The sky bar that defined a Singapore decade
New Asia Bar sat on Level 71 of Swissotel The Stamford, near the top of what was once the tallest hotel in the world. It formed part of the Equinox complex, a run of bars and dining rooms across the upper floors that drew tourists for the view and locals for the late nights (H3 Hospitality). The pull was simple. From that height, the whole of central Singapore opened out below the windows, and the bar leaned into it with floor-to-ceiling glass, a tilted floor, and a club programme that ran late into the night.
It was not a quiet cocktail den. New Asia was a destination party space, a place people went to celebrate, and for a long stretch it was the default answer when a visitor asked where to drink with a view in the Civic District.
Why it closed
The Equinox concept ran for 17 years before the hotel rebuilt the upper floors. In 2018, the Level 70 space reopened as SKAI, a restaurant and bar that took over the view New Asia had owned. New Asia Bar did not reopen, and listings for it now carry a closed status (Yelp). If you remember the room from a trip years ago, that is why you cannot find it on a booking site today.
Where to go instead
The view did not disappear, it changed hands. SKAI occupies the same tower and delivers the modern version of the high-altitude drink. For a different skyline, CE LA VI sits atop Marina Bay Sands, and LeVeL33 pairs a microbrewery with a Marina Bay panorama. The Singapore rooftop bars guide ranks the current field, and our editors' Singapore picks cover the wider scene.
The building and the address
The venue occupied Swissotel The Stamford at 2 Stamford Road, in the City Hall and Civic District area, directly above Raffles City and a short walk from City Hall MRT. The hotel still operates, and the high-floor bars continue under the SKAI name, so the address remains a live destination even though New Asia itself is gone.
Sources: H3 Hospitality, Equinox; Swissotel The Stamford, SKAI; Yelp listing, closed status.
