Singapore River Riverside Festivities From exquisite dining to watering holes with live entertainment, the Singapore River is home to a plethora of activities waiting to be discovered. he lifeblood of Singapore waterway and you’ll see why to admire. is the river. In the early Singapore River offers a sense Outside the museum is Tdays when the city was of romance and the heartbeat of Raffles’ Landing Site, the a British outpost, Singapore the city. location where Singapore’s River was the colony’s main founding father, Sir Stamford trade artery and the centre of its START Raffles, first set foot in 1819. commercial activity. Today, the Head across the bridge to banks of the river are still abuzz, After exiting Raffles Place 2 UOB Plaza and you’ll be though the bustle of entrepôt MRT, head over Singapore’s greeted by two sculptures: the trade has been replaced with oldest bridge, the 142-year-old 3.8-metre tall Salvador Dali’s an array of cultural spots, Cavanagh Bridge, to the 1 Homage to Newton and the restaurants and after-dark Asian Civilisations Museum, playful Bird by Fernando hangouts. It’s also a place of the first in Southeast Asia to Botero. World class art, right romance. Riverside cafés and bring together an integrated in the heart of the city. restaurants develop a charm perspective of pan-Asian Along the river banks in of their own and old bridges cultures and civilisations. between Maybank Tower and become a perfect, picturesque Wandering through the exhibits 3 Fullerton Hotel, you’ll see spot for couples. Best explored here can make for a great mid- the “People of the River’” in the afternoon and into the afternoon date. Whether it’s a sculptures, which depict what night, Singapore River has it majestic yellow robe once worn river life was like during the all—idyllic views, fascinating by the emperor of China or early days of Singapore. history, incredible art, and terracotta figures from some of Continuing your afternoon amazing food and drink. Take these early civilisations, you’re walk west will take you to a quiet stroll along this lovely sure to find something beautiful 4 Boat Quay, a collection of Singapore River Bernard, which sells locally produced chocolates. The late- night café here (it’s open every night until at least 11pm) is popular for its chocolate tarts, which some swear to be the best in town. If you’re into wines, stop by 9 Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro. This bistro offers 34 wines by the glass and 150 wines by the bottle alongside a selection of food, including desserts. Boat Quay For a taste of Japan, lovely conservation shophouses, stomach with some hearty Irish Orihara Liquor Shop & Bar is which are transformed into a dishes alongside a beer or two. a cosy bar that offers a shocking bustling scene at night filled For more beers, nearby range of sake—over 300 types! with bars, restaurants and clubs Beer Market is great fun—the Tasting flights are available as where you can really feel the prices of their 23 different types well. Damotory Korean Wine after-dark pulse of Singapore. of beers rise and fall every House is another option for Dinner around the area can half hour in accordance with those who prefer something be had across the road from consumer demand. different. Enjoy classic Korean 5 Clarke Quay MRT at Song As far as nightclub action dishes like kimchi pancake Fa Bak Kut Teh, which serves goes, Attica offers a lively party and bulgolgi, as well as an up its signature peppery pork atmosphere with overseas guest impressive range of tipples rib soup to daily crowds of local DJs spinning the decks. Also such as aged ginseng wines. foodies. check out Aquanova, which Another choice for wines Another alternative for dinner provides an extensive menu of is 10 Verre Wine Bar, housed is further down at 6 Riverside flavourful food and drinks amid a in a refurbished warehouse on Point mall’s Jumbo Seafood clubbing atmosphere. Daily live the quieter side Restaurant which is fantastic for performances make this place a of Robertson local seafood by the river. This great entertainment destination. Quay and buzzing restaurant serves one of 8 The Pier at Robertson boasting a the best renditions of Singapore’s is the place to go if you prefer famous chilli crab dish, as well as something more down- the restaurant’s other favourites, tempo. You can sit back crispy baby squid and sambal and enjoy some fine kangkong (Chinese spinach stir- drinks at Fine Spirits fried in chilli sauce). by La Maison du Across the river is where Whisky, which has you’ll find 7 Clarke Quay, over 600 drinks on one of Singapore’s premier offer including some entertainment hubs with over rare vintages like a 50 bars and restaurants. Irish 1951 Macallan or a bar Mulligan’s is a warm and 1973 Glenfiddich. inviting spot that will make you For chocolate lovers, Jumbo Seafood Restaurant’s feel right at home. Pad your there’s Laurent de-shelled crab claw Singapore River Verre Wine Bar Singapore River Cruises walk-in cellar with over 750 food. of the Esplanade, Marina Bay labels in their inventory. Many of At the 12 Grand Copthorne Sands® and Singapore’s mascot, their rare vintages such as the Waterfront across the river the half-lion, half-fish Merlion. Château Latour and Château is one of the stops for the Lafite Rothschild can cost in Singapore River Cruises, excess of $3,000 a bottle. Many where, if there’s still time, you of the river-facing condominiums can hop on the last river shuttle around here also have food (10:30pm) to take you back and drink outlets of note, like to your starting point. You can Bar Bar Black Sheep at 11 enjoy all the night lights on the Robertson Blue, which has a way back to where the river bar and three chefs serving up finally meets the Marina Bay, great Western, Thai and Indian opening up to romantic views Bird by Fernando Botero UNITY STREET COLEMAN STREET 9 RIVER VALLEY ROAD SULTAN ROAD CLARKE QUAY MARTIN ROAD 8 HILL STREET MUHAMED RIVER VALLEY RD ROBERTSON QUAY ROBERTSON FUNAN NORTH BRIDGE ROAD 10 WALK JIAK KIM STREET DIGITALIFE MALL 11 HIGH STREET RODYK STREET NORTH BOAT QUAY CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY 7 12 ROBERTSON QUAY 6 SABOO STREET SUPREME COURT LANE READ STREET NE5 PARLIAMENT HAVELOCK ROAD CLARKE QUAY HOUSE HAVELOCK ROAD 5 CLEMENCEAU AVE MERCHANT ROAD HAVELOCK ROAD 4 UPPER CROSS STREET HAVELOCK ROAD B O HONGKONG STREET A START T Q D A KUKOH U JALAN MINYAK O JALAN A R Y L HA 1 L V M I E TELOK LO NEW MARKET A H C EU TONG SEN STREET K R R K T O T EE R R A U T D S FULLERTON ROAD ESPLANADE DRIVE O L CAVENAGH O IL Y H L UPPER PICKERING STREET R BRIDGE LORONG CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY A E NORTH CANAL ROAD U CHIN SWEE ROAD P P P SOUTH BRIDGE ROAD 2 E UPPER HOKKIEN STREET R C R O 3 S S CHIN SWEE ROAD ST RE BATTERY ROAD ET OUTRAM ROAD EW14 RAFFLES PLACE FULLERTON ROAD PARK CRESCENT Singapore River Address Book Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro Asian Civilisations Museum Fullerton Hotel Riverside Point 1 Empress Place. 1 Fullerton Square. 30 Merchant Road. (65) 6332-7798. (65) 6733-8388. (65) 6438-4857. www.acm.org.sg www.fullertonhotel.com Robertson Blue Attica Jumbo Seafood Restaurant 88 Robertson Quay. #01-03 Block A Clarke Quay, #01-01/02 Riverside Point, Singapore River Cruises 3 River Valley Road. 30 Merchant Road. #15-06, High Street Centre, (65) 6333-9973. (65) 6532-3435. 1 North Bridge Road www.attica.com.sg www.jumboseafood.com.sg Singapore 179094 Aquanova Fine Spirits by La Maison (65) 6336-6111. #01-09 Block C Clarke Quay, du Whisky www.rivercruise.com.sg 3 River Valley Road. #01-10 The Pier at Robertson, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (65) 6305-6768. 80 Mohamed Sultan Road. #01-01, 11 New Bridge Road. www.aquanova.sg (65) 6733-0059. (65) 6533-6128. www.whisky.sg Bar Bar Black Sheep www.songfa.com.sg #01-04 Robertson Blue, Laurent Bernard UOB Plaza 86 Robertson Quay. #01-11 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Raffles Place. (65) 6836-9255. 80 Mohamed Sultan Road. (65) 6881-6888. www.bbbs.com.sg (65) 6235-9007. www.nibschocolate.net Verre Wine Bar Beer Market #01-05/06, 8 Rodyk Street. #01-17/#02-02 Block B Mulligan’s (65) 6509-1917. Clarke Quay, #01-02A Block C www.verre.com.sg 3 River Valley Road. Clarke Quay, (65) 9661-8283. 3 River Valley Road. Wine Connection www.beermarket.com.sg (65) 6305-6726. Tapas Bar & Bistro www.mulliganspubs.com #01-19/20 Robertson Walk, Damotory Korean Wine 11 Unity Street. House Orihara Liquor Shop & Bar (65) 6235-5466. #01-30/31 Robertson Walk, #01-02 Robertson Walk, www.wineconnection.com.sg 11 Unity Street. 11 Unity Street. (65) 6235-6787. (65) 6836-5710. www.sg.oriharashoten.jp.