Singapore, Singapore

lodging • outdoors

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

You should absolutely consider the Marina Bay Sands if money is no object. If the budget doesn't allow, I would at the very least recommend venturing up to the top of this magnificent hotel for a drink and panoramic views of the city. Even on a misty evening, it was breathtaking (and the cocktails were good too... once we finally got them. Service is sloooooow.) The night we went, they were "charging" S$20 to visit Cé La Vi Skybar, but you received it back in the way of a voucher to be used toward a drink. (So basically, as long as you had a cocktail, you could go up to check out the view.) Tip: Don't get sucked into visiting the "observation deck." It's actually a floor below the rooftop (though does extend a bit further out.) However, you have to pay S$23 to get up there and there's not a bar.

Singapore, Singapore

restaurants

Jumbo Seafood - Riverside Point

But one dish that is uniquely "Singapore" is the black pepper and chili crabs.We visited Jumbo Seafood, which has five locations in the city, though we picked the one near the river, which provided a nice little post-dinner stroll, and some bar hopping as well. The chili crabs are served in a sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce, accompanied by delicious buns for soaking up the amazing flavors. The black pepper preparation (middle) is exactly what it sounds like, and sans sauce. Each are excellent in their own way, and I would recommend trying both if you have the chance.

Singapore, Singapore

restaurants

Tiong Bahru Market

One of the cleaner and more spacious hawker centers, this one is located on the second floor, above the wet market (where you can find fresh produce, seafood, meat, etc). It's located in a more "hipster" neighborhood, with a lot of Chinese influence. If you are lucky to have a group like we did, best to divide and conquer. Scope out which dishes you would like to try, split up and meet back at a table to share the goods! Since we had two very knowledgeable tour guides with us, we knew exactly what to order (though, if you're at a loss, look for the ones with the longest lines.)

Singapore, Singapore

destination

Tekka Market

(Little India)- Tekka Market is another wet market and hawker center all rolled into one. This is located in the Indian section of the city, and was the first market we visited on our trip to Singapore. In general, this is a cool neighborhood to explore with plenty of food, shopping and a really unique Indian temple. A warning: this particular wet market has a strong "aroma" of mutton (common in Indian cuisine), so proceed with caution knowing that. Be sure to try Roti Prata (flour-based pancake), the Biryani Stall, and Banana Leaf Apolo!

Singapore, Singapore

destination

Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam was formerly the Arab/Muslim quarter in Singapore, and now sort of an artsy and hipster neighborhood. Here, you'll find the beautiful Sultan Mosque, Arab Street filled with cloth merchants, along with coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques and some cool street art.

Singapore, Singapore

bar

No.5 Emerald Hill

Take a walk up Emerald Hill. This is a conservation area where several of the wealthy Peranakan community once lived, and several of the old mansions have been restored. Additionally, there are some cool bars located on this street that we visited our final night. I

Singapore, Singapore

outdoors

Singapore Botanic Gardens

We didn't have time, but these are very popular

Singapore, Singapore

destination

Orchard Road

Good place to do some shopping- high end shops near here!

Singapore, Singapore

lodging

Raffles Hotel

Don't forget to try a Singapore Sling! If you want to be super authentic with your Singapore Sling, you can visit the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, where this cocktail was first invented. But as you might suspect, it can be found on virtually every drink menu in the city. It's a tropical mix of gin, cherry liquor, cointreau, pineapple juice, grenadine and bitters and perfect for cooling down on those humid Singapore nights.