Singapore's once timid nightlife scene saw the start of a radical overhaul in 2006, thanks to legislative approval to revitalise the city's tourism industry. Since then, a host of lively drinking, dancing and partying venues have opened and Singapore's night scene is vastly improved as a result. That's not to say that it compares with Bangkok, Hong Kong or Shanghai for free-wheeling fun, but the plethora of upmarket, trendy bars and clubs is accompanied by one of the world's most diverse dining scenes.

Most venues are packed at weekends. Certain areas and venues are popular with expats and tourists, like Boat Quay and Clarke Quay with their renovated shop-houses and warehouses converted into noisy bars and restaurants overlooking the river. The bars in the hotels along Orchard Road are a safe bet for a refined drink or to meet clients, and nearby Emerald Hill Road and Cuppage Terrace both have a great collection of lively bars attracting locals and visitors. For more refined dining and drinking in a leafy hilltop setting (actually in an old British Army barracks), the Dempsey Road area is becoming increasingly popular.

The area with the liveliest nightlife is around Mohammed Sultan Road, with nearby Robertson Quay offering several classy waterfront venues. The East Coast has a few respectable, expat-flavoured bars, and Tanjong Pagar attracts a mixed, trendy crowd to its English-style bars and karaoke lounges.

Most clubs are open Sunday to Thursday 2200 to 0100 and Friday and Saturday 2200 to 0300. Dress code is generally smart-casual and the minimum age limit for drinking alcohol is 18 years, although some clubs have an over-21 policy. There is normally a cover charge, especially at weekends. Drinks tend to be quite expensive, but most bars offer happy hours or two-for-one on drinks at certain hours of the evening.

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Bars: Within the colonial grandeur of Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road, are the Bar & Billiard Room and the Long Bar for that famous Singapore Sling. The pretty Emerald Hill, with 19th-century Peranakan shop-houses, contains several bars, the best of which is Alley Bar, 180 Orchard Road. For a civilised drink on a sophisticated riverside terrace with a chic crowd, Bar Opiume, 1 Empress Place Waterfront, is a winner. For an alfresco martini, Helipad, 05-22 The Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Road, draws a hip clientele for drinks overlooking Clarke Quay. The pleasantly unpretentious rooftop bar Loof, 331 North Bridge Road, is another evening hot spot. Classy cocktails and fine wines accompanied by film screenings and a quiet, romantic setting are provided by The Screening Room, 12 Ann Siang Road. One Rochester, 1 Rochester Park, has a wonderful wine selection in the refurbished 70-year-old colonial house. On Sentosa's waterfront, Bikini Bar and Café del Mar are relaxed and very popular bars, especially at weekends.

Clubs: Hot clubs come and go rather fast at present in Singapore - the latest casualty being Ministry of Sound, which closed in late 2008. The venue has now been replaced by ZIRCA, Block C, The Cannery, 1-2 River Valley Road (www.zirca.sg), which offers an alluring combination of the best of Cirque, Cabaret and a dance club. The iconic Zouk,17 Jiak Kim Street (www.zoukclub.com.sg), going strong for over a decade, has reopened after a major renovation, and is considered Singapore's pioneer clubbing institution. In the past, it has hosted notable DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold and John Digweed, plus international bands. Within its walls are the mellower Velvet Underground, to which the cool, mature clubbers flock, the pre-club WineBar with refreshing terrace, and Phuture, a small club with break beats and hip-hop. The Butter Factory, One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, is a ground-breaking Singapore club which moved dowtown from the St James Power Station in late 2008 and prioritises urban hip-hop, rap and R&B grooves.

Karaoke: As in the rest of Asia, karaoke remains an inordinately popular evening's entertainment. The fun bar JJ Mahoney, 58 Duxton Road, has karaoke sessions in between the live music.

Live Music: Harry's @ Boat Quay, 28 Boat Quay (www.harrys.com.sg), housed in a renovated shop-house facing the river, is famous for its great live jazz, and popular with Singapore's power brokers and bankers. Zouk (see Clubs) is the best venue for big name DJs, both from Europe and the United States (like Norman Jay or DJ Alfredo) and, increasingly, from across Asia. A friendly bar with live R&B and classic rock, Crazy Elephant, Clark Quay Trader's Market, 3E River Valley Road (www.crazyelephant.com), is an informal venue which has attracted some music greats. For outdoor drinking combined with live acoustic music, Timbre@Old School, 11 Mount Sophia Road (www.timbre.com.sg), has an easy-going, casual vibe in a leafy setting.