We asked Singapore’s top concierges to share their personal recommendations for the perfect time in the city
Musa Anshari
Musa Anshari, Guest Services Manager, Mandarin Oriental
+65 6885 3000
Musa recommends you start your day with an indulgent breakfast buffet at MELT – a multi-cultural dining smorgasbord – then head to Old School, a privately run arts center atop Mount Sophia where you can enjoy the independent creative scene.
Live music by up-and-coming bands are showcased here and galleries display diverse art pieces. You can also catch local Asian films at the Sinema theatre. For lunch, he suggests heading to Absinthe, a charming French restaurant on the fringes of Chinatown. Afterwards, why not discover the bustling streets nearby and pick up a chic souvenir or two before heading to Haji Lane – a quaint bohemian district bursting with designer boutiques. For dinner, kick back and relax at Blu Jaz Café, a popular boho-style café-cum-lounge bar with world-class live music, ranging from jazz quintets to Latin bands. End the evening on a 282 meter-high – and a stunning panoramic city view – from 1-Altitude, a bar and restaurant at the top of One Raffles Place.
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Best Restaurant
Jaan par André
Cuisine: Fusion fine dining
Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, 178882
Au Petit Salut
Cuisine: French
40C Harding Rd, 249548
Cherry Garden
Cuisine: Cantonese
Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, 039797
Best Shop
Books Actually
9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, 168645
Best to Do
Catch the sunset from 1-Altitude with a whiskey in your hand
Carolina Lee
Carolina Lee, Assistant Front Office Manager, The Scarlet Hotel
+65 6511 3311
Best Restaurants
To experience local food, Carolina recommends the following dining destinations: the Maxwell Food Centre, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Lau Pa Sat and the Newton Food Centre.
The best restaurants include the No Sign Board Seafood venue at The Esplanade, Banana Leaf Apolo at Race Course Road for great Indian cuisine and True Blue Cuisine at Armenian Street for authentic Peranakan food.
Best Shopping
The trendy shopping malls of Singapore showcase the best the city has to offer, which include ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City, Paragon and 313@Somerset. But Carolina suggests offbeat shopping can be enjoyed at smaller venues such as Arab Street, Haji Lane, Holland Village, Chinatown and Little India.
Best to Do
The Night Safari
The world’s first nocturnal zoo with a three-star Michelin rating. Exploring the different trails, visitors are able to see how the animals behave in their natural habitats at night.
Singapore Flyer
The world’s largest observation wheel standing at 165 meters (the height of a 42-storey building), offers one of the best views of Singapore.
Sentosa Island
Singapore’s favorite playground, teeming with events and special programs all year round, including attractions such as Underwater World Singapore, Dolphin Lagoon, Fort Siloso, and many more!
Marina Bay Sands
Offers a worldclass luxury casino, entertainment and high-fashion shopping.
The Merlion
No trip will be complete without a visit to Singapore’s most iconic landmark.
Party People
Enjoy the nightlife at Zouk, Clarke Quay, The Cannery, St James Power Station, Timbre and many more!
Culture Vultures
Enjoy a visit to the Peranankan Museum at Armenian Street, the Asian Civilization Museum at Empress Place, the National Museum of Singapore at Stamford Road, the Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street and the Malay Heritage Centre at Sultan Gate.
