Acid Bar
Dark, intimate and chill, this bar plays everything from jazz, pop and rock to classic evergreens and alternative numbers. Housed in a restored antique shophouse, they also have an alfresco area that is great for beers and martinis.
B28
This swanky underground bar is tucked in the The Club, a hotel on the hip Club Street. Regular weekend jazz performances are on Fridays and Saturdays ($15 entry), setting the perfect ambiance for unwinding over a glass of whisky from their extensive collection.
Barber Shop by Timbre
From the folks at Timbre comes this blues-focused live music (with soul, funk and jazz added to the mix) joint anchored by local bands such as Raw Earth and Soulvibin’. Premium whiskeys from Japan, Scotland, Ireland and the US are the bar’s main offerings, alongside beers, wines and other spirits.
Blu Jaz
One of the coolest places to groove on a casual night out, this three-story dining and entertainment venue is packed on weekends with a laidback crowd who come here for local rock, jazz and funk bands as well as open mic comedy sessions, while guest DJs drop their tunes upstairs.
Crazy Elephant
If your parents are also live music fans, chances are they’ve been to this place. This long-time rock ‘n’ roll and blues institution is cozy and never disappoints, especially when resident act The Blues Machine take to the stage. The drinks are fuss-free, so expect beers, house pours and wines. But with stars such as REM, Deep Purple and Robbie Williams gracing this modest spot, with that amount of street cred, there’s not much to complain about.
Hard Rock Cafe
This list won’t be complete without long-time stalwart Hard Rock Cafe. Known for its signature decor of music memorabilia, sway along to sounds ranging from indie to Top 40s while tucking into its signature all-American grub. If you’re out on Sentosa island, check out the brand’s newer outlet and hotel at Resorts World Sentosa.
Hood Bar & Cafe
Live music sessions at this charming joint feature top local musicians such as Shirlyn & the Unexpected playing a wide array of genres including soft rock, radio alternatives, jazz and bossa nova. Share a variety of bar bites, including calamari ($12), fish fingers ($11) and dumplings ($10), with friends, or opt for something heftier like pizzas (from $16) and burgers (from $14).
Outpost Bar & Bistro
The St. James gastropub serves up “elevated” bar bites, a tightly curated wine menu and awesome happy hour deals ($5 half pints of beer and $99 bottles of spirits!). They also play host to nightly live music acts that are handpicked. Dealing mostly with popular covers of current songs, these local musicians give YouTube cover songs a run for their money.
TAB
Besides hosting Neverland parties that feature regional dance and music acts from the region, this two-story venue also boast a line-up of live music performances, with previous shows by Album Leaf and Zee Avi. Local artists from a variety of genres usually perform original material, followed by a foreign Artist in Residence.
Timbre @ The Substation
As one of the most popular venues, this is a great place to unwind with a couple of drinks. This live music specialist, which also have outlets at Gillman Barracks and The Arts House, hosts some of the finest local musicians that cover a variety of genres from pop, rock and alternative. Take advantage of their daily happy hour from 6-9pm or simply wash down your dinner with beers, house pours and house wines.
