# Bars in Bugis

Bars in Singapore need a police liquor licence, and the law bans drinking in public places from 10.30pm to 7am – licensed bars can keep serving within their licence hours, but you cannot take drinks outside. Geylang and Little India are Liquor Control Zones with stricter weekend rules. Most bar prices are "++" (about 19.9% extra).

## Key facts
- Listings: 57
- Matched to a government licence/register: 3
- Median years in business: 10

## Licences
- **Liquor Licence** (Singapore Police Force (Police Licensing & Regulatory Department), required): Any outlet selling alcohol for consumption on or off the premises needs a liquor licence, which sets its permitted supply hours. Sale to anyone under 18 is an offence for the licensee. Check: https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Services/Police-Licences/Liquor-Licence
- **Food Shop Licence (SFA)** (Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): Every restaurant, cafe, bakery, stall and food court outlet selling food to the public must be licensed by SFA. Since 19 Jan 2026 the licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) based on the outlet's food-safety track record; scan the QR code on the displayed licence to see it. Check: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records
- **Public Entertainment Licence (PEL)** (Singapore Police Force (Public Entertainments Licensing Unit), required): Required under the Public Entertainments Act for karaoke outlets, live music, amusement centres, billiard saloons and computer-games centres open to the public. Operating without one can draw a fine of up to $20,000. Check: https://www.police.gov.sg/Business-E-Services/Apply-for-Public-Entertainment-Licence/Overview-of-Public-Entertainment-Licence

## How to choose
- Check whether prices are nett or "++"; happy-hour boards are often pre-tax.
- If you smoke, ask before booking: smoking is banned in all areas of entertainment outlets, including outdoor areas, except approved smoking corners, and NEA stopped approving new outdoor smoking corners in 2017.
- Bring physical ID – the legal age to buy alcohol is 18 and licensees can be fined for selling to under-18s, so many bars check.
- Bars in Geylang and Little India face Liquor Control Zone limits: no public drinking from 7am Saturday to 7am Monday, and from 7pm on public-holiday eves.
- For groups, ask about minimum spend, bottle packages and whether the area is a cover-charge zone on event nights.

## Red flags
- Staff offering takeaway drinks after 10.30pm to drink on the street – consumption in public places is illegal then.
- Unclear pricing on bottle packages or cover charges.
- No liquor licence displayed.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Alchemy Bistro](https://lookup.sg/biz/alchemy-bistro), Bugis · 128 Prinsep St, #01-01 · 2 min walk from Rochor MRT · registered 2010
- [Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/almost-famous-craft-beer-bar), Bugis · 30 Victoria St, #01-06 · 3 min walk from Bras Basah MRT · registered 2018
- [Sticks & Stones (Bugis+)](https://lookup.sg/biz/sticks-and-stones-bugis), Bugis · 201 Victoria St, #07-05/06 Bugis+ · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT · SFA licensed
- [Quaich Bar Wanderlust](https://lookup.sg/biz/quaich-bar-wanderlust), Bugis · 80 Middle Rd Level 1 InterContinental Hotel · 3 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [25 Degrees Burger, Wine and Liquor Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/25-degrees-burger-wine-and-liquor-bar), Bugis · 200 Middle Rd Hotel G Singapore · 2 min walk from Bencoolen MRT
- [American Taproom](https://lookup.sg/biz/american-taproom), Bugis · 261 Waterloo St, #01-23 Waterloo Centre · 2 min walk from Bras Basah MRT
- [Atlas](https://lookup.sg/biz/atlas), Bugis · 600 N Bridge Rd, Parkview Square · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [Long Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/long-bar), Bugis · 1 Beach Rd · 3 min walk from City Hall MRT
- [Raffles Courtyard](https://lookup.sg/biz/raffles-courtyard), Bugis · 1 Beach Rd · 2 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Tess Bar and Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/tess-bar-and-kitchen), Bugis · 36 Seah St · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [The Modern Izakaya](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-modern-izakaya), Bugis · 30 Victoria St, #01-18 CHIJMES · 3 min walk from City Hall MRT
- [Tonic](https://lookup.sg/biz/tonic), Bugis · 30 Beach Rd · 1 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Queen's Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/queens-bar), Bugis · Queen Street- Hotel Royal @ Queens · 1 min walk from Bras Basah MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2006
- [The Lobby Lounge](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-lobby-lounge-bugis), Bugis · Intercontinental Singapore, 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966, Singapore · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT · registered 1990
- [Breeze Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/breeze-bar), Bugis · 30 Seah St · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT · registered 1999
- [Nutmeg & Clove](https://lookup.sg/biz/nutmeg-and-clove), Bugis · 8 Purvis St · 4 min walk from Esplanade MRT · registered 2016
- [Loof](https://lookup.sg/biz/loof), Bugis · #03-07, Odeon Towers · 3 min walk from Bras Basah MRT · SFA licensed
- [King and the Pawn](https://lookup.sg/biz/king-and-the-pawn-bugis), Bugis · 17 Purvis St, #01-01 · 4 min walk from Esplanade MRT · registered 2018
- [TUX Bar & Lounge](https://lookup.sg/biz/tux-bar-and-lounge), Bugis · 76 Bras Basah Rd · 3 min walk from Bras Basah MRT · registered 2024
- [Last Word](https://lookup.sg/biz/last-word), Bugis · 8 Purvis St, #02-01 · 4 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Mr. Stork](https://lookup.sg/biz/mr-stork), Bugis · 5 Fraser St, Level 39 · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [Writers Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/writers-bar), Bugis · 1 Beach Rd · 1 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Josh's Grill](https://lookup.sg/biz/joshs-grill-bugis), Bugis · 200 Victoria Street #01-69 Bugis Junction · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [Mikkeller Bar Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/mikkeller-bar-singapore), Bugis · 7 Purvis Street · 4 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Space Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/space-bar), Bugis · 470 N Bridge Rd, #05-08 Bugis Cube · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [Tipsy Bugis Cube](https://lookup.sg/biz/tipsy-bugis-cube), Bugis · 200 Victoria St, #03-30D Bugis Junction · 2 min walk from Bugis MRT
- [Nightshift Bistro and Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/nightshift-bistro-and-bar), Bugis · #01-33, Burlington Square, 175 Bencoolen St · 1 min walk from Rochor MRT
- [Bar & Billiard Room](https://lookup.sg/biz/bar-and-billiard-room), Bugis · 1 Beach Rd, Raffles Singapore · 1 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [The Macallan](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-macallan), Bugis · Raffles Arcade, Raffles City Tower, 250 North Bridge Rd · 3 min walk from Esplanade MRT
- [Victoria Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/victoria-bar), Bugis · Inter-Continental Hotel 80 Middle Rd · 3 min walk from Bugis MRT

## FAQs
### What time do bars close in Singapore?
There is no single closing time – each bar's liquor licence sets its supply hours. What is fixed by law is that drinking in public places is banned islandwide from 10.30pm to 7am, and retail shops cannot sell takeaway alcohol in that window. You can keep drinking inside a licensed bar within its hours, or at home.

### Can you drink in public in Singapore?
Only between 7am and 10.30pm, under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015. Fines go up to $1,000, and repeat offenders face up to $2,000 and/or three months' jail. In the Geylang and Little India Liquor Control Zones, public drinking is also banned all weekend (7am Saturday to 7am Monday) and penalties are 1.5 times higher.

### What is the drinking age in Singapore?
18. It is an offence for a licensed seller to sell alcohol to, or allow consumption by, anyone under 18 on licensed premises. Bars and clubs may set higher entry ages of their own, so carry ID.

### What does "++" mean on a Singapore menu?
"++" means a 10% service charge and 9% GST will be added. GST is charged on the service charge too, so the multiplier is 1.1 × 1.09 = 1.199 – a $50++ meal costs about $59.95. IRAS lets restaurants that levy a service charge show pre-GST prices, but they must state prominently that prices are subject to GST and service charge.

## Sources
- MHA – Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act to take effect from 1 April 2015: https://www.mha.gov.sg/media-room/newsroom/liquor-control-supply-and-consumption-act-to-take-effect-from-1-april-2015/
- Singapore Police Force – Liquor Licence: https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Services/Police-Licences/Liquor-Licence
- NEA – Smoking prohibition in entertainment outlets: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/smoking-prohibition/smoking-prohibition-extension/smoking-prohibition-in-entertainment-outlets
- IRAS – Displaying and quoting prices (GST): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/invoicing-price-display-and-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.