Getting to Know the Quays of Singapore

For decades, the Singapore River has played an important role in Singapore’s thriving trading industry. In the 21^st century, the river acts more like a scenic boundary that separates the country’s Colonial District from the Central Business District.

If you look at the iconic Singapore River today, it’s so hard to imagine that it was an ugly and dirty commercial district full of warehouses and old boats. Fortunately, the government decided to clean this site up in the 1980’s. Today, the Singapore River has been transformed into one of the country’s major tourist hubs. Most of the boats that you will see cruising on it today are new and nicely decorated models, used for sightseeing tours.

Strictly speaking, quays are man-made platforms set alongside or into water for the purpose of loading and unloading ships. But the quays of Singapore are more like commercial and entertainment centers that grant the river not only a lively atmosphere but also a certain appeal for locals and tourists alike.

You can say that the quays are a great addition to the once empty Singapore River; but the view of the pristine Singapore River has become the main attraction for the quays.

Here are Singapore’s three main quays that will make your evening in Singapore more memorable:

Boat Quay

When I think of Boat Quay, the image of seafood comes to mind!  This is where you will find restaurants deliberately displaying water tanks outside their entrances. They fill these small tanks with incredibly large fish, crabs and lobsters; with the hopes of enticing tourists to shell out some cash for a hearty fresh seafood meal. It is definitely hard not to notice the mighty Alaskan crabs and Atlantic lobsters as you walk by Boat Quay. They will certainly make your imagination run wild and your stomach rumble.

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Robertson Quay

If you’re not a fan of the seafood selection at Boat Quay, or you want an alternative to the glitzy nightlife scene offered by Clarke Quay; then Robertson Quay may be the best quay for you, especially if you desire a laidback yet still enjoyable night in Singapore.

Robertson Quay is home to the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, which is a regular host for exhibitions featuring international and local artists, mostly in the print and paper-making industry. There are also two known temples in the area: Chettiar Hindu Temple and Hong San See Temple. But like the other quays, Robertson’s main attraction is its wide selection of restaurants and bars.

In terms of location, Robertson is the most isolated, and thus, the least visited by tourists. This is also the reason why this quay is more popular with locals, in particular those who like soft lighting and a low-key vibe.

Even though the Singapore River passes through this quay, there is a dark stretch that separates Robertson from Clarke Quay. Thus, if you’re not familiar with the area, it’s actually pretty hard to determine that there is another nightlife spot along the river.  But if you just take a stroll beyond Clarke Quay for about 5 minutes, you will soon come across with Robertson Quay.