so we've been invited by two very talented bloggers from overseas to collaborate on an indie travel zine and we'll love to have your contribution! in any categories of what to EAT, BUY, SEE and DO in Singapore, tell us what you would recommend to friends from abroad. give us the names, tell us why you love the place/s and how to get there in the comments column. PLUS(!) 10 entries would be randomly picked and treated with soon lee shopping vouchers. photo by chris craymer.
32 comments:
so we'll start the ball rolling! we're thinking chinatown, ann siang hill, little india, our friend casual poet, the spore zoo, list goes on. give us anything and everything(!): gardens, hawker centers, clubs, great restaurants, interesting indie places, big, commercial wonderland. we want them all.
tanjong pagar market for food!
1. there's the famous aunty annie's peanut icekacang, i prefer the chendol! thick and rich coconut milk and brown sugar syrup with well-cooked red beans!
2. an old nasi lemak stall which serves very good food.
3. tiong bahru roasted duck rice has a stall there as well.
4. the prawn mee is good too.
5. famous lor mee with deep-fried shark meat.
6. lots of other local dishes
and the area is also one of singapore's older housing estate.
Mimolette for drinks and dance away for the night.
http://www.mimolette.com.sg/
LAU PA SAT Food Centre is a must-go place to eat! It is open 24hrs & situated in the heart of the business district. It is also the largest victorian filigree cast-iron structure in SE-asia. Part of the road will be blocked in the evening for Malay Satay stalls & people can dine out in the open-air. All our local delicacies can be found there like laksa, chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice, Bak Kut teh, Satay,Fish Head Curry etc.
Nearest mrt station: Raffles Place mrt
Start off the day by visiting the Botanic Gardens in the morning to truly experience the beauty of our Garden City. Continue your journey by walking to the nearby Orchard Road where you can shop your heart out at Takashimaya or Far East Plaza. Don't forget to try out the local cuisine at Wisma Atria's foodcourt. In the late afternoon, head down to the Quays to catch a bumper boat which allows you to understand about the history of Singapore as a port and soak in the magnificience of the Merlion, Esplanade and the cityscape. For the last stop, visit Haji Lane and Arab Street to pick up a few quirky souvenirs, have a drink in one of the interesting cafes and end your exciting day by visiting the world famous Night Safari.
oh and we're also thinking straits record, newly opened blackmarket boutique, baylene, our neighbours doinky doodles, salad & skyroom. keep your ideas coming!
go to serangoon gardens!
there's epitome - a boutique carrying australian and thai labels amongst other interesting stuff,
stay for dinner at chomp chomp, then go for drinks and desserts along the shop houses
it's just interesting to walk around the estate!
i think you would be able to find the same kind of atmosphere at holland v, but serangoon gardens is a little more quaint (:
and... i dunno how to get there hahaha.
one can always use http://gothere.sg which is a great tool for finding your way around singapore
marina barrage, kranji war memorial & turf city, haw par villa, tiong bahru market & estate, national museum & fort canning park, mustafa, zouk, sinema/old school, merlion, esplanade at night to see the durian and the construction going on across the water - so many cranes it's a sight to behold.
EAT
1. GLUTTON BAY @ ESPLANADE
- HAS MANY SG CUISINES IN ONE PLACE
2.BRIYANI @ SERANGOON ROAD JUST BEFORE THE INDIAN TEMPLE
-REALLY VERY NICE
3. BUBBLE TEA @ ANY BUBBLE TEA STORE
- FAVE AMONG SGREANS
4. GO DOWN TO CHINATOWN'S MEI3 SHI2 JIE1.
PLACES TO VISIT
1.SG PERANAKAN MUSEUM
- PART OF SG CULTURE
2. SG ARTS MUSEUM
- NICE TO VISIT
3. SENTOSA
- TO BRING FUN
- THERE ARE PUBS THERE TOO
- MUSICAL FOUNTAIN.
4. THE CLINIC PUB @ CLARK QUAY
- PLACE HAS AN INTERSTING STORE CONCEPT
5. OR YOU COULD WALK ALONG HOLLAND V TO FIND FOOD PLACES.
THINGS TO BUY BACK FROM SG
CATEGORY: SOUVENIERES
1. HENNA FROM LITTLE INDIA
2. SOUVENIRS FROM ANY SOUVENIR SHOP ACTUALLY.
CATEGORY: SHOPPING
1. BUGIS STREET
- STREET STYLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
2. FAR EAST PLAZA
- WIDE VARIETY
3. HAJI LANE + ANN SIANG HILL FOR MORE EXQUISITE STUFF
You could always try going to BooksActually at No.5 Ann Siang for a change instead of all the usual tourists spots. It's a lovely indie bookshop where obscure and contemporary reads awaits you.
If you're not a bookworm there are always other shops for you to get awesome quirky souvenirs along Ann Siang!
Nearest Mrt station: Chinatown
loving your lists and wanting more! how about shops and things to do? we'll love to feature little shops & cafes, anything off the beaten track as well!
I'm loving the new PS Cafe at Palais - beautiful furnishing, and RAW bistro bar at Bukit Timah Fire Station (Upper Bukit Timah Rd) - off the beaten track, good food, chilled and good music!
And when I'm looking for a teh-si or ice milo pick-me-up, I head for this wonderfully sweet uncle who has a small coffeeshop at the holland village hawker. He wears glasses, is extremely friendly and speaks with a twinge of British accent. You can't miss him - his coffee store almost always has a queue.
When in Singapore, celebrate homegrown brands: Charles & Keith and mondo for trendy shoes, Bysi-Singapore's equivalent of Zara, Toast Box- Singapore's fragrant coffee, Old Chang Kee's curry puffs, delish burgers at Relish,Zouk's flea & easy, chilling out at Colbar, Timbre & walking along the railway tracks at Jalan Hang Jebat
wow.. singapore is all about food huh? :)
i enjoy the wicked fish spa especially to those who're completely new to the idea, something new to try in singapore. I usually take them to Kenko fish spa at Singapore Flyer. but the fishes are too big now!! too many feet mayhaps :(
then off to arab street, haji lane for shopping and if the time is right, i'll treat them to african drumming sightings in blu jazz cafe, where nothing matches, but everything fit perfectly.
on weekends, i'll take them to the southern ridge, just to have a good fresh air in the morning, then off to good dimsum at yumcha tea house at china town, where they are still serving using pushcarts.
i enjoy taking a walk around the boat quay/clarke quay before finally settle at Indochine at Asian Civilization Museum. If we're in a big group, and fancy some seafood - Ang Mo Kio it is. Contrary to popular beliefs, some of us actually prefer the Uncle Leong (and not Melben!) for the golden sand crab. oohh...
PS Cafe at Palais Renaissance is good for breezy nights. Otherwise, dempsey outlet is perfect for weekend brunch. If the person is in the mood for some in good indian curry, we'll head down to serangoon road and had a very wicked pakistani dishes at Usman's. basically it depends on how adventurous the person is, and i'll tailor to match their 'to-do-list', with a little twist of my own ;)
ohh.. i felt i'm spilling over my precious little secrets :( but i love soonlee's vouchers more!! so pick meeeeee..
Im so glad to see this post, because I do in fact have friends from overseas coming, and was wondering where to bring them!!
For food: definately Hong Lim Food Centre at Chinatown! The crayfish hor fun, curry chicken noodles, ba zhang!! are myfaves :D after that, can also jalan jalan around ann siang road and pop by books actually! :D
also dont forget: frog's leg porridge and youtiao at geylang!
and of course, durian!!! 717 trading has the BEST durian puffs around, there's a branch in northpoint.. there are durian pancakes and durian curry puff (from 1A curry puffs) at AMK Hub too :D mmmmmm >:D
places to bring: orchard road for conventional shopping and city sights, ann siang road for indie shopping, bugis for street style, haji lane for alternative, Vivo for nice view out to sentosa (:
the musical fountains are closed though ):
Hey!
For food,i'll bring the folks to Al-Almeen. The tom yum soup is to die for literally because its spicy and tangy and hits your tastebud all at one go which will make you go 'oooooh' to the extent of tearing a little and oh, please have some tissue along if your nose starts running. There's also other food to try like roti prata,nasi goreng and all the yummy food in Singapore right there. Let's not forget our famous Milo Dinosaurs or if you're feeling a little bit daring, the Milo Godzilla is syiok because its topped with whipped cream and ice cream! There, a fine dessert in one chocolaty drink.
Drop by Scape park to see all the wonderful graffitti from the walls,to the pavements and right down the seats!You can also catch youths doing death defying stunts with their bicycles and skateboards.
Take a trip down to Haji Lane and do a little bit of shisha-ing at Mosi! Plus, their chocolate ice blended is deliciously fantastic! Having a second round of chocolate drinks won't hurt your waist line that bad.Haha.
And if you're already at Haji Lane, drop by at yours truly, Soon Lee to buy all their cute knick knacks. The last time I was there, I almost stole your wonderful collection of Nutcrackers! God.
xoxoxo
sakinah lee(:
aww..thank you guys! keep your entries coming, we're closing this only by end of the week on sun 10th. and oh yes, which are your favoured MUSEUMS? we need votes here!
Right now for me the Singapore Arts Museum. My favourite museum.
The peranakan museum is okay too. Its a nice place to walk through after a meal.
Yep these are my votes
I love the Chinatown area for its contrasting landscapes. On one side, there is the quaint, sleepy heartland area, on the other side, it's the bustling CBD.
For shopping, there is People's Park Complex, Chinatown Market and the more exquisite stores at Ann Siang Hill.
To rest my feet or fill my stomach, there is Casualpoet and cafes and restaurants at Ann Siang Hill and Amoy Street that gets super crowded after office hours. The hawker fare around there is also superb and the huge variety available at the markets and hawker centres give me a headache whenever I'm dining there.
Interesting hotels include The Scarlet and New Majestic; the latter being the more economical option.
I'm revealing 2 secret locations at the risk of them being flooded by your readers:
1) Alegra, stocking comfy heels from Korea. They've just opened their third store in Suntec City #02-028.
2)Ma Maison at The Central #03-96. Fusion Japanese food at very reasonable prices. Do make reservations though as they can get very busy during dinner. And remember to request for a window seat; the night view of Clarke Quay is very pretty.
Cheers,
Linzi
The National Musuem is pretty educative and interactive these days. Fun and interesting way to get to know Singapore. Also, how about Katong? Or seafood at East Coast? Or even Changi Village and Chek Jawa and Pulau Ubin?
Asian Civilization Museum gets my vote. I love on thier little history on the singapore river. And if my friend is new in the region & loves museum, this is the place to know MY KAMPONG..
Ok ok one more fantastic food joint - great for service, food and affordability, is Pasta Waraku at Heeren!!!!
It's the only place where i've left raving reviews on their feedback card - due to their excellent service really.
Yah Ma Maison is not bad, quite value for money in terms of food quality and quantity. There
's one at Bugis Junction too.
I like the National Museum because they always have cool exhibitions.:)
I have lived in Singapore for about 1.5 years now and have had quite a few guests. I find it always a good idea to bring my guests to a combination of both the very famous places, and some which are off the beaten track (as much I like things to be quirky,I wouldn't want my guests to return and not know some of the famous Singapore landmarks!).
My hip list would include the rooftop bar at The Scarlett Hotel (a delightful hideaway with great ambience to match the boutique hotel), the Katong area for Peranakan architecture and delicious food, an evening stroll along Boat Quay or Empress Place waterfront area for photo opportunities (6-7pm is best to see how the skyline gets lit by the lights), Emerald Hill for drinks after a day of shopping at Orchard, and Geylang for late night supper for the more adventurous!
I also love the National Museum of Singapore.
Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I get the Soonlee vouchers! :)
I'd bring the guests to the hotspots for the 4 ethnic groups, Chinatown, Little India, Geylang Serai and... errrr.... Orchard Rd? Hahaha...
Bring them to try out different foods at these places, and also at the authentic hawker centres like Chomp chomp or any big neighbourhood one. And also try out the good food at restaurants like Senzo, any at Dempsey and the high teas at hotels. I let some Aussie friends try kway chap and one of them nearly vomitted. HAHA!
Shop at Far East Plaza, Takashimaya, People's Park, Mustafa. And some indie places like Haji Lane and neighbourhood shops.
Do the usual touristy things like go to the Night Safari, Sentosa, take bus rides and mrt rides.
And invite them over to my cozy hdb flat for a look at our well-known public housing! haha!
hi!
went to the ACM last mth and I think it's pretty cool..! arab street for sheesha.. durian by the roadside(geylang), ben and jerry's at dempsey.. lovely chillout place, cycling at ubin.. there's a must-have stall selling coconut drinks which is superb after all that cycling! fish spa.. go to the one called kampong fish therapy.. fab ambience and gd service! they even call em doctor fish.. pretty cute! =)
Hort Park
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=17&Itemid=73
Homeclub
Great nightclub at The Riverwalk, Upper Circular Road. It's all about the music!
http://www.homeclub.com.sg/
Science Centre's Observatory
Free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm.
http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/otmovie.jsp?type=8&root=82&parent=82&cat=110
Sinema Old School
New arts hub at Mt Sophia featuring local films
http://www.sinema.sg/oldschool/
Timbre
At the Substation and the Arts House -- Great music, ambience, drinks and pizza.
http://www.timbre.com.sg
HSBC Tree Top Walk
At macritchie
An indie travel zine! How fun! I'm always thinking of what I'd like to see as a tourist in Singapore. You've got to have that mentality sometimes or you tend to miss out on some rare gems that our little island stands to offer.
Music
Acid Bar @ Emerald Hill (love the quaint colonial architecture of the bar), Timbre @ The Arts House (breezy + offers a gorgeous view of the financial district at night) or Wala Wala @ Holland Village for a delicious dose of home-grown music.
Food
In my opinion, one of the best thing that Singapore offers is the incredible variety of affordable (and I emphasise "affordable") international cuisine. Some top-notch eating spots that won't hurt the pocket:
Sushi Tei for some really inventive and delicious Japanese food. The Roti Prata House @ Upper Thomson or Spize @ River Valley for late-night greasy pratas, murtabaks and milo dinosaurs. Tung Lok Seafood Gallery @ East Coast Park or Yum Cha @ Chinatown for hearty Dim Sum buffets. The French Stall at Serangoon Road for Kopitiam style French cuisine. Annalakshmi @ Chinatown Point for ridiculously good vegetarian Indian food. Yet Con or Chin Chin along Purvis Street for really authentic (and really cheap) Hainanese pork chops and chicken rice. Rochor Beancurd @ Rochor Road for late-night dessert and that quintissential curb-side eating experience. Cafe Iguana @ Riverside Point for Mexican food (and happy hour frozen margaritas!).
Culture
National Museum of Singapore has some really nice galleries showcasing various aspects of Singapore's past. Asian Civilisation Museum is lovely too. Chinatown with its maze of little streets and the magnificent Buddha Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple showcases Singapore's diverse mix of cultures and religions.
Chilling Out
Dempsey's great. First off, I believe the Dempsey area boasts the craziest collection of luxury cars outside of Monaco. That itself is quite an attraction. Anyway, White Rabbit is a nice place worth visiting for its setting alone. House is great for its setting too - old-school barracks. Jones the Grocer houses Singapore's first and only cheese room. Ben and Jerrys is another fun option to check out. Outside of the Dempsey area, there's Holland Village and Blu Jaz, near Bugis is great too for cheap drinks and their psychedelic interior.
Fashion
Depending on what my friends want to buy, some of the more unique shopping places I'd bring them to include People's Park Complex, Haji Lane and Ann Siang Hill for quirky little treasures. I'd bring them to visit home-grown labels including Nicholas, Baylene (along Stamford Road) and All Dressed Up in Paragon.
Oops, think I got rather carried away there! 'Twas much fun writing that though. :)
I realise there are many cafe-cum-(something else) sprouting all over the place. Pluck and Casual Poet, you should be familiar with. But I just discovered this cafe-cum-hair salon:
http://hairloomandcaramel.blogspot.com/
I think the hair salon isn't open yet though.
Do the treetop walk from Hort Park along Alexandra Road... along the way you'll see black & white colonial houses, and loads of nature, skyscrapers and end at Henderson Waves - take in the view of at least 200m above sea level for a rush.
Or, Mount Faber. View the cityscape, stop at the cafe for a cuppa, or chill out with drinks at Altivo at night - a laidback, hilltop experience.
food#03 @Post-Museum, Rowell Rd, is a perfect little cafe for vegans/vegetarians, greenies & the arty-type.
I love this place for its absolutely yummy, modern fusion vegetarian fare served at affordable prices. Its rustic, slightly hobo decor lends a relaxed, unpretentious feel to the whole dining experience.
http://www.food03.sg
don't think anyone's mentioned it yet, but if you're asking about museums, the mint museum of toys at seah st is great! old school @ mt sophia is also a pretty good place for movies or the art gallery there.
mint museum of toys!such a treasure.its like going back to the good old days,you're like walking back in time when you see all those toys on display.
oh and please don't get me wrong,i've not even been into the museum even though i've heard about it and have passed by it many times by accident.hehe.
soon lee,you guys have mint toys in your shops too; the nutcrackers!
xoxoxo
sakinah lee
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