The best craft beer bars in Singapore

There is always something new to discover at this bottle store located in Binjai Park. They stock one of the widest ranges of craft beers in Singapore, sourced from Sweden, Belgium, Japan and more. Whether you’re craving something light and easy or bold and punchy, you’re sure to find something unique and tasty here. We were pleasantly surprised by the barrel-aged beers, especially the Grimm Lilt ($34.50), boasting rich aromas of freshly baked cherry pie within a light and sparkling body. Each tangy sip swirls with stone fruit, accented by notes of lemon zest, savoury leather and oaky vanilla. Temple Cellars also carries a wide selection of ciders, natural wines, indie spirits and non-alcoholic alternatives.

Located along the idyllic Singapore River, Gulp offers the perfect spot to unwind over delicious craft beers after a long day. Incepted by three craft beer enthusiasts who met through their love for craft beers, this taproom was designed with craft beer lovers in mind, boasting an extensive selection of craft beers ranging from lagers, pale ales, sours and more. Choose from eight rotating taps, offering unique beers by independent breweries from around the world including Sudden Death Brewing Co from Germany, Heroes Beer Co from Hong Kong and Pontianak from United Kingdom. We had the Cloudy Lemonade during our visit and it was one of the best session sours we’ve tried. Bursting with citrus flavours, the beer was both tart and refreshing. Safe to say, we downed it within minutes.

Enjoy delicious craft beers in this cosy and unpretentious bar, nestled within the charming Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. This unassuming watering hole offers six rotating draft beers, as well as cocktails and spirits on tap. For something unique and unconventional, try one of its draft beer cocktails like the lagerito, featuring a blend of draft craft lager with mojito and a shot of barcardi rum. Be sure to order the signature bratwurst hotdog, which comes slathered with mustard and chilli sauce and served atop a bed of fried shallots in a crispy and fluffy bun. You’ll be pleased to know that you can request to take away your favourite cocktails, beers or spirits in a personalised can on the spot, perfect for gifting to friends and family or for enjoyment in the comfort of home.

For quality craft beers and food in the east, check out In Bad Company, a hidden gem located in The Flow @ East Coast. Pick from eight rotating taps, offering different styles of beers to cater to all craft beer lovers. Notable highlights include Sweet Temptation ($19 for a full pint), a rich chocolate caramel stout that is impossible to resist; Regular Stranger ($20 for a full pint), chock-full of tropical fruit flavours; and the Yum Yum Yuzu Lager, a dry Japanese style lager brewed with yuzu to deliver a refreshing citrus hit. The food is equally impressive, boasting creative fusion dishes that are packed with flavours like the otak pate ($11), prawn & roasted jalapeno bisque ($10) and sake-poached tofu nuggets ($12).

Locality touts itself as your quirky neighbourhood hole-in-a-wall that exclusively stocks beers from local craft beer breweries. The Geylang Serai taptoom has a trusty 10-beer tap on a rotation which makes for the perfect grab-and-go growler refill pitstop. Despite that, the owners are happy for you to hang about for a bit of chit chat and while you wait, you hydrate. Prices are kept mighty affordable too, so you won't feel too guilty about crushing some properly tasty suds.

Located along East Coast Road, Tapout Craft Beers offers 20 taps of craft beers straight from the US, Australia, New Zealand to even France. You won't see the likes of commercialised craft beers here as the joint aims to share authentic craft for all enthusiasts. Though, there's still an approachable selection of $12 pints for value-seekers. Apart from classic American grub of made-from-scratch juicy burgers, you'll find Asian influences peppered in some dishes such as the light crunchy calamari with a Thai-inspired hot sauce, Mexican nachos using Lotus root chips, Viet-inspired moreish dancing beef cubes, and popular Dongbei spicy-savoury skewers.

Brewerkz came a long way since it first began in 1997. Now its fourth outpost is a swanky 200-seater space in the back ends of Orchard Road, making it the perfect retreat from the shopping hordes. Hang out at the stunning copper bar and session your way through 20 taps of award-winning craft beers and a seasonal selection. Peckish? Pair your pints with the addictively moist and aromatic spicy chicken satay ($18) and other Asian-inspired fusion grub. Though if you've got the appetite, definitely try the perfectly grilled Wagyu ribeye ($72).

Corrine Chia and Lincoln Goh's other craft beer spot is a watering hole modelled after Mikkeller's Viktoriagade flagship in Copenhagen, and the selection of beer styles here is pretty damn gutsy. Expect the juiciest NEIPAs from Gamma Brewing, hearty imperial stouts from Amager Bryghus to the eclectic sour red ale from the legendary Brouwerij Rodenbach. Extra brownie points for the knowledgeable servers, too.

This Duxton hill native has been around for six years and it is still a diamond in the rough. Make no mistake, it’s a place for craft beer enthusiasts where fresh suds flow consistently out of 20 rotating taps. But what’s really special is their clear focus on pledging at least half their taps to local craft beer brewers on the daily which we thought was worthy of a shoutout. Owner Norihito Hirose is one of the biggest craft beer lovers around and he isn’t one to shy away from sharing about the very best that is in season. While you're at it, pair your swigs with humble and comforting Japanese cuisine plus a local twist.

A colloquial wordplay on the Hokkien acronym for beer is MALT. This quiet taproom blends into the dull grey architecture of The Concourse but its taps are not boring at all. The owner, William, brings in craft beers from approachable styles such as milkshake IPAs and fruity ales to bold experimental beers like barrel-aged imperial sours and triple IPAs that attract a firm yet discerning following. With a total of 12 rotating taps, each week promises a different range from all across the globe. Best part? Prices are nett and William is totally cool with you bringing in your favourite foods to pair with the beers – just make sure you offer him some.

At the basement of the iconic Katong Shopping Centre is a cosy drinking hole, Freebird. The mall is known for a couple of timeless gems like the chicken rice at the food court, the classic banana pie from Dona Manis and the friendly neighbourhood ghostbusters located near the entrance – so a joint serving up craft beer, coffee and tea and bar bites is quite a refreshing change of scenery. Come with an open mind and ready to be adventurous with your palette. The selection includes lesser-known IPAs, stouts and sour beers that go down well in our hot weather. 

Local bar American Taproom now has three outlets island-wide: Waterloo Street, Geylang and Stanley Street. Need help choosing from some 30 taps that the drinking hole has to offer? Just consult any one of the friendly staff; the bar comes tended by beer servers under the Cicerone Certification Program – perfect for offering tailored recommendations. Cold pints are best quaffed down with comfort food of slow-cooked pork ribs ($34) and beer-battered fish and chips ($24).

This trendy bakery taproom in the Northwestern part of Singapore is a popular spot for brunch (till 2pm) and sourdough pizzas when they fire up the oven after 4pm. To accompany those delicious treats, the team – who is also behind cult craft beer bar Orh Gao Taproom – brings in fresh craft beers on tap to pair. There's also a small selection of natural wines that serves the curious imbiber.

Orh Gao Taproom leans into its local heritage by naming the place after the Hokkien moniker for stouts. Aside from 10 exciting taps of local to international craft beers, the food served is a fun play on hyper-local Asian classics, including juicy Har Cheong Chicken Wings ($15), Sotong Bakar ($19), and an irresistible Rempah Fried Chicken ($15). It comes with no surprise that it became such a hit with craft beer lovers and nearby residents alike.

Hidden away in the forgotten sanctuary of Kampong Bugis, this gastropub serves up soul-comforting American grub with over 18 taps of international craft beers. While you’re at it, chat up the friendly owners as they are more than happy to share about beer pairings that complement your food and trust us, they've got some darn delicious craft beers from around the world to recommend. There's even a sake on tap if you're looking for the occasional classy switch up. 

The Guild is the antithesis of the speakeasy that once occupied its grounds. Instead of chichi cocktails written on an illegible menu, you get generous pours of craft beer from Hong Kong's largest independent craft brewery, Young Masters. Probably the best weekday deal on eclectic Keong Saik Street, Ziggy Zaggy’s beer of the month flows off the tap at just $10 a pint. Oh, and definitely order up a life-changing bowl of salt and vinegar fries ($12) as you quaff – thank us later.

Level33 might be the world’s highest microbrewery, but there’s more to this sky-high bar than just cold pints with a view. It is also a restaurant and bar – with prime views that overlook the scenic Marina Bay Area. Giant copple kettles are kept busy with fruity lagers and banana-scented wheat beers while some five brews are available on tap at any time.

Let’s get the basics out of the way: this is a no-frills craft beer bar along Haji Lane that’s dark and dingy but promises the freshest local craft beers and a modest selection of Asia-inspired cocktails from cult cocktail bar Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall to chase. On typical nights, you’ll have access to 16 taps of craft beer with which to acquaint yourself, best paired with elevated zi char bar bites and juicy meat stacks. But if alfresco is your thing, dress light, ask for a table on the lane and bask under the moonlight in the ever-vibrant Haji Lane.

It’s a new dawn for Heart of Darkness. The craft beer taproom, hailing from Saigon, has found a new home in the hip neighbourhood of Keong Saik. With the new space comes a bigger area – sample over 25 different craft beers on tap, along with a drinking menu filled with wines and beer cocktails. Feeling hungry? The food menu pulls from its Asian roots to give you Western-fusion plates that are best chased down with a cold pint or two.