by : Ezaida

About
Boat Quay is the personification of Singapore 's spirited nightlife entertainment and gastronomy with its assortment of wine bars, beer pubs and 4-chefs-hats restaurants. Another plus for the patrons – a wide mix of locals, professionals, expatriates and tourists – is the relaxing waterside ambience of the Singapore River . Boat Quay is one of Singapore 's top places for unwinding.

History
During the early days of modern Singapore, Singapore River was a major trading and commerce hub, in particular at its southern bank (Boat Quay). This remained the case despite the building of a new harbour at Tanjong Pagar in 1852.

Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Boat Quay was busier than ever with steamships and tongkangs (flat-bottomed boats) loading and unloading a wide range of goods from raw materials, to textiles, to provisions and more.

The trading activities at Boat Quay began its retardation in the 1980s when technology spurred the building of a more modern freightage centre in Pasir Panjang. By the mid 1980s, Boat Quay was just an abandoned quay.

In 1986, the Urban Redevelopment Authority announced that the Singapore River area –including Boat Quay and the shop houses by the riverbank - would undergo a preservation plan.

Today, despite the bustling nightlife that it boasts, the old world charm of Boat Quay is well-preserved.

Nightlife

• Pubs & Bars
  At night-time, the bars and pubs here see many professionals and expatriates from the Shenton Way business district and beyond. These patrons' wine, beer, or liquor-drinking sessions are often accompanied by live music from the local and international acts employed by most pubs and bars here. Should the drinking place be void of music, simply gaze at the waterfront view of Singapore River – an enchanting sight during both the day and night.






• Supper
  Boat Quay offers a lot of dining choices that will please all taste buds since the eateries here range from elegant cafes to upscale restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world. The servers cum marketing executives, too, are spectacular - they do not tire of reciting their menus to every passerby, inviting everyone to dine at their restaurants, even in the late hours of the night.
  

  Generally, the food prices here are quite high, but cheap supper can be found at the coffee shops at the outskirts of Boat Quay.

Places of Interests

• Singapore River
  Hop on a bumboat to take you through Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay and Clifford Pier. You will marvel at the stark contrast of the old world architecture against the modern skyscrapers.