Singapore’s Best Rooftop Bars and Pools With a View
Singapore’s skyline is built for rooftop drinking, and most of its best bars welcome walk-ins without a hotel key. Ce La Vi and 1-Altitude get the postcard views, Southbridge and Smoke & Mirrors are easier on the wallet, and a short list of hotel pools, including a sky-high infinity pool overlooking the Marina Bay financial district, are reason enough to book a room for the view alone.
Which Singapore Rooftop Bars Do Not Require a Hotel Key?
Most of Singapore’s best rooftop bars are open to the public. Smoke & Mirrors, Southbridge, Ce La Vi’s bar area with a table booking, and 1-Altitude all welcome walk-ins, especially on weekdays. The exceptions are hotel pool bars like Lantern at the Fullerton Bay, where the bar itself is public but the pool next to it is for hotel guests only.
| Rooftop Bar | Where | Starting Price | Public Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ce La Vi | 57th floor, Marina Bay Sands Tower 3 | Cocktails from S$28 | Yes, with a table booking and food order — weekend cover around S$30–40 [VERIFY: confirm current cover charge policy] |
| 1-Altitude | 63rd floor, One Raffles Place | Cocktails from S$25 | Yes, with an entry fee of roughly S$25–30 on some evenings [VERIFY: confirm current entry policy and hours] |
| Smoke & Mirrors | 6th floor, National Gallery Singapore | Cocktails from S$24 | Yes, no cover charge — book ahead on weekends |
| Southbridge | Level 5, Boat Quay | Wine from S$18/glass | Yes, walk-ins are usually fine on weekdays |
| Lantern | Fullerton Bay Hotel, Collyer Quay | Cocktails from S$22 | Yes for the bar, no cover — the pool next to it is for hotel guests only |
TTC Verdict: Book ahead for Ce La Vi and 1-Altitude on weekends — both are popular enough to turn away walk-ins. Southbridge and Smoke & Mirrors are the easiest backups, and neither charges a cover.
Which Singapore Hotels Have a Rooftop Pool With a View?
A handful of Singapore hotels turn their rooftop pool into the main event. The Westin Singapore is one of the best examples: a 35th-floor infinity pool looking straight across the Marina Bay financial district, open daily from 6am to 10pm and reserved for hotel guests.
Marina Bay Sands’ SkyPark infinity pool is the city’s most photographed version of the same idea, stretched across the 57th floor and, like the Westin’s pool, open only to guests staying in the hotel. [VERIFY: confirm current guest-only booking policy, as MBS periodically runs non-guest access promotions] If swimming above the skyline is the goal rather than just the photo, book the room — neither pool sells day passes as standard policy.
What Should You Wear to a Singapore Rooftop Bar?
Smart casual is the standard dress code at nearly every rooftop bar in Singapore: collared shirts or neat tops, closed or dressy sandals, and no flip-flops, tank tops, or beach wear. [VERIFY: exact dress code wording varies by venue — confirm with the specific bar before a special occasion] Reservations through apps or the venue’s own website are worth making for Friday and Saturday evenings at the five bars above; walk-ins are far more reliable on weeknights.
Most do not on weekdays. Ce La Vi and 1-Altitude sometimes add a cover or entry fee on weekend evenings, while Southbridge, Smoke & Mirrors, and Lantern have no standard cover charge.
No. Both pools are reserved for hotel guests only as standard policy. If the view matters more than the swim, book a table at a public rooftop bar nearby instead.
Southbridge at Boat Quay, with wine from around S$18 a glass and no cover charge, is typically the most affordable of the well-known rooftop venues.
