Singapore has been on my travel list since before the movie, Crazy Rich Asians was released in theaters.  The city/country has always been a mystery to me and I never had the opportunity to visit until they recently re-opened their doors to tourists. It was an obvious choice transiting through on our way back home from our Nepalese adventure. 

Stay

When traveling to a place for the first time, location is always key. Maybe you opt to stay in a smaller room in a centralized location, or go for accommodations far from the hustle and bustle so you can actually sleep.  I like a mix of both. Something along the heartline and easily accessible. Good news – Singapore is that small, any location is about 25 min (or less) away.  InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay:In 2017, the beautiful 252-guest room hotel opened in between the Marina Bay and the Central Business District, serving business clients and tourists alike. Like all InterContinental hotels, luxury room amenities are always a pleasant standard. Our room was fitted with a Nespresso coffee machine and Byredo toiletries for our convenience. Priding themselves on InterContinental service, there were frequent check-ins by management, including daily lemon ginger tea sent by room service to help soothe my throat during my stay. 

The hotel owns and operates 2 dining establishments onsite, Publico Ristorante and Marcello found beside the entrance to the hotel. I had the pleasure of dining at Publico for lunch twice during the stay. You cannot go wrong with wood fire pizzas and refreshing cocktails. The lunch 2/3 course menu is a delight. Welcoming to all, the restaurant served a variety of groups, from moms with their babies in tow to business groups discussing their latest deal.Although there was a swimming pool and a 24 - hour fitness studio at the hotel, I did not take advantage of this as I  was more interested in exploring the city. I was more than happy for the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay to be a central location to rest my head at the end of the day. 

Food/ Drinks

The best thing about Singapore is the range of food and experiences available. You can sit on plastic chairs at a Hawkers market eating skewers or a settee at the best Michelin star restaurant. Across the board, they all offer an unprecedented quality product.There are so many options in Singapore, here are just a few for a first-timer. 

Burnt Ends: Sitting at the Chef’s table watching Executive Chef Patrick Leano oversee his brigade, was a delightful way to learn about what helps Burnt Ends keep its Michelin star since first awarded in 2018. The restaurant was recommended by every single person I knew, who has been to Singapore and knew that I was going to visit. There was such overwhelming love for this Australian barbecue restaurant in Singapore’s Dempsey Hill, that I knew I had to get a coveted reservation. Founded by Chef-Owner Dave Pynt, the restaurant has a custom four-tonne, dual cavity oven and four elevation grills. For first timers, the tasting menu is a great start. If you are a little shy, à la carte is also available. Looking for something to go? Pick up some delectable doughnuts at the Burnt Ends Bakery or find your next favorite beer, wine or spirits at the Burnt Ends Cellars. 

The Raffles Hotel Singapore Afternoon High Tea and Long Bar: After a two-and-a-half-year renovation, the infamous Raffles Hotel Singapore opens its doors once again. Visit the magnificent Grand Lobby for the Raffles Afternoon Tea and sit amongst the floor-to-ceiling Victorian pillars. Indulge in the sandwiches, house-made scones and cakes while sipping on rich tea blends or even add a glass of champagne to the mix. If you are a fan of high tea, you know that even the smallest sandwiches and desserts, coupled with great conversation and live music, can pass an afternoon by in no time.

The Long Bar is home of the Singapore Sling, no trip to Singapore is complete without one.  This gin-based cocktail developed in 1915 by Raffles bartender, Ngiam Tong Boon as an inclusive drink for females. At the time, women could not drink alcohol in public settings and were left to drink teas and fruit juices. The pink Sling looks like it's plain fruit juice, but in fact is made from Gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, curaçao and Bénédictine topped with a cherry and a slice in pineapple. Let me tell you, on a hot humid day in Singapore – it’s also quite refreshing. To add to the fun, carefree attitude, The Long Bar encourages littering. Patrons are encouraged to brush their peanut shells on the floor while enjoying their drinks.  Devoted to carbon reduction, the Raffles Hotel Singapore is a proud member of the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program. For every 25 Singapore Slings ordered, the hotel plants one native tree in the Kalimantan or Sumatran endangered rainforest.

ATLAS: Making their mark consistently as one of the World’s 50 Best Bars (#16 in 2021, #4 in 2020, #8 in 2019). When you walk into the Parkview Square, you are transported into a stunning Art Deco utopia. It’s as if you walked on the set for Baz Lurhamn’s Great Gatsby.  From the floor to ceiling velvet drapes to well dispersed settees amongst lamps, to the extensive alcohol and spirit library on the second floor - it’s hard not to know where to look. To say the space is beautiful, is a clear understatement. ATLAS is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the other senses. ATLAS houses one of Asia's finest collections of gin, spirits and champagnes sourced from around the world. The menu alone is the length of a novel. Having been out sight-seeing – we stopped at ATLAS for a late dinner at 9pm. The atmosphere was alive and well. The dinner menu was just as expansive as the drink menu. I managed to decide on a lobster roll and paired with a couple extravagant cocktails, which was the perfect way to end the evening. 

Violet Oon: I first took note of Violet Oon passing by the location in the Jewel Changi Airport en route to Nepal. In passing, I was already putting together a shopping list amongst the gourmet gift sets beautifully displayed.  Sadly, we were not in the position to have a sit-down meal, so we were thankful when the concierge informed us that there were two other locations in the city – one in ION Orchard and the other in the National Gallery. When we returned to the city, we had the pleasure of visiting the latter for lunch. Bringing together two industry juggernauts:  luxury and lifestyle brand visionary Manoj M Murjani, Chairman of Group MMM (Founder of TWG) and Singapore culinary icon, Chef Violet Oon. The casual dishes are inspired by Nyonya, Chinese, Indian and Malay kitchens. My favorites include the Kuay Pie Tee starter and the Beef Rendang. The upscale environment is well suited for groups of friends and family. Violet Oon also caters and delivers for your next event. 

Activities and Shopping

The Gardens by the Bay: If you have seen any photos of Singapore – they generally include one from The Gardens by the Bay. It’s as much of a must-do attraction, as taking a photo by the Merlion. The beautiful aspect of the three large gardens (Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central) is that the grounds look completely different depending on what time of day you visit. During the day, you can enjoy the Cloud Forest, its 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres) and features a 35 m tall indoor waterfall. Immerse yourself in the rotating theme display at the Flower Dome. The volume of the dome is equivalent to 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools. At night, the iconic Supertrees come alive with a magnificent Garden Rhapsody light and sound show twice a night transporting you to a different world. Gardens by the Bay has earned numerous awards and accolades including the Largest Glass Greenhouse (Flower Dome) in the Guinness World Records for 2015, and the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2016. 

The National Gallery: A pleasant way to spend a day, and learn more about the culture and history of the city/state is a visit to the National Gallery. The 64,000 square meter gallery is housed within two national monuments - City Hall and the former Supreme Court. Visit on the weekend, and you can take a behind the scenes tour of the old Supreme Court, usually out of bounds to the general public. The gallery itself is the largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art including works from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. The National Gallery is the first museum in Asia to receive the Children in Museums Award by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums in 2018.If you are feeling peckish after immersing yourself in culture, take in some culinary delights at one of the many restaurants found on premise.  In the Supreme Court Wing, there is the French focussed, Odette (3 Michelin Stars 2019, 2021 and 2022). In the City Hall Wing, level 5 is the Italian restaurant Gemma, owned by Michelin- Chef Owner Beppe De Vito. If you are looking for a cocktail overlooking the beautiful Singapore skyline, Smoke and Mirrors is on level 6.  

Singapore is a shopping paradise. Like the spectrum of food, such is the same for shopping. From low-brow discounts to high fashion designer brands, any store imaginable can be found in pockets of the city. Even well-known Japanese department/grocery stores (Takashimaya, Tokyu Hands, Don Don Donki) have flagships in Singapore. All accessible by MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) , one can visit the shops at Marina Bay Sands in the morning and travel to ION Orchard by the afternoon. The newest shopping center to join the fold, which opened in 2019 is the Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) Mall. 

What used to be an industrial location, is now a hot spot for both work and play. Among the six floors, is a mix of shops, dining and services. Located on B1, we stopped at AgnesG. Nails or some much-needed nail therapy. With another location in Serangoon Garden, AgnesG. Nails is a Singaporean favorite for the quality and catchy nail art.  Besides offering nail work and extensive nail art, there are esthetician services for lashes, brows, threading and waxing too. A new location is opening in Shaw Plaza at the end of 2022.If you cross Sims Avenue from PLQ Mall, you come to Joo Chait. Historically an area filled with coconut plantations and used as a weekend getaway from the city – the area was then developed into a residential area in the early 20th century. To this day, you can still see the beautiful colorful two-storey shophouses with intricate ceramic tiles with shutters.

While it’s great for food, it’s fantastic for boutique shopping. Here are two notables. My friend, Lauren from Travel Prospect was on a mission to show me the best of Joo Chait when we walked into Tiger and Arcadia, an interior décor shop. The store pulls upon founder/owner Andrea’s journey to Singapore by way of Mexico and France. With products sourced with a keen eye for design and function, stop here for all your tableware, lighting, home textiles and even outdoor needs. I love the colorful Nomadic Hand Painted cups, designed in Mexico and hand painted in Nepal. 

One of our last nights in Singapore, we happened to stop by the first day of operation for Brisa (Breeze in Spanish). Funny enough, Andrea from Tiger and Arcadia was also in the store celebrating founder/owner Ruth's accomplishment. As we chatted over some champagne, we browsed the beautiful collection of resort wear, jewelry and other accessories. I took home a red and cream embroidery gauze tunic dress from the Greek label, NEMA. Follow their Instagram account for future fashion finds. 

More central, if you walk around the Raffles Hotel arcade and you will find specialty boutiques like Bells & Birds. Founded in 2014, the brand started with bridal robes after founder/owner Amanda found a niche in the marketplace when planning her own wedding. The expanded collection now includes Mulberry silk loungewear (pajamas, camisole sets), printed sleepwear and accessories (eye masks, pillowcases). All designed and handmade in Singapore. Too beautiful not to pick something up for myself, here is the short sleeve Gardenia Floral PJ Set. Besides having the attraction of the Shiseido Forest Valley and the Hedge Maze, the Jewel Changi Airport also has a full-fledged shopping mall attached. 

You can find one of the fast-fashion Urban Revivo locations there. The two other locations in Singapore include Plaza Singapura and Raffles City, with a staggering 300 other locations worldwide. While there are no brick-and-mortar stores in North America, there is always the international shipping online store.  For those not in the know, Urban Revivo is a mix of Zara and Shein. It’s a great mix of trendy to classic. With ample styles and accessible prices – products often sell out quickly. Do not be surprised if you spend hours shopping here looking through their huge collection of clothes.