What Clarke Quay Is Today

This post shall serve as a brief introduction to Clarke Quay and will show what Clarke Quay has become today from a mere trading port. First lets familiarise ourselves with the location of Clarke Quay:

The Singapore River stretch comprises three sections: near the mouth is Boat Quay, a kilometre upstream is Clarke Quay and further beyond, Robertson Quay.



Boat Quay
http://www.bobmckay.co.uk/

With its recent revamp, Clarke Quay today is one of the biggest entertainment zones of Singapore. It is taking centre-stage with many new operators with funky styles, daring attitudes and intriguing concepts to transform it into a world-class destination.

Now, a favourite with the tourists, Clarke Quay is known to be the party place for the beautiful, the hip and the insomniacs. However, it has still retained its historical value through its shophouses which each have their own colourful history. You are also spoiled for choice in Clarke Quay. With the many restaurants there, you’re up for an endless gastronomical feast. Indian, Chinese, Fusion and Spanish, are some of the options lined up for you along the riverside. Throw in one or two coffee houses and you will have your exercise regime cut out for you, walking up and down the quay.

Where to party in Clarke Quay:

- Bar Opiume

Offering spectacular views of the Singapore River and its central business district, this cool den features intoxicating brews and fast tempos for you to party till the wee hours.

- Attica/Attica Too

Attica / Attica Too is a place to see and be seen, with four different bar concepts: al fresco lounge, sofa lounge, hot dance-club interiors and a Balinese courtyard replete with a fountain. Club-goers are especially drawn to the club’s unique Vanity Area – a huge dome-like setting covered with burgundy mosaic tiles and mirrors.

Where to shop in Clarke Quay:

- Royal Selangor

There is no better place to learn the exotic art of pewter-smithing than at Royal Selangor, one of the oldest and largest pewter factories in the world.

- Sunday Market at Clarke Quay

The mother of all flea markets in Singapore, the Sunday Market at Clarke Quay is where you will find the most expats and tourists milling about with locals every Sunday. Some 100 stalls are set up here, offering anything from antiques and 1960s dinner sets to Mao clocks and comics.

Where to relax in Clarke Quay:

- Eski Bar

In the hot tropics, you can find cold comfort in Eski Bar, where temperatures are sub-zero.

- G-max Reverse Bungy

Imagine being strapped into a capsule with your friends and flung up, down and around catapult-style. The G-max Reverse Bungy concept, invented by New Zealander Troy Griffin, hurls you 60 metres into the air with speeds of up to 200 kph and G Force 5 and returns you to earth intact!

Where to eat in Clarke Quay:

- Peony-Jade Restaurant

Look forward to delectable modern Chinese dishes that add zest to traditional Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine at the award-winning Peony-Jade Restaurant.

- Ras, The Essence of India

Boasting a groovy minimalist interior with a ‘60s vibe, Ras is an authentic North Indian restaurant that offers the most traditional of recipes.

So, basically what we're trying to say is that Clarke Quay is one of the most happening places in Singapore. Hope you enjoyed all this :)


Sources:
http://www.streetdirectory.com/
http://www.google.com/
http://www-singapore.com/food-dinning/

Ever since then...

Since the last post was mostly about the history and origin of clarke quay and its name, this post shall be about the changes and improvements of clarke quay, from the past until now. by Let me first include a simple map of the area.

www.dawncities.com

Formerly a chain of 19th century shophouses, Clarke Quay now has more than 50 shops selling everything from silk wear and batik prints to home furnishings and antiques. At night, a carnival mood prevails, with street stalls, restaurants, theme pubs, bars, and alfresco eateries coming to life. For dining with a local flavour, savour satay (Malay kebabs) at the Clarke Quay Satay Club. A bumboat ride from Clarke Quay Jetty down to the mouth of the Singapore River lets you relive the old days when these boats carried cargo instead of tourists. Clarke Quay has certainly evolved alot since then, from a once bustling wharf where merchants went to trade or store their ware. It is no less bustling and exciting though, with partying, clubbing and dining available in colourfully restored warehouses. It leaves a touch of the old, blended nicely and comfortably with the new. With the opening of new entertainments such as the Arena at the Rupee room; a stunning lineup of performers from the US, UK, Australia, as well as C clinic; a pub with a hospital theme, this has added to the trendiness of Clarke Quay, never failing to attract thousands of visitors a year to simply enjoy a drink or two while enjoying the beautiful sight of the Singapore River.


Rows of colourful shophouses which restaurants and pubs etc have been set up

The Central Mall at Clarke Quay. Pioneering a new live, work, play concept, SOHO at Central, comprises two towers with a total of 227 Small Office Home Office units, has captured the imagination of the Singapore and regional markets.

The G-max Reverse Bungee, a thrilling ride set up along the Singapore River. It involves up to three people being seated in a specially designed open air steel reinforced capsule, attached by US-approved bungy cords to two towers. The cords are tightened and then released, catapulting the capsule up to 60m in the air at speeds of 200kph.


In the many photos we have put up, including the above, you can see how Clarke Quay is definitely a 'in' place to be. It has an ideal fusion of the past as well as the current, attracting many tourists and singaporeans alike to pay it a visit. We hope you enjoy this!


Credits:
www.visitsingapore.com
www.mytravelguide.com
www.feo.com.sg
www.dawncities.com

A little bit of history

If there is one place in Singapore where you can get everything in one experience, then Clarke Quay is it. It is a place where history, shopping and nightlife meet on the banks of the river. Even before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore, the Singapore River was the centre of life on the island. Ruled over by the Sultan of Johor, the island and its river port remained a trading post until the arrival of the British, who were looking for a place to start their own colony that would challenge the Dutch and Portuguese in the region.

Clarke Quay was named after

Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and
Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong.

Clarke Street, located next to Clarke Quay, was officially named in 1896, and was originally two streets known simply as East Street and West Street in north Kampong Malacca. Similar to Clarke Quay, Clarke Street has since been converted into a pedestrian mall.
The Hoklos (Hokkien) refer to Clarke Street as gi hok kong si au, meaning "behind the new Gi Hok Kongsi" (house). Small tongkangs carrying firewood from Indonesia berthed at this jetty.

Barge lighters used to transport cargo between Boat Quay and the warehouses at Clarke Quay.
The Singapore River has been the centre of trade since modern Singapore was founded in 1819. During the colonial era, Boat Quay was the commercial centre where barge lighters would transport goods upstream to warehouses at Clarke Quay.

At the height of its prosperity, dozens of bumboats jostled for mooring space beside Clarke Quay. The bumboats and lorries departed to their new home and Clarke Quay fell silent.
Clarke Quay Festival Village, the biggest conservation project for the Singapore River, was developed and officially opened on 10 December 1993. In later years, Clarke Quay was managed and owned by CapitaLand.




Notable restaurants and nightclubs include Hooters, Indochine and Ministry of Sound. River cruises and river taxies on the Singapore River can be accessed from Clarke Quay.
Clarke Quay MRT Station is located within the vicinity and a new SOHO concept development cum shopping centre called Central, above the MRT station, was completed in 2007.

-extracted and edited from: wikipedia and realdestination.com

Finally, to leave you with a lasting impression,

ENJOY! =D

http://home.austin.rr.com/gperks/photo/Singapore97/ClarkeQuay.JPG&imgrefurl=http://home.austin.rr.com/gperks/photo/Singapore97/Singapore.htm&h=463&w=697&sz=79&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=53eXHnL2A08C0M:&tbnh=92&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dclarke%2Bquay%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den



this is a picture of clarke quay at night with many beautiful lights lit!