The best Happy Hour bars for after work drinks in Singapore

Few things lift the spirits of clock-watching office warriors like the promise of Happy Hour — the golden chance to unwind with a couple of after-work drinks. And right now, there’s never been a better time for sundowners.

Bars and restaurants are rolling out increasingly creative Happy Hour promotions to attract savvy customers working in the Central Business District(CBD), offering more than a standard discount on house pours.

Whether you’re in the mood for ice-cold beers, craft cocktails or a well-earned glass of wine, we’ve curated some of the best drink deals in the city.

Happy Hour Bars in the CBD

Altro Zafferano

No one does aperitivo quite like the Italians. And suppose you enjoy your sundowners with a side of magnificent views of the Singapore skyline. In that case, the alfresco terrace of the rooftop Italian restaurant Altro Zafferano is the place to be.

Watch the sunset melt into the horizon with a chilled bottle of Peroni ($10) or crisp Gin & Tonic ($10) in hand, and feel your stress slip away. Like any good nonna who won’t let you go hungry, the first drink order is accompanied by a selection of complimentary snacks. The offerings rotate, but you can expect classic pairings, such as prosciutto and melon.

Cocktails like the easy-going Rosa Sbagliato — made with Cocchi Rosa, Bitter Pallini, fresh lime, and soda — and wines by the glass are a breezy $12 each. The Sunset Aperitivo Happy Hour runs from Monday to Saturday from 5.30pm.

10 Collyer Quay, Ocean Financial Centre, Level 43

Cygnet Bar

Housed in the historic Eastern Extension Telegraph building, QT Hotel’s gleaming Art Deco-style Cygnet Bar is among the most elegant entries on this list. And dare we say, one of the best spots in the city for a cheeky arvo tipple.

Drinks are a steal at just $10, which includes cocktails, wines by the glass, and beers. To further sweeten the deal, each drink order is matched with a complimentary serving of fries. Hungry for more? Bar snacks, such as fresh oysters, mini lobster rolls, and the ever-satisfying Bikini sandwich, are also pocket-friendly at $10 each.

The Cygnet Hour runs from Monday to Saturday, 4pm to 7pm, but on Wednesdays, oysters go for a mere dollar each. Clocking out early never seemed so appealing.

35 Robinson Road, QT Singapore

Dashi Skypool

Where else can you escape the office with a drink and a dip — 38 floors above the CBD? Part of multi-concept dining and entertainment destination C.O.T.U (Centre Of The Universe), the idyllic Dashi Skypool offers 25 per cent off selected cocktails and house pours during Happy Hour from 5pm to 8pm daily, alongside panoramic views of the city.

Sip on signature cocktail Santori Sunset in the jacuzzi — yes, your drink comes with pool access — and let your cares bubble away. Worked up an appetite?

Float over to a server and order some grub; the sashimi moriawase, which comes from the kitchen of the Japanese restaurant Enso Steakhouse, is beautifully fresh.

CapitaGreen, Raffles Place, Levels 38 & 39, 138 Market Street

Happy Hour Bars in Tanjong Pagar

The Elephant Room

Aromatic wafts of spices — fennel, Ceylon cinnamon, cumin — greet you as you step into the sensuous Elephant Room, enveloping you in a tapestry of scent and mystery. At the arrival of golden hour, an exclusive menu of cocktails ($16) comes into play.

Created specially for the bar’s Happy Hour, which runs daily from 6pm to 7.30pm, it includes the Mango Bite, a highball-style refresher of whisky, mango, pink peppercorn, and ginger ale, and an Espresso Martini made with Indian instant coffee, Bru, and coconut water.

The star is undoubtedly the surprisingly nuanced Chocolate Negroni, layered with chocolate distillate and red wine in lieu of sweet vermouth. Garnished with an addictive piece of salted dark chocolate, it’s one to savour.

For something more substantial, an additional $20 nets you free-flow naan pizzas; the spiced paneer pizza with coconut masala is peak post-work comfort food.

33 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-02

Jungle Ballroom

Nestled in the fashionable Mondrian Singapore Duxton, the electric Jungle Ballroom goes the extra mile for its guests by offering up its entire cocktail menu at half off during its Cocktail Hour.

The 50 per cent discount means there’s never been a better time to round up your cocktail-loving friends to explore the Jungle Journeys Vol. 2 menu, which showcases flavours and ingredients of different Asian cities, from Macau to Okinawa.

The cocktail Ube, which pays tribute to head mixologist Adrian Besa’s home of the Philippines, is a delicious blend of Belvedere vodka, ube cream, coconut, and jackfruit. The Cocktail Hour runs Tuesday through Saturday, 6pm to 9pm, so head down early to nab a seat before the party animals take over as night falls.

16A Duxton Hill, Level 3

Sushisamba

Put on your dancing shoes. There’s more reason to celebrate as the Sushisamba’s newly launched Sunset Hour promises to take guests sky-high.

Happening from 6pm to 7pm on Monday through Saturday in the main bar, and Friday to Saturday at SAMBAROOM, selected cocktails like the Floating World (genmaicha shochu, elderflower, lychee brine, citrus) are an approachable $20.

Limited-time creations from the World Class Cocktail Festival are also on offer at $20 during happy hour — try the Japanese-inspired Missuwari, made with Johnnie Walker Gold Label, yuzu, and shiso water, before its price resets to $26 after 7pm. 

168 Robinson Road, Capital Tower, #52-01

Happy Hour Bars in City Hall

Brasserie Astoria

You might expect cocktails at a venue as lush as Brasserie Astoria to bust the bank — but its Golden Hour offers almost unreasonably good value. After all, this international brasserie, housed in the iconic Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, comes from the same group behind three-Michelin-starred Zén.

Yet, craft beers are just $7 and cocktails like a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned are affordably priced at a hard-to-beat $12. You’ll find the bar food menu, featuring elevated comfort food, just as irresistible. Think Calamares Fritos served with lime and galangal aioli, or the crowd-favourite smashed burger — both going for $12, too.

The Golden Hour runs from Friday to Sunday, 3pm to 6pm. Weekends just got a whole lot happier.

11 Empress Place, Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall

Moga

Pullman Singapore Hill Street’s modern izakaya-inspired cocktail bar is a hot spot for trend-conscious urbanites, serving craft cocktails and Japanese-inflected bites. Come twilight, the office crowd descends on Moga for its high-spirited Happy Hour, available daily from 6pm to 8pm.

Highballs and classic cocktails such as the Bee’s Knees (Hendrick’s gin, honey, lemon, saline) are a wallet-friendly $17, while fun-sized bar bites, such as Hokkaido Milk Buns and Smashed Batata, start from $10. 

1 Hill Street, Pullman Singapore Hill Street, Level 1, Singapore 179949

Happy Hour Bars in Labrador

1-Alfaro by Monti

1-Group’s latest rooftop lifestyle destination in the tech corridor of Labrador, 1-Alfaro presents a sun-drenched taste of Italy on the 34th floor. As the sky turns to evening, the alfresco La Luna unfolds as the stage for a relaxed yet lively Happy Hour.

Well-heeled professionals unwind over classic cocktails, such as the Singapore Sling and Mojito (two for $28), while taking in panoramic views of the southern coast. If refreshing chilled beers are more your speed, Italian brews Rock & Roll, L’ippa, Isaac, and Menabrea are $50 for a bucket of five.

Complement your sundowners with La Torre’s Fried Lasagna served with a tangy bagnetto rosso (red sauce). It’s a unique, indulgent take on the classic Italian comfort food.

1 Pasir Panjang Road, Labrador Tower, Level 34

1918 Heritage Bar

Journey to the past in this storied bar set within the historic Alkaff Mansion, and stay for one of the best and most extensive Happy Hour deals in the area. Most drinks come under a tenner; housepour spirits, beers, and wines by the glass are all well-priced at $8 each.

For those who prefer the taste of a freshly poured Guinness, draft beers, including Heineken and Tiger, go for a respectable $12. 1918 Heritage Bar’s Golden Hour goes from 5pm till late, so rally the crew for an easy-going night out.

10 Telok Blangah Green, The Alkaff Mansion