What makes Singapore special?

You know those places that pull on your heart strings, that you feel a connection to the community, that you have an unexplained resonance with? Well that’s Singapore for me.

• Ya Kun Kaya Toast’s tea pours and Kaya butter crackers.

• The Tomato Martinis at Jigger & Pony

• The Hotate Mentaiko at Shinrai

• Australian brunches at Sarnie’s

• The amazing Vietnamese summer roll hawker at the Maxwell Food Centre

• Innovative sustainable fashions of Little Match Girl

• The sprawling lush green jungles as you approach Gilman Barracks

• The vistas high above the city sipping champagne at 67 Pall Mall

Of course, the amazing rice infused cocktail menu at Native; decadent oyster preparations at Fiz; sublime interior design at Firangi Superstar; an ode to a slower pace of life with the finer things in tow at Maduro on Sentosa; the dynamic story telling of Modern Chinese and French infused cuisine at Path; and the oversized disco balls hung from the ceiling in one of the living rooms of Mandala Club.

• Be sure to try a Vietnamese massage on Erskine Road - their ancient Chinese cupping techniques are amazing. It’s the perfect antidote after a long flight!

• I’m always a big fan of the local fashion brands, getting something you can’t find anywhere else. Little Match Girl in Chinatown is an excellent stop! For basics, don’t miss In Good Company and Pedro or Charles and Keith for shoes. 

• Being an avid Green Tea drinker, don’t forget to stop into TWG Tea to pick up some great loose leaf tea.

• If it’s your first time in Singapore, make sure to download Grab - it’s like Uber but better. Transport, Food, deliveries, groceries and more. 

• Don’t forget, this is a city where hawker stalls have Michelin stars. You can eat an amazing meal for under 10 USD and then go have the most creative cocktail for over double the cost of your dinner. It’s all worth it and is a delight to the senses.

• Ann Siang House

• The Scarlet

• Mondrian Singapore