Clarke Quay
The riverside quay of restored warehouses, riverboats and nightlife along the Singapore River.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- Evening into night
- Cost
- Free to stroll; dining and cruises paid
The story
Clarke Quay is a riverside quay along the Singapore River, named after Sir Andrew Clarke, an early colonial governor. Once a bustling 19th-century trading hub lined with warehouses and 'godowns', its restored shophouses were transformed from the 1990s into a vibrant dining and nightlife district. Today it is one of Singapore's best-known spots for waterfront restaurants, bars and evening river cruises.
What to see & do
- 01The colourful restored shophouses lining the river's edge.
- 02Riverside bars, restaurants and lively evening nightlife.
- 03Traditional bumboat river cruises departing from the quay.
- 04Views along the Singapore River toward the CBD skyline.
- 05The historic bridges connecting to Boat Quay and Robertson Quay.
Make the most of your visit
- Come in the evening when the bars and restaurants come alive.
- Take a river cruise at dusk for illuminated skyline views.
- Walking along the river is free; dining and cruises are paid.
- Weeknights are more relaxed than the busy weekends.
- Wander to nearby Boat Quay and Robertson Quay for more options.
Getting there
Take the MRT to Clarke Quay station on the North East Line, a short walk from the riverside. Fort Canning and Chinatown stations are also within easy reach.
Nearest MRT stations- Fort Canning MRT Station4 min walk
- Clarke Quay MRT Station5.3 min walk
- Chinatown MRT Station11.4 min walk
- City Hall MRT Station11.5 min walk
Walk times are real pedestrian routing (OSRM) from the attraction to each station entrance, not straight-line estimates.
Where to eat nearby — hawker centres
- Hong Lim Complex10.1 min
- Capitaspring12.5 min
- Hawker Centre (blk 1 Jalan Kukoh)13.6 min
- Hawker Centre15.2 min
- Chinatown Complex15.9 min
Eat & stay nearby
Top-rated restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Clarke Quay, pulled live from Google. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.
EV charging nearby
Driving an EV? The nearest public charging points to Clarke Quay, from Singapore’s LTA charger registry.
- Citibank Ue SquareCharge+ Pte. Ltd.· up to 22 kW475 m
- Chinatown PointVolt Singapore Pte. Ltd.· up to 60 kW· DC fast654 m
- Raffles City Shopping CentreSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 250 kW· DC fast822 m
- Blk 4 Sago Lane Car ParkStrides Ytl Pte. Ltd.· up to 7.4 kW1.1 km
Distances are straight-line from the attraction. See the full EV charger map →
More to see within walking distance
Itineraries that include Clarke Quay
See how visitors fit Clarke Quay into a day — with what to pair it with, when to go and real traveller notes.
Staying in the area
Renting or buying near here? These stations have HDB blocks ranked by walk time and liveability: