7 Best Nightlife in Bugis and Kampong Glam
What to Do After Dinner in Bugis and Kampong Glam?
The best nightlife in Bugis and Kampong Glam includes bustling late-night cafes, hip cocktail hangouts, and tranquil parks for cool sunset photos. During the day, Bugis is a multicultural neighborhood brimming with shops and market stalls. When the night falls, it and its Arab quarter Kampong Glam transform into an exotic mix of sights and sounds echoing from the bars and markets in the area.
As you stroll along the narrow alleys, you’ll hear stories of Bugis’s glory days as the magnet for sailors from overseas. Today, this versatile neighborhood invites you to explore Singapore nightlife away from the crowds and to discover something new.
1. Arab Street
A window into Singapore’s diverse heritage
Good for: Food, Nightlife, Shoppers
Arab Street is brimming with a lively blend of culture, color, and community spirit that feels authentic and inviting. At nighttime, this area buzzes with life, offering quirky photo spots, local food, and a creative atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression.
You’ll find The Sultan Mosque, with its golden dome, towering above the street and setting the scene for this historic area. Shops and restaurants line this mostly pedestrian lane on both sides. Most of the eateries here tempt your tastebuds with Turkish and Anatolian cuisine. The mosque, the food, and the friendly vibe make it a must-visit spot. Chat with shopkeepers and listen to shared snippets of local life.
Arab Street
2. Kampong Gelam park
Sunset scenes and late-night picnics
Good for: Budget, Food, Nightlife
Named after the Gelam trees in the area, Kampong Gelam park is a quiet and serene neighborhood park that surrounds the national monument Hajjah Fatimah Mosque. Walk around this lush, green area to stretch your legs, or find an empty park bench and simply enjoy the tranquility.
Locals love to meet in this beautiful park either for a light packed dinner or after a meal in the nearby restaurants. Don’t forget to snap a sunset selfie against backdrop of the stunning Mosque.
Location: Beach Rd, Singapore
Phone: +65 9830 6252
Kampong Gelam park
3. Bar Stories
Tailored cocktails and sophisticated surroundings
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
If there’s one thing that Bar Stories specializes in, then it’s their unique cocktails that’ll leave you both impressed and intrigued. Having no drinks menu, the mixologists craft customized cocktails to cater for your individual tastes and requests. You’re sure to get a bold new version of a tried-and-true cocktail to tickle your tastebuds. Order a passion fruit martini, and you might be surprised with the subtle flavors of rosemary and lime in the mix.
The ambience in the intimate bar is warm and inviting and the friendly bartenders will make you feel welcome. This swanky spot consistently ranks alongside Singapore’s finest cocktail bars, so start your night out here with style.
Location: 55-57A Haji Ln, Singapore 189248
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 5.30 pm to 11.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 5.30 pm to midnight (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +65 6298 0838
Bar Stories
4. Gelam Gallery
An open-air art alley showcasing murals by various artists
Good for: Budget, Nightlife, Photo
Tucked away in the back alleys of Muscat Street, you’ll find Gelam Gallery, the country’s first outdoor art gallery. This unexpected artsy treat boasts over 30 works of art, from bold graffiti and abstract designs to detailed portraits and experimental mixed-media art. Gelam Gallery isn’t just a stretch of painted walls. It’s an organized exhibit, curated with purpose. There are labels that describe the pieces and the names behind them and thus provide a backstory for each piece.
If you’re into nighttime photography, set your exposure and point your camera at the illuminated installations that are especially striking after sunset.
Location: Muscat St, Singapore 198833
Gelam Gallery
5. Bugis Street Market
For nighttime shopping galore
Good for: Food, Nightlife, Shoppers
The bustling Bugis Street Market really comes alive at night. When the sun goes down, so do the temperatures, meaning that tackling this gauntlet of 800 shops and vendors is a far more comfortable and laid back experience. Browse the stalls for fun and quirky souvenirs, unique bags and purses, cool t-shirts, and more.
Combine shopping at Bugis Street Market with dinner nearby, before hitting one of the great bars and pubs for some drinks to make a perfect night out in Bugis. Read more
Location: 261 Victoria St, Singapore 189876
Open: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm
Bugis Street Market
6. Going Om
A laidback bar with unique decor
Good for: Couples, Nightlife, Photo
Hippie-hangout ‘Going Om’ on the oh-so-cool Bali Lane is one of the few genuine dive bars in Singapore. Inspired by ‘the spirit of the Nepali mountains’, Going Om really has gone all out for the whole rough-and-ready look, with tired looking rugs and cushions strewn over the place, exposed brickwork, and plug-in fans cooling you off instead of air-con.
If you’re into the whole tree-hugging vibe, or just like a change of pace from Singapore’s more polished nightlife scene, Going Om presents a pretty fun and friendly option. They also have shishas, decent beer deals, and hold the odd live music event, so get ready for fun night out.
Location: 33 Bali Ln, Singapore 189869
Open: Sunday, Tuesday–Friday from 3 pm to midnight, Saturday from midnight to noon and from 3 pm to midnight (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +65 9132 7270
Going Om
7. Blu Jaz Cafe
Great for live music, dancing, and chilling out
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Blu Jaz Café has definite artsy cafe vibes and oozes personality with its live music performances and multicolored theme. It’s one of the few venues in the immediate Kampong Glam neighborhood where you can get served an alcoholic drink late at night.
The 3-storey building has some great alfresco dining the ground floor, whilst on the second you’ll find a bar and a dance floor and there’s a chill out zone on the third. Come on the weekend to find the talented local DJ doing his best to fill the dance floor, or midweek for their comedy night. Phone ahead to check exact dates of each event.
Location: 11 Bali Ln, Singapore 189848
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 11.30 am to 1.30 am, Friday–Saturday from 11.30 am to 2 am
Phone: +65 9710 6156
Blu Jaz Cafe
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