Party Playgrounds: 13 Clubs In Singapore You Should Know

Clubs – a sanctuary, an escape, and a home for many (Credit: The Council Facebook page)

For any local dance scene to thrive, you need the dedication of the DJs, the hustling bravado of the promoters, and naturally, the clubs. Clubs educate, clubs bring people together, and clubs can even turn a lil’ red dot into a global powerhouse. With the sterling, consistent quality of its resident DJs and events – both the extravagantly polished and the unapologetically DIY – that rope in international acts spanning all genres, clubs in Singapore have continually built a hotbed of dancefloor culture that holds its own despite restrictions and cynicism.

If anything, the scene is now more vibrant than ever. You have techno clubs for the underground, EDM clubs for the pleasure-seekers, hip-hop clubs for the street kids, and other wild cards that tempt both VIPs and nightlife rookies. Here are 13 clubs in Singapore to get you started, scattered around areas in Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Tanjong Pagar, the CBD and more. Where will you be over the weekend?

The house- and disco-oriented room upstairs at Headquarters (Credit: The Council Facebook page)

Headquarters By The Council

Some call it “HQ”, others affectionately call it “Homequarters”; whatever moniker ravers in Singapore choose to christen it as, it is an undeniable lair for techno and house in the scene. The flagship institution of nightlife promoters, The Council, Headquarters started out in 2016 as a one-room, grimy hideout filled with graffiti scribbles and crimson illumination. Since then, HQ has evolved to hold two spaces, adding a merrier upper storey for friskier underground sounds like house and disco, while retaining the room below to continue showcasing the heavier spectrum of techno. While it is the antithesis of a snazzy club with the polished bells and whistles, HQ garners top star power in the international underground circuit, having hosted everyone from Tin Man and Gerd Janson, to Charlotte de Witte and Anastasia Kristensen.

Headquarters By The Council, 66 Boat Quay, Singapore 049854, +65 8751 7430.

Kilo Lounge

For any first-time visitor, the entrance of Kilo Lounge always astounds – no, I’m not going to spoil the surprise. Since moving to the heart of Tanjong Pagar, near the buzzing Duxton Hill and plenty of Korean gastropubs, Kilo Lounge has offered another much-needed bastion of left-field dance music. Legends like Kevin Saunderson and Chez Damier have graced its decks, as well as electronic artistes like Slow Magic and Shigeto who have performed live within the club’s adaptable, transformable space. While underground in appeal, the space is over-the-top with its industrial, art-savvy décor and bass-inclined sound-system. Post-party tip: Sate those munchies with an Ang Mo Bak Chor Mee from the Kilo Merienda right outside.

Kilo Lounge, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-02/04, Singapore 088444, +65 9824 9747.

Nineteen80

Push start to party, and spin-dash to this arcade-themed discotheque that ramps up the retro factor. Dreamt up by the folks from A Phat Cat Collective, Nineteen80 is a nostalgia-soaked playground that busts out guilty pleasures like old-school hip-hop tunes, ’80s new-wave anthems and alt-rock gems that you moshed out in your bedroom growing up. Count your lucky stars, and you might even find themed nights based on timeless musicals (like Grease) and Hall Of Fame icons (like Queen). Once you’re done barrel-rolling on the dancefloor, find yourself a Player Two and indulge in old arcade classics like Mortal Kombat, Golden Axe and Street Fighter 2. Check out our full feature on Nineteen80.

Nineteen80, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-05, Singapore 088444, +65 9183 6073.

Canvas

A stone’s throw away from the debaucherous hub of Clarke Quay, Canvas is another riverside haunt that lures a rather wide demographic. As an event space that advocates art and culture, Canvas has boldly boosted happenings such as flea markets and comedy nights. But when the music critters want to come out to play, Canvas appeases the lot with all sorts of parties – including new-age hip-hop throwdowns like .WAV(Y), and high-energy trance nights like their Transition series. With such multifaceted programming, Canvas is one of the more diverse nightspots you’ll find in the scene.

Canvas, 20 Upper Circular Road, #B1-01/06 The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416, +65 8125 0166.

Tuff Club

If dancing is your primary cardio workout, then you’ll be right in your element at Tuff Club. What was supposed to be a pop-up club space within a Chinese restaurant, Tuff Club is now an ongoing fixture that lures fidgety creatures of the night. Another nightspot assembled by The Council, Tuff Club doesn’t just stun with guest selectors like Frankey & Sandrino and Bebetta, but also with its lilac-lit locale perched on the 19th floor facing picturesque CBD views. It is also a prime spot for catching local ambassadors of the underground house and techno scene. For many punters, Tuff Club is the go-to after-party following a shindig at Headquarters.

Tuff Club, 138 Robinson Road, #19-01 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906, +65 8751 7430.

Zouk

An industry juggernaut that needs no introduction, the Zouk brand is renowned not just in Singapore, but throughout the world. With a history that dates back to 1991, Zouk was pivotal in putting Singapore on the global dance music map, having hosted all sorts of legends like Sven Väth, Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed. Its spiffy, new home at Clarke Quay continues to carry that torch, even clinching a #3 spot (in 2018) on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs poll. As an institution that pushes both commercial EDM and underground sounds with its Soulfeed nights, Zouk is both an establishment for seasoned ravers and gateway to educate new partygoers.

Zouk, 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, Singapore 179022, +65 6738 2988.

Tanjong Beach Club

This is one club that ditches the confines of four walls and stretches out to the open sea. A household name amongst those who love sun, sand, sea and slick tunage, Tanjong Beach Club is a beloved weekend chill-out spot run by The Lo & Behold Group (the same folks behind edgy establishments like Loof, OverEasy and The Warehouse Hotel). Channel your inner sloth on a daybed, order up some calamari and cocktails, gaze out on the horizon and cool off in the pool after. Soundtrack-wise, Tanjong Beach Club whips up Sunday shindigs called Smack My Beach Up, dropping Balearic choons, nu-disco oddities, and other boogie-worthy numbers.

Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098942, +65 6270 1355.

Bar Rouge has one of the highest views in Singapore (Credit: Colossal Photos)

Bar Rouge Singapore

Shanghai’s crown jewel of the club scene extended its influence to the Lion City with this lofty opening. Launched in 2017, Bar Rouge Singapore promises glitzy yet groovy affairs with its flamboyant backdrop and VIP-enticing demeanour. 71 storeys high, this hedonistic nest atop Swissôtel The Stamford boasts staggering views of the skyline through its floor-to-ceiling windows, alongside other enthralling sights like artistic installations and dancers. Bar Rouge Singapore also doesn’t downplay its commitment to world-class open-format sounds, having welcomed big names like Laidback Luke, Chuckie and Bingo Players.

Bar Rouge Singapore, 2 Stamford Road, Floor 71 Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore 178882, +65 9177 7307.

CÉ LA VI

Rousing nocturnal shenanigans on top of Singapore’s most iconic building is yet another renowned nightlife establishment. Along with Zouk, CÉ LA VI is the only other club in Singapore that scored a coveted seat (at #67 as of 2018) on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs chart. And why not? It brandishes a world-famous location with a flabbergasting vista at 57 floors high, rounds up elite selectors from Kenny Dope to Armin van Buuren, and even flaunts a diverse trinity of Restaurant, Sky Lounge and SkyBar. If there’s one thing CÉ LA VI guarantees, it’s an escape into the high life.

CÉ LA VI, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Floor 57 Marina Bay Sands Tower 3, Singapore 018971, +65 6508 2188.

Bang Bang

Week after week, legions of party animals flock to the notorious Bang Bang for a night of hazy memories and sinful escapades. Residing within Marina Square – next to jazz club and sister bar, Lulu’s Lounge – Bang Bang is trigger-happy on the open-format bangers with DJs churning out everything from EDM to Top 40s. The crowds here tend to be a little older than the ones that head to Zouk and Attica, so if you’re looking to distance yourself from the young’uns, this might be your go-to haunt.

Bang Bang, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595, +65 8127 2808.

Attica

Some clubs in Singapore tend to integrate, peak, and gradually drift away. But since 2004, the resilient and rambunctious Attica continues to be a popular nightspot amongst youths just getting into clubbing and more experienced punters. Mainstream curation remains an effective modus operandi of the Clarke Quay club, with alluring Ladies Nights events and other hard-hitting parties featuring some of Singapore’s more longstanding residents in the commercial circuit. Through the years, it has attracted top-notch icons like Steve Aoki, Paul Oakenfold, and Pete Tong to grace its decks. Ushering in yet another sign of evolution, Attica has recently merged with f.Club, another commercial institution.

Attica, 3A River Valley Road, #02-05 Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020, +65 6333 9973.

Cherry Discotheque

Cherry on top? The kids sure think so. Since finding a new lease of life at its CBD-centric address, the effervescent hangout for youthful hip-hop devotees has stood strong with guns a-blazin’. Having hosted regional giants of the genre such as Higher Brothers and Bohan Phoenix, the venue has garnered quite a reputation for its rebellious, rap-filled shindigs. Its nostalgic aesthetic oozes unapologetically, from its garish neon lights to its chessboard dancefloor.

Cherry Discotheque, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, +65 9760 3031.

It doesn’t get as flamboyant as the large-scale Marquee (Credit: Moonrise Studio, Epitome Collective, Ashwin Arumugam)

Marquee Singapore

All eyes were on this behemoth upon its grand opening, and who could blame them? As if being an extension of the renowned Vegas nightclub wasn’t enough to make the headlines, Marquee Singapore took extravagance to the next level by boasting a 2,300 sqm space that includes a fully-functional Ferris Wheel and three-storey slides. Its opening month also knocked it out of the park entertainment-wise, with EDM titans such as Tiësto, Afrojack, Steve Aoki and Kaskade gracing the decks.

Marquee Singapore, B1-67 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, +65 6688 8660.