Entertainment

Singapore's nightlife is burgeoning, as the young middle class spends its increasing wealth on entertainment.

Boat Quay is packed nightly until the early hours, but Orchard Rd and Chinatown also have their fair share of good bars. Smoking is permitted in bars, though if food is also served all smoking is restricted until after meal times.

The live music scene in the bars is less healthy. It's very limited, with few venues and only a small roster of bands and performers. For better bands, you have to go to the clubs and discos, where a cover charge normally applies.

At such places dress is smart casual, drinks are expensive and the bands mostly play covers. Almost every four-star hotel has a Filipino band playing in the lobby, every five-star hotel has a jazz band, and even many three-star hotels can muster up a piano.

Highbrow entertainment such as classical music, ballet and theatre can also be enjoyed in Singapore, as can Chinese opera and tourist-oriented cultural shows. In addition, Singapore regularly hosts touring international shows.

Night Guide
Many of the barsand clubs have taken on a unique Singapore or Southeast Asian character. You'll find restored Chinese godowns (Asian warehouses) pumping out rap or retro, trendy bars of glass-and-steel exteriors and Buddhist temple-style interiors, and historic drinking dens.

There's definitely enough to keep pub-crawlers and other nocturnal creatures well occupied. Moreover, nightspots in Singapore tend to exist in clusters, making bar hopping even easier.

The golden triangle of nightspots -- Zouk- Mohammed Sultan - Boat Quay -- is all a short taxi ride from one another. Be warned though - on Friday and Saturday nights the clubbing herd comes out in full force and you may have to call for a taxi to avoid waiting in line.

After a hectic night of activity, settle down to supper at one of the many 24-hour coffeehouses in the city and superb food stalls scattered throughout the island. Teochew porridge, caramel bean curd or just coffee and cake are just some satisfying ways in which Singaporeans end a pleasant evening.

The Newton Circus hawker center is alive all night, while many hotels have coffeehouses that welcome the tired and hungry until the wee hours of the morning.