Singapore Expats

Hi,

I want to move to Singapore. I have been seeing some really nice job offers in my field.

What really is the nightlife like there? I would consider myself a party animal. I live at the moment in Berlin where we can pretty much party all night at the weekends if we like.

Is the quality of music good in Singapore or is it just commercial stuff?

Is Singapore really so strict? For example, to buy beer in the supermarket at late hours etc.

Thanks in advance

Guess this will be your first time in Singapore?

Well unfortunately since April 1 2015, Singapore has implemented the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act meant to minimise public disorder and disamenities arising from drinking in public. Drinking is banned in all public places from 10.30pm to 7am. Retail shops are also not allowed to sell takeaway alcohol from 10.30pm to 7am.

It is stricter in Geylang and Little India whereby public drinking is banned from 7am on Saturday to 7am on Mondays (same for sale of takeaway alcohols).

So the only options left will be to drink at bars, pubs, restaurants or clubs. In Singapore, people usually go to these places where "drinking" places are available:
- Clarke Quay
- Somerset
- Anne Siang Hill
- St James Station
- Holland Village
- Fullerton One / Esplanade / CHJMES
- Marina Bay Sands

Beside drinking, you can also go clubbing along Clarke QUay, fullerton one, marina bay sands or st james station or sentosa. Other than these, people go Karaoke, cinema and dining at night too. Most restaurants open late till 11pm during weekends, but not many 24 hours dining places available. Nowadays Singapore also host many festivals and events that may occur at night, so you may check them out too.

Of course, besides partying here in Singapore, you can take a short ferry ride to our neighbours such as Bintan, Batam and party there with your friends. Or you can fly to Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, etc for weekend parties too. Very easy to just take weekend getaways in SG, provided you dun mind the hectic travel. Haha

I don't consider it that good here for either. There was a time when Singapore was really doing well in that scene but since the late 90's it's all been downhill. I struggle to even find live music events now.

IMHO it's quite difficult around here. You'll hear a lot of of 6-months old billboard top 20 and the live scene is very limited.
Extremely nice bars however and some ok clubs, but you need the money to pay for the alcohol.

If you want to listen to off the shelf, ready made bubble gum pop blaring loudly from various above mentioned places, there's plenty of options.
however if you like to listen to good bands playing in a pub/bar its almost non existent. there's a place called Timbre+ that has a few bands playing, i can't pass full judgement on the quality of the bands playing there having visited it only once.

I've lived in both Berlin and Singapore, and can't imagine many pairs of cities that are so different.

Beer in Germany costs peanuts
Some ent-venues can stay open 24/7, some only open at like 1,2,even 6am
'Alternative' lifestyles, generally speaking are embraced in Germany

The opposite of each of those applies in SG IMO/E. So I expect you'll find a place to hang out, though perhaps find it rather restrictive and straight. The search for anything genuinely alt will then become perpetual and probably regional [Tokyo get's it, big time ]

PNGMK wrote:I don't consider it that good here for either. There was a time when Singapore was really doing well in that scene but since the late 90's it's all been downhill. I struggle to even find live music events now.

Things have probably changed then since you last frequented them. It ain't no SF/NY/LA/LN etc but there are things happening every night of the week.

rajagainstthemachine wrote:If you want to listen to off the shelf, ready made bubble gum pop blaring loudly from various above mentioned places, there's plenty of options.
however if you like to listen to good bands playing in a pub/bar its almost non existent. there's a place called Timbre+ that has a few bands playing, i can't pass full judgement on the quality of the bands playing there having visited it only once.

Agree with the bubble gum part, there are some alternative albeit not enough IMO.

Blues: Barbershop
Rock: Crazy Elephant, Sportsman Bar
Singer-songwriter/Folky/Acoustic: The Beast, Price of Wales (Boat Quay), Hard Rock Cafe
Contemporary Pop / Rock: Heroes:
Open jams - anything goes, depends on the night, from great to meh:
Sportsman - Thursdays
The Beast - Thursdays
Prince of Wales (Little India) - most Sundays
Molly Malones - Saturdays
SingJazz - check the website

there are more, google "open mics Singapore" etc.

Check each venue's for details before going.