We love a good reason to party and eat—Australia Day might seem obscure for some, but the bevy of restaurants, bars, and clubs joining in with food and drink deals isn’t something we’re going to snub. Here’s everything to check out for an ace TGIF.
Australia Day 2018 at Mogambo (Jan 26)
The drinking starts early at Mogambo Bar on Canton Street—from 11am, specifically. Beer specials will run throughout the day, so you can splurge on Pure Blonde Beer buckets at $50 nett any time you arrive. In true Aussie form, ODI Cricket and the Australian Open Tennis Live will be screened too.
Where: Mogambo Bar & Restaurant, 3 Canton Street
Australia Day! (Jan 26)
Multi-concept establishment Wheeler’s Estate isn’t slowing down with its Australian fare this “holiday”. Look forward to a special Aussie menu designed by their (Australian) head chef, complete with grill house barbeque and drinks. Local musicians Allie Soh, Joshua and Benny will provide the tunes—Top 40s and English classics.
Where: Wheeler’s Estate, 2 Park Lane
Straya Day! (Jan 26)
Beer people Freehouse won’t say no to an excuse to drink good craft. Raise a pint of Aussie craft beer; Beerfarm, Pirate Life Brewing, and Stockade Brew Co are just some of the great labels that will be available on tap. Doors open at 3pm.
Where: Freehouse, 21A Boon Tat Street
Australia Day BBQ 2018 (Jan 26)
It’s a proper barbeque at Boat Quay’s BQ Bar, with sausages at $10 nett on the riverside terrace from 5pm. Once you’ve loaded up on protein, all-day beer specials on Pure Blonde and Bundaberg Rum ($10 nett each) should keep you satisfied for the rest of the night. Go early for live music by Australian band Christo Alexander & Friends.
Where: BQ Bar, 39 Boat Quay
Singapore Pub Crawl: Australia Day (Jan 26)
The Straya Day edition will see crawlers hitting five different pubs and ending the night with exclusive VIP entry to a mystery nightclub—all for $25. On top of that, there’ll be free vodka shots during registration and 1-for-1 drink deals; enough to get you hollering “Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi!”
Where: UOB Plaza, 80 Raffles Place
Australia Day at McGettigan’s 2018 (Jan 26)
If you liked the sound of the deals at Mogambo, but fancy yourself a Clarke Quay-over-Boat Quay kind of person, hustle down to McGettigan’s instead. There you’ll find buckets of Pure Blonde for $50, plus Four Pillars gin (in Extra Dry and Bloody Shiraz flavors) at a special price of $15. They’ve even got a screening of the Australian Open too.
Where: McGettigan’s Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Road
Paint The Town Rouge presents Australia Day (Jan 26)
Done with your day-drinking? Bar Rouge is throwing a massive bash to accommodate all the Australia Day delight, with a special guest DJ, DJ Moto from Sydney’s KIIS FM, helming the decks. Known for his quick mixing style, the Aussie-born musician is heavy on Australian RnB and hip hop, and has worked with artists like Rihanna and Pitbull. The club opens at 6:30pm, and cover charge ($25) applies after 10:30pm.
Where: Bar Rouge Singapore, 2 Stamford Road
Smack My Beach Up Australia Day: Gone Down Under (Jan 28)
Trust the island’s most happening beach club to organize a shindig when all the Straya Day celebrations are past. From 2pm till late on Sunday, it’s all about Down Under-themed partying with tunes by Aussie DJ Dave Does. While you’re dancing, fuel up on juicy pork snags straight from the barbie; or sign up for a Special Aussie Party Cheers daybed package, which throws in a bottle of Australian Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin for some recuperation before Monday.
Where: Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk
BONUS: Australian dining at Blackwattle (from Jan 26)
We first fell in love with Australian chef Clayton Wells’ flavorful touch back in October, when he first opened Blackwattle on Amoy Street. This Jan 26, he’s paying tribute to his homeland with a limited-time menu using native ingredients from down under. Incorporating Australia’s native produce, the dishes include Steamed Ling fish with fermented daikon and citrus broth, and Blackwattle’s signature beef tri-tip—this time reimagined with a David Blackmore wagyu, burnt onion mustard, grilled saltbush, and quandong jus. Make haste; we expect this will be till-stocks-last situation.
