If you’re moving to Singapore, one thing you’ll want to know about is the nightlife.

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Singapore is known for its swish nightlife and its array of immaculate nightspots with its equally immaculate clientele, but for every marble-topped bar and every VIP guest list there’s also a beach shack to be found serving up chilled beers to happy customers. The prevalence of free flow nights in Singapore means that even in this expensive city there are still places to party inexpensively. On such nights, guests pay a cover charge on the door and can visit the bar as many times as they like. Spirits on free flow nights can be poor quality, though. You have been warned!

Bars in Singapore

Maison Ikkoku (££)

20 Kandahar Street, +65 6294 0078

This bar on Kandahar Street does coffee and cocktails with equal flair. Nice for a date or a quiet catch up with friends. The coffee shop serves awesome cakes downstairs and their mixologists do their freaky thing upstairs, mixing up the freshest and most attractive cocktails in the city. Forget Raffles – this is where to have your Singapore Sling.

Tanjong Beach Club (££)

20 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, +65 9750 5323

Here’s a superb alternative to the hustle and bustle of downtown Singapore, and a smart place to grab brunch, kick back on a lounger with the papers and indulge in a spot of people-watching.

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Clubs in Singapore

Zouk (£)

17 Jiak Kim St, Singapore 169420, +65 6738 2988

This club rates highly with travellers and expats alike, though it can get very crowded. Find the club on Jiak Kim St and get there before midnight. One of the more affordable place to party hard in Singapore, with a £15 cover charge which also gets you your first two drinks.

The Library (£££)

47 Keong Saik Rd

Now here’s a different sort of place for cocktails that feels like a secret club – perhaps the password you need to give on entry has something to do with it. Cosy and quirky with a lived-in feel that bucks the glossy trend in Singapore, guests feel like they’ve stepped into a parallel universe when they come to The Library. Or it might just be those superb cocktails…

Events and shows in Singapore

While ‘West End’ shows in Singapore can be a little tawdry at best, the city had plenty to entertain the expat. Oktoberfest Asia is the Far East’s answer to the crazy German beer festival (££), and takes places at the Singapore Marina for a long weekend every (you guessed it…) October. Buy wristbands for single entry or get a gang of eight together for a table at the event. Lederhosen obligatory.

September is another superb month to be in Singapore, as the Formula One circus sets up for its epic night race at the Singapore Grand Prix (£££). Book in advance for the best range of ticket prices, and enjoy the only F1 city race along with Monaco and Montreal.

For those who like to party like rock stars but can’t quite meet the bar tab, every last Thursday of the month there’s a Helipad Party (£) on the roof of Swissotel. Great views, great music, and amusing people-watching. Entrance is free, the champers is cheap, and it’s a top spot for watching the Grand Prix (see above).

Top tip: Check out Singapore’s answer to Ticketmaster – SISTIC – to keep on top of what’s on in the big city.