Clarke Quay

Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay


Named after Singapore’s second colonial governor, Sir Andrew Clarke, this is the busiest and most popular of Singapore's three quays. How much time you spend in its plethora of bars, restaurants and clubs depends upon your taste in aesthetics. This is Singapore at its most hyper-touristy, a kitsch, pastel-coloured sprawl of mostly run-of-the-mill eateries and lad-and-ladette drinking holes.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay attractions

1. Old Hill Street Police Station

0.19 MILES

An architectural pin-up famed for its Technicolor shutters and neo-Renaissance design, the Old Hill Street Police Station houses a string of well-known…

2. ReDot Fine Art Gallery

0.19 MILES

The only gallery in Singapore specialising in Australian Indigenous art, Redot sources its captivating pieces from community-based art centres.

3. Art-2 Gallery

0.2 MILES

A small contemporary art gallery, Art-2 offers a melange of mediums ranging from sculpture and ceramics to painting and paperwork from Southeast Asia.

4. Robertson Quay

0.24 MILES

The most remote and least visited of the quays, Robertson Quay is home to some of the best eateries and bars along the river, including Mexican 'It kid'…

5. Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

0.3 MILES

This small yet fascinating museum narrates the history of Singapore's civil defence, with a large emphasis on the fire service. The ground floor showcases…

6. Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

0.3 MILES

Also known as the Chettiar Hindu Temple, the open-walled, blue-green temple was completed in 1984, replacing a temple built by Indian chettiars …

7. Armenian Church

0.32 MILES

The Armenians were the first Christian community to build a permanent place of worship in Singapore – this handsome, neoclassical number was designed by…

8. Fort Canning Park

0.33 MILES

When Raffles rolled into Singapore, locals steered clear of Fort Canning Hill, then called Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill), out of respect for the sacred…