From its origins as a fishing village to its role as a trading port under the British Empire, the Lion City’s history has been inseparable from that of the Singapore River. These days, the Singapore River is a bustling hotbed of restaurants and bars spread across Robertson Quay, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.
Along with Circular Road, the Boat Quay stretch is an OB真人视讯 favourite as it really does have something for everyone. Whether you want to unwind with a pint of beer, live music, and good old-fashioned Irish cheer at Molly Malone’s or you fancy sipping champagne while indulging in fresh oysters and enjoying unobstructed views of the city skyline at Southbridge, here’s where to find Boat Quay’s best restaurants and bars.
Wild Child Pizzette
50 Circular Road
Image credit: Wild Child Pizzette | Supplied
A pizzeria and bar concept by The Cicheti Group, serves up 11-inch, Neapolitan-style pizzas that feature contemporary Italian toppings on a two-stage, slow-fermented pizza dough alongside a list of wild wines, ancient nihonshu (sake) and funky craft beers.
Our favourites include the Bella pizza with heirloom baby cherry tomatoes and rocket salad accompanied by slivers of parma ham and dripping with creamy stracciatella and drizzles of balsamic reduction, and the fiery Spianata Calabrese which is sprinkled with fennel seeds and drizzled with Sichuan peppercorn-infused honey for a sweet-and-hot combination that's hard to beat.
The Dragon Chamber
2 Circular Road
Image credit: The Dragon Chamber | Facebook
Secretly located within a brightly coloured kopitiam behind a fridge door, serves up guerilla style food that brings back age-old unconventional Chinese dishes. The menu is designed to push you out of comfort zone with adventurous dishes that showcase unconventional ingredients and unusual Chinese techniques of nose-to-tail animal preparation.
Some of it’s more unfamiliar offerings include the Dragon Claw (A Singapore farmed crocodile foot braised in herbal sauce and served on a bed of kale), Stingray in Dragon Curry (stingray with the Dragon Lord’s own house special coconut curry) and Milk Cracker Lemon Chicken (deep fried chicken slices with crushed milk crackers and peanuts topped with lemon sauce).
Offtrack
34 North Canal Road
Image credit: Offtrack | Facebook
Having just secured the number 25 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, is known for serving up hearty pan-Asian food alongside a tight selection of cult classic cocktails, a packed schedule of local and international DJs and a rotating curation of art – all presented in a warm and homely space.
The music-centric bar was conceptualised by the co-founders of local music collectives Darker Than Wax and Ice Cream Sundays and features a carefully designed sound system playing a thoughtful selection of tracks, making it the perfect spot for music lovers.
Head bartender Joash Conceciao has put together a menu of classic cocktails that have been reinvented with a twist. Highlights include the Saturn, made with Fords Gin, passionfruit, lemon and almond and the Go Figure, made with whisky, rum, fig, black tea, cassis, and dry vermouth. The food menu, overseen by chef Edmund Low, showcases pan-Asian dishes like the Housemade Sourdough Roti, Thai Tuna Tartare, Teochew Ceviche, SF Style Garlic Noodles and Tamarind Glaze Black Angus Short Rib.
Southbridge
80 Boat Quay, Level 5 Rooftop
Image credit: Southbridge | Supplied
One of Singapore’s best-kept secrets, is the city’s rooftop destination for chic and buzzy bar dining. The fully alfresco rooftop bar, which is located on top of a refurbished heritage shophouse, has one of the best 360-degree views of the Singapore skyline, which spans from the historic Parliament House, across the Singapore River, to the iconic Marina Bay Sands and Boat Quay skyline.
The 100-seater bar-restaurant serves up a fun dining experience, with gins from around the world and craft cocktails accompanying its elevated small plates menu focused on oysters and casual nosh. Their decadent selection of fresh live oysters come from the remote Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand and are served four ways: the Umami with ponzu and yuzu, the classic Mignonette with banana shallot and sherry vinegar, the Nikkei with bulldog sauce and togarashi, and finally the Natural with fresh lemon and tabasco.
Skinny’s Lounge
82 Boat Quay
Image credit: Skinny's Lounge | Facebook
In a converted Chinese KTV bar off Boat Quay, is the spot for hardcore bar hoppers. Nab a classic Skinny’s cocktail, like the packed-with-punch Boat Quay Zombie with three rums, apricot, orgeat, pineapple and orange or the Penicillin with scotch, ginger, honey and lemon. If you're a little indecisive, trust the process and be sure to ask the bar staff to make you one of their fave signature cocktails.
Decked out with a pool table, booth seating and a karaoke bar in the back, Skinny's will make you feel like a local (if you're not already) in less than one sip.
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Dumpling Darlings
86 Circular Road
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Got a hankering for dumplings? , which is run by the same team behind Lola's Cafe, is a super popular restaurant offering nothing but dumplings and noodles, all made fresh each day. The neon-lit venue’s branding is inspired by the Japanese manga found in Shokudo (casual Japanese eateries), with storylines based on a main character Jo and her pet pig, Pork Chop.
As for the food, we recommend trying the spiced Sichuan dumplings, veggie mandu dumplings and braised pork noodles. To finish, the dessert dumplings, which are stuffed with poached pear, cream cheese, amaretto, vanilla bean and served with Tasmanian ice cream, are a serious game changer.
Convivial
11 North Canal Road, The Offshore, #01-01
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Singapore’s first and only dedicated champagne bar, is located on the fringe of Boat Quay and offers an intimate escape reminiscent of a champagne cave in France. Founded by Yeo Xi Yang, the winner of the Singapore National Sommelier Competition 2022, the bar has quickly become a staple for those looking for a unique and refined champagne experience.
The champagne selection showcases the richness of the region, from single varietal wines sourced from individual vineyards to multi-vintage blends. You can savour exceptional wines such as Salon “Cuvée S” Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Brut 1990, and Laherte Frères “Les 7” Solera, Extra Brut NV. The celebration of bubbly extends beyond champagne to include sparkling wines from around the globe, as well as artisanal ciders and beers. The bar also offers a diverse array of white, red, and sweet wines, each with its own unique story involving fizz.
Feeling peckish? The food menu has been expertly crafted to complement the featured champagnes and wines. Highlights include Prawn & Pork Tortellini, featuring prawn and lobster bisque, served with chicharrón and sakura ebi, Guinea Fowl served with guinea fowl jus, carrot puree, and haricots verts, as well as a selection of charcuterie, cold cuts, and cheese.
Lady Wu
11 North Canal Road, Attic Level, The Offshore Building
Image credit: Lady Wu | Facebook
A lively alfresco attic bar in the heart of Boat Quay, is named after Empress Wu Zetian, who ruled China during the Tang Dynasty. The focus here is on contemporary craft cocktails, with regular drinks promotions and a tempting menu of creative Chinese bar bites making this a popular choice among the after-work crowd.
Soak up the stylish interiors before heading to the spacious roof deck to enjoy some alfresco entertainment—Lady Wu boasts a packed weekly schedule of live music, performed in both English and Mandarin.
Barbary Coast and Deadfall Cantina
16 North Canal Road
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One location, two two stand-alone venues. From the team at , here you'll find upstairs and downstairs.
Barbary Coast is based on the eponymous drinking holes of San Francisco's Barbary Coast area during the gold rush of the 1840s. When miners struck gold, they got suited and booted into the finest finery and headed to the nearest ballroom. These were often run by madams, served premium products and afforded a little more privacy from prying eyes on the street. Plush and opulent, it's the kind of place discerning drinkers who have a keen eye for details go.
Deadfall Cantina on the other hand is an agave forward neighbourhood watering hole pouring friendly, fuss-free libations, served straight up with a twist. Paying homage to all things Mexico, the drinks menu showcases one of Singapore's largest collections of agave-based spirits, accounting for roughly 70% of the bottles on offer—split evenly between mezcal and tequila. We recommend the piña colada-margarita hybrid Pina Margarina, featuring Los Arcos Tequila, coconut, pineapple, cordial, lime and saline.
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
56 Circular Road
Image credit: Molly Malone’s Irish Pub | Website
was the first Irish pub to open in Singapore, way back in 1995. More than a quarter-century on, it still maintains that unrivalled jovial atmosphere fundamental to any classic Irish Pub.
With live music on most nights and all the live sport you could want, you'll be hard pressed to find a better place to unwind with a pint and a plate of fish and chips.
Eat Sum Thing
66 Boat Quay, Level 1
Image credit: Eat Sum Thing | Facebook
Brought to you by Thugshop, the team behind Headquarters, Upstairs, Tuff Club and the Sunny Side Up boozy brunch series, is a dining concept which amalgamates contemporary fusion tapas-style dishes, art and exclusive mixes created by a roster of Singapore’s finest DJs.
Led by Chef Brandon Lee, the menu offers a burst of flavours with dishes like Mac and Cheese Balls, Crab Toast, Miso Cod and Grilled Chicken with Cauliflower and Zucchini. It also boasts a concise yet curated selection of craft beers and natural wines.
My Little Spanish Place
54 Boat Quay
Image credit: My Little Spanish Place | Website
Having first opened its doors in Bukit Timah in 2010, unveiled its second outlet in Boat Quay only five short years later. Based on the Spanish saying, “Mi Casa es Su Casa”, which means “My House is Your House”, the restaurant boasts a fully-fledged menu of Spanish home-style dishes and desserts designed by chefs Maria Sevillano from Spain and Edward Esmero from the Philippines.
Highlights include the jamon-stuffed creamy croquettes with jamon flakes, grilled broccolini with romesco sauce and toasted almond shaves, crispy potatoes with their special spicy sauce and Manchego cheese, and the homemade beef and pork meatballs in tomato sauce. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of sangria.
The Penny Black
26/27 Boat Quay
Image credit: The Penny Black | Facebook
A Victorian-styled pub in the heart of Singapore, was painstakingly designed and built in England by master craftsmen and shipped piece by piece in 1999 to its current location at 26 & 27 Boat Quay.
In addition to hearty pub favourites like fish and chips with mushy peas and beef and Guinness pie, you’ll find a great selection of beers, house wines and even a small menu of cocktails. It’s also the only English pub in Singapore that serves Old Speckled Hen (an English Ale) on tap.
Made up of two levels, plus a large open-air terrace right on the riverfront, the joint has numerous large flat panel screens showing all the major live sporting events should that be your thing.
Quay House
51 Circular Road
Image credit: Quay House | Supplied
Nestled among the shop houses of Boat Quay, is a culinary voyage that celebrates the rich tapestry of flavours, spices, and traditions that once graced the ancient sea routes connecting East and West.
Inspired by the culinary traditions of Asia, the wood fired chicken embodies the essence of fusion cuisine. Marinated with a blend of spices and herbs, the chicken is grilled over Ogatan charcoal, infusing it with bold, smokey aromas. It comes served with a refreshing Nepalese salsa which is bursting with flavour. Their seafood rice bowl pays homage to Singapore's rich maritime heritage and days as a bustling fishing village. Homemade kimchi and pickled vegetables add a punch that contrasts perfectly with the richness of the seafood.
Headquarters
66 Boat Quay
Image credit: Headquarters | Facebook
Forget the glitz of the others on the list, this stripped-back, underground spot is all about pumping out top-notch tunes minus the fuss.
Created by a DJ and a restaurant owner, it’s no wonder has become known for its epic music line-up, including a rotating roster of local talent and international imports. Grab a drink from the bar tucked away in the corner and bliss out with your crew to the very best techno, house and disco every Wednesday through Saturday. It’s time to get sweaty at one of the best clubs in Singapore.
Harry's Boat Quay
28 Boat Quay
Image credit: Harry's | Supplied
Established in 1992, is one of Singapore’s longstanding F&B brands. From its humble beginning in Boat Quay, it has since grown into Singapore’s largest collection of everyday bars and kitchens with 19 outlets located across the island.
Now, Harry’s is marking a new era with a revamp and elevation of its menu offerings. The new menu features a variety of lighter and health-conscious choices across both food and drink items, including more vegetarian and wholesome options as well as low-carb beers and wine alternatives.
Highlights include the pan seared salmon which comes with crisp green vegetables, fragrant brown rice and an aromatic house-made pesto sauce, and the Argentinian rib eye which is served with dressed salad, spicy steak sauce, and Harry’s signature spiced fries. Meanwhile, Harry’s updated beverage selection features a refreshing twist, embracing healthier options by using natural sugar and drawing inspiration from modern trends. We recommend the Not So Old Fashioned, Roman Mule and Espresso Martini.
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Main image credit: Wild Child Pizzette | Supplied
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