# Bars in Chinatown

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: 83
- Matched to a government licence/register: 5
- Median years in business: 8

## 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)
- [Drinks and Co](https://lookup.sg/biz/drinks-and-co), Chinatown · 44 Club St · 2 min walk from Dt18 MRT · registered 2016
- [Bar Cicheti](https://lookup.sg/biz/bar-cicheti), Chinatown · 10 Jiak Chuan Rd · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2018
- [Brooklyn Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/brooklyn-bar), Chinatown · 14 Ann Siang Rd #01-01 · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT
- [Vinflow](https://lookup.sg/biz/vinflow), Chinatown · 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-01 · 2 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 2025
- [Employees Only Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/employees-only-singapore), Chinatown · 112 Amoy St · 1 min walk from Dt18 MRT
- [Esquina](https://lookup.sg/biz/esquina), Chinatown · 16 Jiak Chuan Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT
- [Le Bon Funk](https://lookup.sg/biz/le-bon-funk), Chinatown · 29 Club St · 2 min walk from Dt18 MRT
- [Lime Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/lime-bar), Chinatown · 3 Upper Pickering St · 2 min walk from Clarke Quay MRT
- [Moonstone](https://lookup.sg/biz/moonstone), Chinatown · 103 Amoy St · 1 min walk from Dt18 MRT
- [WTF](https://lookup.sg/biz/wtf), Chinatown · 49 Club St · 2 min walk from Dt18 MRT
- [Ying Yang Rooftop Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/ying-yang-rooftop-bar), Chinatown · 28 Ann Siang Rd, The Club Hotel · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT
- [The Screening Room, Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-screening-room-singapore), Chinatown · 12 Ann Siang Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2006
- [Mag's Wine Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/mags-wine-kitchen), Chinatown · 82 Neil Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 1996
- [Crystabelle Ktv Lounge](https://lookup.sg/biz/crystabelle-ktv-lounge), Chinatown · 3 Teo Hong Rd · 1 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 1993
- [FOC Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/foc-restaurant-chinatown), Chinatown · 32 Keong Saik Rd. · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2014
- [Oplus Victoria Entertainment](https://lookup.sg/biz/oplus-victoria-entertainment), Chinatown · 32 Mosque St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed
- [Gem Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/gem-bar), Chinatown · 10 Ann Siang Hl · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · SFA licensed
- [小红点2（1819）](https://lookup.sg/biz/2-1819), Chinatown · 19 Keong Saik Rd · 2 min walk from Outram Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Lion Brewery Co](https://lookup.sg/biz/lion-brewery-co), Chinatown · 36 Club St · 2 min walk from Dt18 MRT · registered 2017
- [Beaujolais Rstnts S](https://lookup.sg/biz/beaujolais-rstnts-s), Chinatown · 1 Ann Siang Hill · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · SFA licensed
- [Frenchie Wine Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/frenchie-wine-bar), Chinatown · 2 Teck Lim Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2018
- [The Other Roof](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-other-roof), Chinatown · 28 Ann Siang Rd, Rooftop Bar · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2018
- [Tom Dick & Hillary's](https://lookup.sg/biz/tom-dick-and-hillarys), Chinatown · 11 Mosque St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2018
- [Papa Doble Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/papa-doble-singapore), Chinatown · 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-04 · 2 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 2018
- [Mortar & Pestle](https://lookup.sg/biz/mortar-and-pestle), Chinatown · 269 S Bridge Rd, #04-01 · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2021
- [Smith Street Taps](https://lookup.sg/biz/smith-street-taps), Chinatown · 335 Smith Street #02-062, Level 2 Chinatown Food Complex · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2024
- [1939 Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/1939-singapore), Chinatown · 36 Keong Saik Rd · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2025
- [66 Chambers](https://lookup.sg/biz/66-chambers), Chinatown · 22A Tg Pagar Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2024
- [Dorothy's Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/dorothys-bar), Chinatown · 13 Trengganu St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [FRY Rooftop Bistro & Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/fry-rooftop-bistro-and-bar), Chinatown · 96B Club St · 1 min walk from Maxwell 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.