Feel like going out-out, but not having to get crushed with the masses? Head to Emerald Hill, where a lane of bars awaits your drinking pleasure. One of them is No. 5, a European-style pub situated in a restored 1910 Peranakan shophouse. You should go early if you want a table for more than four – it’s brimming over with both expats and locals (and the women who love them) longing for a pint after a hard day’s work. The pub serves up a respectable range of classic cocktails, shooters and draft beers. Do ask the waiter what specials they have, as bucket deals (two bottles of Carlsberg or San Miguel for $12) are not unusual. The bar also serves unshelled peanuts to accompany your drinks; don’t shy away from littering the ground with the empty shells – everyone is doing it, and interestingly it adds to the uniquely rustic and unassuming flavour of the place. Whether seated indoors or outdoors, the scene is lively and energetic. And if sitting and sipping isn’t quite entertaining enough for you, there is a busy pool table upstairs where you can rack up, and shoot a ball or two to impress the ladies.