Best rooftop bars in Singapore: honest guide 2026
Which Singapore rooftop bar has the best views?
Ce La Vi at Marina Bay Sands (57th floor, SGD 30–40 drinks, SGD 30 cover charge on weekends) has the most iconic view — Marina Bay panorama, Gardens by the Bay, city skyline. Smoke & Mirrors at the National Gallery (6th floor) gives the best views of the colonial civic district and Marina Bay at a lower price point. 1-Altitude (63rd floor, Raffles Place) gives the highest and most 360-degree city view. Each suits different priorities.
Quick answer: Singapore’s rooftop bar scene is genuinely world-class. Ce La Vi at MBS (57th floor, SGD 30–40 drinks) gives the most iconic view. Smoke & Mirrors at the National Gallery gives the best civic district vista at lower prices. 1-Altitude (63rd floor) gives the highest panorama. All require booking ahead on weekends.
Singapore’s rooftop bar landscape: what to expect
Singapore’s skyline — Marina Bay Sands, the CBD towers, the illuminated Supertrees — is among the most photogenic urban panoramas in Asia. Several bars have positioned themselves to exploit these views, and the competition has raised the standard considerably. The best Singapore rooftop bars are genuinely among the world’s best, both for setting and for drink quality.
The honest caveat: the best views come at high prices. Cocktails at the top rooftop bars run SGD 25–40, and some charge additional cover fees on weekends. A evening for two at a premium rooftop bar costs SGD 150–250 without food. Budget accordingly and target happy hours where available.
The best rooftop bars: honest rankings
Ce La Vi — the most iconic
Location: 57th floor, Tower 3, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue
MRT: Bayfront station (Circle Line/Downtown Line), Exit B
Drinks: Cocktails SGD 28–40; wines SGD 22–35 per glass
Cover charge: Weekend evenings may have SGD 30–40 cover (sometimes offset by minimum spend)
Booking: Essential for weekends — book 1–2 weeks ahead
Ce La Vi (formerly CÉ LA VI, formerly Ku Dé Ta) sits at the top of Tower 3 of Marina Bay Sands with an unobstructed view over Marina Bay, the Singapore skyline, Gardens by the Bay Supertrees, and on clear days extending to Indonesia and Malaysia. The view at sunset and after dark is extraordinary.
The bar and restaurant area is spacious, well-designed, and efficiently staffed. Cocktails are well-executed (the Singapore Sling variant here is considerably better than the one at Raffles Long Bar — though that is a low bar). The crowd skews smart-casual tourist and expat.
Honest verdict: Ce La Vi is expensive and the minimum spend requirements can feel restrictive. But the view is genuinely one of the best in Asia, and if you budget for it (SGD 150–200 for two with drinks), it delivers. The most spectacular version is arriving for the sunset and staying through the nightly Spectra light show visible from above.
What Ce La Vi is not: An infinity pool (that is hotel-guests only). A secret discovery. A local bar. It is an expensive tourist and expat destination that happens to have one of Singapore’s best views — and that view is worth paying for once.
Smoke & Mirrors — best value view
Location: 6th floor, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road
MRT: City Hall (East-West and North-South Lines), Exit A
Drinks: Cocktails SGD 24–30; craft beers SGD 18–22
Cover charge: None
Booking: Recommended for weekend evenings
Smoke & Mirrors occupies the rooftop terrace of the National Gallery Singapore, looking out from the former City Hall building over the Padang, the Singapore River, Marina Bay, and the MBS skyline. At 6 floors, it is not as high as Ce La Vi or 1-Altitude, but the perspective — looking across Singapore’s colonial civic district foreground with the gleaming towers behind — is genuinely distinctive and arguably more beautiful than the pure skyline view from MBS.
The cocktail menu is sophisticated, with consistently good drinks at lower prices than the premium rooftops. The crowd is a good mix of locals and visitors, which is unusual for Singapore’s most view-oriented bars.
Honest verdict: The best rooftop bar for value in Singapore. The view of the Padang and MBS at golden hour is extraordinary. Come at 5:30 pm during the week for a drink before the crowds arrive.
1-Altitude — the highest
Location: 63rd floor, One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place
MRT: Raffles Place (East-West and North-South Lines)
Drinks: Cocktails SGD 25–35; access fee SGD 25–30 after 6 pm on some evenings
Booking: Recommended for weekends
1-Altitude claims to be Singapore’s highest outdoor bar — the 63rd floor of One Raffles Place tower gives a full 360-degree panorama of Singapore. The view covers the CBD, Marina Bay, Chinatown, and on clear days the southern islands and coastal areas.
The bar itself is open-air and exposed — which means Singapore’s occasional rain can interrupt visits. It also means the full panorama, without glass interfering with photographs, which is the point.
Honest verdict: For the highest vantage point and the 360-degree view, 1-Altitude is the choice. The drinks are decent though not exceptional. The access fee on weekend evenings means this is another SGD 25–30 on top of drink prices. Better suited to those specifically chasing the highest view than those prioritising drink quality.
Lantern at Fullerton Bay Hotel — romantic and lower-key
Location: Fullerton Bay Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay
MRT: Raffles Place (East-West and North-South Lines), 5-minute walk
Drinks: Cocktails SGD 22–30; no cover charge
Booking: Recommended for weekends
Lantern is a rooftop pool bar at the Fullerton Bay Hotel on the waterfront, looking across the bay toward Marina Bay Sands. The pool is visible (and in use by hotel guests) and the terrace is intimate — smaller than Ce La Vi or 1-Altitude, with a correspondingly quieter atmosphere.
The view is of the MBS and Marina Bay from the waterfront level rather than above — less panoramic than the high-rise options but with the water immediately below and the whole bay spread out in front.
Honest verdict: Best for a romantic evening or low-key drink — the smaller scale and outdoor feel make it more intimate than the large-capacity rooftops. Cocktails are well-made. Arrive early for a prime bay-view seat.
Southbridge — wine bar with a Boat Quay view
Location: 80 Boat Quay, Level 5
MRT: Clarke Quay (North-East Line) or Raffles Place
Drinks: Wine from SGD 18 per glass; cocktails SGD 22–28
Booking: Walk-in usually possible weekdays
Southbridge is an oyster bar and wine bar above Boat Quay, looking down on the Singapore River with the ACM building across the water. Not as dramatically elevated as the other options but with a very pleasant Singapore River view and a genuine wine focus.
Good for: wine drinkers, less formal evenings, pre-dinner or post-museum drinks. Combine with the asian-civilisations-museum across the river for a culturally rounded evening.
Atlas Bar — art deco, no view, extraordinary
Location: Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Bugis
MRT: Bugis (East-West and Downtown Lines)
Drinks: Cocktails SGD 25–35; gin selection from SGD 18
Atlas is not a rooftop bar — it is on the ground floor. But it belongs in any serious Singapore bar discussion. The space is one of Singapore’s most spectacular bar interiors: a four-story art deco atrium, gold and marble throughout, with a gin tower reaching to the ceiling containing one of Asia’s largest gin collections. The drinks are excellent.
Honest verdict: Go to Atlas before or after a rooftop bar visit. It is worth the trip independently. See best-bars-singapore for the full breakdown of Singapore’s best bars.
Planning your rooftop bar evening
Sunset timing: Singapore sunsets occur around 6:45–7:15 pm throughout the year (equatorial). Arrive at your chosen rooftop bar by 6 pm to secure a seat and position for sunset. This is when every rooftop bar in the city is most in demand.
Weather contingency: Singapore’s afternoon thunderstorms (particularly from April to September) can affect outdoor rooftop bars. Most have covered areas but the best view positions are often exposed. If storms are forecast, have a covered-area strategy or a backup plan.
The Spectra light show: The nightly Spectra light show at Marina Bay Sands (check times, typically 8 and 9 pm) is visible from Ce La Vi and partially from Smoke & Mirrors. Positioning for the show adds an evening element beyond sunset drinks.
Combining with dinner: Most of these venues serve food. Ce La Vi’s restaurant is excellent (and very expensive). Smoke & Mirrors has good food at more reasonable rooftop prices. For a full evening, book dinner at the bar’s restaurant first, then move to the terrace for drinks.
Frequently asked questions about rooftop bars in Singapore
Is there a rooftop bar at Gardens by the Bay?
Gardens by the Bay (gardens-by-the-bay-guide) does not have a rooftop bar in the conventional sense. The OCBC Skyway (a walkway through the Supertree Grove canopy, approximately 22 metres high) has views of the bay, but it is a ticketed attraction, not a bar. The nearest rooftop bars are at Marina Bay Sands (Ce La Vi) and on the waterfront nearby.
How does Singapore’s rooftop bar scene compare internationally?
Singapore’s best rooftop bars — Ce La Vi, Smoke & Mirrors, 1-Altitude — compete well with equivalent venues in Bangkok, Dubai, and Hong Kong. The views are genuinely exceptional. Prices are higher than Bangkok equivalents but lower than comparable London or New York venues. The scene is well-developed and has clear quality tiers.
Can I visit Ce La Vi without paying for drinks?
The restaurant area at Ce La Vi requires booking a table and ordering food. The bar area has a minimum spend requirement (check current terms on booking). There is no free access to the 57th-floor terrace — you cannot simply go up for the view without purchasing. The separately ticketed MBS SkyPark Observation Deck (SGD 26) gives the view without food and beverage spend.
Is the MBS SkyPark better value than Ce La Vi?
For the view specifically, the SkyPark Observation Deck (SGD 26 admission) is more cost-effective than Ce La Vi if you only want to see the panorama. Ce La Vi adds the bar and restaurant experience. For photography, the SkyPark gives an unobstructed view from the same level. For a more comfortable experience with cocktails and seating, Ce La Vi is the choice.
Which rooftop bar is best for a group of 10?
Ce La Vi and 1-Altitude both have capacity for large groups, but require advance booking for tables of 10+. The easier option for large groups is a nightlife-focused venue in Clarke Quay — see clarke-quay-nightlife for group-friendly options. Large rooftop bar reservations should be made at least 2 weeks ahead.
Are there rooftop bars in Orchard Road?
Yes. Several hotels along Orchard Road have rooftop bars — the Andaz Sky Bar, the Marriott rooftop, and others. The views look over the Orchard Road commercial strip rather than Marina Bay, which gives a different and less iconic perspective. Useful if staying in Orchard and wanting a drink without travelling to Marina Bay.
