The Singapore River is the city's historic lifeline. Along its banks today, the three quays, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, brim with restaurants, bars, and clubs.
The Singapore River is the city's historic lifeline. Along its banks today, the three quays, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, brim with restaurants, bars, and clubs. You come here to stroll along the promenades and historic bridges, take a bumboat ride, and dine and drink by the water in the evening.In the 19th century, the river served as Singapore's port: in the 1860s, Boat Quay handled three-quarters of all ship trade, with lighters transporting goods to warehouses upstream. After a ten-year cleanup from 1977 to 1987, trade and pollution disappeared. The warehouses and shophouses were placed under conservation and repurposed starting in 1989. Three colonial-era bridges have been national monuments since 2019.
Sights in Singapore River
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Attraction
1Boat Quay
The south bank at the river mouth was the busiest part of the port in the 19th century, handling three-quarters of the shipping trade in the 1860s. Since July 7, 1989, the row of two- and three-story shophouses has been protected. Today, they house restaurants and bars offering views of the financial district's skyscrapers.
The concrete bridge was opened on May 30, 1929, replacing several previous structures at the site where the first bridge across the river was built in 1822; North and South Bridge Road are named after it. The cast-iron lanterns were designed by Italian sculptor Rodolfo Nolli, and since 2019, it has been a National Monument.
The five blocks of restored warehouses, named after Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, opened in 1993 as Festival Village and are Singapore's largest surviving warehouse ensemble. Following a revamp, the complex reopened in April 2024 as CQ @ Clarke Quay, featuring restaurants, clubs, and the riverboat jetty.
Opened in November 1869, the suspension bridge is named after Governor Sir Orfeur Cavenagh and is considered Singapore's oldest bridge preserved in its original form; the steel parts were manufactured by P. & W. MacLellan in Glasgow. A police sign still stands at the bridgeheads, banning vehicles over 3 cwt (approx. 150 kg), including cattle and horses, from the bridge; since 2019, it has been a National Monument.
The pedestrian bridge at Robertson Quay is shaped like a tongkang, a type of barge formerly used on the river. Filipino artist Pacita Abad painted it in vibrant colors in January 2004, and in 2019, the painting was renewed according to its original color scheme.
Yeo Eng Song started out in 1969 with a pushcart on Johor Road, and in 2007 his son opened the first restaurant at 11 New Bridge Road, near Clarke Quay. The dish here is peppery pork rib broth (bak kut teh). The New Bridge Road branch is listed in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand 2026, as it has been in all ten editions since 2016.
Founded in 1987, the seafood chain operates a riverside restaurant at Riverside Point opposite Clarke Quay. It is known for Chili Crab, with Pepper Crab and prawns with salted egg yolk also on the menu.
The Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the InterContinental Robertson Quay has an open riverside garden. It offers wood-fired pizzas, such as one topped with black truffle, and homemade pasta.
The Belly of the CarpThe south bank at the river mouth resembles the belly of a carp, considered in Chinese belief a place of wealth and prosperity. Accordingly, merchants packed their shophouses tightly together here. Clarke Quay, named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, was a cargo transshipment hub with its warehouses. Robertson Quay, named after Councillor J. Murray Robertson, is the largest and furthest upstream of the three quays; here, swampland was reclaimed for warehouses in the 19th century.The Great CleanupAt the opening of the Upper Peirce Reservoir in February 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced the goal of cleaning the polluted river within ten years. By September 1983, some 800 lighters had been relocated to the Port Authority's facilities in Pasir Panjang. On September 2, 1987, the cleanup was declared complete. Converted bumboats have since served as tour boats and water taxis.New UsesBoat Quay was designated a conservation area on July 7, 1989, its two- and three-story shophouses now housing restaurants and bars. In Clarke Quay, the "Festival Village" opened in 1993 in restored warehouses, which, according to URA, form the largest preserved ensemble of its kind in Singapore. Following a revamp from 2022 to 2024, the complex is now called CQ @ Clarke Quay.
The club occupies a warehouse at CQ @ Clarke Quay, 3C River Valley Road, and reopened Mainroom and Phuture after a June 2026 renovation. Together with Club Capital, the venues hold up to 3,500 guests and are used for concerts and events.
The brewpub at Riverside Point on 30 Merchant Road brews its beers in its on-site microbrewery. Alongside the beers, there are Western and Asian-inspired dishes, and outdoor seating is by the riverbank opposite Clarke Quay.
The rooftop bar on the fifth floor of Boat Quay 80 overlooks the river towards Parliament and the skyline. Specialties include oysters prepared in various ways and cocktails.
Uferpromenaden führen auf beiden Seiten von der Mündung bei Boat Quay über Clarke Quay bis Robertson Quay; der ganze Abschnitt lässt sich gut zu Fuß gehen, Fußgängerbrücken verbinden die Ufer.MRT Clarke Quay (NE5): Die Station der North East Line liegt am Südufer unter der Eu Tong Sen Street und der New Bridge Road und hat direkten Zugang zu Clarke Quay Central.Bootsfahrt: Die Bumboats von Singapore River Cruise starten unter anderem am Anleger Clarke Quay und fahren in rund 40 Minuten an Boat Quay vorbei bis zur Marina Bay und zurück. Laut Betreiber kostet die Fahrt 28 S$ für Erwachsene und 18 S$ für Kinder von 3 bis 11 Jahren (Stand Oktober 2026); aktuelle Zeiten und Preise beim Anbieter prüfen.Abends: Boat Quay und Clarke Quay sind abends am belebtesten, Robertson Quay ist ruhiger und eher von Restaurants und Cafés geprägt.
