From CNN Travel by Suzy Q & Charlene Fang. I've reposted this to add to my collection, and yours :-) Here are the best al fresco spots to enjoy Singapore’s spectacular skyline.
Who could pass up the chance to drink at 1-Altitude, the world’s highest al fresco bar?Hands-down, 1-Altitude has the most comprehensive view of the city.
Breeze: Definitely a third date location.Sitting atop the 1924 art deco corner shophouse that is The Scarlet boutique hotel is this fourth-floor bar and restaurant frequented by yuppies drawn to romantic enclaves.
Spend your Sundays at Halo where it's happy hour all day long.This semi-circular space’s metallic façade and slate-colored tiles add some military style to the sunny yellow-lit bar with orange stools. This outdoor watchtower space is not just airy, it also has bird’s-eye view of the surrounding residential flats.
Booze up for an easy landing at Helipad.You can’t really land a chopper on this massive roof -- the "H" is made of decorative light boxes that double up as seats -- but don’t sweat it. Instead, you get to raise your unobstructed elbows with Helipad Iced Teas and sway to the gentle Singapore River breeze.
Kinki: Whatever floats your boat, you'll find it here.
KU DE TA: Raising the roof and shooting lasers on a nightly basis.Singapore’s youngest architectural icon, Marina Bay Sands (MBS), is the only structure standing 200 meters high in its immediate vicinity.
Don't just go for a dinner and a movie, spice the date up with a nightcap at La Terraza Rooftop Bar.This fifth-floor roof space is extremely limited so make sure you call ahead to reserve as many of their seats as you can.
Resist the urge to go night swimming after one too many cocktails at Lantern.The fifth floor of The Fullerton Bay Hotel won't give anyone vertigo, but what Lantern lacks in altitude it makes up in finesse.
Leafy surrounds and icy-cool martinis make it far too easy to linger at Loof.Unlike its poised queenly neighbor, The Raffles Hotel, Loof is eccentric and, apart from its caged trees, close to being flagrantly wild.
Test your ninja skills and see if you can sneak up to Naumi's rooftop bar.Officially, this 10th-story rooftop bar with the sparkly close views of Raffles City and The Esplanade over its infinity pool is open only to the hotel’s guests occupying one of their 40 rooms. But the general lack of service staff stationed up here means commoners like us can slip in unnoticed.
One of Orgo's martinis will ensure your night at the opera wasn't a total loss.Bar manager Akihiro Eguchi came out tops in this year’s Diageo Reserve World Class 2011 Singapore National finals with his Crown Jewel concoction: freshly distilled rosewater, pomegranate juice, simple sugar syrup and Tanqueray No. 10 gin.
Prelude: Blink and you might miss this cozy al fresco spot.It’s a good thing Prelude has its back against the bustle. This open-air minimalist bar at the mouth of the Singapore River is unruffled by the CBD's surrounding pomp. Not that this is an entirely dress-down spot, as relaxed CBD sophisticates make up most of this dark-wood and canvas deck-chaired space’s clientele.
Ta.Ke: a bamboo-themed cocktail bar with killer Choya cocktails.This is no place for a quiet cocktail. Anyone stuck for a topic can start with the gaudy armchairs and work their way to the spindly dollhouse stools. French-influenced tapas and Japanese-inspired cocktails make up the menu.
Ying Yang: it'll take your breath away in more than one way.It’s a lounge, it’s a club, it’s a bar.
Zsofi Tapas Bar: they'll feed you so you'll drink with them all night long.This Dunlop Street stalwart’s rooftop area straddles two shophouse spaces, both of different elevations. That is hardly a problem. Sitting up here is much like sitting on the private roof of a house overlooking the Mediterranean, except the view here comprises of surrounding aluminium roofing and tiles.
1-Altitude
Who could pass up the chance to drink at 1-Altitude, the world’s highest al fresco bar?Hands-down, 1-Altitude has the most comprehensive view of the city.
At 282 meters above sea level atop the OUB Building, this world’s highest al fresco bar has an unobstructed view of the city from the heart of the financial district.
What to drink: Chocolate Sidecar (cognac, lemon juice and creme de cacao), S$16
OUB Building, 1 Raffles Place; +65 6438 0410; www.1-altitude.com
OUB Building, 1 Raffles Place; +65 6438 0410; www.1-altitude.com
Breeze
Breeze: Definitely a third date location.Sitting atop the 1924 art deco corner shophouse that is The Scarlet boutique hotel is this fourth-floor bar and restaurant frequented by yuppies drawn to romantic enclaves.
The Mediterranean-influenced menu also caters to the amorous; an oyster platter for two, Champagne and grilled meat; it’s all been thought out.
What to drink: Golden Passion (Passion fruit juice, peach schnapps, Absolut Mandarin), S$16
Halo Rooftop Lounge
Spend your Sundays at Halo where it's happy hour all day long.This semi-circular space’s metallic façade and slate-colored tiles add some military style to the sunny yellow-lit bar with orange stools. This outdoor watchtower space is not just airy, it also has bird’s-eye view of the surrounding residential flats.
Halo’s Tiong Bahru location may mean it’s a little removed from the hustle of downtown and the bustle of the business district, but come Sports Night the atmosphere is as good as any other.
Go during happy hour (Monday-Saturday: 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Sunday: all day) when it’s two-for-one wines, draught beers and house pours.
What to drink: Chocolate’s Dreaming (rum, Kahlua, Bailey’s, chocolate syrup, milk, whipped cream), S$16
Helipad
Booze up for an easy landing at Helipad.You can’t really land a chopper on this massive roof -- the "H" is made of decorative light boxes that double up as seats -- but don’t sweat it. Instead, you get to raise your unobstructed elbows with Helipad Iced Teas and sway to the gentle Singapore River breeze.
If you arrive earlier on weekdays (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.), beers and house pour spirits are S$5++ per glass, and wines are two-for-one. Now that would definitely make for a nice landing.
What to drink: Helipad Iced Tea (Bacardi 151, Blue Curacao, lime juice), S$18
Kinki Rooftop Bar
Kinki: Whatever floats your boat, you'll find it here.
Step past the red lanterns at the entrance into an equally vibrant post-nine-to-five world of cocktails with distinctly Nipponese twists –- umeshu, pickled plums and yuzu sake count as typical ingredients alongside vodka, rum and liqueurs.
Dishes like sushi, temaki and okonomiyaki topped with smoked bacon make for good finger food, while enjoying the cool catchment breeze of Marina Bay and the surrounding business district skyline.
What to drink: Spicy Hachimitshu (vodka, honey umeshu, wasabi gomme, fresh lemon, Japanese cucumber), S$16
KU DE TA
KU DE TA: Raising the roof and shooting lasers on a nightly basis.Singapore’s youngest architectural icon, Marina Bay Sands (MBS), is the only structure standing 200 meters high in its immediate vicinity.
This means KU DE TA, its party bar, has spectacular views into the city and out over the waters that hug our tiny isle, and of Marina Bay Sands' infamous infinity pool.
Arrive at sunset to reap the full experience, it’s a transition from sharp to gleaming views with a breathtaking sunset.
What to drink: Lady Be Mine (Martini with lychee, rose water and apple juice), S$20
La Terraza Rooftop Bar
Don't just go for a dinner and a movie, spice the date up with a nightcap at La Terraza Rooftop Bar.This fifth-floor roof space is extremely limited so make sure you call ahead to reserve as many of their seats as you can.
You’ll still be rubbing sweaty shoulders with the largely expat community who regularly hold private events at La Terraza, but that is part of the squeezy space’s charm -- at some point, even the most introverted member of the group will have to speak.
What to drink: Mojito, S$17.70
Lantern
Resist the urge to go night swimming after one too many cocktails at Lantern.The fifth floor of The Fullerton Bay Hotel won't give anyone vertigo, but what Lantern lacks in altitude it makes up in finesse.
It's sexy with a Mediterranean flair; slinky with a five-meter-long bar counter; and splashy with a gorgeous mosaic pool as a centerpiece and tucked-away skyline facing whirlpools for private midnight dips.
What to drink: Red Lantern, S$24 (a Don Julio Tequila concoction with watermelon, cucumber, lime and a splash of cointreau.)
Loof
Leafy surrounds and icy-cool martinis make it far too easy to linger at Loof.Unlike its poised queenly neighbor, The Raffles Hotel, Loof is eccentric and, apart from its caged trees, close to being flagrantly wild.
This third-story nook nestled among office buildings is where creative types -- and suppressed creative types -- go to kick back on low leather loungers of all forms and sizes. When crowded, this 150-seat space can get a little stuffy but the variety of martinis that Loof is known to serve should cool you down considerably.
What to drink: Krispy Clean Cucumber Martini, S$16
Naumi
Test your ninja skills and see if you can sneak up to Naumi's rooftop bar.Officially, this 10th-story rooftop bar with the sparkly close views of Raffles City and The Esplanade over its infinity pool is open only to the hotel’s guests occupying one of their 40 rooms. But the general lack of service staff stationed up here means commoners like us can slip in unnoticed.
Fingers crossed then, that you get to this cozy timber-paneled al fresco roof early enough to snag one of the few Dedon love seats or the leaf-shaped sunbeds –- the stools at the bar, as you can expect, will do your wagon adventures no good. There isn’t a large selection of cocktails, but really, you’re here for the adrenalin.
What to drink: Mojito, S$16
Orgo Bar
One of Orgo's martinis will ensure your night at the opera wasn't a total loss.Bar manager Akihiro Eguchi came out tops in this year’s Diageo Reserve World Class 2011 Singapore National finals with his Crown Jewel concoction: freshly distilled rosewater, pomegranate juice, simple sugar syrup and Tanqueray No. 10 gin.
Making a special request that he recreate this cocktail shouldn’t be the only reason to take a couple of nips here. Located among the shiny thorn-like caps of the Esplanade, it is the perfect vantage point to take in the ever-changing Singapore skyline, has a nice angle of the Merlion, as well as fireworks on red-letter days.
What to drink: Pomelo & Basil Martini, S$18
Prelude
Prelude: Blink and you might miss this cozy al fresco spot.It’s a good thing Prelude has its back against the bustle. This open-air minimalist bar at the mouth of the Singapore River is unruffled by the CBD's surrounding pomp. Not that this is an entirely dress-down spot, as relaxed CBD sophisticates make up most of this dark-wood and canvas deck-chaired space’s clientele.
The lush potted foliage and laidback playlist stays close to the buoyant atmosphere, and the comfortable yet cultivated offering of the Japanese Baird Brewing Company artisan craft beer vindicates your undoing that top collar button.
What to drink: Merlion Punch (passion fruit, white peach puree, pineapple juice, vodka), S$15
Ta.Ke at Studio M
Ta.Ke: a bamboo-themed cocktail bar with killer Choya cocktails.This is no place for a quiet cocktail. Anyone stuck for a topic can start with the gaudy armchairs and work their way to the spindly dollhouse stools. French-influenced tapas and Japanese-inspired cocktails make up the menu.
The expansive bamboo-themed cocktail bar that shares its 150-seat space with a sundeck with private cabanas, lap pool and gym and is filled with conversation-starter furniture pieces, so expect much to chat about.
What to drink: Choya C (rosehip tea with choya, sugar and lemon juice), S$15
Ying Yang
Ying Yang: it'll take your breath away in more than one way.It’s a lounge, it’s a club, it’s a bar.
Roosted on top of boutique hotel The Club, this three-in-one Ann Siang Hill space has views out onto the buildings of Chinatown. It is as swish as you would expect it to be, with a separate side entrance, resort-style umbrella coves and swish vibrant interior design. The only downside: climbing up (and later down) three flights of stairs to get to the bar.
What to drink: Confucius says Beauty (Absolut Vanilla, crème de cacao, frangelico, butterscotch, Chocolate syrup, milk), S$16
Zsofi Tapas Bar
Zsofi Tapas Bar: they'll feed you so you'll drink with them all night long.This Dunlop Street stalwart’s rooftop area straddles two shophouse spaces, both of different elevations. That is hardly a problem. Sitting up here is much like sitting on the private roof of a house overlooking the Mediterranean, except the view here comprises of surrounding aluminium roofing and tiles.
What to drink: Any of the draft, bottled beers or sangria –- it’s the free tapas per drink that you’re here for.
68 Dunlop St. +65 6297 5875; www.tapasbar.com.sg
