Clubbing in Singapore: some insights

Clubbing here in Singapore is a lot of fun. It is also very expensive. So there are a few things you can do to do it for free:

First of all, you have to be a girl. This is very important. Once you have this under control, you should go out on Wednesdays. This is because Wednesday is Ladies' Night. This means girls enter clubs for free AND they get free drinks as well, usually 3-7 vouchers that can be exchanged for any drink. Guys, on the other hand, have to pay the regular cover fee of 30-35 SGD (around 25 USD). While you are in the considerably-longer girl line waiting to go in, bouncers are very vigilant of any individual of the opposite sex who dares to talk to the girls. If they spot an offender, they immediately proceed to kick him out. Girls in line cannot talk to guys, they explain with a serious face, they have to do it inside. It's a good money-making strategy.




I learnt from some seasoned exchange students from last term that the following is what happens every Wednesday, a sort of established partying routine for exchange students:

1) Go pre-drink somewhere at around 8 or 9 pm. Either at someone's house or, preferably, at The Bridge (a bridge in Clarke Quay, the clubbing area)
2) Go to Attica or some other hot club of the moment to dance the night away
3) Get a cab at 1.30am - 5am, depending on how you feel, and head back to campus
4) Go to class on Thursday
5) Repeat

Another option for not spending any money is to go to the free events with no cover charge. You can find out about these events on Facebook or from word of mouth. Once you're in, scan the room for potential tables to join. The ones with many bottles and friendly looking people are the ones you want to target. Become friends with the millionaires to have assured drinks and pleasant company for the night.

I loved Clarke Quay. It is very vibrant and full of life. The stalls and cafes line the main pedestrian street on both sides, creating a different atmosphere every ten steps as you move along. There are lots of lights and fountains and sounds coming from everywhere; latin beats intertwined with house and pop. The place is buzzing with girls wearing mini dresses, high heels, and kilos of make-up. And with guys wearing moccasins, unbuttoned shirts, and too much cologne for their own good. The Bridge is at the end of the road; a congregation of young people who are either pre-drinking before entering the clubs, or who are planning to stay there for the night because they are guys who have spent too much already. If you enter Attica, there are three main areas to choose from: one for top 40s, one area in the open for chilling, and one with electronic music. I noticed an excessive use of smoke in all of them, so once dancing starts you get lost in the haziness and colorful lights amongst all the other dancing souls. After Attica you can head to the fanciest Burger King you've ever seen to get some soggy fries. It's an establishment with dim lights, dark walls and floors, classy red counters, and a fancy BK logo with a stylish flame that takes fast food to a whole new level.