9.00
Check into one of the world’s most iconic hotels: Raffles Singapore has been the preferred stay for global luminaries visiting this island nation since it opened in 1887. Now officially recognised as a national monument, Raffles has lost none of its historic charm; the hotel’s stately colonial elegance – antique grandfather clock in the lobby, wrought-iron portico, well-manicured garden – is perfectly at home in the centre of town. If you prefer boutique-style accommodation, head to buzzy Chinatown’s New Majestic Hotel, a converted shophouse where each room is individually decorated in bold, bright styles. With private verandas, the Premier Garden Rooms feature unique installations by local artists.
The premiere suite at the Majestic Hotel
11.00
One of Singapore’s most famous feats of innovation is the 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay, where two greenhouse-style domes house a mind-boggling collection of flora and fauna from all over the world. The Flower Dome mimics a dry Mediterranean climate to accommodate plants found in semi-arid areas including a lovely olive grove. The Cloud Forest’s main attraction is a 35-metre-tall mountain lush with tropical vegetation plus the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Elsewhere in this park are sci-fi-looking solar-powered supertrees, which help keep Gardens by the Bay sustainable by generating solar power, collecting rainwater and more.
12.30
After exploring, pause for lunch inside the Flower Dome at renowned British chef Jason Atherton’s Pollen (the local arm of his wildly successful London restaurant Pollen Street Social). The two-floor fine-dining hotspot – frequented by business-lunching corporates as well as sightseeing families – serves an international menu of innovative dishes like a delicate tea-poached Norwegian salmon and a balanced cavatelli pasta topped with dashi and black radish.
Aged wagyu beef at Pollen in Singapore
14.00
Discover the region’s growing art scene at the National Gallery Singapore (1 Saint Andrew’s Rd.; +65 6690 9400; www.nationalgallery.sg), which opened late last month and features an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art (from paintings to video installations) from Singapore and south-east Asia. Some of the museum’s most prized items include a self portrait of Singaporean artist Georgette Chen and a collage series by Roberto Chabet of the Philippines.
15.00
Head to the Central Business District for a romp around Lau Pa Sat (18 Raffles Quay), the legendary Victorian-era hawker centre that recently underwent a renovation. A couple of Singaporean dollars here and there will yield delicious snacks like chicken satay with peanut sauce or freshly fried samosas. Make your way to Orchard Road for a little shopping therapy.
The big names like Louis Vuitton, Céline and Fendi are all there, but for something chic and local, visit Keepers (230 Orchard Rd.; +65 8299 7109; www.keepers.com.sg) – a temporary pop-up (though it’s been around for over a year now) dedicated to the most cutting-edge fashion, accessories and home designs Singapore has to offer. Check out Dzojchen’s sharply tailored jeans and trousers; whimsically printed backpacks, folios and messenger bags from Gnome & Bow; and architectural furniture from Scene Shang.
The National Gallery Singapore is full of architectural masterpieces
17.30
For more of contemporary Singapore, head to the hipster neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru. Previously a residential estate from the 1930s, the district’s low-lying buildings (Singapore’s best examples of streamline deco design) now house cool shops, trendy eateries and artisanal bakeries. Stop by Flock Café (78 Moh Guan Terrace; +65 6536 3938; www.flock.sg) for a cup of Liberty Coffee, which is roasted in Singapore. Then pick up souvenirs at Strangelets (7 Yong Siak St.; +65 6222 1456; www.strangelets.sg), which stocks collectable gadgets of global provenance like Singgih Kartono’s MP3-compatible wood radios from Indonesia or New Yorker David Weeks’s sculptural gorilla models.
20.30
After suitable rest, it’s time for dinner. Executive chef Sebastien Lepinoy’s culinary-masterpiece Les Amis (1 Scotts Rd.; +65 6733 2225; www.lesamis.com.sg) has been around since 1994, but a seven-figure cosmetic upgrade modernised its genteel dining room. The food, however, remains some of the finest in the country. Lepinoy’s mostly French menu is occasionally informed with Japanese twists like tender seared scallop with teriyaki sauce. But go ahead and splurge on the tasting menu, which may include a gorgeous tart of quail eggs and white truffles from Alba or the delicate, crispy langoustine – Lepinoy’s clever take on a fried dumpling.
23.00
The night is young, so bar-hop through the most exciting cocktail scene in south-east Asia. Nutmeg & Clove (17 Ann Siang Rd.; +65 6423 9885) in Chinatown does a barrel-aged, not-cloyingly-sweet take on the Singapore Sling. Or try 28 Hong Kong Street (28 Hongkong St.; +65 6533 2001; www.28hks.com), a speakeasy-style boîte, for the Bird Machine, a refreshing (and dangerously easy-to-drink) cocktail of bourbon, spice-infused rum and oolong-tea cordial.
28 Hong Kong Street is the place to sip specialty cocktails
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