On the outside, dive bars may seem dodgy and probably not the sort of place you would ever want your folks catching you and your mates at. Tucked away in some of the tiniest cracks, these neighbourhood joints are often hard to find.
But a dive bar’s charm lies in the fact that it often sees a regular crowd, of which like-minded drinkers can feel a sense of familiarity and belonging. They may not be the most lavish—in fact far from it. But for some, these dive bars are considered home.
These are the spots where you can expect to chit chat with bartenders till the cows come home, occasionally witness some drunk-driven drama or simply get sloshed without being judged. As much as we love our bespoke cocktail bars, it’s time to give those a miss because dive bars are where the fun is at.
Here are 6 Elusive Dive Bars In Singapore Your Parents Should Never Know About.
SARA’S
Sara’s is one of the longest standing establishments in the Upper Thomson enclave. This is a place that sees patrons from all walks of life from retirees to strapping young teenagers in need of a late night tipple.
This iconic bar may seem dodgy to first-timers, but for those who live around the area, it is pretty much home. Sara’s has just about everything from beer to scotch and even some homemade cocktails that pack a punch.
217 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574350
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 3am
Sun: 5pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Marymount
Photo Credit: One Place Bistro & Bar
ONE PLACE BISTRO & BAR
Located in Jalan Kayu, One Place Bistro & Bar is pretty hard to get to unless you drive—which is not particularly advisable if your motive for the night is to get sloshed. Their offerings include the usual suspects but many people just go for the dual beer tower promotion which is pretty decently priced.
It may also come as a surprise that their food is far more impressive than the average bar grub. The only downside is that their kitchen closes relatively early, but then again, being in Jalan Kayu, searching for a late night bite is not a difficult task.
273 Jalan Kayu,
Singapore 799501
Tel: +65 6555 6539
Sun to Fri: 6pm – 1am
Sat: 6pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Seng Kang
CHIPS
From beers as cheap as S$5 a mug, to a wide range of killer cocktails to get your night started, Chips has got it all covered. Located in the incredibly dodgy ming arcade, this tiny hole-in-the-wall is a godsend for party-goers in need of a quick and cheap fix.
They also have a delicious range of bar snacks (hint: cheese fries) to go along with the ice-cold beers.
21 Cuscaden Road,
Singapore 249720
Tel: +65 6735 4336
Mon to Thu: 6pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 3am
(Closed on Sunday)
Nearest Station: Orchard
Photo Credit: The Drunken Poet
THE DRUNKEN POET
Located on the ground floor of the infamous Orchard Towers lies The Drunken Poet. This quaint hole-in-the-wall Irish pub exudes a rustic vibe that one would closely associate to Irish charm—from green bricks, barrels, mahogany furniture and the smell of Guinness.
The food menu is simple yet affordable with a few mains and bar bites to fill your tummy. Their drink offerings are pretty extensive however, many just go for the iconic Guinness draught.
01-29C Orchard Towers, 400 Orchard Road,
Singapore 238875
Tel: +65 6734 2924
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
(Closed on Monday)
Nearest Station: Orchard
VIE BAR
Residents of the East will want to keep this one a secret—Vie Bar in Siglap is an intimate bar whose primary clientele comprises loyal customers who return for their beers, hard liquor and occasional promotions.
This is also where you can catch sporting events and the upcoming EPL for those who are a fan of football.
914 East Coast Road
#01-02 The Domain
Singapore 459108
Tel: +65 6245 0010
Sun to Fri: 3.30pm – 1am
Sat: 3.30pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Kembangan / Bedok
MOLOTOV BISTRO & BAR
Over at Molotov, you can either go slow and have a chill drink while watching a game of football or spend the night playing drinking games with your friends—either way, this is a place you can check out if you are not up for squeezing with the crowd at Clarke Quay.
The bistro and bar can be found along the stretch of shophouses at Upper Thomson so you can bet that the atmosphere there is nothing short of exciting when night falls.
215F Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 9008 2358
Daily: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Marymount