Spot a bright yellow shophouse along Boat Quay and make a beeline for level four. Here’s your pocket-sized hideout from the bustling streets below, with winning views of the Singapore River and city skyline. The rooftop bar is also a lesser-known spot for catching the fireworks on special occasions, minus the fussy markups or entry fees.
The vibe
Unpretentious and casual. Higher Ground is run by Thugshop, the same fun folks behind underground party venues — MDLR, HQ, and Tuff Club, just to name a few. But instead of thumping beats and frequent pop-ups, you’re more likely to find regulars cracking a cold one or sipping on a tipple at the rooftop terrace.
The food
Straightforward Asian-inspired bar bites like edamame dip and chips, crab ikura kueh pie tee, and umami fries help to line the tummy, but for something more substantial, go for the pizzas — three options are available — or the charred Iberico presa.
The drink
A promising line-up of cocktails sees easy favourites like the apple pie sour, gin sour, hibiscus sour plum, or for fans of headier concoctions — the ever-popular Dragon Makgeolli, where the whisky comes on strong. You can also peruse the beer menu, which has a good range of craft from Off Day, and in what might come as a surprise, the bar carries a pretty decent selection of natural wines too.
Time Out tip
Come on weekday evenings for quieter catch-ups overlooking the city, or visit during festive weekends for a pumping atmosphere, plenty of socialising, and lots of beer.
