If you prefer your music to be as smooth as your drink of choice, you’ll know that jazz clubs are the place to be. Filled with smooth vocals, impeccable music and a good selection of cocktails, here are some of the best places to check out.
Axis Bar and Lounge
This lounge bar is perfect for enjoying your favorite drink with a stunning view of Marina Bay, while being serenaded by jazz performances. Enjoy their signature cocktails like the Mandarin Sling, Monkey Juice and Lemongrass Martini. This place is known for its afternoon high tea, which transforms into a contemporary bar by night.
B28
Located at the basement of The Club, B28 has a wide range of whiskys (from $20 a dram), rum (from $18 a shot), and cocktails (from $20). They also have live jazz music on Wednesdays at 9pm, Thursdays at 9.30pm, and Fridays & Saturdays at 10:30pm, featuring their resident jazz band, Nicole Duffell Organ Trio, and other top jazz talents and occasional renowned guest artists.
Blu Jaz
This cozy café-bar is the place that launched the careers of the popular Japanese jazz pianist Aya Sekine and saxophonist Tim O’Dwyer. Every Friday, expect to see novice jazz performers do their thing on the ground floor on a small stage near the cafe, with other bands or singers performing quite often, as the club plays host to a plethora of jazz performances. Casual and always inspiring, the friendly up-for-it crowd also set the mood, especially after a beer or two.
Bob’s Bar
Capella Hotel’s semi-alfresco bar is a fitting addition to the breezy luxury resort. It’s a quieter place to watch the sunset in Sentosa with lots of open space, lounge chairs and a smaller indoor area with plush armchairs and bar stools. Loosely-based around Cuba, there’s a Latin jazz band playing from Wednesday to Friday and Cuban-inspired cocktails by the boys of 28HKS, including Bob’s fresh pressed mojito, made with freshly-squeezed sugar cane, and the Six Star Swizzle with rum, acai liqueur, spice garden syrup, Angostura bitters and fruit.
Montreux Jazz Cafe
Launched by festival founder Claude Nob, those who are unfamiliar to the cafe should expect live music and bistro fare set in a semi-casual and sophisticated space. Live music performances will include a local and regional line-up, but it’s not all retro soul on show. It is located at Pan Pacific Orchard, and its menu features items named after famous Jazz legends, such as the B.B. Cheese Burger ($28), along with the cocktails, which follow a similar fashion, like the Sinnerman ($18).
SingJazz Club
This club has taken over the now defunct Sultan Jazz Club, yet keeps most of the decor of its predecessor. People-pleasing pop-jazz, mostly. You’ll find plenty of crooners, from local singer-songwriters Dawn Ho, Dylan Foster and Alicia Pan to Shanghai songbird Jasmine Chen, while vibrant guest acts like Ezra Brown kick things up a notch, especially with accompaniment by some of Singapore’s outstanding session musicians. Whiskys here start from $15, while wines start from $12.
The Black Swan
This 1930’s style heritage building aims to make this restaurant a destination dining spot. They serve American classics with a contemporary twist, dreamt up by consulting chef Sebastian Ng, as well as tipples inspired by old school speakeasy favorites like the B.B. King ($19), which is made with banana-infused whisky, smoked maple syrup, barbecue bitters and a dash of sorbet. The spacious and gorgeous setting, makes it an ideal spot for after-work drinks.
