The Singapore Government last week instituted a mandatory shutdown of bars due to the COVID-19 menace. Here’s a list of venues that’s been affected by the COVID-19 bar shutdown.

Update: As part of the “circuit breaker” measures announced by the Singapore Government on Friday 3 April 2020, all dining establishments – including gastrobars and bars of all kinds – will only be allowed to operate for deliveries and takeaway only from Tuesday 7 April 2020 to at least Monday 4 May 2020. No dining in will be allowed under the new measures. 

The Singapore Government’s sudden – if expected – mandatory shutdown of bars and other entertainment venues last week to combat coronavirus caught the country’s nightlife industry somewhat flatfooted.

The announcement, which was released on 24 March, stated that “bars and entertainment venues like night clubs, discos, cinemas, theatres, and karaoke outlets, where there is a high risk of transmission due to sustained close contact over a period of time” were to be closed from effectively 27 March 2020 and will last till 30 April 2020.

This move comes as the government ramps up its battle against the epidemiological nightmare that has swept across the world and seen soaring death tolls in countries such as China, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Earlier the local authorities had already moved to ban large gatherings – including shutting down many activities in the Singapore events calendar – and rightly instituted ever stricter social distancing measures to prevent widespread local transmission.

While the ban very clearly targets specific nightlife venue types – you can certainly assume that your favourite sleazy siam diu bars, glitzy club lounges, or gay-friendly discotheques with their sweaty gyrating masses to come under the ban hammer – it isn’t so clear for other operations. As such Spirited Singapore has reached out to as many cocktail bars, whisky bars, beer bars, and other drinking holes to see which has been affected by the shutdown, and which remain open.

As of now the shutdown is currently slated to lift at end April 2020, but the authorities did not discount the possibility that it may extended if the situation doesn’t improve. For now these are the bars we have verified to shut at least till 30 April 2020:

Cocktail Venues

  • Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall
  • Alley Bar
  • The Bar at 15 Stamford
  • IBHQ Singapore
  • Idlewild
  • Jigger & Pony
  • MO Bar
  • Nutmeg & Clove
  • Origin Bar
  • The Other Room
  • SKAI Bar

Beer Bars/Brewpubs

  • Alchemy Singapore
  • Craft Beer Bar Takumi
  • Mikkeller Bar
  • Penny Black

Whisky Bars

  • Auld Alliance
  • The Grande Whisky Collection
  • Quaich Bar (Havelock)
  • Quaich Bar (South Beach)
  • St Louis House
  • The ExciseMan
  • The Single Cask
  • The Swan Song
  • The Wall

Others

  • Orihara Shoten

While we’re not recommending you head out immediately with a bunch of friends for a drinking sesh, here is a list of venues that are not (fully) affected by the COVID-19 bar shutdown and remain open if you’re already out and looking for a quick drink before heading home:

Cocktail Venues

  • Bee’s Island Drinkery
  • The Elephant Room
  • Employees Only Singapore
  • Jekyll & Hyde
  • Junior The Pocket Bar
  • Manhattan (reduced hours)
  • Moonstone
  • Native
  • The Old Man Singapore
  • The Secret Mermaid
  • Smoke & Mirrors

Wine Bars

  • Park90
  • Praelum Wine Bistro
  • WINE RVLT

Gastrobars/Gastro-restaurants

  • ATLAS (reduced hours)
  • Barbary Coast (Deadfall + Ballroom)
  • The Beast
  • Caffe Fernet
  • Copper
  • DON HO (reduced hours)
  • Fat Prince
  • The Dragon Chamber
  • Gibson
  • The Guild Singapore
  • Humpback
  • JAM by Siri House
  • Jibiru
  • Kabuke
  • Lime House
  • Live Twice
  • LUMO
  • Malthouse
  • Mitzo
  • Neon Pigeon
  • Revamp Bar & Kitchen
  • The Sampan
  • Summerlong
  • Sum Yi Tai
  • Tess Bar & Kitchen
  • Thunderbird Bistro
  • Tippling Club

Beer Bars/Brewpubs

  • The Alchemist Lab
  • Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar
  • American Taproom
  • Brewerkz
  • Cider Pit
  • Druggists
  • Freehouse
  • The Good Beer Company
  • Good Luck Beerhouse
  • Heart of Darkness Brewery Singapore
  • In Bad Company
  • Little Creatures Singapore (reduced hours)
  • SG Taps
  • Sixteen Ounces

Whisky Bars

  • The Cooperage
  • The Writing Club

Others

  • Brass Lion Distillery – Tasting Room
  • Fung Kee Hotdogs
  • The Great Beer Experiment
  • Orh Gao Taproom
  • Pink Blossoms Brewing – Tasting Room
  • Smith Street Taps
  • Straits Wine Company

This list will be continually updated as more details come in.

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