Singapore After Dark: Clubbing Hotspots

Party animal? Why not try out these night spots when you visit Singapore? Local nightlife scene is currently dominated by the so-called trinity, Zouk, Ministry of Sound and St. James Power Station. All three now have their own distinct band of regular goers.

World-renowned Zouk is the pioneer clubbing institution in Singapore. It's without a doubt number one in Singapore, and perhaps the region. While most clubs whither away in this fickle world of nightlife trends, iconic Zouk has only gone strength to strength in its amazing 16 years in the clubbing business. Zouk also hosts the now annual Zouk Out dance music festival at Sentosa.

Zouk die-hards are mostly the young crowd with an appreciation for international acts that fill up the place. Older working adults have no problems shedding their corporate attire to get in on the action either. Besides, they practically grew up here. Cover charge S$20-25. Housepours S$10.

The British legendary dance club Ministry of Sound comes next. Located at Clarke Quay, MoS plays retro hip-hop and is frequented by savvy dance music lovers. Clubbers can expect more than the usual club set-up with world-class quality music blasting from a multi-million dollar sound system. With unique in-house structures, complemented by digital imaging projectors and special effects machines, the Ministry of Sound has revolutionized the local club scene. Opened in December 2005, it has 5 themed rooms covering 40,000 sq ft. making it the world’s biggest Ministry of Sound establishment. Cover charge S$20-S$25 inclusive of 2 housepour drinks.

Newcomer 60,000 sq ft. megaclub St. James Power Station at Harbourfront is the biggest among the three. It's more than twice the size of Zouk and 1.5 times MoS. It has 9 separate clubs, of these, Movida, which means 'party' in Cuban street slang, was the first to open and features an eight-piece band from Columbia and dancers and DJs on the decks. Salsa, samba, bossa nova, batucada and Latin American beats rule the dancefloor here, so be prepared to bust out some fancy salsa moves while you’re here.


To fully appreciate the power of St James, know this: the disused coal-fired power station, Singapore’s first and built in 1927, had already hosted several large-scale dance parties, including one with Paul van Dyk at the decks, way before it was anointed the new must-go for any groove meister worth dance shoes.

Bar hoppers and finicky partygoers, rejoice! Entry into Movida will grant you access to the eight other clubs when all of them are fully open. Big band, swing and jazz are the order of the night at Bellini Room, Mono is the chill-out karaoke venue for crooners who (think they) can carry a tune, Gallery Bar, located on the second storey of the complex, serves up voyeuristic views of the goings-on at all the other clubs and Powerhouse is a 10,000-sq foot dance club, the complex's largest. For a breath of fresh air and killer views, head to Peppermint Park, an outdoor bar perfect for a pre- or post-party session. Cover charge S$ 30 including a drink.

So where do you wanna be seen?