The fact that the Crazy Horse Paris chose Singapore for their first venture into Asia confirmed what insiders have known for years - the city is buzzing. Over the past decade, the Lion City has transformed itself and now has one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in Asia. From all-night dance clubs to chic cocktail bars and backstreet transvestite haunts, the city has developed its own character.

As the sun goes down, Singaporeans, expats and visiting business executives loosen their ties and head for their favourite watering holes. Later you'll see them soaking up the sounds of jazz at Boat Quay or bar-hopping along Mohammed Sultan Road. Old Chinese shop houses come alive to the sound of hip-hop, while the decor in restaurants resembles Buddhist temples or palaces of the Raj.

Zouk -If you only go to one nightspot, this complex in an old warehouse on Kiak Kim Street is the one to choose. Zouk is the grand-daddy of them all, the one that put Singapore on the international dance circuit. Massively popular, it has seven resident DJs pumping out mainly techno music and live acts such as Kylie Minogue don't miss a chance to play here.

If you prefer more laid-back sounds, Zouk caters for you as well with Velvet Underground, where the walls are covered in velvet and the music is mostly soul stylings. And that's not the end of it - adjoining the main building is Phuture, where you'll get an eclectic mix of music in a futuristic steel and glass setting. Until the discos get swinging at around midnight, have a drink at the Zouk Wine Bar.

Harry's Bar- There are dozens of bars and restaurants on Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, but Harry's is the most famous by far. Renowned as the city's most-happening jazz venue, the Boat Quay pub is equally famous as the favourite haunt of Nick Leeson, the trader whose dodgy deals brought down Barings Bank in London. There's even a drink in his honour, called the Bankbreaker. You don't have to commit a crime to get in here - but you'll have to squeeze your way past a very laid-back crowd of bankers and wannabe millionaires. If you can't face it, opt for the Crazy Elephant in the Traders Market, Clarke Quay for a dose of the blues.

Madam Wong's - You can't spend a night on the town without ending up in Mohamed Sultan Road. Once a forgotten back alley, it is now home to some of the city's best bars and clubs. On one side of the road, old Chinese shop houses have been revamped into 'Shanghai-style' haunts, while the other side has a modern look. Madam Wong's has an old-world Chinese ambiance.

Rumours that it is haunted by Madam Wong don't deter the young crowd that hangs out here. Sip a drink on the sidelines and watch the Chinese-style gurus shake their thang to the retro beat on the dance floor. An upmarket alternative on the same road is the Siam Supperclub. Check out the Buddha-motif decor, the plush seating and the humorously named drinks such as Buddha Jumps over the Wall and Laughing Buddha Martini.

Long Bar at Raffles - Having a drink at Raffles may be a real tourist cliché, but everyone should check out the Long Bar in this famous hotel at least once. This is where the island's most famous cocktail, the Singapore Sling, was invented, so there's no guessing which drink is the top seller here. It's a high-class joint, with lots of swirling ceiling fans.

Remember to throw your peanut shells on the floor. That's the tradition - and tradition is the only reason you're here. Local trendsetters would rather be spotted at the Post Bar at the Fullerton Hotel. Its name comes from the fact it has the original ceiling of the old General Post Office, but the comfy couches and furnishing below ooze style. Order oysters and Dom Perignon in the Cocktail bar and then head for the trendy Music Room for the sound of jazz or swing.

No. 5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar - Most people go to Orchard Road for the shopping, but it's also home to the friendliest, cosiest bars in the city. Skip the hotel pubs and head for the Emerald Hill area. Housed in a 1910 Peranakan two-level shop house, you will find this unpretentious speakeasy known as "No.5" to its regulars. Most people choose the bustling main bar with live music on both levels, but try out the cosy back bar where you can sit on cushions or recline on Persian carpets and pretend you are in a Middle Eastern bordello.

Singapore never closes down, so you can party on until dawn at some places. If the dancing and talent-spotting has made you hungry, you can always find a hawker stall or coffee shop open close to the nightlife areas. The Newton Circus hawker centre ( Singapore's version of a food court) is open all night.