12 best authentic old-school pubs & bars in Singapore to chill the night away
Compared to modern drinking places, old-school pubs and bars possess an unmatched charm that just hits differently. Although the demand for such spots seems to be fading and the vibe might not jive with the younger crowd, they still have a loyal fan base that revels in its nostalgia and timeless appeal.
Looking for somewhere to let your hair down and boost your spirits after a hectic day of work? Then let my guide to the 12 best authentic old-school pubs and bars in Singapore lead you to the perfect spot to catch up with friends over a cold pint, cocktail, whiskey, or whatever floats your boat.
1. The Hidden Story
Launched in Jun 2022, The Hidden Story, located on the 2nd floor of a heritage shophouse along East Coast Road, truly lives up to its name. Its entrance is discreetly placed at the freezer door of Stirling Steaks restaurant downstairs.
When you enter, you’re greeted by classic Chesterfield sofas, antique coffee tables, Tiffany lamps and old-school artwork that blend together in perfect harmony to beautify the space, allowing customers to experience the past seamlessly blending with the present and the future.
The bar counter sits against a backdrop of nostalgic stained glass windows, and the owner’s obsession with Peranakan tiles is evident in the decor.
Happy Hour commences from 5pm to 8pm daily, where you’ll be able to sip on house liquors like Bourbon (S$12), Rum (S$12) and Gin (S$12). You can enjoy Sapporo Beer at S$8 or share a Bucket of 5 for S$40 together with your tribe.
You can also have fun exploring an assortment of Craft Beers for S$14 each, such as the Rusty Raspberry Sour from Rocky Ridge or the Lefties Hazy IPA from Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co.
115A East Coast Road, Singapore 428804
+65 9692 0678
Daily: 5pm – 12am
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2. The Tuckshop Assembly
Old meets new in historic Geylang, a neighbourhood that’s filled with restored shophouses and traditional eateries. Here you’ll find The Tuckshop Assembly, a cafe/bar which provides a casual and relaxed environment in which to hang out and watch the world pass by. It’s a contemporary yet nostalgic space that blends the old with the new.
Some of the must-haves are the homemade Carrot Cake (S$12), served with spicy shrimp paste, cucumber and spring onion salad. The Sio Bak (S$15), roasted in-house to crispy perfection, is their best seller and is served with nam prik dip.
Their pizzas are made from scratch, and no visit to Tuckshop Assemble is complete without trying the Burrat Margherita Pizza (S$22) that’s baked with loads of mozzarella and burrata. Seafood Lovers can also relish the Mussels In A Pot (S$25).
Happy Hour runs daily from 5pm to 7pm, where you can get all Beers on Taps for S$10++ and Guinness on Tap for S$12++.
Starting Aug 2024, they will be having a new craft tap of Fly In Light Pale Ale and Birds Of Paradise White IPA from Sunbird Brewing Company (S$11++ during Happy Hour), which was Asia’s champion small-sized brewery at the Brew Asia 2023 event.
403 Guillemard Road, Singapore 399795
+65 6744 8205
Daily: 5pm – 12am
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3. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
When it comes to Irish pubs in Singapore, Molly Malone’s Irish Pub is the pioneer of them all. They have been around since 1995 and have shifted from their original location to Circular Road.
Indulge in Molly’s Famous Fish & Chips, a signature must-order speciality in the menu. Select from their succulent fresh fillets of Dory (S$18), Haddock (S$24) or Snapper (S$24), which are coated with Mammy Molly’s batter and deep-fried till golden-brown perfection. It’s served with chips, fresh lemon and tartar sauce.
On weekdays from 11am to 3pm, take advantage of their 3-course Set Meal (S$24) where you’ll get a Starter (Soup of the Day or Caesar Salad), a Main (Chicken Roulade, Grilled Salmon Fillet or Char Grilled Sirloin Steak) or Pasta (Bolognese, Vongole or Aglio Olio), and a Dessert or Coffee of your choice.
Enjoy Soju (S$18 for 1, S$50 for 3) for a limited-time, Island Life Hard Seltzer (S$10 during Happy Hour) or Budweiser (S$12 during Happy Hour).
Or set the mood right with cocktails such as Bloody Mary (S$16), Long Island Tea (S$18) and Sex With The Bartender (S$18). Every Monday from 7.30pm onwards, there’s also an exciting Quiz Night happening— so be there or be square!
56 Circular Road, Singapore 049411
+65 6536 2029
Mon to Thu: 11am – 1am
Fri: 11am – 3am
Sat: 12pm – 3am
Sun: 12pm – 1am
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4. Cheeers Bistro & Bar
Housed within the bustling Joo Chiat district lies Cheeers Bistro & Bar, a cool neighbourhood bar that rolls out tunes from the 80s and 90s. Opened since 2016, this warm and cosy drinking spot is popular with regulars and walk-ins who like to hangout after work and let their hair down.
The popular dishes over here are aplenty. They include Red Devil Chicken Leg (S$20), New Zealand Prime Lamb Chops (S$36 for 1, S$130 for 4 pax), Chicken Wings (S$22) and Mutton Masala (S$24) (which is cooked on the pot for 6 hours and served with hot bun rolls).
The menu also introduces exciting new items like the Short Ribs (S$26), Guinness Coffee Ribs (S$24), Bone Marrow (S$16) and Corned Beef Sandwiches (S$16)— yummy!
Besides the regular beers, Cheeers Bistro & Bar offers a wide range of cocktails for you to enjoy during your night out. The Negroni (S$18), Old Fashioned (S$16), Espresso Martinis (S$24), Vodka Sour (S$24) and A Pink Margarita (S$18) are just some of the many choices you can get over here.
For hardcore fans of Guinness, you can get 3 pints for S$35 all day and night over here too!
456 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427669
+65 9678 3737
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 12am
Closed on Sun
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5. Hideaway @ Arcadia
Hideaway @ Arcadia is an old-school pub located along Arcadia Road which started in October 2019. Surrounded by lush greenery, this pub maintains its rustic settings till this day with refurbished old bar tops and cabinets.
Reeling in Chef A Long from Bar-A-Thym Restaurant who specialises in French and Italian cuisine, the menu here has undergone a major revamp under his charge.
Fancy some charcoal-grilled goodness? Then try the Pork Jowl Delight (S$18) which is slow cooked for 14 hours . Lovers of Wagyu beef can indulge in the Tajima Wagyu Indulgence (S$18) or Premium Wagyu Delight (S$15) for some delicious beefy goodness.
Other highlights include the Special Mid Wings (S$12), Kurobuta Pork Belly Pasta (S$18) and Ribeye Steak Plate (S$32).
Happy hour runs from 4pm to 7pm where you can also get Guinness Draft and Sapporo Beer on tap for S$13 and S$11 respectively. You can also take advantage of their current promotion where you can chug 6 bottles of Corona Beer for S$36.
251A Arcadia Road, Singapore 289848
+65 6235 3328
Mon to Sat: 4pm – 12am
Closed on Sun
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6. The Spiffy Dapper
The Spiffy Dapper moved from a humble hole-in-the-wall unit in Boat Quay to a half-decent space at Amoy Street, before finally settling down at 294 River Valley Road— what a journey.
Step through the front doors of this under-the-radar joint, and allow the enchanting charm of its old British tavern ambience to sweep you off your feet. Top that off with a super friendly and fun crew, and you’re more or less covered for an awesome night out.
Approach the bartender for their array of bespoke cocktails such as the Bell Bottom Bimbo (S$32) that’s shaken with cachaça, dark rum, banana, apple cider, passionfruit, pistachio, ginger beer and Angostura bitters.
Or sip on Sweet Chin Music (S$26), a concoction made of London dry gin, peanut butter rum, mandragola, campari, Bianco vermouth and orange bitters. You can also try the Lollapalooza (S$26) and Bee’s Knees (S$26).
294 River Valley Road, Singapore 238335
+65 9248 3771
Tue to Thu: 6pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 2am
Closed on Sun & Mon
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7. The Penny Black
The Penny Black pub is a highly authentic representation of a traditional Victorian London pub, created as a celebration of that first postage stamp from the UK’s Royal Mail. Located at the start of Boat Quay in Raffles Place, they are the only English public house in Singapore. It’s also the place to catch a variety of sports screenings such as rugby, the grand prix and the English Premier League.
The food menu showcases a plethora of English grub such as the classic Fish N Chips (S$26) and the Beef & Guinness Pie (S$24) (sous-vide beef leg cubes and vegetables in their homemade Guinness gravy, topped with a puff pastry lid).
On Wednesdays to Fridays from 12pm to 2.30pm, they have a Lunch Special where you can enjoy a Chicken Chop for S$10 nett.
Besides bottled beers like Asahi (S$14), Tiger Crystal (S$14) and Corona (S$14), they also have 6 types of draught beers. Expect to find beers like Kilkenny Irish Ale (S$9 for half-pint, S$15 for one pint) and Strongbow Cider (S$9 for half-pint, S$15 for one pint).
For location, contact number and opening hours, refer here.
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8. Long Bar
Residing within the iconic Raffles Singapore is the historic Long Bar, proudly known as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail. Patrons who enter the two-storey establishment are instantly transported to the edge of a tropical plantation, with its earthy ambience inspired by Malayan life in the 1920s.
Long Bar may not have a food menu, but it provides a bag of peanuts to guests. While littering in Singapore is an offence, this is probably the only place where it’s encouraged, as you’ll be allowed to brush the peanut shells off the tables and bar counters onto the floor.
Besides The Original Singapore Sling (S$39), they have a lineup of signature cocktails such as the Emerald Hill (S$29), a gin-based drink with nutmeg, mace, fresh lemon juice, mandarin orange and curry leaf.
You can also enjoy the Golden Milk Punch (S$29) containing blended scotch whiskey, spiced saffron almond milk, apricot liqueur, ginger and fresh lemon juice.
328 North Bridge Road, Raffles Arcade, #02-01, Singapore 188719
+65 6412 1816
Sun to Wed: 11am – 10.30pm
Thu to Sat: 11am – 11.30pm
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9. Baden Restaurant & Pub
Baden Restaurant & Pub, situated in the heart of Holland Village, was established in the 1990s and its still going strong till this day. It boasts a Bavarian-style ambience that resembles a Teutonic country tavern, with its interior heavily laden with teak wood. Fun fact: they were the first pub in Singapore to serve Erdinger on tap!
Their German-centric menu features a wide selection of dishes such as Pork Schnitzel (S$22.90) and Wursteplatte – Funf (a platter of 5 different types of sausages) (S$39.90). If you’re looking for light bites, give their snacks like Cuttlefish Balls with Thai Chilli Sauce (S$12.90) and Onion Rings With Homemade Tartar Sauce (S$10.90) a go.
Happy Hour at Baden Restaurant & Pub lasts all night long from Sundays to Tuesdays, and you can get fresh beer on tap such as Tiger and Guinness till 9pm daily from S$9+ per pint. The best thing? The pub doesn’t charge GST.
They’re currently offering a Beer Tower Promotion for Erdinger, Heineken and Tiger beer for S$65+. You can also sip on their range of house cocktails like Woo Wow (S$14) and Baden Sunrise (S$14).
42 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277696
+65 6463 8127
Mon, Wed & Thu: 2pm – 1am
Tue: 2.30pm – 1am
Fri: 2pm – 2am
Sat & Sun: 12.15pm – 2am
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10. The Public House
Small and unpretentious, The Public House is a restaurant/bar that has been serving food and drinks since 2000 in a casual and friendly “dive” atmosphere with no service charge.
The menu is a foodie’s paradise, offering tons of dishes with Western and Indian influences that will leave you feeling pleasantly overwhelmed and spoilt for choice. Satisfy your cravings with the Masala Fries (S$12), Paneer Popcorn (S$18), Chicken Hawaiian Pizza (S$16), Cajun Fried Chicken (S$17 for half, S$28 for full) and Mutton Shami Kebab (S$20).
Current promotions include a glass of Gin Mare for S$10 and Glendronach 12 Yrs for S$12. For soju enthusiasts, get Jinro Chamisul Green Grape and Peach at just S$36 for 2 bottles. If you’re looking at doing shots with your friends, why not get Shanky’s Whip Irish Liqueur Shooters (S$20+ for 2, S$36+ for 4, S$48+ for 6)?
You can also find various lager beers and ciders on tap like the 300ml Session IPA (S$9+ during Happy Hour), the 500ml Pilsner Urquell (S$12+ during Happy Hour) and the 250ml Magners Original Apple Cider (S$9+).
42 Circular Road, Singapore 049398
+65 6533 3545
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 4pm – 2am
Closed on Sun
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11. The Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is a warm and cosy 12-year-old neighbourhood pub, that’s nestled within the residential Hillview vicinity, where everyone knows each other. It has a quaint and rustic ambience with an old-school british vibe. Listen to some good ol’ rock music or play a game of pool as you wine down with food and booze.
This is probably one of the few pubs that serves The Full English Breakfast (S$24) or The Plant-Based English Breakfast (S$22), all-day, everyday. Tantalise your taste buds with delightful mains like Butter Chicken with Naan (S$20) or the Jolly Roger Burger (S$24).
Or tuck into cheesy slices of Pepperoni Pizza (S$18), Beef Chilli Nachos (S$18), Tempura Mushrooms (S$12) and Garlic Butter Prawns with Bread Sticks (S$16).
The Jolly Roger’s Happy Hour is from 11am to 8pm. Chill out with your mates over draught beers like Paulaner Dunkel (S$13) and Guinness Draught (S$14). You can also indulge in their collection of whiskies like the Suntory Hibiki Harmony (S$17), Chevas 18yrs (S$14) and Yamazaki Distillery Res. (S$17).
15 Chu Lin Road, Singapore 669907
+65 8874 7123
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 12am
Fri to Sun: 11am – 12am
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12. SugarHall
Sugarhall is a rum-focused cocktail pub that reopened at Cecil Street in Mar 2022 after taking a 4-year hiatus from its original location at Amoy Street. It’s housed in a heritage building that was built in the 1930s and offers an aged vintage atmosphere.
While you’re drinking and having an awesome night out, feast on comforting pub fare such as the Jumbo Satay Beef Kebab (S$36), Tom Yum Chicken & Prawn Dumplings (S$16) and the Pepper Fry Chicken Ribs (S$18).
Inspired by Ribena, the Berry Licious Sour (S$24) is a citrusy tipple that contains Woodford Reserve rye whiskey, blackcurrant three ways, pink grapefruit and egg white. If you prefer something fruity and tangy, the Mango Colada (S$24) combines Plantation Original dark rum, basil, lime mango and coconut sorbet that will take you to an island paradise.
19 Cecil Street, The Quadrant at Cecil, Level 2, Singapore 049704
+65 9815 0246
Mon to Thu: 5.30pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5.30pm – 2am
Closed on Sun
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