The most romantic bars in Singapore

Take in the evening view of the Marina Bay waterfront while soft tunes from the outdoor theatre play in the background – it can’t get more romantic than this. Esplanade’s rooftop has always been known as a quiet spot for couples to cosy up, but it’s gotten a revamp in recent times with Baia taking over the 5000-square-foot space. The bar is named after the ancient holiday resort city frequented by the Roman aristocracy, so expect Romanesque and Mediterranean elements all around. The menu is split into three categories – Sol, Nox, and Mosaics. Try the Strombolian ($24) if you like Campari, or the Eclipse ($24) for a heady blend of aged cognac, espresso and vanilla choco. Visit from 5pm to 8pm daily for Baia’s Golden Hour, where spirits, wine, and beer go at $12, and cocktails at $16. 

‘Living room vibe’ is a thing these days, and Bar Bon Funk does it well, with retro-chic details and a dependable sound system to boot. This sister concept of Le Bon Funk – which focuses on wine – slings out creative cocktails instead, with eight classics and eight signatures on the menu. The list is set to rotate now and then, sporting unique and curiously relatable concepts, whether it’s Sunday morning staples or nostalgic childhood favourites. So don’t be surprised to find tipples like A Glass of Milk ($26) or Lean Green Salad ($28) on the menu. Hint: the former is a boozy gin-based rendition of your morning cereal, while the latter combines green juice and mezcal with a hint of miso. Head Bartender Josiah cut his teeth at cocktail institutions like Jigger & Pony and 28 Hong Kong Street, so you know you’re in good hands.

Ditch the crowded bars in town for this cosy hideout in Gillman Barracks next to Charlotte Puxley – a floral studio. Ida’s is the ideal spot for a quick escape from the city without having to travel to the far corners of Singapore. The bar’s menu mirrors its lush surroundings, with botanical-inspired cocktails crafted in partnership with the renowned Cat Bite Club. Fans of Cat Bite’s signature margarita should try the Minted Passion ($24), which is a citrusy, tropical blend of mezcal, vermouth, Aperol, passionfruit, mint, and orange bitters. And as the conversations deepen, go for boozier options on the menu to suit the mood. Try the Bitter Bramble ($26) with raspberry-infused turkey bourbon, chocolate bitters, and salt; or the Café Nanas ($24) which is a spin on the White Russian with coffee liqueur and cream foam.

Be whisked away to the golden age of New York’s jazz clubs at The Whisper Room, which combines the magic of sunsets, jazz, and cocktails in one space. The bar is perched on the 38th floor of CapitaGreen and is also part of nightlife venue COTU’s studded curation of F&B concepts. Roll in on weekday evenings from 6pm to 8.30pm for the Sunset Jazz Happy Hour, where live jazz tunes and jukebox-style melodies fill the air. The happy hour menu features three themed cocktails – the Whisper Collins, La Vie En Ruby, and the Swing Spritz ($16 each), three wines ($14) and Estrella beer ($10). Past 8.30pm, the mood switches, and it’s live DJ sets and contemporary beats from here on till late. Or you can pop in on Saturday nights to groove out to a three-piece funk band. 

Cocktails and pasta? Sign us up. Bar Somma is part of Chef Mirko Febrile’s (of Fico) latest restaurant Somma in New Bahru, hence the Italian slant. The bar also has an interesting backstory – it sits on the space that used to house the Nan Chiau Girls High library, so expect nostalgic elements in its decor as well. The cocktail menu is a sprawling one with four sections: aperitivo or early drinking cocktails; savoury; renewed classics; and classic cocktails. Sip on tried and tested formulas like Margarita for Mel ($25) or Mirko’s Martini ($32), or rediscover classics like the old-timey Last Word ($28), which in this rendition, sees mezcal, sochu ume, lime, and Maraschino woven together. A tight curation of pasta like bucatini arrabbiata ($22), three-meat ragu ($28) and radiatori with river crabs ($34) go along with the drinks.

Perched on level 39 of Andaz Singapore, Mr. Stork has teepee huts hidden amid lush greenery for you and your date to nest in while enjoying panoramic views of the city skyline. Order a drink from the striking bronze pavilion bar and stroll along the cobbled paths that wind around the entire level, giving you a 360-degree city-viewing experience. On the menu is a selection of fruity and floral cocktails ($27). Go for the light and citrusy Aliya – a blend of Ceylon Arrack, spiced pear, lemon mist and roasted pineapple soda; or opt for darker concoctions like the bourbon-based Opus, or Tales of Mekhong which spotlights aged rum and coconut. And for the adventurous, the Bartender’s Salute ($28) gives the mixologist free reign to shake up a cocktail according to their liking – and hopefully yours too. A fun date night activity to get conversations started.

This 30-seat hideaway is the cool younger brother of Daiki Kanetaka’s Japanese speakeasy Dbespoke. RPM refers to “revolutions per minute” and carries a massive collection of shochu and vinyl. The romance is in the bottle and record-clad shelves, dark wood and leather furniture, and of course, the soul, funk, jazz, rock, and Japanese city pop tunes in the background – all working together to whisk you away into the world of Japan’s listening bars. You won’t just be listening to classics, but sipping on them too. All-time staples like martinis, negronis, whisky sours, espresso martinis, and manhattans come in three distinct styles to choose from, whether it’s a martini with rice and sweet potato shochu ($27) or a white negroni ($28) made with awamori (Okinawan rice liquor). Not feeling the classics? There’s also a selection of four tea cocktails ($27) arranged by the season.

A buzzing hotspot for locals and tourists alike, Smoke & Mirrors is known for its panoramic views of the Padang and civic district while perched on the rooftop of the National Gallery. The iconic venue is saying goodbye after nine years on March 15, so this is your chance to pay it a final visit. And while you’re at it, why not make a date out of it too? Join the Art X Cocktail Tour to learn about the artworks in the gallery which inspired some of the cocktails on the menu. Drinks like Dawn of Romance ($32) draw inspiration from San Minn’s Age of Full Bloom painting, resulting in a spirit-forward negroni with butter and sunflower seeds; while Bridge of Glory ($32) pays homage to the iconic City Hall Wing of the Gallery in a unique gin and plum sake concoction.

This unassuming Japanese bar by cocktail stalwart Nutmeg & Clove is one of Purvis Street’s best finds. The minimalistic space sees a sweeping bar counter and several small tables by the shophouse windows for more privacy. Don’t leave without ordering the bar’s namesake cocktail. The Last Word ($27) was created in 1920s Japan during the Prohibition Era, and this version uses Hendrick’s gin, green Chartreuse, Maraschino, lime, and a homemade brandied cherry. The bar also does a killer version of a bloody mary ($27) with Haku vodka, wasabi, and togarashi – a Japanese spice mixture. Or, go for the classic martini ($25) which is a straightforward blend of gin and house-blended dry vermouth. Peckish? The food menu has a simple selection of Japanese nosh, from hearty oden ($15) and seaweed furikake fries ($14), to sandos (from $25) and rice bowls (from $23).

Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks painting might be a picture of urban alienation, but this bar of the same name is quite the opposite. The 22-seater is buzzing with life, though its interiors echo the same moody retro-metropolitan vibe of the artwork. If you’re visiting on date night, pick one of the sunken booths in the far back for a little more hush. But if you and your date want to catch all the action, then the counter seats are your best choice. Here, skilled bartenders shake up mean experimental cocktails ($25 each) like the Gamma Ray Holiday – a reimagination of the Midori Sour. This gin-based drink is laced with citrus and pineapple, followed by a mildly bitter finish from bittergourd. And of course, no visit is complete without ordering the Nighthawks cocktail ($25), featuring rum, vodka, Amara and a coconut Gula Melaka foam.

This inconspicuous speakeasy bar is concealed behind the storefront of a bespoke tailor, making for a cheeky, fun, date night spot. “Are you scheduled for a fitting?” is the line that greets you when you enter the store. Once you say yes, you’ll step into a ‘fitting room’ behind velvet curtains, where sliding doors will then reveal an intimate all-black space. The menu switches up every few months, taking inspiration from different parts of the world, from Latin America to France. It’s also divided into signatures and all-time favourites, as well as low ABV or zero-proof options. Try the Le Jardin ($25) with a blend of botanical liqueurs, or the Carpe Diem ($26) – a mainstay on the menu with deep, bold flavours from Scotch, cinnamon, and cardamom. Or ask the bartender for a customised drink ($27) if none of these tickle your fancy. 

This bar decked out in mid-century modern glam is the it-place to be on date night. The space is engulfed in an alluring amber glow and fitted with luxurious furniture, including $3000 Falcon armchairs, a communal table near the bar counter, and booths at the back for more privacy. An original concept by the acclaimed Jigger & Pony group, Live Twice offers Japanese craft cocktails with an experimental twist. The 14-drink menu is split into two sections titled “one life for yourself” and “one for your dreams” – lyrics of Nancy Sinatra’s 1967 hit “You Only Live Twice”. Try classics like the Bamboo ($28) where grape skin vodka, fino sherry, and lavender bitters shine; or the Evergreen ($28) which marries rum, matcha, skimmed milk, and oolong tea. Seasonal specials are also a thing here, seeing two to three tipples ($32) making a limited-time appearance every quarter.

Take your date to this fun, shape-shifting, pocket-sized bar. Junior The Pocket Bar puts out two new concepts each year, warranting complete decor overhauls, music, and of course, menus. One month it’s Peruvian adventures, and half a year later it’s French Discotheque, cartoon wonderland, or the Joseon Dynasty – anything is possible. Its latest redesign takes you back to Shanghai of the 1920s, a splendid time of cultural exchange and development. Sip on Shanghainese-inspired tipples with a Western touch, from the gin-infused Silk Route with shiitake mushrooms and peppercorn; to the Jade Harbour with Shanghai Peddlers gin; or the Luo Song Tang which is a bloody mary twist with Peddlers gin, sherry, hot sauce, and the chef’s clarified borscht. The food menu is equally intentional, with Shanghainese braised pork belly, chive pancakes, 48-hour boiled borscht beef consommé and more making an appearance.

Potato Head Singapore might have bid goodbye to its Keong Saik home last year, but 1939, the concept which took over, retains the same gorgeous aesthetics we all know and love. 1939 reimagines its cocktail menu into three venue-specific sections: The Restaurant (on the second floor), Studio 1939 (on the third floor), and The Rooftop. If you prefer standard tipples without the embellishments, then the six cocktails ($25 each) under The Restaurant section should do the trick. Things get more exciting at Studio 1939 and The Rooftop, with cocktails labelled by ‘BPM’ (beats per minute) as a fun way of denoting alcohol strength. Head to Studio 1939 if you want a more intimate date night setting, or shimmy up to the rooftop for a more laidback vibe. Tropical-inspired drinks are the focus here, including two rum-based options.

The Don isn't around so you lot can keep the hand-kissing between yourselves. While Gotti headlines as an Italian restaurant along the buzzing Amoy Street, it’s at the sleek cocktail bar that you're let in on a taste of the lavish lifestyles of the Gambino crime family. Think unapologetically swanky interiors dominated by black marbled mezzanine floors, lush velvet seats, and shimmering gold metal details. Classy cocktails go along with a thumping playlist and some fine Italian hospitality ensures that your date goes as smoothly as what's in your glass. Some highlights include the Capo Limoncello ($26), a refreshingly tangy Sicilian aperitif, and Cosa Nostra ($26), a negroni aged in wineskin. There’s also a section dedicated to clarified cocktails, with numbers like The Soprano ($26), a tropical spiced-rum concoction, and the Don Carlo ($26), a martini induced with fresh rambutan.