Nightlife at Downtown East
Think of nightlife in Singapore and famous spots in Central Singapore like Clarke Quay and Tanjong Pagar immediately come to mind. But for Easties, the prospect of an hour’s journey for a night out might be less than ideal. Enter Downtown East.
If you could do without the worry of missing the last train home, head down to the lifestyle and entertainment hub instead for a slew of food and activities to keep you entertained till late. Here are some of the things you can do on your next night out with the gang:
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What’s the best way to get to Downtown East?
Downtown East has free parking off-peak from 12pm-2pm on weekdays and 9pm-5am daily – perfect for that supper run.There’s also a free shuttle bus departing from Pasir Ris MRT that operates from 11am-10pm every day.
Otherwise, you can just as easily walk 10 minutes or take these public buses to get to the mall from Pasir Ris MRT: 3, 5, 6, 12, 17, 21, 89, 354 and 358 (East Loop).
1. Don Dae Bak
Affordable KBBQ buffet till 5am
Image credit: @kebabsnotabs via Instagram
Midnight munchies can hit any time so it’s a good thing Don Dae Bak serves authentic Korean food into the wee hours of the morning, daily. Fill your tummy with all the classics from grilled pork belly to beef brisket with their 90-minute buffet, priced at an affordable $34.90/adult daily.
Image credit: Audrey Low via Google Maps
Much like many legit Korean restaurants, you’ll also be treated to complimentary free-flow banchan, or side dishes which include kimchi and japchae. Also don’t miss out on their array of Jinro and Cham E soju, makgeolli, and bokbunja – also known as raspberry wine.
Price: $34.90/adult | $21.90/child for a 90-minute buffet
Location: #01-302/303
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2. HaveFun Karaoke
Sing your heart out in themed rooms
Each room has a different theme.
It’s no secret that karaoke is a favourite pastime for many Singaporeans. After all, going zao-sia with your buds is the best way to break any ice and take any friendship to the next level.
They have projections on the walls to set the mood.
If you’re tired of fighting for k-room slots in the middle of town, head to the newly-opened HaveFun Karaoke at Downtown East instead. Featuring large theatre projections on the wall, spacious themed rooms, disco lights and microphone stands, this karaoke is bound to draw out your inner Adele.
You can even adjust the lighting and mood of the room to suit your playlist for the night.
Feel like a superstar for a night with their golden microphone.
No need to go to JB for karaoke – off-peak promo prices start from an affordable $9/pax for 2 hours with free-flow soft drinks. Senior citizens and students, we have better news for you. Flash your valid pass to bring that price down further to just $6/pax when you come as a group of 3 or more.
Rates: From $20/hour for an Exclusive Room for 6 pax for weekdays | From $28/hour for an Exclusive Room for 6 pax on weekends
Location: #01-311/312
3. The Wonderful World of Whimsy & Cow Play Cow Moo
Play arcade games till 1am on weekends
Win Sanrio, Pokemon, and Disney plushies at Cow Play Cow Moo.
Image credit: @siewlin711 via Instagram
Arcades are fun for folks of all ages, any time of the day so after supper, hit up Downtown East’s 2 arcades with your BFFs. That’s right the mall has two arcades set up side by side, and both of them open till 1am on weekends.
Image credit: @cowplaycowmoo via Instagram
Overload your senses with luck based games and claw machines at Cow Play Cow Moo, or find the beloved arcade classics like basketball hoops and Bishi Bashi at The Wonderful World of Whimsy.
Location (The Wonderful World of Whimsy): #04-104
Location (Cow Play Cow Moo): #04-102
4. Forest4 Darts Cafe
Mystical bar with free card games
Video games may train your hand-eye coordination, but nothing really puts your skills to the test as much as playing darts. At Forest4 Darts Cafe, there are 18 Dartslive2 electronic dartboards at $22 for 16 games, which works out to be just over $1.30 per game.
While that may sound like a lot of games for beginners, the credits are stored in a card so you can split the games over multiple visits.
Between rounds of darts and some DIY soju cocktails ($14/mug), you can relax and appreciate the mystical decor of this cafe where hanging plants illuminated by blue lights give this place Avatar vibes. Just be sure to make a reservation before going down to secure your booking!
Other than darts, Forest4 Darts Cafe also has card games such as Cards Against Humanity and the classic Uno if you need a break from dart tossing.
Location: #01-313
5. Siam Square Mookata
Popular all-you-can-eat chain
PSA for everyone who doesn’t know: Siam Square Mookata also has an outlet in Downtown East so you won’t need to head too far out just to get some of their famous BBQ-hotpot combo.
Bbq smoke exhaust tubes at each table so you won’t smell like Eau de Mookata afterwards.
Each plate here is priced from $2, but for those with a black hole for a stomach, go for their $32.90 buffet instead. Here, you’ll be able to find a variety of seafood options to choose from like oysters, scallops, salmon, and prawn paste on top of the usual BBQ and hotpot staples of marinated meat vegetables and the likes of hotdog and fishball.
Bonus – nacho cheese dip is available as part of the buffet too!
The outlet also opens all the way to the wee hours of the morning, so now you know where to quell your midnight cravings!
Location: #02-126
(Temporarily closed) OBAR Live House
Finding a bar with live music in the heartlands is rare, but it certainly is a welcome sight. As an Eastie myself, I was more than ecstatic to discover this new and easily accessible watering hole in the neighbourhood.
Resident singers and live bands jam to English and Canto songs
It’s impossible to miss the lively OBAR, which is located near the entrance of the hub. The bar features both indoor and outdoor seating, an assorted bar menu, and daily live music that brings the nightlife atmosphere of Clarke Quay to the ‘hood.
Here, you can look forward to affordable drinks like beer pints from $12. Pair this with Hyogo Oysters ($21.80) and Torched Salmon Mentai Don ($15.80), which are among their best-sellers. Their tapas menu is also bound to get you salivating, with flavourful bites such as Rossini Style Foie Gras ($15.80) and French Escargot ($13.80).
Front to back: Roast Pork ($11.80), French Escargot ($13.80), Crispy Baby Sotong ($13.80), Rossini Style Foie Gras ($15.80)
(Closed) Cue Guru
Pool: some say it’s a sport while others say it’s just a game. But whatever the case is, there’s nothing quite as shiok as potting that last 8-ball to win the game. At Cue Guru, there are 6 Brunswick pool tables that are bound to call out to even the most serious of players, as all of them are Brunswick tournament edition.
(Closed) Flaming Spice
Finding a dining option for a big group can be tough – after all, everyone has different preferences when it comes to food. But there’s no need to tear your hair out trying to find the perfect spot as Flaming Spice has got it all. This restaurant specialises in Indian food but also serves a variety of other cuisines like Western, Thai and Indonesian.
BONUS: Sundown freebies & 24-hour facilities
1st October 2024 update: Promotions in this following section of the article have ended.
To top off a slew of hangout spots at Downtown East, here are some perks to zhng up the nightlife in Pasir Ris even more.
Kissa Kalms is a vending machine cafe that’s open 24/7.
For those who work erratic schedules or simply want to get ahead of daily crowds, make the most out of their 24-hour facilities. Kissa Kalms is a 24/7 vending machine cafe that has ready-to-eat bento sets, local dishes and ice cream. Unlike your everyday vending machines, the ones here carry unique items such as celebrity chef “Justin Quek” bento series and Wagyu beef don.
You can also work off that midnight snack with Anytime Fitness, a gym that’s open 24/7.
And if you need a TGIF break to cool off after work, Wild Wild Wet has free entry* on Fridays and Saturdays, 6pm to 8pm! There’s no end date to this deal announced yet so make sure to head down there while you can.
To access these deals, drivers get free parking at Begonia Open-Air Carpark as well, available every day from 9PM to 5AM.
*For selected rides and attractions only.
Spend the evening at Downtown East
Easties needn’t travel far to enjoy the nightlife, especially since everything from karaokes to supper spots are there for you to end the night with. Downtown East is located pretty conveniently too – just hop on one of their convenient and free daily shuttle buses from Pasir Ris MRT to get to the hub.
On top of nightlife, they also have a variety of other long-standing entertainment options such as Cathay Cineplex and Hi Roller Indoor Skating Rink. You’ll have tons of activities to keep you entertained throughout the day.
Find out more about Downtown East here
Last updated by Kezia Tan on 30th September 2024.
This post was brought to you by Downtown East.
Photography by Lery Villanueva.