With a huge variety of wine bars around the city, there are more options than ever — whether you’re after a rare vintage, a casual after-work glass of vino, or a few pre-game rounds of bubbly.

Caveau

This swanky wine bar recently got a facelift and now sports a sleeker and sexier look. They've kept the two enomatic machines featuring 16 different wines, which is French-dominated. Whether you choose something by the glass or opt for a bottle, there are also select nibbles to stave off your hunger. With a collection of over 400 wines, the retail store allows you to enjoy wines in-house or take away.

Drinks & Co.

This low-key bottle shop and cafe carries a mix of boutique and commercial New World wines, as well as spirits. They’ve got affordable options that start as low as $22 a bottle, but you can also have wines by the glass for about $10. Expect basic grub like cheese platters and Parma ham sandwiches, although if you’re really hungry you can order pizza from Spizza down the road. 

Merchants

This wine cellar, store and casual bistro carries mainly Australian bottles. Nosh on simple but hearty fare like ham, cheese and tomato focaccia toasties; duck rillettes with toast; and platters like cured meat and artisan cheeses. All these come with handy recommended pairings, but if you know your stuff, there are over 200 labels (from $30) from more than 50 boutique vineyards. The best part is that they consistently bring in winemakers to do cellar tastings.

Napoleon

This slick Telok Ayer space with lots of dark wood and black leather is lined with enomatic machines. The stuff dispensed from the enomatic machines are categorized according to flavor–think spicy or fruity–that thoughtfully come in tasting portions. They’ve also got unfussy food like spinach salad with crispy bacon and desserts like lemon tart with lime sorbet.

O Batignolles

Run by some French nationals who sure know a thing or two about wine, O Batignolles has a distinctly Parisian brasserie look complete with rattan chairs and marbletop tables. They’ve got affordable by-the-glass options starting at around $7 and bottles hovering around $40. Wines are usefully categorized by flavor: fresh, fruity and light, balanced and elegant, or intense and rich, and are predominantly sourced from French vineyards that are pretty exclusive in Singapore. Food-wise, they serve nibbles like cold cut and cheese platters, as well as heartier options like French burger with Comte cheese and a Saturday brunch complete with eggs, pastries, juices and bubbly.

Osteria Art

So this isn't really a wine bar but the swish CBD restaurant has a 500-strong list of wine bottles from all over Europe, although Italian bottlings still dominate. The front bar portion is lined with wine bottles and is becoming a regular haunt for after-work CBD execs who are into exploring interesting bottlings. If you're not after the affordable cocktails, then the barmen will surely point you to a great bottle or two. And it doesn't hurt that you can continue the night by having dinner in their plush leather-clad space.

Praelum Wine Bistro

Ruled by a monochromatic color scheme, this wine bar has a pretty laidback vibe. The cuisine has a Indochinese/French slant with options like escargots and Vietnamese-style rice paper rolls, while the wine list is focused on mainly Old World French and Italian varietals but also has Spanish, German and Austrian vinos. They’ve also got a curated selection of New World bottles from New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and even Lebanon.

Verre Wine Bar

Located on the quieter side of Robertson Quay, this place is an oenophile’s dream. Verre has over 750 labels in its walk-in cellar with a spotlight on distinctive Bordeaux- and Burgundy-style wines. Not only do they have heavyweights like Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite Rothschild, they also represent smaller, family-owned vineyards and a rotating list of wines by the glass.

Vida Vino

Located on happening Keong Saik Road, this classy wine bar has lots of teal and mahogany lining its interiors. The wine list has extensive descriptions that could be mistaken as drunken poetic verses, but have 11 by-the-glass options from around $12 that are more complex than your typical housepour. There are also bottles from around $58 with both New and Old Worlds represented. Expect lots of tapas like grilled octopus and “bikini” sandwiches with machego, iberico ham and black truffle cream.

Wine Connection Cheese Bar

A favorite for those who like bargain bottles of great wine (who doesn’t?), this Robertson Quay deli and store has transformed into a cheese and wine bar. Offering over 40 matured farm cheeses from Europe, they also have salads, tartines and raclette sets on top of over 250 Old World and New World vino labels from about $30 a bottle.

Chopsuey Cafe

Fancy some Sino-Anglo nosh? Chopsuey Cafe makes some pretty great, albeit toned down, renditions of our childhood favorites. From a smoky sweet & sour pork with pineapple compote, to DIY lettuce cups (San Choy Pau) with a cornucopia of pork, chicken, corn, mushroom, beansprouts and sugar snap peas in a rich, dark sauce. It also doesn't hurt that the colonial-looking space is decorated with plenty of vintage items that take us back to yesteryear.

The Disgruntled Chef

Blink and you'll miss this hidden restaurant. A staircase encased in greenery hides a hillside subterranean restaurant with lots of great food. Whether you fancy something small or big, they have conceptual but comforting food like seared scallops with crackling pork belly, carrot puree and picked daikon; steak tartare with quail eggs and truffled hash browns; as well as decadent brunch items like the Ultimate Beef Burger, with candied bacon, cheddar cheese and caramlised onions. 

Jones the Grocer

There's nothing more leisurely than a warehouse-like space with communal tables, gourmet groceries and a cheese room. We admit that the place may be better suited for lunches, but what they do have on their menu is pretty solid. Whether you opt for a duck confit salad or a rigatoni pasta, the food is light and easy. Don't miss their make-your-own cheese board or cold cut platter – you can even try samples from the cheese room and deli.

La Ventana

Michelin-starred Spanish chef Carles Gaig's Spanish tapas restaurant serves traditional Catalan dishes like Canelon, a cannelloni-style dish stuffed with foie gras, beef and pork in truffle cream; Carabinero paella in a dark brown sauce; crispy boneless suckling pig and pigeon cooked two-ways—confit and josper-grilled. Oh, and the airy space has lots of sangria.

Long Beach Seafood

Few can pass up Chinese and Singaporean-style seafood. This huge seafood restaurant serves up some of the island's best pepper and chilli crabs as well as other favorites like garlic razor clams, succulent steamed prawns and plenty of fish. For those who don't really like seafood, fret not —they’ve got other classics like roast chicken, fried rice and oodles of noodles, too.

The Green Door

This garden-inspired bar not only has kooky cocktails but tons of light bites and weekend barbecues. It's a great place for afternoon drinks or weekend chill out sessions with its Alice In Wonderland-inspired decor and beautiful semi-alfresco space.

Open Farm Community

Chef Ryan Clift teams up with urban farmers Edible Gardens for this farm-to-table(ish) restaurant. The expansive 5,000 sq m space has its own herb and vegetable garden, as well as an airy dining room serving hearty and fresh pastas, salads and meat dishes. Don't skip the creamy rigatoni with local mushrooms, as well as the charred lamb rump with garden peas and mash. The place also encourages people to picnic in the garden while playing a game of lawn bowling or ping pong, too.

PS. Cafe

This Dempsey Hill institution has close proximity to the rainforest, with long timber walkways, huge flower arrangements and floor-to-ceiling windows. Great for brunches, lunches, suppers and everything in between, the easy and breezy space is a favorite hangout for any Dempsey-goer. Although everyone has their favorites, classics like their Green Goddess pesto penne, PS. burger and truffle fries never go out of style. They've also got a pretty neat list of cocktails like their basil & lemon mint mojito, sangrias and extensive wine list.

Red Dot Brewhouse

This large structure perched on a hill is part of Singapore's growing microbrewery scene. Admittedly, they're better with bar snacks and light bites than full-on meals, but the place is pretty and weekend atmosphere buzzing. No one can go wrong with chicken wings, pork belly, fries and a pint of beer, but their grilled sausage platter is pretty legit, too. For heartier meals, they have pastas, pizzas and burgers that go well with brews like the lime wheat, weizen, and kolsch.

Roadhouse

An all-American diner and restaurant, Roadhouse serve up grub like Mac 'N' Cheese, bacon marinated burgers and crispy Cajun shrimp sandwiches. The Simple Brie-vine Burger is something pretty special with a josper-grilled wagyu patty, grilled poached pear, brie cheese, rocket and sundried tomatoes. 

The White Rabbit

Destination dining spot for those special occasions, this converted church is now home to a modern French fine dining restaurant. Once you stop admiring the stained glass windows, white-washed space and tiled floors, the food should grab your attention. Think wagyu beef carpaccio with truffle cream sauce, balsamic pearls and shaved parmesan; a savoury-sweet foie gras duet with apple and cherry compote; an Alaskan king crab and pork broth tagliette; or a 36-hour Brandt short ribs. For those who like cocktails, meander over to The Rabbit Hole to try their 18 different types of gin and tonic.