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48 hours in Singapore
Singapore is tiny island city-state with a little over 700 square kilometer in land area, more than 5 million in population, which translate to a ton load of organized fun.
“Organized fun” may sound strange and mind-boggling but if there’s anything Singapore is, it’s organized — and proper and clean and orderly and arranged.
It’s a good place to escape to when Metro Manila’s signature chaos starts to get to you.
And when that happens, below is our game plan for a weekend of rest, relaxation, and reset.
Assuming you’ll take the 5am-ish flights of several airlines, you’ll get to the Little Red Dot at around 9am. That’s a little too early to check into your hotels. Which is when the adventure begins.
10am: Andaz by Hyatt
Book a room at this hotel near popular spot Bugis and make it your first stop to leave your belongings. Andaz, ever so hip and accommodating, would gladly take care of your luggage until check-in time at 3pm.
A word of advice: The lobby is at the 25th floor, where pulsating energy and incredible views of the city will meet each and every guest. Find an Andaz staff member by looking for their pins. A word of caution: You might not recognize them as they are allowed to wear whatever the hell they want. It’s that cool there. 5 Fraser Street, Singapore. Website
10:30am: Head on over to CSHH
Also known as the Chye Seng Huat Hardware or one of the most unique coffee experiences you’ll have in Singapore. The beautifully preserved Art Deco venue houses the roastery, where guests can see how roasters bring out the best flavors of the coffee; a coffee bar, where brewing is the star of the show; and the C-Platform at the second floor, where gadgets, machines and other coffee geekery takes place. In case you’re familiar with Legazpi Village’s Yardstick, CSHH’s owner Papa Palheta trained the Yardstick people! 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore. Website
12pm: Marina Bay Sands
Pretty old news, we know, but the complex is packed with diverse offerings, anybody and their uncle will be satisfied. Shopping? The mall has a lot of high-end brands to tickle your fancy. At the waterfront is the LV museum, which is quite a delight even for art and design lovers.
The ArtScience museum has cool exhibits, both permanent and traveling, to delight in. At the moment, the Strandbeests from Netherlands will astound you. ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore. Website
2:30pm: Late lunch at Justin
A small cosmopolitan restaurant that offers modern Singaporean dishes, Justin serves delicious white pepper corn crab that will make you order a pint of beer to go with. Feeding on the spicy, flavorful, and hotdamn delicious meal, you’ll feel as though you’re settling into your weekend of organized fun.
4:30pm: Head back to Andaz
What is bliss: Experiencing the pleasure of having your blinds open the room up automatically, revealing insane floor-to-ceiling views of the city, as you enter your room. Settle in, find a special brew of a local craft beer in your fridge, and enjoy the tiny game of reference: Rooms feature little details of Singapore that will make just about anyone go, aww. There is happy hour at the 25th floor, which is almost as inviting as staying in, enjoying your room, and having a disco nap.
7pm: Stroll down Haji Lane
Just walking distance from Andaz is Haji Lane, a hip strip of narrow shophouses boasting of independent shops, eateries, cafes and whatnot. Do a bit of your shopping here, take in the neat and progressive vibe unique to Singapore, and selfie the way out of your heart. Here’s something you’ll enjoy.
8pm: Have dinner at Alaturka
Alaturka, near Haji Lane — on Bussorah Street to be exact — serves fabulous Mediterranean cuisine, for which it is famous. The meze tabagi is a great place to start but please leave room for the grilled meats. Hot tip: Try the kuzu sis — slow-grlled lamb chunks marinated with spices. It’s wonderful. 15 Bussorah St., 12-11pm. Website
10pm: Night cap at Mr. Stork
Andaz is home to one of the best rooftop bars in the city. Mr Stork at the 33rd floor offers 360-degree views of Singapore to go with its beautiful cocktails. But a side note: The beer list is pretty interesting too. Apart from the special Andaz brew, there are other local craft beers in the menu, as Singapore staple, Tiger. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
9am: Seek out Tiong Bahru
One of Singapore’s hippest neighborhoods, Tiong Bahru offers the best of old and new. Beside heritage offerings of Art Deco architecture are modern-day shenanigans like indie shops and bar and cafés, which make Tiong Bahru quite an experience. On Yong Siak Street are the famous Books Actually and children’s books haven Woods in the Books, plus Plain Vanilla Bakery. Grab a muffin and a coffee here. Or, seek out the iconic Tiong Bahru Bakery. Don’t feel like shopping or eating? Hunt down iconic murals on several streets like Eng Watt and Seng Poh Road or engage yourself in a heritage walk!
1130pm: Have lunch at the Tiong Bahru Market
With the sun at its most powerful, take cover at the Tiong Bahru Market for a nice hawker fare lunch. Let the long lines on 2nd floor guide you to the best of the best. Lee Hong Kee roasted meat is amazing, as the famous Fried Kway Teow. Keep hydrated with kopi, or iced variants if you please, and have your fill. 30 Seng Poh Road
2:30pm: Spend an afternoon at Sentosa
There’s quite a lot to do in Sentosa: Universal Studios is here while Siloso Beach offers a nice low-key experience. Feeling adventurous? Try the zipline or do the bungee jump. Then head out to Fratelli at Resorts World Sentosa for an early Italian dinner. It’s not just any other Italian dindin, mind: Fratelli was established by a 3-starred Michelin chef so you can be assured dishes are fresh, well-made, and delicious.
8pm: Manhattan Bar
What’s a visit these days to Singapore without swinging by Asia’s Best Bar — world’s 7th? Manhattan pays tribute to the cocktail cultue of the Big Apple. It takes seriously its American affiliation: Apart from the rickhouse, it also hosts the American Whisky Embassy, where 200 bottles comprise its collection. Among which the so-called unicorn whisky, Pappy Van Winkle. 2/F Regent Hotel, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore Website
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10pm: Trip out at the Zoo
Night at the zoo? Why not. The Singapore Zoo just launched the Rainforest Lumina, a night time attraction that boasts of interactive exhibits, trippy light shows, and just an overall unique experience of being at the zoo…at night!
8am. Check out of the hotel early and head to the airport
If you’re lucky enough to fly out of the new Terminal 4, give yourself a bit more time to enjoy the new airport. It boasts of being fully automated: from check-in all the way down to immigration, everything does away with human contact.
Enormous shopping halls will enthrall you, but perhaps none more than the wall of shophouses at the left-end side of the main hall. Keep a close eye on them to see which are LED projections and which are real. There’s an entertainment section boasting of arcade games, a snooze zone and of course a variety of food choices. — LA, GMA News
