Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is a quay on the Singapore River, named after the colony's second governor, Sir Andrew Clarke. Until the 1970s it was one of the most important cargo points in the colony, where Chinese bumboats unloaded rice, tea and spices. After the river port was decommissioned in 1983 and the heavily polluted river was cleaned up over several years, the quay was revitalised in the 1990s as a nightlife district. Today the restored two-storey shophouses along River Valley Road and Boat Quay host a cluster of bars, clubs, live-music spots and restaurants, from G-Max Reverse Bungee to Hooters. Architecturally the distinct feature is the colored tensile-fabric canopies that shade the five blocks, providing both sun cover and climate comfort. The bumboats now run as tour craft to Marina Bay, offering the loveliest approach to the skyline at night.