Take a pinch of Swiss efficiency, add a touch of palm-tree-lined Beverly Hills, the vaunted Chinese work ethic and some Malay-Indian-Eurasian ethnic attitude, and there you have this city-state. Its small-town, overachiever ethos runs like clockwork, whether with a rubber stamp at Changi Airport or white-gloved service at Raffles. If you like your Asian culture prim and pretty, there are few better places for a brief sojourn.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Singapore's fine culture is still in effect: spitting and drugs are big no-nos. |
| 02 |
Sin-glish in a nutshell: add lah after everything you say. |
| 03 |
Long stopover? The airport is 30 minutes from almost anywhere and has sun decks, free internet, a swimming pool and cinema. |
| 04 |
Live the beach life. Hop in a car to Sentosa and do sundowners from Braise's balcony |
| 05 |
After dark, avoid Orchard Towers |
| 06 |
Head to the suburbs in the evening: the revamped old army barracks in Dempsey Hill are lovely for a drink or a bite at any time of night. |
| 07 |
Staid by light, wild by dark: Nightlife hub Zouk caters to Singaporeans of all ages. It's worth going to people-watch. |
| 08 |
Enter Kumar. Southeast Asia's most famous drag queen is not to be missed. |
| 09 |
Chilli or pepper? Take the latter for local street credibility when you go for your crab feast. |
| 10 |
Mum's the word. In business and daily life, the less verbal the better for purposes of power and projection. Pack a box of business cards. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Naumi
41 Seah Street
+ 65 6403 6000
naumihotel.com
Dependable chain
Hilton
581 Orchard Road
+ 65 6737 2233
hiltonsingapore.com
Premium
Ritz-Carlton Millenia
7 Raffles Avenue
+ 65 6337 8888
ritzcarlton.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
The Green Room at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia
7 Raffles Avenue
+ 65 6337 8888
ritzcarlton.com
Business breakfast
Tiffin Room at Raffles
1 Beach Road
+ 65 641 21 816
singaporeraffles.
raffles.com
Mid-morning coffee
Toast
02-11 Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
+ 65 6733 8489
toast.com.sg
Working lunch with colleagues
Mezza9 at the Grand Hyatt
10 Scotts Road
+ 65 6732 1234
singapore.grand.hyatt.com
Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Saint Pierre
01 Central Mall, 3 Magazine Road
+ 65 6438 0887
saintpierre.com.sg
Lunch on your own
Sushi Kikuzawa
360 Orchard Road, 02-13
International Building
+ 65 6738 3833
Afternoon tea/drink
TWG Tea
9 Raffles Place 01-22
Republic Plaza
+ 65 6538 1837
twgtea.com
Dinner on your own
The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road
+ 65 6473 9965 (sit at the bar)
Dinner with colleagues
The Line at Shangri-La
22 Orange Grove Road, Orchard Road
+ 65 6757 3644
shangri-la.com
Big dinner with partner clients
Oso
27 Tanjong Pagar Road
+ 65 6327 8378
oso.sg
Drink after dinner
The Tippling Club
8D Dempsey Road
+ 65 6475 2217
Late drinks
Supperclub
Odeon Towers
331 North Bridge Road
+ 65 6334 4080
supperclub.com
Late bite
Persimmon
01-07 The Link Hotel
50 Tiong Bahru Road
+ 65 6227 2271
persimmon.com.sg
On the tiles
Velvet Underground
17 Jiak Kim Street
+ 65 6738 2988
zoukclub.com
04
Reading
Bookstore
Kinokuniya
03-10 Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
+ 65 6737 5021
05
Thank yous
Chocolates
Laurent's
01-11 The Pier at Robertson Quay
80 Mohamed Sultan Road
+ 65 6235 9007
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Fashion from Know it Nothing
51 Haji Lane
+ 65 6392 5475
Lost luggage – where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Takashimaya
391 Orchard Road
+ 65 6738 111
takashimaya-sin.com
Something for the kids
Clothes from Lifebaby
252 North Bridge Road
3-34 Raffles City Shopping Centre
+ 65 6338 3552
lifebaby.com
Something for someone you love
Bespoke jewellery by Argentum
+ 65 6220 9219
(ring for appointment)
argentum.com.sg
Something for yourself
Art from Pagodahouse Gallery
143/5 Tanglin Road, Tudor Court
+ 65 6732 2177
pagodahouse.com
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Tyler Print Institute
41 Robertson Quay
+ 65 6336 3663
stpi.com.sg |
02 |
Pernakan Museum
39 Armenian Street
+ 65 6332 7591
peranakanmuseum.org |
03 |
Asian Civilizations Museum
at Empress Place
1 Empress Place
+ 65 6332 7798
acm.org.sg |
08
Limousine/car
Singapore Limousine
Block 103, Rivervale Walk
+ 65 6384 2290
09
Transport
Buy a pass
Most MRT (local train) and bus stations sell rechargeable Ez-link cards valid for travel everywhere.
10
Fitness
Good gym
Planet Fitness
Vivo City, 1 Harbourfront Walk
+ 65 6235 9622
planetfitness.com.sg
Good running route
The Reservoir by Upper Thomson Road
Fort Canning Park
Alternative diversions
Underwater hockey
Singapore Underwater Hockey Club
members.lycos.co.uk/suhcers
Tchoukball
tchoukball.sg