Timing is everything at LeVeL33.
The impetus to get your ass into the world’s “highest urban craft brewery” before 6pm — ideally somewhere between 5:15 and 5:45 — is twofold. First, there is only so much room on this microbrewery/restaurant’s outdoor deck, and if you don’t get a deck seat, it’s almost like you’re not there at all. You might get lucky on arrival or after a short wait, but in my experience 6pm is the point break at which the deck becomes fully occupied and stays that way.
Those who do score a table tend to settle in for a few hours, waiting for the sun to set and bright lights of the big city to flicker on, one by one; I certainly do.
Oh, there is plenty of seating inside, but it’s stuffy and corporate and soul-sucking; plus you’d miss out on the main reason to come here. Situated on the 33rd floor of Tower 1 at the Marina Bay Financial Centre, sandwiched between the Marina Bay Sands hotel on one side and the Lincoln Log skyscrapers of the CBD on the other, LeVeL33 offers what I feel are the best views of central Singapore. On clear days you can see for miles; this really is a prime vantage point from which to soak in the considerable scenery near and far.
This is one of the first places I take out-of-town visitors, and it’s always one of the first places they mention as a highlight of their time in Singapore. You will be impressed — the beers are perfectly fine, but it’s the singular setting that sets LeVeL33 apart. (The annoying capitalization of the “V” and “L” is a defining trait of another kind, but I’m trying to stay positive here.)
Related: Now on Tap in Singapore, a Hawker Centre Taproom
Speaking of the beers, all of which are brewed onsite, those are the other reason to time your arrival wisely. Fancy beers of any kind aren’t exactly cheap in Singapore anywhere ever, but happy hours do help, particularly here. Before 8pm half pints run SGD$9.33++ (“++” is the kick in the groin known as tax and service charge), while full pints tap out $13.33; at the time of publication that’s about US$7.50 and $10.65. That’s certainly something of a premium price for a glass of beer, but those tallies are certainly more palatable than the post-happy hour levies of SGD$12.33 (US$10) and $17.33 ($14), before tax and service.
LeVeL33 has four house brews: a pale ale, stout, porter, and lager, along with one or two seasonal brews. I recommend the porter, a roasty, medium-bodied mixture of the pale ale and stout, but in general you can expect to like, not love, whatever you drink. The seasonals tend to have more nuance and character, so start with whichever of those is available before moving on to the porter.
I’ve never had a proper dinner at LeVeL33 — again, I don’t particularly care for the indoor ambience (or the eye-popping meal prices) — but from the slightly more affordable bar menu served on the outdoor deck, go for the bread dips or fat chips; the deconstructed fish & chips are also tasty, but the kid-sized portion is ludicrously small and not worth it.
Service has (slightly) improved during my last two visits, which is to say I’d now describe it as “aloof, impersonal, yet competent” instead of “if we don’t get out of here soon I’m going to have words with that little prick.” Another plantar wart is the clientele, a largely cringeworthy lot that tends to be dominated by slick douchebags and the girls that love their money them. Those beautiful Marina Bay views offer ample distraction, however.
Bottom line: Service is mediocre and the experience doesn’t come cheaply, but solid beers brewed onsite, combined with stunning bird’s eye views on Marina Bay, make LeVeL33 one of the most unique places in Singapore to put back a few pints — just remember that timing is everything.
LeVeL33 is located at 8 Marina Blvd., #33-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, Singapore. +65 6834 3133. Open Monday – Thursday 11:30am – 12am, Friday 11:30am – 2am, Saturday 10am – 2am, and Sunday 12pm – 12am. You’re free to try and reserve a table on the outdoor deck in advance, but I’ve never been successful at doing so.
More Places I Like to Drink in Singapore:
+ Smith Street Taps (Serving craft beers on draft at a Chinatown hawker centre)
+ JiBiru Japanese Craft Beer Bar (Japanese microbrews served in an open-air courtyard)
+ Mohican Pub (An Indian-themed Indian bar in Little India — but not that kind of Indian)
+ Brewerkz Taphouse (The pleasant Dempsey Hill outpost of local microbrewery Brewerkz)
+ The Great Beer Experiment (Off-the-beaten-path craft beer shop/bar at PasarBella Market)
