Rooftops in Singapore: a city-state from above
An island nation at the crossroads of Asia
Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, from which it is separated by the Johor Strait, the Republic of Singapore is a city-state of just over 720 km², spread over some sixty islands, one of them by far the largest. With around six million inhabitants, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, second only to Monaco. A British trading post founded by Stamford Raffles in 1819, self-governing in 1959 and briefly part of Malaysia from 1963, it became independent in 1965. A parliamentary republic, its currency is the Singapore dollar and it has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
One of the busiest ports in the world and a major financial centre, Singapore is also a garden city where parks, green façades and Gardens by the Bay blend with skyscrapers. Its Chinese, Malay and Indian communities come together in the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, and in the hawker centres, food halls whose street-food culture is inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.
Why head up to the rooftops
In a country where space is at a premium, the city has grown upwards, and the top floors of towers have become destinations in their own right. Cocktail bars, restaurants and lounges have moved in, often in the open air, sometimes around an infinity pool or a sky garden. From these vantage points you can pick out the three towers of Marina Bay Sands, the giant trees of Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer observation wheel and the ships anchored offshore.
Singapore, a city and a country
A single destination
In Singapore, city and country merge: all the venues are grouped under a single destination, the city of Singapore, from Marina Bay to the Raffles Place business district, from the Civic District to Orchard Road, all the way to Sentosa island and its beaches.
Very different atmospheres
Some venues focus on cocktails and DJs, others on beer brewed on site, on Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican or reinvented Singaporean cuisine, or on a pool to stretch out the afternoon. A few fully glass-walled rooms, perched very high up, offer spectacular views sheltered from the heat and the downpours.
Practical tips
Climate, currency and booking
The climate is equatorial, hot and humid all year round, with frequent thunderstorms: open-air terraces may close while a storm passes, while glass-walled rooms stay open. Prices are shown in Singapore dollars (SGD), often followed by "++", which means 10% service charge and 9% GST are added. Alcohol is served from the age of 18, and smart casual attire is often required in the evening. At sunset and at weekends, book whenever possible.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
