Singapore is a haven for foodies – from cheap eats at hawker markets to fine dining and some of the world’s best bars. Here’s some top Singapore hotspots, includng where to eat, drink and stay in the city that is ever-changing.
Eat
Tiong Bahru Bakery
Your first stop should be the hipster haven of Tiong Bahru and its famous bakery. Serving local Common Man coffee, you can down a strong flat white and munch on some of the best croissants outside of France, amongst a slew of Instagramming patrons.
P.S Café Petit
Also in Tiong Bahru is P.S Café Petit, a cute little wine bar known for its legendary brunches, lazy afternoon teas, and curated selection of wines. Originally a cosy café hidden within Projectshop clothing store, this local favourite has grown to now include multiple locations across Singapore.
Maxi Coffee
The mini coffee bar that’s maxi on taste, this hole-in-the-wall café on Club Street is well worth seeking out for its stellar 2degrees North Coffee. Super friendly service and compact toast bar menu including Aussie favourites such as avo feta smash and Vegemite and cheese for their loyal expat customers.
Maxwell Food Centre
Located near Club Street you’ll find local foods like the famed Tian Tian Hainanese chicken rice by stall owner Foo Kui Lian, where you’ll likely line up for a chance to taste this local favourite. We opted for dumplings at Special Shanghai Tim Sum, offering delicious fried or steamed dumplings for just $4. Whichever stall you choose, you really can’t go wrong.
Burnt Ends
For upscale dining, hit Burnt Ends for modern Australian barbeque cuisine. Famous for its open-concept kitchen with custom-made grills and the oven fired by coal, apple or almond wood, Burnt Ends is helmed by Aussie Dave Pynt and is constantly awarded as one of the world’s best, and is one of Asia’s most exciting places to dine.
Drink
Atlas Bar
Rated amongst the best bars in the world, it’s easy to see why, with its dramatic Gotham City-style façade, art deco blingy interiors, and Asia’s finest collection of gins, spirits and champagnes. Did someone say gin tower? Atlas boasts a tower of over 1,000 gins, from London dry gins from as far back as 1910 to boutique options from across the globe, all-waiting for your next martini. Settle in at the bar and let the expert mixologists fix you a cocktail, or slide into the plush booths – wherever you set up, you won’t want to leave.
Brass Lion Distillery
During your visit, you’ll want to sample local gin, and what better place than at the source at the Brass Lion Distillery? The distillery tour starts with a welcome drink as you mingle with fellow gin lovers, followed by a distillery tour and tasting flight of three gins. A bottle of the Singapore Dry Gin with its classic gin botanicals fused with aromatic Asian flavours makes a great souvenir for the bar cart too.
Smoke & Mirrors
Perched on the rooftop of the iconic National Gallery Singapore, Smoke & Mirrors is a destination bar known for its spectacular panoramic views of Marina Bay and creative cocktail menu. The current cocktail menu ‘Illusion of Flavours’, developed by head bartender Jorge Conde, lists sixteen progressive drinks that combine artistry and chemistry for a riff on classic cocktails such as the Japanese Gang is Still Alive, an experimental twist on a whiskey sour infused with local ingredients.
Lantern Bar
Sure, you can do the tourist thang and head to the rooftop bars at Marina Bay Sands, but those in the know prefer to luxuriate across the waters at Lantern Bar. Perched atop The Fullerton Bay Hotel, this rooftop bar offers dazzling panoramic views of Marina Bay waterfront and Singapore’s skyline. Cheers!
Do
Singapore Sidecars
This social enterprise has a fun fleet of fully restored sidecars to zip around the city. Breeze down alleyways and leap out to explore more with your local guide and storyteller for an authentic look at Singapore. We took a heritage tour to Joo Chiat, taking in the decorative shophouses and temples and tasting Singaporean treats. The colourful shophouses of Koon Seng Road are Insta-worthy and not to be missed.
Jewel Changi Airport
Allow a little extra time before departure to check out the newly opened Jewel at Changi Airport. Boasting the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, spectacular garden and plenty of shopping and dining options, it’s a great way to spend your final Singapore dollars before your onward journey.
Where to Stay
Andaz Singapore manages to feel like a boutique hotel despite its 342 rooms. The lobby level restaurant Alley on 25 is inspired by Singapore street dining, offering unique dining hubs and the lobby level pool deck is a great spot for a morning dip on a steamy Singapore day. Head to Level 39 for Andaz’s rooftop bar Mr Stork, boasting 360-degree views, tropical surrounds and tipi huts scattered along the rooftop to sip your Singapore Slings from.
