Multicultural Magic

From happy hour to the wee hours, Singapore sparkles with creative cocktail and fashion hot spots.

- Elyse Glickman

ALTHOUGH SINGAPORE was not officially an independent republic until 1965, its history as a hub for international trade can be traced back to the Middle Ages because of its strategic location on the Melaka Straits. By the 19th century, when under British rule, it had evolved into an alluring destination appealing to affluent travelers.

At that time, the Raffles Hotel (reopening later this year after an extensive remodel) appealed to discerning globetrotters with its exclusive features like electric lights, powered ceiling fans and The Long Bar. The bar occupies a hallowed place in cocktail history as birthplace of the Singapore Sling, a fruity gin cocktail that invited women guests to join the previously men-only party. In September 2018 The Long Bar reopened with updated versions of the Sling and its other cocktail staples.