Sentosa Island
A tiny slice of Barcelona on Palawan Beach, this vibrantly striped hang-out is perfect for lazing the afternoon away either by the compact infinity pool…
Must-see nightlife in Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Perched on Marina Bay Sands' cantilevered SkyPark, this bar offers a jaw-dropping panorama of the Singapore skyline and beyond. A dress code kicks in from…
Maison Ikkoku The Art of Mixology
Little India & Kampong Glam
Pimped with modern, industrial finishes and flushes of greenery, Maison Ikkoku The Art of Mixology is where real magic happens. There's no menu, so let…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Get that in-the-know glow at this sneaky cocktail den, perched above the tacky Boat Quay pubs. Adorned with vintage Hong Kong posters and feeling more…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Ronin hides its talents behind a dark, tinted-glass door. Walk through and the Brutalist combo of grey concrete, exposed plumbing and low-slung lamps…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Singapore's first spritz bar and grill serves up an impressive smack-yourself-in-the-face vista of the Marina Bay skyline. Inside, the cathedral-esque…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
Expect top-quality brews from this flagship store of premium Singaporean coffee roaster Papa Palheta. Apart from coffee, it also serves bottled craft…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
When you're 'on fleek' you're at the pinnacle and this shrine to hip-hop is just that. Tiny compared to neighbouring Clarke Quay megaclubs, Fleek packs a…
Kuching
The designers of this repurposed barber's salon made use of the original tiled floor, the mirrors and even old hairdryers to create a suitably hip hangout…
Kuala Lumpur
Showcasing the products of Belgium brewery Delirium alongside other international craft beers, this cafe-bar has a large terrace overlooking Symphony Lake…
Ipoh
Ipoh's hipster hang-out par excellence is housed in an early-20th-century shophouse, adorned with mannequins, retro lamps and other regalia of yesteryear…
Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company
Kuching
The aroma of freshly ground coffee assaults the senses at this tiny shop, believed by many to purvey Kuching’s finest brews. Specialities, roasted daily,…
George Town
Fronting the hip China House, this buzzing cafe pours excellent espresso-based coffees and serves a full menu of cakes and meals aimed at adventurous…
Kota Kinabalu
There's much to like about this cavernous coffee shop, strewn with rattan and bamboo furniture: the quality of the beans, a chilled environment in which…
George Town
Plastic tables and chairs appear every evening on the street in front of this backstreet beer and wine shop, crowded with grizzled regulars and…
Kuala Lumpur
An incredible survivor of the KL gay scene since the 1980s, Blue Boy has undergone a makeover to emerge as a surprisingly stylish but still trashily fun…
Taiping
Catering to hip, laptop-wielding locals, Double Tap has a warehouse aesthetic (bare brick, beamed ceiling) and serves Western-style coffee (at Western…
George Town
Plant yourself in a vintage sofa at this fun Chinese retro-themed bar, and opt for one of the cocktails revolving around local rum and ingredients such as…
Kuala Lumpur
Set in an airy prewar shophouse, VCR serves first-rate coffee, all-day breakfasts (RM19 to RM35) and desserts to a diverse crowd of backpackers and laptop…
George Town
Decorated with work by local artists and dangling Chinese lamps, this space serves exceptional coffee by day and hosts live music and social events by…
Kuala Lumpur
Run by a Spaniard and packed with KL's approving Spanish-speaking community, this is the real deal for tapas. It's a welcoming place for a solo meal or…
George Town
The open-air setting and relaxed vibe contrast with the rather grand building this bar is linked to. Pair your drink and alfresco views over the North…
Chinatown & the CBD
Offshoot of the legendary Bali bar, this standout, multilevel playground incorporates three spaces, all reached via a chequered stairwell pimped with…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Craft beer connoisseurs will be in hops heaven at this sleek brewhouse, the brainchild of Singapore's Little Island Brewing Co. Eyes are immediately drawn…
Singapore
As discreet as bars come, this hidden Japanese izakaya-inspired watering hole is accessed through a ground floor black door or via the better-lit Uma Uma…
Chinatown & the CBD
Two indoor bars and two alfresco palm-fringed courtyards is what you get at Singapore's best-loved gay drinking hole. Especially heaving on Friday and…
Holland Village, Dempsey Hill & the Botanic Gardens
This airy industrial-styled coffeehouse has caffeine lovers lining up for the in-house Guatemalan and Brazilian bean blend by Two Degrees North Coffee Co…
Chinatown & the CBD
Head to this hawker-centre stall for a top selection of ever-changing craft and premium draught beers from around the world. A few food stalls stay open…
Holland Village, Dempsey Hill & the Botanic Gardens
Wide sky, sinuous palms and the odd frangipani breeze: slip behind the green door for a little tropical seduction. Under gramophone lights, barkeepers…
Little India & Kampong Glam
Once you're filled to the brim with hawker delights, head to this drinks stall for a cup of ginger tea to help digest. Watch as the tea is repeatedly…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
In a country obsessed with unique selling points, this one takes the cake – no, keg. Laying claim to being the world's highest 'urban craft brewery',…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Granted, the prices are exorbitant, but there's something undeniably fabulous about an afternoon cocktail at Raffles. The hotel is currently under…
Chinatown & the CBD
After checking out Yong Siak St’s hip shops, dive into 40 Hands for a killer caffeine rush. Pimped with funky murals and exposed pipes, it’s one of the…
West & Southwest Singapore
Raffish Colbar is an evocative colonial throwback, a former British officers' mess turned languid drinking spot. It's still 1950-something here, a place…
Little India & Kampong Glam
Druggists is indeed addictive for beer aficionados. Its 23 taps pour a rotating selection of craft brews from cognoscenti favourites like Denmark's…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
The Ritz-Carlton's plush, posh lounge keeps afternoons fabulous with its superlative high tea. Book ahead (two days for weekdays, a week or two for…
1-Altitude Rooftop Gallery & Bar
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Wedged across a triangle-shaped deck 282m above street level, this is the world's highest alfresco bar, its 360-degree panorama taking in soaring towers,…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
While Kinki's restaurant is justifiably known for its sushi, it's the rooftop bar one floor up that takes the cake. Pimped with graffiti panels and video…
Kuala Lumpur
The interior design of this cocktail-bar-restaurant hybrid is a colourful mash-up of traditional Oriental tea house and louche boudoir, providing a…
Melaka City
It's difficult to differentiate what's purely decorative and what's for sale in this hybrid vintage shop and cafe inside an old shophouse. There are…
