Singapore/Riverside

The riverside is best accessed by the MRT stations Raffles Place (North-South/East-West Lines) for Boat Quay and the Merlion, City Hall for Raffles Hotel and Chijmes, and Clarke Quay (North-East Line) for the bars and nightlife. There is no convenient MRT station for the western end of the river though: you'll have to hike on foot for 15 minutes, try to work out the buses, or hop on a bumboat.

By boat

A popular way to see the heart of the city is with Singapore River Cruises. Stations are scattered along both banks of the river and reservations are not necessary. Prices start at $3 for a short ride.

On foot

The Esplanade/Merlion/Boat Quay area has some great views of Singapore and makes for a fine walk (or jogging trail if staying nearby). It can get quite hot during the day though; evenings are cooler and breezier, and the nighttime skyline is equally attractive.

The bulk of Singapore's historical attractions are packed by the river, and the best place to start your tour is at the mouth of the Singapore River. While this area has formed the downtown core of Singapore since the early 19th century, sadly, most of the once-iconic shophouses and street markets have given way to modern skyscrapers and shopping centres, and those who wish to experience a more authentic slice of colonial Singapore life would do well to head up north to the Malaysian island of Penang instead. Not all is lost though, and several important government buildings and places of worship dating back to the 19th century survive, and provide a rare glimpse into the city's colonial past.

Monuments

• Cavenagh BridgeSingapore's oldest bridge and its only suspension bridge, constructed in 1869, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River. Note the original sign forbidding cattle to cross.

• Civilian War MemorialStands in memory of the civilians who perished during World War II. Mostly bypassed nowadays by underground passages, the memorial is sited above the final resting place of the remains of some unidentified war victims, part of the reason why the CityLink Mall does not travel in a straight line.

• Merlion

  address: Merlion Park
  Singapore's official symbol, 8.6 metres tall and weighing 70 tons, spouts water daily on the south bank of the mouth of the Singapore river. (The statue previously stood further down the river, but was moved in 2002 after the opening of the Esplanade Bridge.) Designed by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964, many a commentator has pondered on the inherent contradictions of a creature that is half-cat, half-fish. Any time of night or day, a steady stream of tourists troops up to see the mythical beast, and a purpose-built pier lets you take pictures with the Merlion and the CBD in the background. When paying your respects, don't miss the bite-sized Mini-Merlion (officially the "Merlion cub"), a mere 2 m tall, 28 m away towards the bridge.

• Raffles' Landing Site

  address: 1 Empress Place
  A statue of Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, is built on the (supposed) exact spot where he first landed. Second only to the Merlion as most popular place in Singapore to take a picture of yourself, and having the skyscrapers and the shop houses of Boat Quay in the background helps to explain why! The statue here is a replica; the original can be found in front of the Victoria Theatre.

• Tan Kim Seng FountainA fountain commemorating Tan Kim Seng, a merchant and philanthropist who donated money to build Singapore' first reservoir, MacRitchie Reservoir, and the accompanying system of waterworks.

• Lim Bo Seng MemorialA pagoda commemorating Lim Bo Seng, a World War II hero who is known for refusing to divulge any information about his comrades despite being tortured by the Japanese, and subsequently died in prison.

• The CenotaphBuilt by the colonial government to commemorate the British soldiers born or resident in Singapore who died in World War I. A second dedication was later added on the other side to commemorate the soldiers who died in World War II.

Museums

• Battle Box

  phone: +65 6338 6133
  address: 2 Cox Terrace (Fort Canning Park)
  The former HQ of the British army during World War II, now turned into an air-conditioned museum complete with animatronic figures retelling the events of the days before surrender. The nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut, but it's a steamy hike up the hill. Guided tours only.

• Asian Civilisations Museum

  phone: +65 6332 7798
  address: 1 Empress Pl
  Housed in the historic Empress Place Building, this is one of Singapore's newest, largest and best-presented museums. As the name hints, all of Asia is covered in the scope, although naturally there is an emphasis on the cultures near and in Singapore. Also hosts visiting exhibitions.

• National Art Gallery

  address: 1 St. Andrew's Rd
  Opened on 24 November 2015, it oversees the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, consisting of over 8,000 artworks. National Gallery Singapore aims to provide an understanding and appreciation of art and culture through a variety of media, focusing on Singapore's culture and heritage and its relationship with other Southeast Asian cultures, Asia, and the world.

• Mint Museum of Toys

  phone: +65 6339 0660
  address: 26 Seah St
  Built to house the 50,000-piece toy collection of local enthusiast Chang Yang Fa, the contents of this five-story building covers come from 25 countries and span over a century of "Moments of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys" (hence MINT), with everything from wind-up toys to Darth Vader masks. Guided tours (45 min) available and recommended.

• Peranakan Museum

  phone: +65 6332 7591
  address: 39 Armenian St
  Closed for renovation until mid-2021. Formerly a branch of the ACM, now reborn as a standalone museum dedicated to the exuberantly colourful culture of the Peranakans, the Malay-Chinese and Malay-Indian traders who had a major impact on the Straits Settlements. The three-story museum covers Peranakan weddings, religion and food with the latest in audiovisual gear. The building, a 1912 pastel blue wedding cake built as a school, is also impressive.

Historical buildings

• City Hall

  address: 3 Saint Andrew's Rd
  This grand old building has seen many important events occur within and on its front steps. It was the place of the Japanese surrender in 1945 and was also where Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore's self-governance and subsequent independence from both the British Empire and the Malaysian Federation.

• Old Supreme Court Building

  address: 1 Saint Andrew's Rd
  The Old Supreme Court Building was built in the classical style, featuring Corinthian columns and an allegory of justice set below the main dome. The current Supreme Court Building is right behind and its "spaceship" structure marks quite a contrast between the old and the new. While the building itself is worth a visit, it now also houses the National Art Gallery.

• Central Fire Station

  phone: +65 6332 2996
  address: 62 Hill St
  The oldest surviving fire station in Singapore, it also houses the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery which showcases the history of Singaporean firefighting complete with antique fire engines. There are guided tours (that require booking) up the hose tower, once the highest point in 1920.

• Old Hill Street Police Station

  address: 140 Hill St
  This striking Neo-Classical building catches the eye with its multi-coloured window shutters. There's an air-conditioned atrium inside which has a few art galleries and sometimes hosts performances, as part of the larger Ministry of Communication and Information. Somewhat fitting use of an old police station.

Skyscrapers and observation decks

• 1-Altitude Viewing Gallery

  phone: +65 6532 5003
  address: 1 Raffles Pl
  The viewing gallery at the rooftop of OUB Centre offers an unparalleled 360-degree view of Singapore from the highest point in the city-state at 282 metres. Visitors receive hi-tech interactive gadgets which allow them to see information about the places they are looking at. Each visit ends with a photo taken by specially mounted camera with a spectacular view of the Marina Bay as a background.

Religious buildings

As the historical hub of Singapore, there is no shortage of religious buildings that date back to colonial times.

• St Andrew's Cathedral

  phone: +65 6337 6104
  address: 11 St Andrew's Road
  Singapore's Anglican cathedral and arguably the most impressive looking church in Singapore.

• Armenian Church

  address: 60 Hill Street
  The first ever church to be built in Singapore and part of the Oriental Orthodox communion.

• Yueh Hai Ching Temple

  address: 30B Phillip Street
  The oldest Taoist temple serving the Teochew community in Singapore, dedicated to the Goddess Mazu.

Parks

• Hong Lim ParkHome to the Speakers' Corner, the only place in Singapore where protests are sanctioned albeit watched over carefully by the police. Never really used for its purpose until recent issues stirred locals from their apathy. Hosts Pink Dot SG (a 20,000-strong gathering to support gay rights) every June. Foreigners are allowed to watch but not participate in any protests.

The entire Singapore river area is a lovely place for a walk, with small green gardens, old-style bridges and historical buildings, and the nightlife-rich expanse of Clarke Quay and Boat Quay.

• Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

  phone: +65 6338 4401
  address: 9 Empress Place
  Built by the British in the 19th century, this was Singapore's premier arts centre until the Esplanade came and stole the limelight. It still hosts various smaller events that can't fit in (or afford) the Esplanade. History buffs may also want to do a detour: the Raffles statue in front dates to 1887, and the People's Action Party was founded here in 1954, as commemorated with a plaque showing a very young-looking Lee Kuan Yew.

If you'd like something a little more adrenaline-laden, head to Clarke Quay:

• G-Max Reverse Bungy

  phone: +65 6338 1146
  address: 3E River Valley Rd
  Get strapped in and flung upwards with a giant rubber band at 200km/h.

Jogging along the Singapore River is the best way to combine sightseeing and a workout, but there are two other options right next to Raffles Place MRT if you're willing pay for the air-con.

• Fitness First

  phone: +65 6534 4333
  address: 1 Raffles Place #06-00
  Compact little gym, but there's a rooftop swimming pool, two Jacuzzis and a tennis court.

• True Fitness

  phone: +65-6438 3000
  address: 30 Raffles Place #07-00
  Cavernous two-floor gym packed with equipment. Busy in the evenings, but come here in the afternoon or weekend and you'll have the place to yourself.

• Supersmooth

  phone: +65 6221 2203
  address: 144 Robinson Rd, Robinson Square Level 2
  Spread over 279 m² in a charmingly restored shophouse, this day spa offers hair removal (IPL/AFT) for women and men, waxing and skin treatments, with jazz and bossanova playing in the background.

Try a Singapore Sling. Tourists typically head to the supposed birthplace at the Raffles Hotel's Long Bar (see #Drink section).

• Ikeda Spa Prestige

  phone: +65 6388 8080
  address: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #05-22 Clarke Quay Central, 059817
  Soak in Japanese Onsen or have a nice massage at Singapore's first traditional Japanese spa. Ask for your Japanese snacks after the treatment.

There are some shopping malls of interest around the City Hall MRT station, but serious shoppers will wish to head to Orchard Road for their shopping instead.

• The Arcade

  address: 11 Collyer Quay
  A small shopping mall in the heart of the financial centre. Consists mainly of small shops operated by individual owners, which are unique to the mall.

• CityLink MallFor the novelty of an entirely underground mall that links the Riverside district to Suntec City and the Esplanade. You could go round in circles here if you don't pay attention, as the mall starts from City Hall MRT to Esplanade MRT and back again. Brace yourself for the human crush.

• Peninsula Plaza

  phone: +65 6332 0329
  address: 111 North Bridge Rd
  A place where the Burmese like to gather for a good meal of authentic home cuisine. Also notable for its concentration of specialist camera stores.

• Raffles City

  phone: +65 6338 7766
  address: 252 North Bridge Rd
  Large shopping mall directly above the City Hall MRT station. Notable for Jason's Supermarket in the basement, which has probably Singapore's largest selection of gourmet food items. Raffles City Shopping Centre covers most shopping bases, including fashion, books, music, sports, toys, eye wear and beauty stores. A haven for consumers looking for luxury items, it offers downtown shopping at its finest with a number of luxury and designer stores such as Omega, Thomas Sabo, Cortefiel, and Tommy Hilfiger, among others. Raffles City is also home to big department stores like Marks & Spencer and Robinsons, and fashion chains like Topshop, River Island, and Skyla. The mall also has a number of restaurants including modern Australian Double Bay and Brotzeit, and is connected to the Swissotel, home to the Equinox Restaurant and New Asia Bar.

• Liang Court

  phone: +65 6336 7184
  address: 177 River Valley Road, Singapore 179030
  This mall is a favourite hangout spot of the Japanese community, and has a large offer of Japanese stores and dining places, most notably a big Japanese supermarket in the basement (Meidi-Ya) and an outlet of the Kinokuniya book store.

• Funan

  address: 107 North Bridge Road
  Previously the Funan DigitaLife Mall, this mixed-use complex underwent a major 3-year revamp and reopened in June 2019. Some people lamented that the mall is no longer as IT-centric as it was in the past, with more beauty/fashion/food shops and fewer computer/gadgets stores. There are still a good number of camera shops for avid photographers, but no slew of 3rd-party IT specialists like before. Seems on par with Funan's new plan to be an all-in-one commercial/retail/living space for a modern crowd.

You're spoiled for choice when eating at the riverside. Prices tend to be slightly inflated by Singaporean standards, so avoid any place that needs to use touts to get customers.
The west end of the river (around Robertson Quay) houses a significant Japanese expat community, and consequently the Japanese restaurants nearby serve up some of the best fare this side of Tokyo. Peninsula Plaza, which is located across the road from St Andrew's Cathedral, is the favourite hangout spot for Singapore's Burmese community, and is thus the place to go for authentic Burmese food.

Budget

• Komalas

  phone: +65 6333 5644
  address: 111 North Bridge Rd
  McDonalds-style fast food, only they serve vegetarian Indian food on a banana leaf instead of burgers and fries. Worth a visit for the cognitive dissonance and good food, with massive meal sets under $5.

• Lau Pa Sat

  address: 18 Raffles Quay
  A nicely done up Victorian-style hawker centre, but a little pricier and hence quieter than most. The satay here is famous though, and there's a long row of outdoor stalls on the south side (open only in the evening), with Fatman Satay (Stall #1) generally getting the best reviews.

• Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

  phone: +65 6533 6128
  address: 11 New Bridge Rd
  Popular bak kut teh specialist serving light, peppery Teochew-style pork rib soup, best eaten with salted vegetables (mui choy), dough fritters (you tiao) and rice. Usually packed, but service is fast.

• Yong Bak Kut Teh

  address: 233 River Valley Rd
  Well located for late-night snacks, this coffee shop serves up tasty KL-style dark, herbal pork rib soup. $5.30 for a bowl with rice and dough fritters.

• Sofra Turkish Café & Restaurant

  phone: +65 6291 1433
  address: 100 Beach Rd #02-42/44
  Somewhat localised but cheap and tasty Turkish treats.

Mid-range

• Inle Myanmar Restaurant

  phone: +65 6333 5438
  address: #B1-07 Peninsula Plaza, 111 North Bridge Rd
  This very authentic little eatery is run by and for Singapore's tiny Burmese community, many of whom are gem traders in the office block above. The food is an intriguing mix of Thai and Indian influences. Try the chicken curry weekday lunch set.

• Señor Taco

  address: Clarke Quay Store 01-12-D
  Excellent Mexican by Asian standards, with an inside restaurant area and a casual area under the canopy.

Splurge

The best places for a splurge with a view in the evening are Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, which have many riverside restaurants offering al fresco dining. However, especially on Boat Quay, avoid any restaurant that has to resort to touts to find customers.

• Bacchanalia

  phone: +65 6509 1453
  address: 39 Hongkong Street,
  Run by acolytes trained at the highly-acclaimed Fat Duck Restaurant in Berkshire, England, Bacchanalia serves reinvented classics and thought-provoking dishes. Main dishes include Wagyu short rib; steak tartare; duck confit; foie gras satay; prawn risotto; salmon; caviar and king crab lasagna.

• Gyu-Kaku

  phone: +65 6733 4001
  address: 81A Clemenceau Ave #01-18/19
  Stylish Japanese-style charcoal barbeque joint, with a vast selection of wagyu (Japanese beef) and side dishes. Vegetarians need not apply.

• Jade

  phone: +65 6877 8188
  address: 1 Fullerton Square
  One of Singapore's best-regarded Chinese restaurants, dinner here can get very expensive indeed, but they're packed on Saturday and Sunday for one of the best deals in town: all you can eat gourmet dim sum made to order for $39, including soup, tea, and signature dishes like black ink squid dumplings and wasabi prawns. Reserve early.

• Jumbo Seafood

  phone: +65 6534 3435
  address: 20 Upper Circular Rd #B1-48
  Well-located outlet of the popular seafood chain famed for their chilli crabs, a Singapore speciality. Jumbo has another central outlet at Riverside Point, just across the river from Clarke Quay.

• Quayside Seafood Grill

  phone: +65 6338 3195
  address: Clarke Quay Block 3A
  One of the better places for Singaporean food on the Quays. The pepper crab here is good but a little pricey at $4/100g, which translates to $60-80 per critter.

Another good choice popular with the expat crowd is CHIJMES (30 Victoria St), the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, now an atmospheric assemblage of high-end food & beverage outlets near the Raffles Hotel.

• Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria

  phone: +65 6334 9332
  address: 30 Victoria St #01-30
  A real Brazilian churrascaria (barbecue), where waiters walk around with skewers of South American beef and you can eat all the meat you want. churrascos, extensive salad bar, and there's a good selection of wines, cold beer and caipirinha, the Brazilian national drink made with sugar cane.

• Lei Garden

  phone: +65 6339 3822
  address: 30 Victoria St #01-24
  One of the most expensive Cantonese restaurants in town, this Hong Kong-based restaurant group serves high end cuisine with an emphasis on garoupa, lobsters, prawns, and other seafood. Popular when entertaining business guests, just hope you're not the one who gets stuck with the bill.

• Prego

  phone: +65 6431 6156
  address: 80 Bras Basah Rd
  Singapore's largest Italian restaurant seating 320, it has a pizzeria, a deli, a wine bar, and the main restaurant. Good for their pastas and pizzas, the calamari rings, and mushroom soup is also good for a start. The tiramisu is another highlight.

Singapore's nightlife is almost entirely concentrated near the river. The main party zones are Boat Quay, on the south of the river next to the financial district (MRT Raffles Place, exit G) and Clarke Quay on the north bank a few blocks inland (MRT Clarke Quay or Fort Canning). Less well known but also worth a look are Circular Road, parallel to Boat Quay just behind it, and Robertson Quay, an up-and-coming nightlife/restaurant zone at the western end of the river. Bars and pubs come and go with dizzying speed, so just head out and find today's hip spot. All four are within crawling distance of each other. Mohamed Sultan Rd, inland from Robertson Quay and until recently the place to be, has been severely eclipsed by newer upstarts and most bars have been replaced by restaurants and furniture stores.

Bars and pubs

• Brewerkz

  phone: +65 6438 7438
  address: 30 Merchant Rd #01-05/06
  Singapore's first microbrewery, still going strong after ten years and now brewing up no less than 12 types, available in handy 6-glass sampler sets ($10.49). Indoor and outdoor seating, with a wide range of pub grub in huge portions. Lunchtime prices can go as low as $3.50 for a pint.

• Equinox

  phone: +65 6837 3322
  address: 2 Stamford Rd
  The five bars and restaurants here offer the best nighttime views of the city, but prices are correspondingly expensive ($15 and up for a drink). For a cigar and live jazz, head to CitySpace (floor 70), while New Asia is a more casual place for a drink. Entry is through the Swissotel entrance on Stamford Rd.

• Harry's Bar

  phone: +65 6538 3029
  address: 28 Boat Quay
  The favorite watering hole of Nick Leeson, the "Rogue Trader" who brought down the 233-year-old Barings Bank and was once arrested here for indecent exposure. There are now franchises all over town, but this is the original. Try the Bank Breaker, an unlikely shot of whisky and Midori, which like Leeson's escapades goes down smooth but leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Live music most nights.

• Long Bar

  phone: +65 6412 1816
  address: 1 Beach Rd
  The supposed birthplace of the Singapore Sling, a syrupy sweet pink concoction of gin, cherry liquor, and other mysterious ingredients, often including pineapple juice. The two-floor bar is large and a bit of a tourist trap, but drinking a Sling at the beautifully decorated wood-paneled bar and throwing the accompanying peanut shells on the floor should be on every visitor's agenda — if you can stomach paying $36 for a premixed drink poured out of a pitcher. The current recipe is likely sweeter than the original recipe, but you can ask for a drier version. According to one historian, slings were popular in Singapore even before their supposed invention at the Raffles' Long Bar in 1915. Moreover, the Long Bar has moved from its original location within the hotel.

• Pump Room

  phone: +65-63342628
  address: 3B River Valley Road, The Foundry
  Very popular microbrewery/bistro at the heart of Clarke Quay. Full menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. Live music nightly (except Mondays).

• Timbre

  phone: +65 6336 3386
  address: 1 Old Parliament Lane #01-04
  In a beautifully renovated colonial house opposite Boat Quay, this has some of the best views in town and is one of only a few places in Singapore specializing in local live music. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Cafes

• Cat Cafe Neko no Niwa

  phone: +65 6536 5319
  address: 54A Boat Quay (Level 2)
  Singapore's first cat cafe, inspired by the Japanese. Customers can cuddle cats or just watch them peacefully. However, drinks can only be consumed outside the enclosed area. Reservations are recommended as there are a limited number of people allowed at one time.

Nightclubs

At all clubs listed below, arrive early (or very late) because otherwise you may be stuck in line for a while. ID is theoretically required but rarely checked.

• Attica

  phone: +65 6333 9973
  address: 3A River Valley Rd #01-03
  Popular "New York style" club complex split into four zones: the outdoor 'lilypad' bar by the river, the main dancefloor (R&B, funk), the inner chill-out courtyard and Attica Too, the members-only club upstairs (house/trance). Picky bouncers, so dress sharp.

• Canvas

  phone: +65 6538 2928
  address: 20 Upper Circular Rd
  The former Home club, now repoened under as Canvas.

• Zouk

  phone: +65 6738 2988
  address: 3C River Valley Road, #01-05, The Cannery
  Singapore's best-known nightclub and in fact a complex of 4 spaces: Zouk itself for harder dance music, Velvet Underground for loungier stuff, Phuture for experimental edge and the outside Wine Bar for chilling out. A full-entry ticket will set you back a rather pricey $35, but two drinks are included and the place is happening especially when foreign DJs are in town — which is more often than not!

Unless you're a shopping maven intent on maximizing time in Orchard Road's shopping malls, the riverside is probably the best place to stay in Singapore.

Mid-range

There is a large cluster of older mid-range hotels on and near Havelock Rd at the western end of river, not the best location for sightseeing or shopping. SBS bus 51 from Havelock Rd offers a good escape route to Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Orchard. In the center, the bus goes north up Eu Tong Sen Rd/Hill St, but returns south via North/South Bridge Rd.

• Carlton Hotel

  phone: +65 6338 8333
  address: 76 Bras Basah Road
  Very much a standard-issue, slightly older business hotel, but it's clean, comfortable and very well located.

• Copthorne King's

  phone: +65 6733 0011
  address: 403 Havelock Rd
  The former King's Hotel, given a thorough renovation when taken over by the Copthorne group and now looks (almost) brand new. Tower wing rooms are good, main wing less so. The primary downside is the somewhat inconvenient location near the west end of the river, although Mohammed Sultan is within striking distance.

• Holiday Inn Atrium

  phone: +65 6733 0188
  address: 317 Outram Road
  Formerly the Concorde Hotel, the 30-floor inner atrium is indeed impressive, but the rest of the hotel is looking old.

• Robertson Quay Hotel

  phone: +65 6735 3333
  address: 15 Merbau Rd
  Partly renovated rooms, a little limited breakfast, Internet available for a fee. Really good value for money especially if you just want a place to sleep and keep you stuff when visiting Singapore.

• Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay

  address: 2 Magazine Rd
  New hotel close to Clarke Quay. Small but excellent rooms, included breakfasts, and a rooftop area with pool.

Splurge

In addition to the hotels below, check out adjacent Marina Bay, which has a major cluster of high-end hotels.

• Fairmont Singapore

  phone: +65 6339 7777
  address: 80 Bras Basah Rd
  Formerly Raffles the Plaza and the world's tallest hotel, now neither but still one of Singapore's best hotels: recently refurbished, unbeatable location, good service. The South Tower rooms are newer than the North Tower. Pool shared with the adjacent Swissotel The Stamford and thus crowded at peak times.

• Naumi

  phone: +65 6403 6000
  address: 41 Seah St
  A hip hotel 5 minutes walk from City Hall MRT. 40 rooms and suites.

• Raffles Hotel

  phone: +65 6337 1886
  address: 1 Beach Rd
  A Singaporean icon offering luxury in colonial style, founded in 1887 by the legendary Sarkies brothers, who also founded Penang's Eastern & Oriental Hotel and Yangon's Strand Hotel. Known as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling and the final stand of Singapore's last tiger, shot in the Billiards Room. Famed for super-attentive service, with more staff than guests, but needless to say, it's also one of the most expensive hotels in Singapore!

There are some luxury hotels of note scattered elsewhere on the river.

• Fullerton Hotel

  phone: +65 6733 8388
  address: 1 Fullerton Sq
  In the magnificently refurbished former Central Post Office, this is Raffles' closest competitor (in price as well) with an excellent location facing the Merlion on the south side of the river; the third-floor pool almost certainly has the best views in town. Rooms are modern in style and luxuriously furnished, but for the best views it's worth paying a little extra to avoid the Courtyard rooms and get a Quay or better. There is a heritage gallery in the main building which is freely accessible even if you are not staying at the hotel.

• Grand Copthorne

  phone: +65 6733 0880
  address: 392 Havelock Rd
  The flagship of the Millennium & Copthorne chain and the only luxury hotel at the west end, but unfortunately the pomp of the lobby and exterior are not matched by the spacious but otherwise somewhat dumpy rooms.

• Novotel Clarke Quay

  phone: +65 6338 3333
  address: 177A River Valley Rd
  The hotel has 401 rooms each with magnificent and un-obstructed views, and state-of-the-art facilities.

• Swissotel Merchant Court

  phone: +65 6337 2288
  address: 20 Merchant Rd
  This large 476-room hotel has an excellent location on Clarke Quay right next to the MRT station, but the rooms are musty and those facing the river suffer from noise from partygoers whooping it up.

• Ascott Raffles Place Singapore

  phone: +6 5 6577 1688
  address: No 2, Finlayson Green
  One and two bedroom suites, the property has a restaurant open for all three meals, an infinity swimming pool and also provides free IDD calls to selected countries.

Laundry

• Systematic Laundromat

  phone: +65 6732 1438
  address: 11 Unity St #01-22
  One-day laundry service (no self-service available). Call ahead for pricing or they may charge you a hefty "tourist tax" of up to 200%.