From The Straits Times    |


Image: 123rf.com

FOR THRILL-SEEKERS

Reverse bungee


Image: G-Max

Tearing up the dance floor in a nightclub isn’t the only way to burn excess energy before bedtime. Fancy being strapped into a metal cage and flung 60m into the sky? At G-Max, the reverse bungee ride hits speeds of up to 100kmh and 5Gs. There’s also an Extreme Swing, which begins by lifting participants backwards, 50m into the air, before hurtling towards the ground at over 120kmh. Set in the Clarke Quay nightlife district – thrills aside – the rides offer spectacular views along the Singapore River.

Open till: 2am every night

Escape room


Image: Xcape

Challenge your investigative skills at Xcape Singapore, an indoor escape game where 12 movie-themed rooms await. A warren of chambers are packed with puzzles, which have visual and verbal hints to help you figure out how to break free from fictional places. These include an ancient tomb where a murder has taken place. Check out the newly launched horror-themed rooms, Annabelle and The Morgue, if you dare.

Open till: 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11.30pm from Sundays to Thursdays

Cosmic bowling


Image: Orchid Bowl

Disco lights and thumping dance music greet visitors to Orchid Bowl, a chain of bowling alleys, open from 10pm every night. Combining state-of-the-art sound systems with UV lights and laser beams, cosmic bowling happens at three locations: Downtown East, Safra Yishun and Safra Tampines. Did we mention the bowling balls and pins glow in the dark?

Open till: 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1am from Sundays to Thursdays

FOR THOSE IN NEED OF A FEED

Sweet treats


Image: 2am: Dessertbar

Over in Holland Village, 2am:dessertbar delivers on its name; serving sweet treats until 2am. The brainchild of celebrated chef Janice Wong, the bar’s interior is sleek and minimalist, but its desserts are out of this world. The Cassis Plum may look innocent, but this blushing confection hides a potent shot of umeshu (plum liqueur), while a flourless dark chocolate cake has a salted caramel surprise within. When one treat isn’t enough, order the eight-course dessert degustation.

Open till: 2am from Tuesdays to Sundays

Beefy burgers


Image: The Butchers Club Burger

There are only two items on the menu at The Butchers Club Burger: a burger and duck-fat fries. The grain-fed Black Angus beef, sourced from Australia, is dry-aged in-house. It’s ground and grilled in the restaurant’s open kitchen. Those who dine al fresco can also take in the view of the changing canopy of lights over Clarke Quay.

Open till: 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, 2am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 10pm from Sundays to Tuesdays

Korean fried chicken


Image: Kko Kko Chicken Bar

Occupying a three-storey shophouse on Kandahar Street, Kko Kko Chicken Bar is the place to go for Korean fried chicken in four variations. Dishes such as budae jjigae (army stew) are also popular, as are the beverages, which include Korean favourites such as rice-wine cocktails. It’s by the same people behind popular diner Kko Kko Na Ra on Tanjong Pagar Road.

Open till: 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11pm from Mondays to Thursdays

FOR ENTERTAINMENT BUFFS

Boutique theatre


Image: The Screening Room

Watch classics and indie films at Screening Room, a boutique theatre housed in a heritage building. In lieu of a movie ticket, each cinemagoer must spend a minimum of S$15++ (US$11++) on food and drinks – an easy feat given how tasty its wagyu beef sliders and baked spinach parcels are. Schedules are posted on the venue’s Facebook page, and screenings take place twice daily. There’s also a rooftop bar for those who like to critique the film over a cocktail.

Open till: 4am on Saturdays, 3am on Fridays and 2am from Mondays to Thursdays

Comedy club

Singapore’s leading drag queen, Kumar, headlines at Comedy at Canvas. On alternate Tuesdays, this veteran comedian keeps audiences in stitches with his irreverent observations about life in the Lion City. But Canvas goes beyond being a comedy club. An urbane art space by day, it’s also an unpretentious lounge that veers towards nightclub territory at night, with resident and international DJs spinning Afro-Latin and Nu-Disco tunes.

Open till: 4am on Saturdays, 3am from Wednesdays to Fridays and 2am on Tuesdays

Live music

The likes of Deep Purple, R.E.M and Robbie Williams have graced the stage at Crazy Elephant, where you can catch the city’s best rock and blues acts live. A stalwart of Clarke Quay, it’s known for its laid-back atmosphere (read: no cover charge or dress code). It also holds open-mic sessions, which are popular with up- and-coming artistes.

Open till: 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, 2am from Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays, and 1am on Mondays

This story was originally published in SilverKris