This season’s best hangout spots? Poolside parties and sundown toasts
There’s something about sunshine and being surrounded by water that makes cocktails taste better and conversations last longer.
With temperatures rising and work-from-office arrangements dragging, the antidote might just be a well-made spritz in hand while enjoying a view of the horizon, toes dipped in a pool.
As luck would have it, Singapore’s beach and rooftop bars are turning up the vibes, offering a little escape from the hustle and bustle — no passport required.
Tanjong Beach Club
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After a four-month hiatus, Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) has roared back to life. Known for bringing urban beach culture to Singapore before it was cool, the new TBC is back and better than before, with a fired-up kitchen, bolder cocktails and reimagined interiors.
The design by Akin Atelier blends nostalgia with the now, preserving the club’s breezy, modern vibe while layering on pops of terracotta and retro-chic textures. Anchoring the space is the pool, with its sage-and-white checkerboard tiles, lined with vibrant loungers.
It’s not hard to see why TBC has remained a coastal icon, but it’s the menu that might be the biggest surprise.
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Helmed by chef Mong Zhen Yew (of Osteria Mozza and Spago fame) and culinary consultant Vallian Gunawan (formerly of Skool Kitchen in Bali), the new food programme dives into the world of wood-fired coastal cuisine. And yes, it’s as smoky and sexy as it sounds.
Smoked Hokkaido scallop aguachile ($34++) is bright and zesty, the kind of dish that reminds you that the ocean is your pantry. For bigger bites, the dry-aged barramundi — either as a filet ($36++) or whole fish ($78++) — is finished with a tomato vierge and caperberries, with a touch of smokiness. The wood-fired half chicken ($36++), meanwhile, is a fast favourite, marinated in red mojo with yoghurt crema on the side.
For a sweet dessert or snack, grab the addictive sticky date pudding ($18++), served with smoky milk ice cream and sweet muscovado butterscotch for an unapologetically indulgent treat.
And because no beach day is complete without good drinks, the bar that is now expanded into the VIP lounge and dance floor delivers some serious tropical sips. The Mai Tide ($23++), a creamy concoction of pandan-infused rum, coconut, white peach and pineapple bitters, tastes like summer in a glass. Tanjong Coast ($25++) is a mix of guava, ginger and gin, perfect for sipping in your sunnies. The cheeky Weekend at Margie’s ($23++), meanwhile, combines Aperol, tequila and passionfruit in a playful riot of colour and flavour.
You might first arrive at for a drink or two by the beach; but invariably you’ll likely find yourself still grooving barefoot to nu-disco beats by sunset, thanks to music direction from the genre-bending collective Yeti Out.
When the party winds down, pop into the revamped Beach Shop, now curated by Kaia Nelk of Studio Yono, and browse everything from raffia bucket hats to tinted lip oils by local indie brand RoMI Beauty.
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The Roof Garden at Artyzen Singapore
If you’re craving the skies more than the sea, The Roof Garden at Artyzen Singapore offers a different kind of poolside experience. Perched above the lush stretch of Orchard and overlooking the Botanic Gardens, it’s a tropical rooftop hideaway in the heart of the city’s hustle and bustle.
As its name suggests, it’s all about greenery at The Roof Garden. With its 25m cantilevered infinity pool, sunken lounges and wraparound city views, the venue feels almost like a scene out of The White Lotus, minus the drama and with a fun menu of yummy cocktails.
Head mixologist Gary Mandabon has curated a beverage programme that celebrates the bold, playful flavours designed for golden hour sipping.
Start with the Island Negroni ($15++), a tropical reimagination of the Italian staple, adding coconut to gin and Campari for a smooth, subtly exotic edge. Or try the Purple Haze ($15++), a violet cocktail with butterfly pea gin and cucumber cordial that is both refreshing and Instagrammable.
On Mondays to Fridays between 4pm and 7pm (excluding public holidays), the vibes are mellow, and the prices are right. Spritzes such as the Orchard Sunsets — a cocktail of Aperol, lemon, lemongrass cordial and sparkling wine — go for just $15++, while a bucket of local Artyzen Lager sets you back a friendly $45++.
The food here focuses on bar bites, with hungrier guests able to just head to any of the two restaurants in Artyzen Singapore to enjoy a larger meal. This makes The Roof Garden the perfect spot for a pre-dinner aperitif while watching the sunset.
