When you travel to Asia or Australia chances are you have an overlap in Singapore. Instead of sticking to the usual tourist tours, we give you the top 30 insider Singapore hot spots and hidden gem tips; the very best shops, restaurants, bars and museums in town.
SHOPS
If the big luxury like brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton fall outside your budget and taste, then the neighbourhoods Tiong Bahru and Little India (especially Haji Lane) offer a great solution! You will find the smaller boutique shops here and cheerful coffee and lunch hot spots.
Nana & Bird – 79 Chay Yan Street # 01-02 (corner Yong Siak Street)
Fashion & Lifestyle store.
Strangelets- 7 Yong Siak Street
Nice concept store with bags watches, ceramics and stationery.
Books Actually – 9 Yong Siak Street
Cute book store with a mix of international and Singaporean literature, poetry and journals.
Tokyo Bikes – 38 Haji Lane
Cool bikes!
Rockstar – 8 Grange Road, # 03-08 Orchard Cineleisure
One of the nicest clothing and lifestyle stores on Orchard Road
Kinokuniya – Takashimaya mall – 391 Orchard Road
Huge, but wonderful bookstore with books and magazines from all around the world.
Mondays Off – 76 Haji Lane
Nice concept store with posters, party and home decorations.
We Need a Hero – 57 Eng Hoon Street # 01-86
For the men among us who need on a haircut or shave; this is the hippest barber in Singapore.
CULTURE & NATURE
Art Science Museum
Before you make a trip up to the view from the rooftop terrace at Marina Bay Sands enjoy, pay a visit to this beautiful museum with an ever changing contemporary art collection.
Singapore Footprints
There are several tours through the heart of Singapore, but this tour is free and run by the students of the NTU (Singapore’s Tech University) as a project to know more into the history of their own country, to meet people from other cultures and learn better English. You get to see all the highlights all in a tour of 2.5 hours
Botanic Gardens
Super nice city park that people from all around the world come to admire. On our first visit a python slipped under the bridge we walked on so beware ..
Pulau Ubin
A fifteen minute boat ride from Singapore is the island of Pulau Ubin. Great for a morning or afternoon activity. You can rent a bike there and explore the island. You will be greated by the monkeys.
BREAKFAST / COFFEE / LUNCH
PS Cafe – 28b Harding Road (Dempsey Hill)
Tasty map and crazy interior. There are 3 PS Cafe’s but this one is my favorite because you can sit outside, ideal for weekend lunch with friends.
Tiong Bahru Bakery – 56 Eng Hoon Street # 01-70
Delicious coffees, pastries and juices
Tiong Bahru Market
To experience the vibe of the typical Singapore ‘hawkers’ (food stalls)! There are dozens of small Asian eateries on the first floor and a fish and flower market on the ground floor.
Plain Vanilla – 1D Yong Siak Street
Divine cakes, cupcakes and coffee!
Shop Wonderland – 37 Haji Lane
A cheerful coffee shop on the first floor with a nice shop.
Fullerton Hotel – 1 Fullerton Square
Weekend breakfast in style on the terrace of the Fullerton.
DINNER
Burnt Ends – 20 Teck Lim Road
Food lovers # 1 favourite restaurant of Australian owner.
Lau Pa Sat Satay Street – 18 Raffles Quay
Outside on the street food center in the CBD district with the yummiest sate’s. Stall 6 is the best! A brand new hawker center with all Asian cuisines. Japanese sushi to Korean BBQ, just opened next door.
Potato Head Folk – 36 Keong Saik Road
Of the same owners as Potato Head Beach Club in Bali. Each level offers a different menu and the rooftop terrace houses a beautiful cocktail bar with views of Chinatown.
Latteria – 40 Duxton Hill
Nice Italian restaurant with outdoor eating facilities. Lively neighbourhood and great location if your want to have a cocktail before or after dinner at the neighbours, Lucha Loco. And a short walk to Club Street where you can party on Friday and Saturday night.
Pietra Santa
Tasty Italian restaurant – where the Italian mama is still stirring the pots – with a cozy porch in a less touristy part of Singapore.
COCKTAILS / DRINKS
Lucha Loco Cocktails – 15 Duxton Hill
Mad Men Attic Bar – 11 N Canal Rd
Roof top bar in the middle CBD
The Library – 47 Keong Saik Rd
Tantric – 78 Neil Road
One of the most popular (and very few …) gay bars in Singapore! Around the corner at Burnt Ends, The
Club Street
No car zone street on Friday and Saturday filled with restaurants and bars.
Raffles – 1 Beach Road
The famous ‚Singapore Sling‘ was created at the Raffles bar.