What it lacks in size, Singapore easily makes up for in the staggering variety of experiences it offers. Once you’ve shopped Orchard Road, dined in the hawker centres, strolled through Chinatown and taken in the Gardens by the Bay, you’ve still barely scratched the surface. Here’s where to go to sample the city’s more laid-back side – along with the locals.
Stay
Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree
Set in the heart of the nature reserve of the same name, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree is a jungle-ensconced escape for urban families in need of a breather. Stunning architecture and biophilic design integrate the resort into the surrounding rainforest in both form and function, forging an immediate connection to the natural world – one that can be further explored in a variety of kid-friendly activities, from forest walks to birdwatching, stargazing and night safaris. Between excursions, settle in at Forage restaurant, where the superb harvest-to-table menu celebrates produce grown in the resort’s own kitchen garden.
Our Tip: Accommodations in the main building are the more affordable option, but if you’ve saved up for something special, reserve one of the elevated canopy rooms, which offer exclusive access to cocoon-shaped pool pavilions with wildlife roaming freely beneath the stilts.
Sip
Big Short Coffee
In a city obsessed with speciality coffee, Big Short Coffee turns espresso into a mixology experience. Borrowing techniques from molecular gastronomy, the team crafts a seasonal menu of just seven drinks, featuring clarified milk, granitas and unexpected infusions.
Jing Studio
Away from the bustle of Orchard Road, Jing Studio occupies a discreet wing of the House of Tan Yeok Nee, one of Singapore’s finest heritage mansions. Here, tea is elevated into ritual, guided by a tea master whose theatrical precision turns every ceremony into a performance.
Savour
FURA
Led by Christina Rasmussen and Sasha Wijidessa, FURA is a culinary laboratory that explores the possibilities of low-carbon cookery through overlooked and invasive ingredients. Cocktails and dishes become conversations about the future of food – serious in purpose, bold and joyful in execution.
Jaan by Kirk Westaway
For a special-occasion splash-out, two-Michelin-starred Jaan by Kirk Westaway is one of Singapore’s most breathtaking dining destinations. Here, on the 70th floor of the Swissôtel, the renowned British chef reimagines the classics of his Devon childhood with unmistakably French precision: a decadent bread-and-butter ritual, a transformed leek-and-potato soup, and a hen’s-egg dish no guest is likely to forget. The non-alcoholic pairing is every bit as compelling as the traditional wine option, while the service is as warm as it is polished and deeply knowledgeable.
Our Tip: Lunch is nearly half the price of dinner, and well worth arranging your day around.
Soak
Nowhere Baths
Drawing inspiration from thermal bathing traditions around the world and the restorative power of hot-and-cold contrast, Nowhere Baths brings Singapore its own interpretation of the social bathhouse. A two-hour pass grants you access to the full suite of hot pools, steam room, sauna and cold plunge, as well as the serene lounge stocked with light refreshments. Call it a mini vacation.
Teochew Meng Reflexology Centre
On the fourth floor of a Chinatown shopping centre, this no-frills establishment is anything but glamorous, with its rows of armchairs and unapologetically old-school decor. Yet regulars all agree – and we can confirm: it offers one of the city’s finest foot massages, at an unbeatable price of S$20 for 45 minutes.
See
New Bahru
Housed in the former Nan Chiau High School, New Bahru has become the latest playground for Singapore’s creative set. Independent boutiques, restaurants (a special mention goes to Sri Lankan favourite Kotuwa), design studios and galleries make it far more than a shopping destination. It’s a neighbourhood within a neighbourhood, where entrepreneurial energy is expressed with infectious optimism.
Study
Beyond the Façade
From Joo Chiat to Chinatown, Shophouses of Singapore: Beyond the Facade tells the story of the city’s colourful shophouses and the people shaping their next chapter – architects, designers and entrepreneurs alike. A fascinating look behind some of the Lion City’s most photographed buildings.
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