Wine trail · Singapore

Singapore Wine Scene

1. Marina Bay Sands Wine Height 1 2. 1-Altitude Rooftop Wine 2 3. Hawker Centre Wine Rebel 3 4. Gardens by the Bay Wine Stroll 4 5. Chinatown Wine Walk 5 6. Raffles Hotel Long Bar Wine 6 7. Clarke Quay Riverside Wine 7 8. Little India Spice & Wine 8 9. Sentosa Island Beach Wine 9 2 km 1. Marina Bay Sands Wine Height 1 2. 1-Altitude Rooftop Wine 2 3. Hawker Centre Wine Rebel 3 4. Gardens by the Bay Wine Stroll 4 5. Chinatown Wine Walk 5 6. Raffles Hotel Long Bar Wine 6 7. Clarke Quay Riverside Wine 7 8. Little India Spice & Wine 8 9. Sentosa Island Beach Wine 9 2 km

Singapore punches way above its weight for wine. From Marina Bay Sands' iconic 57th-floor rooftop to natural wine bars in Chinatown, from Michelin-starred hawker stalls to the world's highest alfresco bar at 282 meters - this is where backpackers come to reward themselves with civilization after weeks of bucket cocktails and street food.

3days

Challengingeffort

9stops

Chapter 9 of Southeast Asia Grand Journey · Singapore

The stops

  1. Wine bar · Price: high Marina Bay Sands Wine Height Wine at the iconic rooftop infinity pool (or bar if not a guest). The Singapore skyline spreads 200 meters below. The ultimate flashpacker reward.
  2. Wine bar · Price: high 1-Altitude Rooftop Wine The world's highest alfresco rooftop bar at 282 meters. 360-degree views of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Wine at the edge of the sky.
  3. Adventure · Price: low Hawker Centre Wine Rebel Singapore's hawker centers have UNESCO status. Eat at Michelin-starred stalls for $5. BYOB wine to pair with chicken rice and chili crab.
  4. Adventure · Price: moderate Gardens by the Bay Wine Stroll The futuristic Supertrees light up at night. Walk the elevated OCBC Skyway between trees. Wine at Satay by the Bay as the show begins.
  5. Adventure · Price: moderate Chinatown Wine Walk Singapore's Chinatown is a preserved historic district with temples, traditional medicine shops, and the best food. Wine walk through 200 years of Chinese heritage.
  6. Wine bar · Price: high Raffles Hotel Long Bar Wine The birthplace of the Singapore Sling (1915). Skip the cocktail and order wine in this colonial masterpiece where Hemingway once drank.
  7. Wine bar · Price: moderate Clarke Quay Riverside Wine The historic riverside district turned nightlife hub. Wine at the colorful shophouses as boats cruise by. Singapore's social heart.
  8. Adventure · Price: moderate Little India Spice & Wine Sensory overload in the best way. Flower garlands, spice shops, Tamil temples, and thali meals. Then find wine at the rooftop bars on Jalan Besar.
  9. Adventure · Price: high Sentosa Island Beach Wine Singapore's resort island. Beach clubs, clear water, and wine with your feet in the sand. A world away from the city - just a cable car ride.

The story

BYOB to hawker centers = peak backpacker life.

Plan the trip

Getting there and around

Car required
No
Parking
No car needed. MRT + Grab covers everything.
Nearest airport
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) - world's best airport. 20km from city center.
Drinking and driving
STRICT LAWS but civilized. Public drinking BANNED 22:30-07:00 (except licensed areas like Clarke Quay). MRT drinking = $500 fine. Drink in bars or hotel. MRT runs until midnight (01:00 weekends). Grab after midnight easy.
Other airports
  • None - Singapore only has Changi
Without a car
MRT is IMMACULATE - best subway in Asia. Get EZ-Link card at any station ($12 = $5 deposit + $7 credit). Airport to city: MRT Green Line from T2/T3, $2.50, 30 min to Raffles Place. Grab app works perfectly (cheaper than taxis). Walking pleasant - wide sidewalks, shade.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
Chinatown (backpackers) or Marina Bay (flashpackers)
Why there
Chinatown: hostel density, 24/7 food, MRT access, walking to Clarke Quay nightlife. Marina Bay: treating yourself after weeks of dirtbag travel.
Booking tip
Book 1-2 weeks ahead. Marina Bay Sands: third-party bookings often exclude pool - book direct only.
Nightly range
$25-400 SGD/night

Recommended stays

Budget
The Hive Backpackers @ Lavender ($25 dorm) - social, clean, MRT. Beary Best Chinatown ($28 dorm) - rooftop bar.
Luxury
Marina Bay Sands ($380) - iconic infinity pool (MUST book direct for pool access). Raffles Hotel ($800) - colonial legend, worth it for the story.
Mid-range
Hotel NuVe Urbane @ Chinatown ($80-100) - boutique, breakfast included. Ibis Budget Clarke Quay ($90) - perfect nightlife location.

What it costs

Includes
Accommodation, transport, 3 meals (mix hawker + one nice dinner), 2-3 wine bar drinks, one signature experience
Wine prices
World-class but EXPENSIVE by SEA standards. Rooftop bars: $25-40/glass. Natural wine bars: $15-25/glass. Wine Connection: $10-18/glass (best value). Supermarket bottles: $15-30 for BYOB. Restaurant markup 3-4x retail.
Meals
Hawker: $4-8/meal (Michelin $5). Coffeeshop: $6-12. Casual restaurant: $15-30. Fine dining: $80-200+.
Per person
$80-250/day SGD (~$60-190 USD)
Ways to spend less
  • BYOB to hawker centers - FairPrice wine ($15-25) + Tian Tian ($5) = $20-30 legendary meal
  • Wine Connection retail + $15 corkage = buy bottle, drink at bar tables
  • Rooftop happy hour 17:00-19:00 saves 30%
  • Maxwell not Lau Pa Sat - cheaper, less touristy
  • Gardens light shows FREE - skip domes if budget-tight
  • Chinatown wine bars half the price of Marina Bay
Transport
MRT: $1-2/trip (EZ-Link required). Airport MRT: $2.50. Grab across island: $8-15.

Booking and timing

Lead time
Most walk-in OK. Marina Bay Sands hotel: 1-2 weeks. CÉ LA VI weekends: 3-5 days.
Closed days
Everything open. Some hawker stalls closed Mondays.
Peak season
Chinese New Year: 2x prices, hawkers close 3 days. F1 Grand Prix (Sep): Marina Bay impossible. NYE: rooftops require reservations + $100+ cover.
Best time of day
Rooftops: arrive 17:30 for sunset. Gardens light shows: 19:45 or 20:45.
Group size
Solo travelers thrive - Singapore is ultra-safe and social

Where to eat

Wine bars
  • CÉ LA VI (MBS) - iconic rooftop, $25-40/glass, book weekends
  • 1-Altitude - world's highest, cover charge includes drinks
  • Wine Connection (multiple) - best value $10-18/glass, retail + bar combo
  • Keong Saik wine bars - natural wine scene, $15-25/glass, hipster crowd
  • LeVeL33 (Marina Bay Financial) - microbrewery + wine, no cover, stunning views
  • Raffles Long Bar - literary history, $20-30/glass (skip the Sling)
Street food
  • Maxwell Food Centre - Tian Tian chicken rice (Michelin Bib Gourmand, stall #10-11, $5)
  • Lau Pa Sat - Victorian hawker, becomes Satay Street at night (smoke and flames)
  • Tekka Centre @ Little India - unlimited thali refills $6-8
  • Chomp Chomp @ Serangoon - local favorite, NO tourists
Restaurants
  • Burnt Ends (Chinatown) - Modern BBQ, wine-focused, $80-120pp, book 1 month ahead
  • Candlenut (Dempsey) - Michelin-starred Peranakan, $60-90pp, book 1 week
  • Satay by the Bay - hawker food with wine at Gardens location
  • Odette (National Gallery) - 3 Michelin stars, $250-400pp, book 2 months

If your time is short

Do not miss
  • CÉ LA VI or 1-Altitude sunset - signature Singapore rooftop experience
  • Hawker BYOB - Tian Tian $5 + FairPrice $20 wine = legendary lunch
  • Gardens Supertree light show - free, spectacular, peak Singapore futurism
  • Chinatown wine walk - Keong Saik natural wine bars + temples
If you only have one day
Maxwell BYOB lunch ($5 chicken rice + $20 wine) -> Gardens Supertrees afternoon -> 19:45 light show -> CÉ LA VI sunset (arrive 17:30) -> Clarke Quay nightlife
If it rains
Singapore built for rain. Gardens Cloud Forest dome ($28). National Gallery rooftop bar. Chinatown shopping arcades. Wine Connection retail browsing.
Skip if time is short
  • Sentosa beach clubs (adds full day + $)
  • Night Safari ($50 + far)
  • Raffles Long Bar (touristy, skip if prioritizing wine quality)

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't wear flip-flops/shorts to MBS or 1-Altitude - dress code STRICTLY enforced, you will be turned away
  • Don't underestimate costs - Singapore is 2-3x Thailand/Vietnam prices
  • Don't drink on MRT or in public after 22:30 - $500 fine
  • Don't skip hawker centers - Michelin stars at $5 is the point
  • Don't take taxis when Grab exists - taxis 30% more expensive
  • Don't book third-party for MBS if you want pool - book direct only
  • Don't chew gum in public - technically illegal ($1000 fine)

Worth stopping for

  • MBS rooftop: Northwest corner of CÉ LA VI deck, infinity pool + skyline + wine glass. Golden hour 18:00-18:45.
  • Supertrees: Directly under central cluster, wide angle straight up during light show. Night mode 2-4 sec.
  • Hawker BYOB: Overhead table shot - chicken rice + satay + wine bottle spread.
  • Chinatown: Thian Hock Keng or Buddha Tooth Relic at blue hour (19:00-19:30). Red lanterns glow.
  • 1-Altitude: Edge of 360° deck with city 282m below. Portrait with vertigo perspective.
  • Clarke Quay: Colorful shophouses from across river at blue hour. Long exposure for smooth water.

More trails in this chapter