Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
THE GREAT SINGAPORE SALE
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Liquid Wonders
Dining and Nightlife
Undoubtedly one of Singapore’s more prominent nightlife destinations, the Clarke Quay - Boat Quay stretch is famous for its after work-hour haunts, world-class bars, restaurants and great vibes. Here are our picks for the ones that are not only popular, but worth your visit (We’ve included some drink recommendations too).
La Maison du Whisky Nikka 18 Years, Single Malt on the Rocks Give this award-winning whisky a go. Sharp, with deep nutty flavours.
Verre Wine Bar Chateau De Verre A rose moscato made from the finest grapes the Alsace wine country has to offer. Delicate body, and sweet, just the way the French like it. Chupitos Incredible Hulk, With Mojito-mint Creme And more crazy-themed, intensely flavoured shots like this. Enjoy this refreshing, mojito-in-ashot, without the radioactivity. Brewerkz Riverside Point XIPA This seasonal beer won Beer of the Year at the World Brewery Championships in 2015. The bitterness of an IPA with butterscotch and hazelnut: truly a winner.
Le Noir Grey Goose Vodka Few vodkas by big distilleries offer the smooth, crisp finish of a Grey Goose. And while you’re at it, enjoy Le Noir’s fine live music, playing every night.
Cuba Libre Cuban Dream Martini Apple liquer meets Mojito for a cocktail that’s a sure hit with the ladies! If you’re not so thirsty, hit the dance floor and move to the signature Caribbean groove. Fern & Kiwi Kia Ora Don’t like a taste of Cuba? Try a cocktail inspired by the spirit of the Maori, with a delicious fruity base of Peach Schnappes and zesty guava juice.
Bring Me There 1 LA MAISON DU WHISKY 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 239013 6733 0059 2 VERRE WINE BAR 8 Rodyk St, 238216 6509 1917 3 CHUPITOS 3B River Valley Rd, 01-05, 179021 4 BREWERKZ 301 Merchant Rd, Riverside Point, Singapore 058282 5 LE NOIR 3C River Valley Rd, Singapore 179022 6339 6365
Crazy Elephant The Crazy Elephant Enjoy soft rock and bluesy tunes at this bar known more for its grungy vibe, passionate musicians and down-to-earth vibe. And why not have its eponymous, Leblon Cachaca based cocktail while you’re at it? FoodBar DaDa Signature Sangria Nothing says Spanish like a good, zesty, full-bodied Sangria. DaDa’s is one of Singapore’s tastiest. Savour with a choice range of tapas. Ginza Lion Beer Hall Red Eye Smooth Sapporo beer meets tomato juice, served in their special wellington-shaped glasses. Do not miss their Japanese bar treats!
6 CUBA LIBRE 3B River Valley Rd, Singapore 179021 6338 8982 7 FERN & KIWI Clarke Quay, Singapore 179024 6336 2271 8 CRAZY ELEPHANT 3E River Valley Rd, #01-03/04, Singapore 179024 6337 7859 9 FOODBAR DADA 60 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238252 6735 7738 10 GINZA LION BEER HALL #01-01/02, 8 Rodyk St, Singapore 238216 6634 9113
Shopping
Quarterly Issue No.2, April 2016
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
From the Casual to the Sartorial
Shopping
Shopper’s Paradise The Great Singapore Sale cometh. From glitzy malls to local neighbourhoods, we pull out Singapore’s top 8 must-see spots across the spectrum.
ION Orchard The Crown Jewel The King of Singapore’s shopping district carries pedestrian brands like H&M and Topshop in its 4 basement floors, and features upmarket ones from levels 1 and above. Orchard Cineleisure For the Young at Heart Trendy, ever-changing and always one step ahead, Cineleisure carries brands that appeal to youth and those into street fashion. Marina Bay Sands Shoppes 1 The Posh and the Glamorous Home to one of Asia’s finest Casinos, the MasterCard Theatres, and an indoor Venetian river, the Shoppes at MBS promises an experience like no other.
1 Mandarin Gallery Delectably Elegant Patek Phillipe, Bell&Ross, and many other upscale brands lend an air of elegance and gravitas. A perfect spot for brunch or tea in the heart of the city.
Ngee Ann City 2 The Flagship of Orchard Road With Takashimaya at the helm, Ngee Ann City has been a steadfast player in the shopping scene for many years. Great food, an amazingly diverse weekend crowd and great brands await.
Vivocity For Families, For All One of Singapore’s largest malls, Vivocity boasts 400 over shops, cafes and restaurants. For those with young children, don’t forget to check out the rooftop park, complete with play pools and kinetic sculptures.
Haji Lane 3 Modern Fashion, Curated Haji Lane has grown over the years into an independent fashion district, with beautifully themed shops, cafes, and rare brands. This is not to be missed, especially for those who love to explore the roadless-travelled.
Mustafa Centre It Has Everything If you want it, Mustafa would probably have it. Open 24/7, this is a shopping destination that is unique in its own right. You will find anything from pharmaceutical products to appliances, to jewellery and fashion items.
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Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Shopping
Shopper’s Kingdom Singapore’s mania for shopping almost rivals its obsession with food, and barely a year goes by without a vast new retail monolith flinging open its doors. Prices may be higher than in Malaysia and Thailand, but Singapore beats its neighbours for sheer convenience and familiarity. Electronics and computers are no longer
Orchard Road This 2.2km shopping boulevard inspires awe and horror in equal measure. Packed with more than 20 shopping centres, from label palace ION Orchard to the high street staples of 313@Somerset, the sheer scale of this retail onslaught is overwhelming. As if there weren’t enough malls already, another giant – Orchard Gateway – opened in 2014. You have two options on Orchard Road: dive in, or run screaming.
the steal they once were, but they can be cheaper provided you do your homework and shop around. Clothes are cheaper than in most Western countries, and you can pick up reasonably priced Asian antiques provided you know what you’re doing. 4
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Haji Lane Blink and you’d walk right past this narrow alley in Kampong Glam without a second thought, but Haji Lane is a place of pilgrimage for Singapore’s hipsters. Boutiques here open and close faster than local fashion bloggers can keep up with, but you can be sure to find a great range of cool womens and menswear, accessories and homewares during any visit – along with a handful of cute cafes and bars.
1 Evening falls and the Ion Orchard-Tangs intersection becomes a dazzling light parade 2 Step into a world of indie labels and hipster offerings in Haji Lane 3 Woman shopping for traditional ornaments along Chettiar Road 4 Vivocity’s signature waves extend from its honeycombed facade into the mall itself. Its spacious interior extends over a massive 14 hectares of total usable retail space
Little India A world apart from the gleaming malls of Orchard Road, Little India’s ramshackle streets are a treasure trove of art, antiques, textiles, food and music, while the infamous 24-hour Mustafa Centre department store is an experience in itself. Keen bargainers can score cut-price electronics here, while computer enthusiasts will do well
at Sim Lim Square. Heading down towards Kampong Glam, you’ll find handicrafts, textiles and boutiques and, sandwiched between the two areas, the thoroughly un-Singaporean ‘thieves’ market’. A short walk away is the old neighbourhood of Bugis, which, while strictly located neither in Little India or Kampong Glam, has something of the atmosphere of both.
VivoCity With its vast size, distinctive wavy shape, odd Flintstones-style facade and waterfront location facing Sentosa Island, VivoCity was unveiled in 2006 as the new poster child of Singapore retail – the mall that would lure the city’s shoppers away from the madness of Orchard Rd. To help achieve that, planners cunningly inserted the new Sentosa Monorail into the building, forcing people into the mall. It hasn’t quite achieved the intended iconic status, but there’s no denying it’s a pleasant place to shop, with lots of open space, an outdoor kids’ playground on Level 2, a rooftop ‘skypark’ where the little ones can splash about in the paddling pools and a large Golden Village cineplex. With more than 90,000 sq metres of space, it also crams in just about every category of purchasable item known to humanity, and once you’re done shopping there’s a range of restaurants and bars with outdoor seating where you can sit and soak up the sea breeze. To get there, take the MRT to HarbourFront.
Attractions
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
FREE AND EASY According to The Economist, Singapore is world champion when it comes to most expensive cities to live in. We hate how things have become increasingly expensive to Singapore But what can we do when prices just won’t seem to stop rising? We still need to eat and have some fun, so we decided to come up with a list of 10 things you can do in Singapore without breaking your wallet.
Walk the Haw Par Villa History Trail
Iconic Moments at the Southern Ridges
The once defunct Haw Par Villa is home to interesting exhibits that pay homage to the weirdest side of Chinese culture.
The Henderson Waves is perhaps one of Singapore’s most memorable photo-taking spots. Snap away!
Enter a New World at Little Guilin A lesser-known gem in the middle of Singapore, this picturesque locale has the look and feel of its cousin in Guilin, China.
Go Dolphin-Spotting at Sisters Island
Movies Under the Canopy of Night
See the Forest from the Macritchie Treetop Walk
Who knew we could come up close and personal with wild dolphins off Singapore’s shores?
Sit back, relax and bask in the serenity of Fort Canning Park while enjoying a carefully curated series of movies.
The full glory of SIngapore’s rainforest can be appreciated from atop the longest treetop suspension bridge in Asia.
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Attractions
Hiking at Mount Faber A scenic hilly route takes you to a series of bars, cafes and the Jewel Box on the summit, where an amazing view awaits.
Walking the Ground At Little India This treasure trove of local culture is known for its many religious buildings, delicious street eats and vibrant crowd. Drop by Tekka Market for the authentic local wet-market experience, and tuck into a good meal of Roti Prata next door. Head over to the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, built in the Dravidian style.
Bring Me There 1 HAW PAR VILLA 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118628
6 LITTLE INDIA Take MRT along Northeast Line (Purple) to Little India or Farrer Park stations
2 SOUTHERN RIDGES Henderson Rd, 159557 Nearest MRT: Telok Blangah
7 MACRITCHIE TREETOP WALK Take MRT to Marymount (Circle Line) Follow the Red Trail from Macritchie Reservoir Park entrance for 4km.
3 FILMS AT THE FORT 14th-23rd August, 7pm till late Fort Canning Park 4 LITTLE GUILIN Bukit Batok East Ave 5, Singapore 043359
World Class Performances Without the Cost
Farm Life and a Family Atmosphere
The Esplanade foyer features periodic performances by artistes, budding musicians and international talents.
Your friendly dining enclave steeped in a unique farmer’s vibe - complete with farm tour and an animal corner.
5 SISTERS ISLAND MARINE PARK Charter a boat from West Coast Pier or Marina South Pier to visit Big Sister’s Island.
8 SISTERS ISLAND MARINE PARK Charter a boat from West Coast Pier or Marina South Pier to visit Big Sister’s Island. 9 FARMART CENTRE 9am-7pm 67 Sungei Tengah Rd, Singapore 699008 10 ESPLANADE THEATRES ON THE BAY 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981 Ground Floor Foyer
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Dining and Nightlife
EAT:Chinatown Take a trip through this old town and savour it’s culinary gems, from the cheap and rustic to the classy and hypermodern. Cheap and Good You will find Maxwell Food Centre and Amoy Street Food Centre, the two large hawker food enclaves, hard to miss. Here you will experience local favourites - Ah Balling, Chicken Rice and Teochew Porridge - from famous food stalls. Note the tissue packets on the tables: the Singaporean way of reserving at the Hawker centre.
Quaint and Authentic
Chinatown Chic
Hawker fare with a unique touch can be found at shophouse eateries. Frog-leg porridge, Bak Kut Teh and Thai Mookata are among these value-for-money specialties.
Ann Siang Hill is a bar and cafe paradise tucked in the midst Chinatown. Savour craft beer at Oxwell & Co., or head over to The Club hotel’s basement for some delightful jazz numbers. If Ann Siang’s out of the way, check out the world-class cocktails at Jigger & Pony down Amoy Street. Parkroyal on Pickering’s Lime Restaurant serves up a mean buffet, featuring an international spread from foie gras to crayfish.
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1 TISSUE PAPER
A typical Singaporean way of reserving tables at hawker centres.
2 THE QUEUES
The saying goes, ‘Singaporeans love to queue’. The longer the queue, the better the food.
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3 LUNCH-HOUR CROWDS
Weekday afternoons draw in massive crowds of white-collared workers in the city.
4 FIVE-FOOT WAYS
An old architectural feature found in many shophouses that acts as a shelter from rain.
5 THE KOPI MAN
The staple to every coffee shop is the drinks stall, and the local equivalent of a barista.
6 INTERNATIONAL BUFFET
Lime’s signature buffet offers an array of more than 200 different choices.
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Good Food is His Business. Seth’s Picks 1 SPRUCE Address: 260 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #01-01, 588190 Phone: 6466 5582 Hours: Open 11:30 am – 1:00 am 2 1-ALTITUDE Address: 1 Raffles Place, 048616 Phone:6438 0410 Hours: 6:00 pm – 3:00 am 3 SONGFA BAK KUT TEH Address: 133 New Bridge Road, #01-04, Chinatown Point, 059413 Phone: 6702 7688 Hours: 10:30 am – 9:30 pm
Dining and Nightlife
Meet Seth - a masterful writer by day, food & beverage aficionado by night. The founder of sethlui.com - a popular online publication chronicling local nightlife and food - Seth has continuously strived to bring the best of Singapore’s food and culture closer to the people. We sat down with Seth as he shared his top picks for Singapore’s nightlife haunts.
One place in Singapore to check out… is definitely the Chinatown-Outram-Tiong Bahru stretch.
My personal favourite night spot for a chill out session is ... Spruce @ Fire Station.
This is Singapore’s new food haven. What stands out is how food doesn’t have to be expensive to be great. And I mean both local and international delights. Definitely try the Bak Kut Teh, or Pork Rib Tea Soup; there are a few different variations of this along the 5km stretch of road. Perfect for a after-partying snack
Nowadays, people love to go for the authentic. Spruce is unpretentious. It’s a restaurant that revolves around the concept of serving wholesome Italian-American cuisine with warm hospitality and, most importantly, at very affordable prices. Their Italian baked fish is a must-have.
The best place to check out Singapore’s cityscape at night ... will definitely be at 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar. People usually just call it 1-Altitude. The word ‘Altitude’ already says it all about the world’s highest alfresco bar. The lounge on the lower floors is cosy and chic, but I guarantee you’ll be blown away by the view from the Altimate Club. Enjoying your world-class martini with the city’s horizon as a backdrop, what’s not to like?
Singapore’s night life... has so much to offer! I’ve heard friends from overseas asking me if there’s enough to discover when they visit Singapore. It’s easy to dismiss this little red dot and think that it has little to offer because of its size. But even though I review dining places for a living, I am continuously surprised at how much there is left to explore, each time I head out at night: all the bars, quaint late-night cafes, eateries left to conquer.
I’m most excited about…checking out new supper places in Singapore. Eating supper is a way of catching up with friends and family. Supper is becoming a very common thing in Singapore, especially since all you need is a car, a bunch of good friends and a silly conversation. Food unites us. It’s our national past-time.
My top tips for being a savvy tourist-foodie … firstly, keep an open mind. Do not hesitate to ask the locals where’s good to eat. Ask your taxi driver especially: they’re the ones who know every nook and cranny of Singapore, and are more likely to give you a good recommendation for local food. When it comes to global fare, it’s always good to check out local food blogs such as sethlui.com (*chuckles). I hear this magazine’s recommendations are pretty spot-on as well. Golden rule: always seek advice from someone who’s passionate about his or her food.
Quarterly Issue No.2, June 2016
Dining and Nightlife
Changi DFS If you have a love for the finest luxury, Changi Airport’s Duty Free Shops is just the thing for you. DFS has everything from fashion, beauty and jewellery to food and gifts. Browse through the array of iconic brands that offer only the best you can imagine, all available right at your arrival. Plaza Sing Although one of the oldest malls located along Singapore’s shopping district Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura is one you wouldn’t want to miss. Popular with families, teenagers and young adults, it features over 300 stores and services with something for everyone. The contemporary mall also features multicoloured sculptures called the Jelly Baby Family, one of the key symbols of Italian artist Mauro Peruchetti.
MRT Map of Singapore
Vivo City If you’re looking for a place with scale and variety, Vivo City is just the place for you. With its iconic architecture it is the largest shopping mall in Singapore featuring The Sky Park, Play Court and water features for some fun. The Sky Park and Amphitheatre are not only great for picnics but also have a fantastic view of Sentosa. Hence they are popular areas frequented by both locals and tourists alike. Haji Lane Haji Lane is a lane filled with quirky, eccentric shophouses for the young and young at heart. Do not be deceived by their narrow facade, but enter into the world of independent fashion boutiques and indie apparel and accessories. If you’re tired and thirsty from browsing through the unique shops, do not worry. Along the lane there is jazz bar with live music, Middle Eastern café, colorful Mexican bar and so much more. Bugis Conveniently located just above the Bugis train station, Bugis Junction is a unique mall in Singapore with glass covered shopping streets filled with kiosks along the traditional shophousethemed buildings. There is a large variety of shops that have everything to suit your needs, including a youth-themed zone. Just across the road from Bugis Junction is Bugis Street filled with street food stalls and shops with local popular fashion trends, electronic gadgets, snacks and souvenirs.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Shopping and dining has never been finer than The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Ride on a Sampan in a canal that runs through the length of The Shoppes, as you pass by numerous luxury duplexes such as Saint Lauren Paris, Gucci, Chanel and Cartier. Within The Shoppes are also five of six restaurants by celebrity chefs such as Tetsuya Wakuda, Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Guy Savoy and Daniel Boulud. Paragon If you’re looking for a collective of international brand flagship stores, Paragon is just the place for you. Gucci’s flagship store spans 5 storeys at its shopfront while accessories and crystal specialists complement the fashion stores. A mall dedicated to luxury brands and quality services, Paragon will complete your shopping experience. Ion Orchard Featuring a multi-sensory canvas media wall called the Media Facade, Ion Orchard is one mall not to be missed. There is also a 5,600 sq ft art exhibition and gallery, ION Art, which combines both art and commerce. Permanent and changing installations include media as well as sculpture installations which can be found around the mall. Hence you will have an integrated and unique art experience as you shop and browse through Ion, one you will never forget. IMM When travelling as a family, there are so many things to take care of and concerns you may have. However, worry no more. IMM is a great family-friendly shopping mall, with not only five floors of retail stores but also services for convenient shopping. There are both wet and dry playgrounds with a 7-metre tall treehouse for those with young children as well as three nursing rooms for mothers. There are even baby strollers and wheelchairs available for free. Have a great worry-free shopping experience with your family! Holland Village For a local experience away from the large air-conditioned malls, Holland Village has everything from wine cellars, fine-dining and ethnic home decor articles to tarot card readers, master tailors and a custom-made shoe shop. Many food chains, pubs and restaurants popular among Singaporeans are also located in Holland Village as well as a 24-hour kopitiam, food court and market providing local and western dishes.