available in handy 6-glass sampler sets ($10.49). Indoor and outdoor seating, with a wide range of pub grub in huge portions. Lunchtime prices can go as low as $3.50 for a pint.
  • Hideout. 1 Circular Rd (top floor). ehind Boat Quay. PM-midnight Wed/Thu, 7 PM-3 AM Fri/Sat. ttp://www.hideout.com.sg/. Hideout is tucked away on the third storey of an old Chinese shop house. The central theme of the bar is a warm pink and burgundy hue, with distinct mismatched second-hand furniture, along with walls hung with paintings from local artists. The key to Hideout's popularity is its music. With local indie bands regularly playing on Wednesday nights and DJs playing funk, rare hip hop, soul, jazz, house, breaks, and techno on other nights, what is always evident is that the crowd loves music and is willing to experiment with new genres.
  • Em by the River. Nanson Road #01-05. allery Hotel. 1 AM-3 AM Mon-Fri, 9 AM-4 AM Sat/Sun. 10. ttp://www.em-n-em.com/. Formerly ''Soundbar'', this supremely chilled out place by the river is a cafe by day and a happening bar at night.
  • Eski Bar. 6 Circular Rd. ehind Boat Quay. ttp://www.eskibar.com/. If the tropical heat starts to get to you, pop into the coolest place in town — a steady -6__C, to be precise, although the chill-out area is a comparatively toasty 18__C. Try the grapefruity Eski Blue or coconut sweet Sleeping Polar Bear ($15 each). Open 5 PM to 1 AM (or later) daily.
  • Equinox. tamford Rd. ttp://www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford. The five bars and restaurants here offer the best nighttime views of the city, but prices are correspondingly expensive ($15 and up for a drink). For a cigar and live jazz, head to '''CitySpace''' (floor 70), while '''New Asia ''' is a more casual place for a drink. Entry is through the Swissotel entrance on Stamford Rd.
  • Harry's Bar. 8 Boat Quay. ttp://www.harrys.com.sg/. The favorite watering hole of Nick Leeson, the "Rogue Trader" who brought down Barings Bank and was once arrested here for indecent exposure. There are now franchises all over town, but this is the original. Try the Bank Breaker, an unlikely shot of whisky and Midori, which like Leeson's escapades goes down smooth but leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Live music most nights.
  • Long Bar. Beach Rd. ttp://www.raffleshotel.com/longbar.html. The birthplace of the '''Singapore Sling''', a syrupy sweet pink concoction of pineapple juice, gin, cherry liquor and many mysterious ingredients. The two-floor bar is large and a bit of a tourist trap, but drinking a Sling at the beautifully decorated wood-paneled bar and throwing the accompanying peanut shells on the floor should be on every visitor's agenda — if you can stomach paying $21 for a premixed drink poured out of a pitcher.
  • Marrakesh. D River Valley Road #01-01. larke Quay. 65-63387331. ttp://www.harrys.com.sg/Marrakesh.htm. PM to 1 AM. The slick faux-Moorish decor inside is pleasant enough, but the thing to do here is to grab one of the hotly contested outdoor tables, fire up an expertly prepared ''shisha'' water pipe and watch the endless parade of Singapore's nightlife unroll before you. $12-15 for drinks.
  • Pump Room. B River Valley Road, The Foundry. larke Quay. 65-63342628. ttp://www.pumproomasia.com/. aily noon-3 AM. Very popular microbrewery/bistro at the heart of Clarke Quay. Full menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. Live music nightly (except Mon).
  • Timbre. Old Parliament Lane #01-04. he Annex at The Old Parliament House. 65-63363386. ttp://www.timbre.com.sg. aily 6 PM-1 AM. In a beautifully renovated colonial house opposite Boat Quay (formerly occupied by Q Bar), this has some of the best views in town and is one of only a few places in Singapore specializing in local live music. Indoor and outdoor seating.

    Cafes

  • Cosafe Maid Cafe. 0 Victoria Street #01-11. HIJMES. offee $5, beer and wine $10 up. Singapore's first (and only) maid cafe, modeled on the ones in Dbl O. 1 Unity St #01-24. ff Mohamed Sultan. 65-6735-2008. ttp://www.dbl-o.com/. One of Singapore's most popular clubs, at least in part because there's no cover charge and once you get in house pours are only $3 a glass. Forking out $15 for cover will let you skip the queue and get into '''O Bar''' downstairs, which follows the same pricing policy.
  • Home. 0 Upper Circular Rd. ttp://www.homeclub.com.sg/. Opened in June 2005, this nightclub decorated with a strange mix of modern and retro attempts to plug the gap between Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. Drinks $12, 1-for-1 happy hour between 6 and 9 PM.
  • Jazz@Southbridge. 2B Boat Quay. 65-63274671. ttp://www.southbridgejazz.com.sg/. Small and intimate, generally judged the best of Singapore's (few) jazz joints. Two-drink minimum on weekends, open daily except Monday.
  • Zouk. 7 Jiak Kim St. ttp://www.zoukclub.com.sg. Singapore's best-known nightclub and in fact a complex of 4 spaces: '''Zouk''' itself for harder dance music, '''Velvet Underground''' for loungier stuff, '''Phuture''' for experimental edge and the outside '''Wine Bar''' for chilling out. A full-entry ticket will set you back a rather pricey $35, but two drinks are included and the place is happening especially when foreign DJs are in town — which is more often than not!

    Sleep

    Unless you're a shopping maven intent on maximizing time in Orchard Road's shopping malls, the riverside is probably the best place to stay in Singapore. Most hotels are within one of two clusters: the expensive ones at the east end in the Marina district, the more affordable ones at the west end near Mohammed Sultan.

    Mid-range

    There is a large cluster of older mid-range hotels on and near '''Havelock Rd''' at the western end of river, not the best location for sightseeing or shopping. '''SBS bus 51''' from Havelock Rd offers a good escape route to Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Orchard. Note that in the center, the bus goes north up Eu Tong Sen Rd/Hill St, but returns south via North/South Bridge Rd.

  • Carlton Hotel. 6 Bras Basah Road. 65-63388333. 200-. ttp://www.carlton.com.sg/. Very much a standard-issue, slightly older business hotel, but it's clean, comfortable and very well located.
  • Copthorne King's. 03 Havelock Road. 65-67330011. ttp://www.copthornekings.com.sg/. 150-. . The former King's Hotel, given a thorough renovation when taken over by the Copthorne group and now looks (almost) brand new. Tower wing rooms are good, main wing less so. The primary downside is the somewhat inconvenient location near the west end of the river, although Mohammed Sultan is within striking distance.
  • Holiday Inn Atrium. 17 Outram Road. 65-67330188. ttp://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/sinhi. Formerly the Concorde Hotel, the 30-floor inner atrium is indeed impressive, but little else about this hotel is.

    Splurge

    There is a major cluster of high-end hotels on the north side of the river around the Esplanade, including the splurgiest of them all, the venerable '''Raffles Hotel'''.

  • Conrad Centennial. Temasek Blvd. 65-63348888. ttp://www.conradhotels.com/en/ch/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SINCICI. 290. New and impeccably tasteful hotel, located next Suntec City but a bit far from the MRT. Very good value for a 5-star.
  • Pan Pacific Singapore. Raffles Boulevard. arina Square. 65-63368111. ttp://singapore.panpacific.com/. 220. A somewhat older hotel renovated in 2005, the most notable features are the 35-story atrium and the great skyline views from the aptly named Panoramic Balcony rooms. The pool and gym were renovated in 2006 and look sharp, but the rooms themselves, however, are nothing out of the ordinary.
  • Raffles Hotel. Beach Rd. 65-63371886. ttp://www.raffleshotel.com/. 600. A Singaporean icon offering 5-star luxury in an colonial style, known as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling and the final stand of Singapore's last tiger, shot in the Billiards Room. Famed for super-attentive service, with more staff than guests, but needless to say, it's also by far the most expensive hotel in Singapore!
  • Ritz-Carlton Millenia. Raffles Ave. 65-63378888. 400. ttp://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/singapore/. Modern and impeccably stylish, with fantastic full-wall skyline views, even from the bathroom, for rooms on the Marina Bay side. (Don't worry, it's one-way glass.) All rooms are large and equipped with frills like a pillow in the bathtub. Gym, spa, pool and a popular Sunday champagne brunch. Recommended.
  • Swissotel The Stamford. Stamford Rd. irectly above Raffles Place MRT. 65-63388585. ttp://www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford. 300. Formerly The Westin and the world's tallest hotel, now neither but still a pretty good hotel. Raffles City shopping mall in the basement and the Equinox bar/restaurant cluster on the top floors.

    There are some luxury hotels of note scattered elsewhere on the river.

  • Fullerton Hotel. Fullerton Square. 65-67338388. ttp://www.fullertonhotel.com. 500. In the magnificently refurbished former Central Post Office, this is Raffles' closest competitor (in price as well) with an excellent location facing the Merlion on the south side of the river; the third-floor pool almost certainly has the best views in town. Rooms are modern in style and luxuriously furnished, but for the best views it's worth paying a little extra to avoid the Courtyard rooms and get a Quay or better.
  • Gallery Hotel. 6 Robertson Quay. 65-68498686. ttp://www.galleryhotel.com.sg/. 238. If you've ever wanted to spend the night in an IKEA showroom, this self-proclaimed Highly Individual Property is the place for you. No paintings hanging on the wall here, the name refers to the hotel's own style, all steel, glass, austere modern furniture and breakage-prone fancy electronics. Well located for visits to the 4 bars/clubs on premises and nightspots on Mohammed Sultan, but you'll be taking a taxi anywhere else. Bonus points for free Internet and Singapore's funkiest pool/human aquarium.
  • Grand Copthorne. 92 Havelock Road. 65-67330880. ttp://www.grandcopthorne.com.sg/. 230. The flagship of the Millennium & Copthorne chain and the only luxury hotel at the west end, but unfortunately the pomp of the lobby and exterior are not matched by the spacious but otherwise somewhat dumpy rooms.
  • Novotel Clarke Quay. 77A River Valley Road. RT Clarke Quay. 65-63383333. ttp://www.novotel.com/novotel/fichehotel/gb/nov/5993/fiche_hotels.html. 200. Formerly the New Otani, the hotel reopened in late 2005 after a major refurbishment.
  • Swissotel Merchant Court. 0 Merchant Road. 65-63372288. ttp://singapore-merchantcourt.swissotel.com/. 200. This large 476-room hotel has an excellent location on Clarke Quay right next to the MRT station, but the rooms are musty and those facing the river suffer from noise from partygoers whooping it up.

    Cope

    Laundry

  • <listing name="Systematic Laundromat" alt="" directions="Robertson Walk address="11 Unity Street #01-22" phone="+65-67321438" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">One-day laundry service (no self-service available). $6 for 4 kg.</listing>