For as long as adulthood and monthly bills started becoming a concern to us, nothing has helped alleviate that miserable feeling better than an ice-cold beer or a punchy cocktail at the end of a stress-filled workday. Yet, necessary as they are, alcoholic drinks do not come cheap in Singapore.

But did you know that besides the bar-laden enclave of Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay and Boat Quay, there lies a number of excellent bars in town with some unbelievable happy hour deals?

Forget idling around in your mundane office clicking on random icons on your computer to make yourself seem busy. Just get your work done and countdown to Happy Hour! Here are 10 Sensational Happy Hour Spots On Orchard Road That You Need To Know About.

Photo Credit: Acid Bar

#1 ACID BAR

Situated just a door away from sister outlet Alley Bar, Acid Bar’s happy hour specials focus mainly on beers and house pour liquors.

From 5pm to 9pm, get refreshed without breaking the bank with beers that go for as low as S$10.90 a pint. House pours go for S$6 a glass and you can choose to have them neat, on the rocks or with a mixer of your choice.

180 Orchard Road
Singapore 238846
Tel: +65 6738 8828
(Closed on Saturdays)
Sun to Thu: 5pm – 2am
Fri: 5pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Somerset

Photo Credit: Alley Bar

#2 ALLEY BAR

Decked out in old-school furnishings reminiscent of the Peranakan households of old, Peranakan Place’s Alley Bar is our favourite go-to bar for spot-on cocktails and martinis.

During happy hour, martinis go for S$9.90 with flavours changing day by day. Feel free to phone them to ask for the flavour of the night prior to making your way down.

180 Orchard Road,
Peranakan Place,
Singapore 238846
Tel: +65 6738 8818
Sat to Wed: 5pm – 2am
Thu & Fri: 5pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Somerset

Photo Credit: Bar On 5

#3 BAR ON 5

Armed with a magnificent view of bustling Orchard Road and housing some of the world’s best whiskies, Bar on 5 is easily one of our favourite venues for enjoying a drink or two among the company of friends.

For that much-needed single-malt fix that will not cost an arm or leg, head down to Bar on 5 in Mandarin Orchard Singapore. From 5pm to 9pm daily, enjoy S$7 house pours, premium liquor for S$15 and beers for only S$8 per half pint!

333 Orchard Road, Level 5
Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6831 6286
Sun to Thu: 11am – 1am
Fri & Sat: 11am – 2am
Nearest Station: Somerset

#4 FIVE TAPAS BAR

Payday seems like a heck of a long time away, but if you find yourself in a dire need of an after-work tipple, then FIVE Tapas Bar has got you covered with their daily value-for-money S$5 drinks promotion that includes half pints of draught beer.

Do try to head down as early as possible because this watering hole is usually bursting with white-collar workers and tertiary students.

25 Cuppage Road
Cuppage Terrace,
Singapore 229454
Tel: +65 6733 8097
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12 Midnight
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Somerset

Photo Credit: KPO Café Bar

#5 KPO CAFÉ BAR

KPO Café Bar is a stylish drinking spot located right opposite Orchard Central that boasts not only good vibes and affordable tipples but an attitude as well.

From 3pm to 8pm daily, house pours are priced at S$12 and draft beers at S$14. Soak in the vibrant atmosphere as you rock out to top 40s tunes with a tipple in hand.

1 Killiney Road
Singapore 239518
Tel: +65 6733 3648
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Thu: 3pm – 1am
Fri: 3pm –  2am
Sat: 6pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Somerset

#6 NO.5 EMERALD HILL

Conveniently located near Orchard Road, No. 5 Emerald Hill (aptly named after its address) has a great number of cost-effective drinking options. This Peranakan-inspired bar has won the hearts of many with their happy hour deals that run until 9pm daily and feature S$8 house pour spirits too.

Look out for their various martini promotions after 9pm as well as a tantalising array of bar bites as well.

5 Emerald Hill Road
Singapore 229289
Tel: +65 6732 0818
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3am
Sun: 5pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Somerset

#7 MARTINI BAR AT MEZZA9

Located in mezza9 at Grand Hyatt Singapore, Martini Bar is another of our favourite hangout.

This martini-centric bar serves up refreshing drinks at 50% off during happy hour from Mondays to Saturdays between 4pm to 9pm. From the classic, sophisticated gin martini to some inventive variations—some even featuring fanciful garnishes—there is bound to be a martini to suit any fancy.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Singapore 228211
Tel: +65 6416 7322
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12 Midnight
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 PRIVÉ

Need a boost after a long day out? Privé’s daily happy hour from 5pm to 8pm when you get 50% off all house pours is the perfect way to do just that.

Sit back and relax in a convivial and laid-back atmosphere in the heart of Orchard Road and enjoy special deals on beers, wines & spirits as you tuck into an array of delicious bar snacks or full-on entrées.

501 Orchard Road
Singapore 238880
Tel: +65 6776 0777
Mon to Fri: 9am – 1am
Sat & Sun: 8am – 1am
Nearest Station: Orchard

#9 TANUKI RAW

For the love of cheap drinks and even cheaper oysters, Tanuki Raw is the best place to be.

During their happy hour special from 5pm to 8pm daily, every pint of beer, cocktail or martini ordered entitles you to half a dozen freshly shucked oysters at just S$2 each—now that’s a hot deal.

181 Orchard Road, 04-01
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6636 5949
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#10 BAR CANARY

If the prospect of happy hour prices on spiffy cocktails makes gets you ecstatic then Bar Canary is one hotel bar you would want to coop up in.

Perched atop Grand Park Orchard, Bar Canary adopts a concept whereby prices increase as the hours go by, that is, between 6pm where a bucket of either 8 bottled beers, a set of bottled wine and 4 signature cocktails are priced at S$60 and subsequently S$70 at 7pm and so on until 9pm. In that case, drop by the bar earlier to enjoy drinks at lower prices!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this bar. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Orchard Road

Read: 10 Bars in Singapore’s CBD with the best happy hour deals.

You would never expect to find a swanky open-concept bar in Alexandra. This new hangout is called Aqua Luna, located on the 7th storey of Park Hotel Alexandra, offering an alternative view of the beautiful Queenstown precinct. The stylish alfresco bar is parked right beside the 25-metre infinity swimming pool, and boasts an exciting gourmet menu of bar nosh and exotic cocktails.

But more than its tranquil vibes and interesting variety of tantalising cocktails, Aqua Luna is a stunner and the perfect venue for post-work drinks with colleagues and/or a great night out with your beloved other half. Upon stepping to the outdoors of the pool level of the property, we were amazed and in complete disbelief. The circular rooftop bar was dimly lit and set against the evening skies, candy floss coloured post-sunset skies welcomed us, and our moods were instantly lifted; how can a so-called neighbourhood bar be so sexy?

We can just hear all of you who are sick and tired of the CBD’s overly crammed bars; it is time to make your way down to Aqua Luna, this all new tranquil oasis that we have been to several times now, and are completely in love with.

From now till 13 November 2015, readers of ladyironchef can get an exclusive 50% off the second drink at Aqua Luna (more details at the end of the post). So grab a cocktail and some light bites, watch the sunset from an alternative venue, kick back and enjoy an evening of being away from the madness in town. You deserve this break.

Set to be a laid-back hotel bar in Southern Singapore, Aqua Luna indeed exudes remarkably chill vibes throughout the afternoon and even into the night. It also serves as a swim-up bar for in-house guests; how cool is that?

The scrumptious selection of bar food and premium cocktails will impress even the most discerning epicureans. The spanking new bar is partially encased by a glass-to-ceiling transparent windows, hence allowing one to simultaneously admire the picturesque surroundings whilst indulging in a meal.

Gone are the days where you can easily find a handcrafted cocktail under S$20. So imagine our surprise when we found out that Aqua Luna’s special cocktails and classics are all reasonably priced at S$18++ each! What a delightful steal! Each invigorating concoction is prepared with fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables, and don’t they just look gorgeous?

Signature must-tries include the Breezy Berries and Poire Basil. The former is a blend of mint, lychee liqueur, cherry bitters and Pisco, while the latter is a revitalising mix of Absolut Pear Vodka, basil, grapefruit bitters and zesty lime juice garnished with fresh pear slices.

Both cocktails are served in old-school silver metal tins and decorated with real fruits. These beverages are actually very potent and you will get the bang for your buck!

Another drink that you should try is their spiced cocktail Hot Melons (S$18++) – a brilliant Asian fusion invention inspired by the liqueur affogato.

Muddled with chilli padi, shaken with dark rum and served with a soursop sorbet, the cocktail is a unique sweet-and-spicy concoction. The spiciness have been underwhelmed by the ice-cream so you do not have to worry about having your tongue on fire!

Or you can also savour the classic margarita, martini and mojito with an additional unexpected twist of your choice. Spiced mojito or mojito infused with peach or mixed berries, what say you?

Similarly, you could have an apple or lychee martini instead of the traditional one. Last but not least, enjoy either a mango or mixed berry margarita – or stick to the good old classics. These enthralling classic tipples are priced at S$18++ each too.

If you are here to catch the dazzling sunset, do order an Alexandra Sunset (S$18++) to kickstart your evening.

Named after Aqua Luna’s location, this golden-hued cocktail creation – an infusion of Grand Marnier liqueur with flamed Rosemary, pineapple juices, white rum and dark rum – is served in a classy wine glass and a hit amongst both the ladies and gentlemen.

Aqua Luna keeps its entire menu extremely affordable. We were pleasantly surprised by how generously portioned and appetising the unassuming Battered Cauliflower (S$8++) was.

Each crispy fried batter contained an impossibly tender cauliflower and we love how it packed a punch with its hints of fragrant curry and onion. The addictive vegetarian dish is served with an irresistible cheesy béchamel dipping sauce on the side. Sinful as it may sound, we would return to Aqua Luna just for this, because diet can (sometimes) wait.

Sick of the ubiquitous truffle fries? Give their heavenly Truffle Polenta Fries (S$10++) a shot and you definitely will not regret wasting your calories on this amazing savoury treat. Well, for those who always tell us truffle fries are too mainstream for their liking, this would do the trick for you!

For the uninitiated, polenta is a type of thick cornmeal that is most commonly used in Central Europe It is consumed in other parts of the world such as South America and the Middle East, and they may be named differently and more commonly known as cornmeal.

For those who are keen to try something different, you will enjoy these delightful polenta fries that are dusted in parmesan cheese and served with a dollop of homemade truffle-infused mayonnaise dipping sauce.

Oysters fan, please join us in feasting with these freshly shucked Seasonal Oysters (1/2 doz – S$24++) served au natural with a classic mignonette. Can you imagine slurping them juicy oysters while swimming? Oh god, the life!

Those who do not fancy the exquisite oysters can still find other seafood nibbles, such as the A Pint of Prawns (S$14++) served with cocktail sauce, and A Pot of Mussels (S$18++) – blue mussels that have been cooked with Chardonnay.

Of course, the carnivores can join us in feasting on the decadent “Dirty” Steak (S$36++) which is grilled to medium-rare and charred in the wood-fired oven while sitting atop charcoal. It is served with anchovy butter and a pinch of sea salt.

How awesome does steak by the pool sound, right? We are all so used to steak in fine restaurants, and this experience at Aqua Luna sure is a fresh breath of air.

On to the flatbreads now, my friends. Essentially wood-fired pizzas served fresh from the oven, these bar snacks are actually very filling and enjoyable with some cocktails (but of course).

There are a total of five flavours to choose from – Crabmeat & Artichoke (S$24++), Margarita (S$18++), Beef & Chilli (S$20++), Tiger Prawn & Pesto (S$24++) and Chorizo & Onion (S$18++).

It is also worth mentioning that the breads have been painstakingly proofed for at least three hours, hence giving rise to a light and crispy crust. And they are made fresh daily!

When daylight wanes away and night-time takes over, Aqua Luna transforms from a tropical paradise into a dimly lit romantic bar; the latter is how we will always remember Aqua Luna to be, as when we first saw the bar in its full glory against the golden sunset.

You should, too, drop by during the evening for a spectacular sunset experience – watch the sun descend right before your eyes and witness the landscape transform into mesmerising city lights with a glass of signature cocktail in hand. We will return in a heartbeat for this lovely sanctuary. Will you?

EXCLUSIVE 50% OFF SECOND DRINK FOR LADYIRONCHEF’S READERS

From now till 13 November 2015, quote “ladyironchef” when you reserve your table at Aqua Luna and get 50% off your second drink (of lower value). Advance reservation is required, with a minimum of 2 guests (up to 12 adult patrons) in a single bill.

This promotion is not valid on eve of and on Public Holidays. Please call +65 6828 8885 or email aqualuna.phal@parkhotelgroup.com to make your reservation.

Aqua Luna
Level 7 Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8885
Email: aqualuna.phal@parkhotelgroup.com
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Queenstown / Redhill

This post is brought to you by Park Hotel Alexandra.