If you are hunting for the best craft beer bars in Singapore, this guide is for you, whether you want a fresh homegrown pour, a wall of rotating taps, or a low key neighbourhood pint after work. Rather than crown one winner, we have pulled together an editorial shortlist of places that are frequently recommended by local drinkers, bartenders and food writers. Think of it as a starting map, not a definitive ranking, and always drink responsibly and plan a safe way home.
How to choose
- Check tap freshness and turnover. The best rooms pour beer that moves quickly, so lines stay clean and hoppy styles taste bright rather than tired. Ask when a keg was tapped, and lean towards bars that list rotating taps rather than the same eight pours all year.
- Look for a printed or digital tap list with ABV and style. A venue that tells you the brewery, style and alcohol by volume is one that respects the beer and helps you pace yourself. Vague menus that just say “IPA” or “lager” are a mild red flag.
- Weigh local versus imported. Singapore has a genuine homegrown scene now, so a good list usually mixes local breweries with a curated import selection. If you want provenance, ask what is brewed on site or made locally.
- Ask for a taster before you commit. Most craft bars will happily pour a small sample, and a bar that refuses is worth a second look. Flights and half pours are your friend when you want variety without overdoing it.
- Mind the markup and the pour size. Craft beer in Singapore is not cheap, so check whether prices are per pint, per half or per 300ml pour before you order a round. Happy hour windows and hawker centre stalls are where your dollar stretches furthest.
- Match the venue to the occasion. A brewery smokehouse suits a long lazy afternoon, a deep taplist bar suits explorers, and a neighbourhood pub suits a quiet catch up. Knowing what you want before you go saves you from a mismatched night.
- Confirm it is still trading and check the vibe. Outlets relocate and close, so a quick look at recent reviews or the venue’s own channels avoids a wasted trip. Note the crowd and noise level too, as some taprooms roar on match nights.
What to expect
Craft beer in Singapore sits at a premium to your standard commercial pint, and that is largely down to import duty, freight and small batch economics. Expect a lot of pours in the mid range, with entry level local lagers landing cheaper and rare imports or high alcohol specials sitting at the top. Many bars price by pour size, so a 300ml serve, a half and a full pint can all appear on the same menu, and flights let you sample several styles for the price of a couple of pints.
Formats vary widely. Some venues brew on site and pour only their own beer, others run a rotating guest tap programme, and a few pair the beer with serious food, from smokehouse platters to hawker plates. Service is usually casual and counter led, and staff at the better spots know their list well enough to steer you. Whatever you order, pace yourself, keep water on the table and sort out transport before the last pour.
| Venue type | Character | Typical taplist | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local brewery or taproom | Beer brewed on or near site | Mostly house brews | Provenance and freshness |
| Deep taplist bar | Curated rotating selection | 15 to 25 plus taps | Variety seekers and explorers |
| Neighbourhood pub | Relaxed, local, low key | Small focused list | Easy catch ups after work |
| Rooftop microbrewery | Polished, scenic, premium | House brews on tap | Special occasions and views |
Price bands used below (a rough guide, subject to change): $ = wallet-friendly, $$ = mid-range, $$$ = premium.
Our shortlist
Last checked: August 2026. Outlets and details change, so please confirm directly before you visit.
These are places regularly cited by Singapore drinkers and food writers, grouped so you can pick by mood rather than scroll through a ranking.
Local breweries and taprooms
Little Island Brewing Co. (Changi Village) – A sprawling microbrewery and smokehouse that brews its own beer on site and pairs it with slow smoked meats, regularly cited as a weekend destination for its laid back Changi setting. Best for a long, unhurried afternoon over house pours and a proper feed. Price guide: $$
RedDot Brewhouse (Dempsey Hill) – One of the pioneers of the local craft scene, known for quirky house brews including its spirulina tinted green lager, and a green, leafy Dempsey location. Best for drinkers who want characterful homegrown beer with a garden setting. Price guide: $$
LeVeL33 (Marina Bay) – Billed as one of the world’s highest urban microbreweries, it brews on site and overlooks Marina Bay, making it the polished choice of the group. Best for a special occasion or when you want a view with your beer. Price guide: $$$
Sunbird Brewing Co. (Mandai) – An award winning local outfit that has built a strong reputation among Singapore beer fans, with a taproom setting away from the usual crowds. Best for enthusiasts chasing homegrown brews with a track record. Price guide: $$
Bars with wide taplists
Druggists (Jalan Besar) – Housed in a heritage shophouse, this bar is regularly recommended for its deep rotating tap programme and large bottle selection spanning local and international brewers. Best for explorers who want to work through an ambitious, ever changing list. Price guide: $$
Smith Street Taps (Chinatown) – A much loved all draft stall tucked into Chinatown Complex hawker centre, long regarded as a craft beer institution for its rotating taps and hawker food pairings. Best for value seekers who want fresh pours alongside classic hawker plates. Price guide: $ – $$
Neighbourhood pubs
Good Luck Beerhouse (Haji Lane) – A no frills craft beer bar on Haji Lane pouring a rotating line up of mostly local taps with easy going bar bites. Best for a relaxed, unfussy pint in a buzzy neighbourhood. Price guide: $$
Tips
How much should I budget for a night of craft beer in Singapore?
Craft beer sits at a premium here, so a single pour of a mid range beer often lands in the mid teens or higher. Hawker centre stalls and happy hour windows are the friendliest on the wallet, while rare imports and rooftop venues cost more. Sharing flights is a smart way to taste widely without a heavy bill.
What is the difference between a taproom and a craft beer bar?
A taproom is usually attached to a brewery and pours mostly that brewery’s own beer, often freshest at the source. A craft beer bar curates taps from many different brewers, local and imported, so the list changes more often. Both are worth visiting, and which suits you depends on whether you want provenance or variety.
Is Singapore craft beer any good compared with imports?
The local scene has matured a lot, with several homegrown breweries winning regional and international awards. Local beer also tends to be fresher simply because it travels less, which matters for hop forward styles. A good bar will let you compare a local pour against an import side by side.
What should I order if I am new to craft beer?
Start with something approachable such as a pale ale, a lager or a wheat beer, then ask staff to guide you towards bolder styles. Ordering a flight or a couple of half pours lets you taste before you commit to a full pint. Tell the bartender what you usually drink and they will point you in the right direction.
How do I enjoy craft beer responsibly?
Craft beers often carry higher alcohol than standard lagers, so check the ABV and pace yourself accordingly. Keep water on the table, eat while you drink, and space out your pours across the night. Most importantly, arrange safe transport home in advance and never drink and drive.
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