Clarke Quay in Singapore. About us Central Fire Station and Civil Defense Heritage Gallery
Our list of 10 best attractions also includes Clark Quay, which is considered the epicenter of the capital's nightlife. However, this area is not only famous for its exquisite coastal restaurants and lively bars: there is a lot to see here.
The best attractions of Clark Quay and the Riverside area are within walking distance of Clark Quay and City Hall tube stations (you need to cross the river).
We've included a list of family-friendly cultural activities that you can enjoy during the day. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the vibrant nightlife once the sun goes down.
The Singapore River at Clarke Quay serves as a central artery to the area's thriving nightlife scene. However, the scenic river is not just for admiring while dining at a nearby restaurant.
Asian Civilization Museum
The Asian Civilizations Museum is a magnificent colonial British style building that is 5-7 min. walking distance from Clarke Quay, Raffles Place and City Hall Tube Station. Here are the best of Singapore's collections, reflecting the eventful history of the region. To examine all the exhibits you will need at least 2 or 3 hours.
The museum will interest even those people who do not consider themselves history buffs. It covers a huge period of development of Singapore, from the time of the discovery of the island with subsequent colonization and ending with modern days.
The Museum of Asian Civilizations occupies an area of over 14,000 m2. There are more than 1,300 artifacts from all over Asia.
- Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00 (Friday until 21:00)
- Address: 1 Empress Place Singapore
G-Max Reverse Bungy
The G-Max Reverse Bungy attraction is the hallmark of Clark Quay. The gigantic structure especially attracts attention at night when its lights come on. The entertainment will be appreciated by extreme sports enthusiasts craving a daily dose of adrenaline.
The attraction starts operating at 2 o'clock in the afternoon; in the evening there is a small queue. Daredevils are seated in a special capsule, which is launched high into the air at a speed of 200 km/h!
Sound scary? Fear not: G-Max Reverse Bungy boasts a 100% safety record and over 1,000,000 of its visitors have escaped unharmed. The ticket costs a lot: those who like to tickle their nerves will have to shell out S$45.
- Opening hours: from 14:00 to late evening
- Metro: Clarke Quay
- Address: 3E River Valley Road
Boat Quay
Boat Quay is located between Nose Bridge Road and Anderson Bridge, 5-7 min. walk from Clark Quay station. Here you can stroll along the water's edge, admiring the delightful views of fashionable restaurants.
We advise you to head towards Nose Bridge Road, which crosses the river near Clarke Quay station. From there you can see the skyscrapers of the city's business center and the majestic elite building, where a laser show is held in the evenings (at 20-00 and at 21-30). A magnificent sight awaits you here: the lights of numerous bars and restaurants located on the coastal strip are reflected in the water surface.
Central Fire Station and Civil Defense Heritage Gallery
A fire station may seem like an odd place to visit on holiday, but once you see this station, which is the oldest in Singapore, you'll understand why it is such a popular tourist destination. The colonial style exterior of the station is simply superb. It really stands out with its traditional red and white color scheme against the backdrop of modern shopping centers and office buildings.
Inside, the equally impressive Civil Defense Heritage Gallery awaits, and visitors can wander around for free, learning the interesting history of this iconic Singapore site.
Children will also be delighted, especially when they can hold fire station equipment in their hands, sit in a fire truck and even put on a fireman's helmet! You can get here on foot from Clarke Quay or City Hall metro stations.
- Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00
- Address: 62 Hill Street, Singapore
Gallery Art-2
Since the late 90s, Art-2 Gallery has exhibited and sold paintings and installations by Singaporean artists, and also advised art lovers in the city-state.
Located on Hill Street, a stone's throw from Clarkey Quay across the river, Art-2 Gallery specializes in contemporary 3D sculptures, installations and ceramics, and hosts permanent exhibitions that promote the work of local artists as well as more nationally recognized ones. international artists from Asia.
This little gallery is amazing in its variety, conveniently centrally located and definitely worth an hour or two of your time if you're near Clarke Quay.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00 - 19:00
- Address: 140 Hill Street
Hong San See Temple
This century-old Chinese temple is a great place to visit if you're in the Clark Quay area and craving something a little more cultural than nightlife and shopping.
The temple, located on Mohamed Sultan Road, consists of a series of buildings, courtyards and statues, providing a quiet place of worship for Buddhists as well as an interesting photo spot for the ever-increasing number of tourists passing by.
Hon San See has received national and international recognition, being awarded the status of a Singapore National Landmark in 1978, and in 2010 being awarded the "Excellence Award" in the UNESCO Heritage Conservation Award. Asia-Pacific region".
The nearest tube station is Clarke Quay, and from there you can walk up the river to the temple in 10 minutes and enjoy a scenic walk at the same time
- Opening hours: daily
- Address: 29 Mohamed Sultan Road
The hall with a modern-style interior, designed in muted burgundy-brown tones, is the hallmark of the Clark Quay restaurant. Large golden lampshades, noble wine and chocolate shades - it is respectable here and at the same time free and cozy. And such an environment is conducive to both gastronomic impressions, pleasant communication and an extraordinary holiday. Therefore, despite the fact that the establishment is very young, regular guests have a friendly and warm relationship with the establishment.
What is so attractive about Clar Key and why is it loved? For a cozy atmosphere and the opportunity to calmly communicate - it is not noisy or tiring here, and the music is only light and quiet, like lounge or retro. It is very quiet and uncrowded here in the evenings and on weekends, there is a summer veranda outdoors, so the restaurant is very good for relaxation. For delicious food from a brand chef: the organizers of the establishment admit that they dreamed of opening “a restaurant only about food.” For a friendly and understanding attitude towards guests. For regular guests there is a pleasant bonus system. And as for banquets, guests are provided with many options for holding a celebration, on favorable terms. The restaurant has a lot of possibilities for this - the main hall, which is very easy to arrange so as to hold a large banquet for 100 people and a buffet for 200, and a small family celebration in the fireplace room, or simply by separating part of the main hall so as to create a warm “own” at the table circle". For business lunches and negotiations, businessmen prefer a separate room for 15 people, hidden from prying eyes. It is also impossible not to note the convenient location of the restaurant: it is within walking distance from the Kievskaya metro station and not far from the central highways of the capital - Kutuzovsky Prospekt, Dorogomilovskaya Street, Boulevard Ring. For restaurant guests there is a guarded parking lot for 20 cars.
The restaurant's cuisine is European in its original design. Overall, this is a tasty and understandable cuisine, and at the same time interesting without extravagance. Menu hits include a tender terrine of ripe tomatoes with shrimp on a bed of arugula, seasoned with Vitello Tonato sauce, equally light gazpacho with cream cheese and fried eel, and cold borscht. A special section of the menu is dedicated to pizza - it is baked on a crispy thin dough, as well as homemade pasta and ravioli. Meat connoisseurs often prefer chateaubriand steak with porcini mushroom puree, as well as chopped beef steak from selected beef tenderloin with cream sauce and fried zucchini. Well, those who love fish will delight in sea bass marinated in basil and baked with mussels. For dessert - desserts from the pastry chef: mille-feuille with strawberries, cheesecake, caramel dessert, chocolate cake.
The bar offers wines from Europe and the New World, as well as spirits with a fairly large selection of whiskey. It is also worth paying attention to the homemade lemonades prepared by the Clark Key bartenders.
The small country of Singapore attracts travelers who want to learn more about the mysterious islands washed by the waves of the Indian Ocean. While walking along the Clark Quay embankment, which is a landmark of the city-state of Singapore, you plunge into an amazing atmosphere created by a harmonious combination of culture and traditions of different peoples inhabiting the famous “Lion City”, which comes from ancient legends. You can talk for a long time about the city’s embankments, which stretch over a distance of more than 3 km. Travelers will always admire them and be amazed at the rare architectural structures. At the same time, the question will certainly arise: who, when, why created such beauty on the banks of the Singapore River?
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The development of the waterfront cannot be seen in isolation from Singapore's history. Now it is considered the main attraction of tourists to the city. The origin of life in this place, located near the equator, is associated with the famous Singapore River. The historical center of the country, the city, grew next to a waterway that starts near the Quim Saint Bridge and ends at the shore of a bay called Marina Bay. Now there are three embankments here, which have become the center of the country’s tourism infrastructure. Although previously the river bank was used as an industrial trade zone.
Numerous trading berths and wharves made the river the main transshipment point for goods in Southeast Asia during the 19th century. Huge warehouses with rare goods valued in Europe, such as spices, exotic offerings in the form of shark fins, swallow's nests, filled endless warehouses. In Chinese documents dating back to the 3rd century, Singapore was called by the Javanese name Tumasik. Even then it was an important point of trade for the Srivijaya Empire, the center of which was located in Sumatra.
Residential buildings and government buildings appeared on the coast in all directions. The proximity of a dirty river, noisy ports, and floating barges disturbed the city's residents. The decision to clean the river and change its status was made in the 20th century. Cargo ships began to approach the new berths of Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, and the waterfront was transformed from an industrial area into a favorite tourist destination.
Description
Already at the first stage of reconstruction of the embankment, the area acquired a modern look. Chinese entrepreneurs used existing docks, warehouses, abandoned ships, and old barges for cafes, restaurants, trendy dance clubs, and floating bars with live music. Glittering ships and beautiful excursion boats, filled with tourists from different countries, now approach the berths of the old trading piers. This is how modern Singapore was born. The capital of one of the prosperous countries in the Asian region. Sir Andrew Clarke, who served as the second governor of Singapore, made a great contribution to the organization of the modern embankment. The embankment, which became the center of the city’s nightlife, was named after him.
Even on hot evenings, it’s easy to breathe on the embankment thanks to the numerous air conditioners installed along all the streets. The sounds of music coming from numerous cafes, clubs, bars, and open verandas invite everyone to the epicenter of Singapore's nightlife.
Numerous sculptures decorating the sidewalks, illuminated at night in an original way, are easily confused with the figures of living people. They complement the atmosphere of the embankment with a mysterious Asian spirit against the backdrop of historical and modern architectural masterpieces. Among them, the figure of a mythical animal with the head of a lion and a fish tail, called Merlion, stands majestically. According to ancient legend, the monster protected residents from enemies. From his eyes, which lit up with bright fire at the sight of an enemy, a stream of fire burst out, incinerating the enemy. During a strong storm, he rescued sinking ships from the water. By the way, the mythical animal has become a symbol of the country. The monument in the form of a beautiful fountain in the image of a creature was built in the city according to the design of sculptor Lim Nang Seng in 1972.
What to see
Walking along the embankment, you are struck by the atmosphere of coexistence of the traditions of Eastern and Western cultures. Starting with the usual treats, without which no trip is complete, you can equally successfully taste dishes of Indian, Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian, Irish, and Russian cuisines. Cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants invite you to try local drinks and treats with glowing advertisements. Along with a pleasant dinner, you can admire the fabulous panorama of the city at night. Those present get an unforgettable impression looking at millions of colorful lights reflected in the calm waters of the river. Or, sitting in a small garden of a cafe, under decorative ficus and palm trees, surrounded by rare flowers of potted plants.
You cannot pass by the central illuminated fountain installed on the embankment. Jets of clear, clean water fly out of the ground and water the vacationers. An interesting attraction for lovers in the form of a net with locks, which they secure, and the key is thrown into the water. It is located near the local metro station. Or the daredevil attraction G-Max Reverse Bungy in the form of an open capsule attached to a cable. The aircraft is a hit with the most adventurous visitors. The famous flea market always opens trade with interesting offers on Sundays. The huge shopping centers Clarke Quay Central and Liang Court invite you to shop every day.
Among the architectural attractions located on the embankment, the Museum of Asian Civilization, the Parliament building, and the bridge connecting two river banks in the form of a DNA molecule are of interest. House of Arts, Singapore Theatre, sculptural monuments, compositions, for example, First Generation, River Merchants, etc. One can be surprised by the shape of the roof, similar to a durian fruit, and the air conditioner, indistinguishable from a lotus flower.
A night trip along the river on a tourist boat, an excursion tram departing every half hour from several piers of the embankment. You can admire the beauty of the embankment while sitting on an authentic Chinese boat, an amphibious bus cutting through the river waves. The main problem while walking along the embankment is the task of not missing interesting moments in the sparkling bustle of extraordinary lights.
How to get there
The city's public transport connects all its points with the famous embankment. For example, you can take buses No. 2, 33, 12, 54, 147, 190 from Clarke Quay metro station. You can go through Fort Canning Park and get off at Dhoby Ghau station. You need to know that the city has a very convenient, simple metro system, consisting of four lines leading to all areas of the city. Travel on the metro is not expensive, and various payment options are available. This is a popular public mode of transport throughout the country. While saying goodbye to the city, you can throw a coin and go to the famous “Fountain of Wealth”. Extend your palms to him and take with you a small piece of luck, luck, success.
In the middle of the century before last, there were many warehouses, warehouses, piers and docks, which mainly belonged to enterprising Chinese. Life here did not calm down for a moment, merchant ships constantly arrived and sailed, various goods were loaded and unloaded.
But already in the early 90s of the twentieth century, it was decided to modernize the entire area: docks and warehouses turned into cafes, restaurants and luxury boutiques, warehouses were converted into discos, neat tourist ships now depart from the trading piers, and old boats were turned into floating bars. The embankment became a respectable, prestigious area and was named after Singapore's second governor, Andrew Clark. The word "quay" means a pier used for loading and unloading ships.
Both tourists and Singaporeans themselves love to walk along the Clark Quay embankment, especially since such walks are pleasant at any time: during the day the air here is air-conditioned using special installations, so there is no omnipresent Singaporean heat. But in the evening there are especially many people walking: they are attracted by numerous restaurants with open areas, where they can taste the best local dishes and enjoy the panorama of the city, and nightclubs shining with lights, and other entertainment. Shopping lovers should definitely visit this street – there are a lot of exclusive products open here. The colorful flea market, which runs on the embankment on Sundays, is also worth visiting.
G-Max Reverse Bungy
Many people are attracted by the extreme attraction G-Max Reverse Bungy – only a few people take the risk of riding it, but many come to watch the reckless daredevils. It consists of a cable stretched between two towers with an open capsule attached to it - three people sit inside and the capsule shoots up to a height of 60 meters at a speed reaching 200 km/h.
In the evenings the embankment is brightly lit and looks very beautiful. Adding color to it are the numerous bronze sculptures that stand on the sidewalk - in artificial light they can easily be mistaken for living people. Small pleasure boats depart from the pier every few minutes, from which it is so pleasant to admire the city at night and the picturesque Marina Bay.
Clark Quay (Singapore) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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With a high degree of confidence, we can say that every guest of Singapore visited the Clark Quay embankment and brought home the warmest memories, colorful photographs and a bunch of souvenirs in their suitcase. And it’s really almost impossible to leave without shopping, because Clark Key, in fact, is an entire shopping and entertainment complex consisting of hundreds of shops, boutiques, shops and large malls. However, most tourists and local employees go to the embankment only after sunset, when nightclubs, bars, luxury restaurants and inexpensive eateries are lit up with a myriad of lights, live music plays everywhere and a multilingual crowd is noisy. There is plenty of entertainment on Clarke Quay; you can hang out in this serene atmosphere all night. The only problem you need to prepare for will be the agony of choice - how not to miss something interesting in all this sparkling bustle.
With a high degree of confidence, we can say that every guest of Singapore visited the Clark Quay embankment and brought home the warmest memories, colorful photographs and a bunch of souvenirs in their suitcase.
A little history
Since the mid-19th century, when Singapore was experiencing an economic boom, the waterfront was dotted with endless warehouses, commercial warehouses, piers and boat garages. Trade and purchasing activity raged all day, barges and small boats scurried between ships, unloading and loading goods from all over the world. In a word, then it was not a tourist area, but an industrial and commercial zone.
Changes came in the second half of the 20th century, when it was decided to move the trading piers to a new location, clear the river, and give the area a presentable appearance. By 1993, the first phase of modernization was completed, Chinese entrepreneurs had turned Clark Quay into a fashionable place, replacing the docks with trendy cafes and restaurants, the warehouses had been converted into dance clubs, and the former trading wharves were now home to elegant snow-white steamships and excursion boats. On old ships and abandoned barges moored off the coast of Clarke Quay, original floating cafes and bars with live music have been set up.
The embankment has become the main tourist attraction of Singapore, and received its name in honor of the second Singaporean governor, Andrew Clark.
The delights of the embankment
Clarke Quay welcomes guests at any time of the day or night, but the main life on the embankment begins after sunset. An international crowd of tourists, attracted by the fiery sounds coming from the bars, fills the open verandas, tasting dishes from equally international establishments and admiring the colorful panoramas of the city at night. Indian cuisine here coexists with a Spanish tapas bar, behind the Russian bar “Rasputin” the doors of a Balinese restaurant are open, and when you leave the doors of a Brazilian churrascaria, you will find yourself in an Irish pub. Near each establishment there are small gardens with decorative ficus, palm trees and flowering plants in pots.
The countless sculptures decorating the sidewalks look very original at night - when darkness falls, they are illuminated, so that after a couple of cocktails you can confuse them with living people. The buildings on the embankment are also very interesting in architectural terms, where historical buildings compete with futuristic remakes. What about a bridge connecting the banks of the Singapore River, designed in the form of a DNA molecule, or a building with a roof reminiscent of the famous durian fruit, or an air conditioner in the shape of a lotus flower?
When spending time on the embankment, you should not limit yourself to walks on land. It's worth going on a mini night trip on a tourist boat to admire Singapore sparkling with colorful night lights.
One of the most famous attractions of Clark Key is the central fountain with lighting and jets of water, watering vacationers directly from the ground. The G-Max Reverse Bungy attraction for daredevils is also not left out: an open capsule attached to a cable is pulled between the towers and shot 60 meters into the air at a speed of 200 km/h. True, few are in a hurry to climb into this aircraft, while the majority film the brave men on their phones.
Clark Key also has its own attraction for lovers: a net is installed next to the Central metro station, couples hang a lock on it with their names, and throw the key into the river so that nothing can ever separate them.
The cultural baggage on the embankment can also be replenished by visiting such attractions as the Museum of Asian Civilizations, the local parliament building, and the landing site of Singapore's founding father Stamford Raffles. There is also a colorful flea market on the embankment on Sundays.
How to get there
From almost anywhere in Singapore the waterfront can be easily reached by public transport. The nearest tube stop is Clarke Quay on the Purple line, but you can also walk through Fort Canning Park from Dhoby Ghaut station, where the Purple, Red and Yellow lines intersect. There are also bus stops number 2, 33, 12, 54, 147, 190 near Clarke Quay metro station.