Look, here's the go
I've been travelling solo for over a decade. Been to Singapore more times than I've had hot dinners. And I'll be straight with you: most of those "influencer" rooftop bars are a bloody rip-off.
You want a killer view of the CBD skyline without blowing your entire travel budget on one lychee martini? I've done the hard yakka for you. I've queued, I've been overcharged, and I've even been knocked back for wearing thongs (the footwear, you drongo).
Below are the 10 best rooftop bars near Raffles Place – no wank, just real advice. I've included the secret photo spots, the hidden cheap nights, and exactly when to rock up so you don't look like a gumbie.
1. NOVA (Level 63, 1 Raffles Place) – The Big Daddy of Heights
If you want to feel like you're on top of the world (and Singapore is dead flat, so that's saying something), go here. It's 282m up – the highest bar in Singapore as of this year.
| Quick Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Best time to rock up | 6:00 – 7:30 PM (catch the sunset, mate) |
| Entry cost | ~40 SGD (includes 2 drinks) – cheaper than buying separate |
| Dress code | Smart casual. Collared shirt, clean sneakers. No singlets or thongs. |
| How to get there | One Raffles Place tower. Express lift to L63. |
🍸 Pro Tip:Don't be a drongo and order per drink. Buy the Cover Charge for 40 SGD. You get two drinks. A single cocktail is ~30 SGD plus entry. Do the maths.
📸 Secret photo spot:Turn your back to the bar. Point your camera at the ASTRA (that giant steel star sculpture). That's your money shot. Every other angle is just buildings.
⚠️ Hard warning:
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Wednesday is Ladies Night: Women get in free. Blokes pay ~35-40 SGD. Don't act surprised.
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Ice, ice, baby: They pack the glasses with heaps of ice. You're paying for a shot of alcohol and a mountain of frozen water.
2. LeVeL33 (Marina Bay Financial Centre) – For the Beer Guts
This is the world's highest microbrewery. If you're over spirits and just want a proper pint, this is your joint. Right at the foot of Marina Bay Sands.
| Quick Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 12:00 – 11:00 PM (Sun) / 12:00 – 12:00 AM (Sat) |
| Pint price | From 16.90 SGD |
| Good for | Food. Their oysters and wagyu sliders are bloody good. |
My stuff-up (so you don't repeat it):First time I went, I thought I'd just rock up and grab an outdoor table. Wrong, mate. You need to book two weeks in advance for weekend outdoor seating. I sat inside, looking through glass at the people having a ripper time outside. Book and specifically ask for "Outdoor Seating" the same day you book your flights.
🍸 Pro Tip:Don't bother with cocktails here. Order the Beer Tasting Paddle (~23.90 SGD). You get five small beers. Better photos, better value, and you actually taste the beer.
3. Lantern (The Fullerton Bay Hotel) – Romantic but It'll Cost Ya
Right on Clifford Pier. This bar sits next to an infinity pool. The view looks straight at Marina Bay Sands. Dead set postcard material.
| Quick Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Golden hour | 4:00 – 7:00 PM (Happy Hour called "The Skive Life") |
| Happy Hour price | From 10++ SGD for selected drinks |
🍸 Pro Tip:
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Ladies Night (Tuesday): 38++ SGD for 2 hours free-flow. If you can drink, this is a bargain.
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Best seats: The daybeds next to the pool. Get there early. Like, 4pm early.
⚠️ Hard warning:This is a 5-star hotel. No shorts. No singlets. They will politely but firmly tell you to piss off. I've seen it happen.
4. Skai Bar (Swissotel The Stamford, Level 70) – The History Buff's View
Level 70. Looks straight down at the Padang and the old Civic District. Unlike NOVA (which looks at the sea), Skai gives you that "I own the city" feeling over the colonial buildings.
📸 Secret photo spot:Not the balcony. Sit inside, against the glass. The staff here are legends. Ask nicely, and they'll take a Polaroid of you for free. Say it's for a special memory. Works every time.
5. HighHouse (Level 61-62, 1 Raffles Place) – Indo-China Vibes
Right below NOVA. Same building. But different vibe. NOVA is loud like a nightclub. HighHouse is a lounge with house and techno. Chill.
What's different:They have a Hideout Room – a karaoke room in the sky. Fits 15 people. Not cheap, but split among a big group? Not bad for a birthday.
6. VUE (OUE Bayfront, Level 19)
Collyer Quay.Best deal: Happy Hour every day until 7:30 PM.Vibe: Fancy but quiet. Less backpackers. Good for actual conversation without yelling.
7. Southbridge (Boat Quay, Level 5)
Heads up: Boat Quay. A short walk from Raffles Place. Not in a skyscraper.Vibe: River view. Romantic. Cheaper than the towers.Price: Cocktails from 22 SGD. Fresh oysters.
8. Abode (50 South Bridge Rd, Level 6)
New bar. Rooftop views over the old shophouses.The bargain: Happy Hour from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Cocktails are only 14 SGD. That's the cheapest on this entire list. No contest.
9. Kinki Restaurant & Bar (Customs House)
Vibe: Modern Japanese. Neon lights. Young crowd. Good energy.Super Happy Hour (Weekdays, 5-8 PM): Cocktails 12 SGD. Two beers for 23 SGD. Ridiculously cheap for Singapore.
10. CÉ LA VI (Marina Bay Sands, Level 57)
The most expensive. But let's be real – you want that shot on top of MBS.The hack: Don't book the bar. Book the SkyPark (entry ticket ~20 SGD). Go up, have a drink there. Cheaper than the minimum spend at the club.
Cost & Time Cheat Sheet (AUD estimated)
| Bar | Budget for 2 people (2 drinks each) | Best time | Aussie verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOVA | ~80 SGD ($90 AUD) | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Highest view. Club vibes. |
| LeVeL33 | ~70 SGD ($80 AUD) | Sunset | Best for beer drinkers. |
| Lantern | ~60 SGD ($68 AUD) Happy Hour | 5:00 PM | Romantic. Fancy. |
| Skai Bar | ~70 SGD ($80 AUD) | Before 8:00 PM | Classic view. Quiet. |
| Abode | ~30 SGD ($34 AUD) Happy Hour | 7:00 PM | Winner for tight budgets. |
What I've learned (so you don't learn the hard way)
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Cheapest night out? Go to Abode or Kinki during Happy Hour. You'll save heaps. That money buys you three proper meals at a hawker centre.
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Best photos? NOVA or LeVeL33 (for the MBS shot). Make sure you have a decent eSIM with good data – don't be that person asking for the wifi password. It's embarrassing.
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Dress code is real. No thongs. No tank tops. No shorts after 7pm at the fancy ones. Singapore is not Bali. They actually enforce this.
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Book ahead. Use Chope (it's the local app) or call direct. Don't just "rock up" on a Saturday night. You'll be standing outside like a galah.
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Get a VPN on your phone. Some of these bars block social media uploads on their wifi (no idea why). Just have one ready.
Reckon you're ready to spend some cash on a view?
Or do you want to save your money for actual good food? Singapore has heaps of hidden eats and hawker centres near Raffles Place that won't break the bank.
