When it comes to unwinding with booze, finding pocket-friendly watering holes a stone’s throw away from home can be tricky. These hidden neighbourhood gems will show you that happy hour can actually be an all day thing – all in the convenience of your own backyard.
For 60 minutes is never enough, and we can definitely appreciate a chill night over cheap drinks without racking up triple-digit bar tabs or jostling with party animals along the Singapore River.
1. The Dog and Bone Pub
Here at the extreme East sits The Dog and Bone Pub, an authentic British bar bustling with East-side regulars. For $10.50 you can get yourself a glass of Jack, and half pints start from as low as $7.50. They also have an extensive food menu if you are craving some good ol’ British grub.
Opening Hours: 430 PM – 12 AM (Mon-Sat), 1130 AM – 12 AM (Sun)
Address: 106 Upper East Coast Road
Tel: 9178 9552
Nearest station: Bedok
(more information here)
2. Sara’s
Upper Thomson’s dining scene appears to be giving the hipster Tiong Bahru estate a run for its money. Apart from a well-established prata house, trendy cafés and artisanal ice cream parlours, this glitzy stretch is also teeming with charming bars. From bottled beers to exotic craft concoctions, the prices at Sara’s hit as low as $6 during happy hours (3pm – 8pm). Beer nerds, you are free to set your monetary inhibitions aside and enter beer heaven.
Opening Hours: 6 PM – 2 AM (Mon-Wed), 8 PM – 4 AM (Thur), 3 PM – 2 AM (Fri-Sat), 3 PM – 1 AM (Sun)
Address: 217 Upper Thomson Road
Tel: 6457 9868
Nearest station: Marymount
(more information here)
3. RessRoom
With 30% off cocktails on Tuesdays and Thursdays, RessRoom makes the perfect, after-work chill spot if you are more of a cocktail kind of person. Think classics like Pina Colada, Blood Mary and the Singapore Sling. Apart from cocktails, daily promotions for beers on tap are also available. $7 for a glass of Erdinger and $15 for a pint of Guinness doesn’t sound too shabby. This chic bar also offers live music performances from Wednesday to Saturday nights.
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 11 PM (Mon-Thur, Sat-Sun), 11 AM – 12 AM (Fri)
Address: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1 #01-72/73 Changi City Point (The Oasis)
Tel: 6636 3226
Nearest Station: Expo
(more information here)
4. Sticky Fingers
Clarke Quay is undisputedly home to some of the swankiest bars in Singapore, but just across the river lies Sticky Fingers, a quiet, understated alternative from all the other electrifying (read: overcrowded) bars. Here at Sticky Fingers, everyday is happy hour (5pm – 9pm). Celebrate Tuesdays with a 1-for-1 deal on pour spirits, and ladies can let their hair down with 1-for-1 martinis on hump days – all on top of happy hour prices.
Opening Hours: 5 PM – 1 AM (closed on Sun)
Address: 11 Keng Cheow St, #01-05/06, 059608
Tel: 6532 1230
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
(more information here)
5. Idle
The elusive West. Non West-siders see it as no more than a barren, industrial area with never-ending construction work. However, the West does have its fair share of underrated bars, and Idle is a gem we have unearthed. Expect to hear sweet echoes of your favourite word: buffet. This bar offers an all-your-can-drink extravaganza from Monday to Saturday (5pm – 11pm) at crazy affordable NETT prices. It’s $30 for lads, and $25 for ladies. If you’re a West-sider, congratulations – you’ve scored booze gold.
Opening Hours: 5 PM – 12 AM (closed on Sun)
Address: 13 International Business Park #K2-01
Tel: 9233 7533
Nearest station: Jurong East
(more information here)
6. Quench! Bistro & Bar
This open-concept bar nestled in a kampong-like setting offers an extensive range of international craft beers, premium ciders and specially concocted cocktails. All day happy hour deals include a Singha tower for $55, among many other beer bucket deals. It is an ideal, tranquil respite from all the urban bars we are used to. If cheap booze is not enough, Quench! is located right beside a prawning haven. Run along and partake in one of our favourite night activities after you’ve had your beer fix.
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 3 AM
Address: 81 Lorong Chencharu #01-10 ORTO
Tel: 6257 3657
Nearest station: Khatib
(more information here)
7. Coq & Balls
A laid-back neighbour hangout perfect for a casual drink. Here at Coq & Balls, happy hour spans five days a week – binging on beer can very well be economically sustainable. A San Miguel on draught from Monday to Thursday (4pm – 10pm) costs you $5, and come nightfall (6pm – 10pm), full pint draught beers are a whopping 50% off. This same promotion applies on Sunday too, but it’s happy hour ALL DAY. Gotta love weekends.
Opening Hours: 4 PM – 12 PM (Mon-Fri), 12 PM – 12 AM (Sat-Sun)
Address: 6 Kim Tian Rd 169246
Tel: 6276 6609
Nearest station: Tiong Bahru
(more information here)
8. The Tuckshop
This café-meets-bar is a homey social space to catch up with friends over good food and drinks, any time of the day. Apart from an impressive brunch menu, The Tuckshop is also a beer bar at heart with their impressive range of affordable craft beers and ciders. Look out for their better-than-happy-hour, $10 nett draught beer pint.
Opening Hours: 5PM – 12 AM (Mon-Fri), 11 AM – 12 AM (Sat-Sun)
Address: 403 Guillemard Rd, 399795
Tel: 6744 8205
Nearest station: Dakota
(more information here)
9. The Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is a cosy neighbourhood pub perched on the Upper Bukit Timah neighbourhood. Apart from draught beers, ciders, wines, spirits and an extensive cocktail menu, they also have pool tables and electronic dart boards at your disposal. You get your first drink on the house on weekends (12 pm – 2pm), and ladies can enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails every Monday to Thursday. A bucket of five ice cold beers is capped at $50 NETT, among many other incredible happy hour promotions that run till 8 pm every night.
Opening Hours: 4PM – 12 AM (Mon-Thur), 12PM – 12AM (Sat-Sun)
Address: 15 Chu Lin Road Singapore 669907
Tel: 6468 2344
Nearest station: Bukit Panjang
(more information here)
10. Bistro Avenue
Tucked away on Level 1 of the revamped Bedok Marketplace is Bistro Avenue, an unpretentious bar in the vibrant Simpang Bedok neighbourhood. With $5 Asahi and Sapporo drafts, pool tables and live football screenings till midnight, this fairly undiscovered joint is your go-to on big match days. Soccer fans of the East, there’s no need to squeeze your way into popular, jam-packed sports bars with hiked up beer prices anymore. Even if you’re not into the sport, cheap beer after your Simpang prata fix is always a good idea.
Opening Hours: 5 PM – 12 AM
Address: 348 Bedok Road (Simpang Bedok)
Nearest station: Tanah Merah
(more information here)
11. The Cider Pit
With a selection of over 50 beers and ciders for as low as $5 nett (half pints), the prices here are definitely at the cheaper end of the spectrum. The Cider Pit is situated at the heart of the buzzing Joo Chiat neighbourhood so it does get busier as the night wears on, especially on weekends when expat regulars stream in and party-goers throng for pre-drinks. Weekday nights are most ideal if you are looking for a quiet, chill night of casual drinks.
Opening Hours: 5 PM – 1 AM (Mon-Fri), 2 PM – 1 AM (Sat-Sun)
Address: 328 Joo Chiat Road, #01-03 Singapore
Tel: 6440 0504
Nearest station: Bedok
(more information here)
in Roundup
