Clarke Quay on the Singapore River is named after a late 19th century governor of the city state. It was a bustling commercial area until the middle of the 20th century where bumboats jostled for space to disgorge their cargoes. By then the Singapore River by Clarke Quay was a polluted mess. In a cleanup and redevelopment program that began in 1977 the boats were redirected to a modern cargo facility and the area was redeveloped into a commercial, entertainment and residential precinct while maintaining its historical character. The Clarke Quay Festival Village was the result of Singapore’s biggest river and environment rehabilitation effort. Ten years afterwards as part of a further revamping, architects redesigned shop house facades and created streetscapes and riverside dining areas with visual appeal. The sophisticated re design created a micro climate for Clarke Quay by shrewdly deploying cooling and shading systems to reduce the ambient air temperature of the area by 4 degrees Celsius. The precinct now attracts over 2 million visitors a year. Clarke Quay is about 4 km from Sheraton Towers Singapore, a luxury hotel in Singapore.
Today clubs, restaurants, lounges, desert bars and coffee cafes occupy space inside restored warehouses. Moored Chinese junks also serve as pubs and restaurants. Many clubs and lounges feature live and DJ music of all genres and special international acts throughout the year while others offer food, music and drink according to themes. The clubs are also known for their imaginative drink mixes and extreme interior decor. Among the public entertainment offered here is the G-Max reverse bungee, the G-X5 reverse swing and the Tang Music Box where anyone can belt out their favourite melodies amid exotic surroundings. A host of food and drink promotions, shopping events, and quarterly signature events ensures the place stays as hopping as ever. Clarke Quay can be accessed by the MRT and from the river by water taxi.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
