Dreaming of sipping colourful cocktails on a pristine beack but don’t have the time to hotfoot it to an exotic holiday locale? Head to one of these beautiful poolside bars for a summertime experience that’s just as indulgent.
1) Wet Bar, W Singapore
Not so much a poolside bar than an actual in-pool bar, you can actually swim right up to the counter and order your drinks and sit on submerged bar stools. Having said that, the water-shy can also lounge by the resort pool on massive hammocks or comfy recliners. It’s got a delectable snack selection − perfect for lazy afternoons − from hand-cut chilli cheese fries with homemade mustard dill pickles to artisanal burgers, and monthly Endless Summer pool parties featuring live spinning acts from international DJs.
Must-try cocktails include the Cocoscape, which is a refreshing blend of white rum, coconut juice and pandan extract, and the Flirty and Wet, a fruity blend of vodka, pineapple, peach and cranberry juices.
2) Cloud 9, Naumi Hotel
Located on the rooftop by the boutique hotel’s infinity pool, the bar’s laid-back, resort feel is juxtaposed against a panoramic view of the city skyline. As the sun sets, escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a glass of champagne or a Naumitini, a non-alcoholic cocktail of pineapple, citrus and lychee, go for an evening dip or groove to chill-out tunes in this urban oasis.
3) Bay@5, Mandarin Oriental Hotel
If wild and wet isn’t your style, then this chic outdoors lounge might appeal to your leisured preferences. Overlooking the Singapore river and the city’s landmarks, the bar is perfect for an intimate afternoon tete-a-tete or a romantic evening as you enjoy an opulent tea of Australian rock oysters, mini wagyu sliders and sashimi, or take in the sunset with a lychee, vodka and champagne MO Singapore cocktail.
4) Rock Pool Bar, Hard Rock Hotel
There’s much to do on Sentosa Island but the odds are you won’t want to spend much time at them when you could be cooling off at this swim-up bar, which is located within the rock- and-roll theme of the resort’s expansive free form pool. High rollers with a tab of more than $350 are entitled a private poolside cabana complete with a personal dip pool. Sip on the bar’s signature cocktail, the cheekily named Sex on the Hard Rock Beach, or bite into a juicy Hard Rock legendary Burger – that’s the life!