singapore · navigating singapore’s famed hawker food centers on your own can be fun, but take a...

Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP1 / LUXE SINGAPORE

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Singapore

Once Asia’s role model for prim and

proper, the Lion City has dynamically

reinvented herself into a fast and

furious force to be reckoned with. The

skyscraper-laden city is also wonderfully

lush and green, refreshingly clean and

tidy, and spaciously laid out but easy

to get around in. A uniquely spicy

melting pot, Singapore is made up of a

spectacular blend of cultures, resulting

in world-renowned and fabulously

eclectic cuisine, diverse avenues of

retail opportunity, and a hip, happening

nightlife scene. Compact and convenient

it may be, but this city’s heart is large

and in charge.

The cult pocket city guides and mobile

apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler

www.luxecityguides.comCITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES

SINGAPORE MAY BE BUT A DOT ON THE WORLD MAP, BUT DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE SIZE OF THE CITY, WHICH PACKS AN ENTIRE COUNTRY’S WORTH OF PUNCH.


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• Singapore is fabulous for two

main reasons – great shopping and

fantastically eclectic cuisine.

• There are two types of weather

here: wretchedly hot and humid, or

wretchedly hot, humid and raining.

• Changi Airport to CBD by taxi: 30

mins / ~SG$20.

• Taxis are affordable, but vanish

in rain and peak hour, though you

should book at all times. Most taxis

will take credit cards

(10% surcharge).

• The MRT is super clean, efficient

and goes most places.

Blah blah• English is spoken just

about everywhere.

• The currency is the Singapore dollar

and there are banks and

ATMs everywhere.

• A 10% service charge is added at

most restaurants and bars, but it’s

still nice to round up.

• Not all stores do GST rebates, but

if they do, you’ll be given a form to

hand in at the airport GST counter.

• Mall, mall, mall, mall, this town has

malls everywhere.

• Hawker centers might look drab and

lack air conditioning, but they can’t

be beat for delicious local fare,

so be brave.

• International country code for

Singapore is +65.

• Dial 100 for directory enquiries; 104

for international, and police is 999.


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LUXE INSIDER

Loh Lik PengAwarded the ‘Tourism Entrepreneur of

the Year’ in 2011, Loh Lik is an hotelier

and restaurateur who also serves on

Singapore’s Tourism and National

Heritage Boards. Since opening his first

property in London in 2000, Loh Lik has

amassed a total of 14 award-winning

hotels and restaurants all over the

world, including Restaurant ANDRE in

Singapore, Waterhouse at South Bund

hotel in Shanghai, and Town Hall Hotel &

Apartments in London.

www.restaurantandre.com

www.waterhouseshanghai.com

www.townhallhotel.com


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1) WHAT’S THE ONE THING EVERY VISITOR TO SINGAPORE MUST DO AND WHY?

I think checking out a hawker center

is a must – eat like a local! A good

place to start is perhaps Smith Street

and/or Maxwell Road. They are both

authentic and also centrally located

with plenty of very good stalls, but

I always tell people to avoid Newton

Circus hawker center… it’s terrible.

2) WHAT DO YOU MOST LOVE ABOUT SINGAPORE AND WHY?

I love the green spaces and parks such

as the Botanic Gardens, MacRitchie

reservoir and I’m really looking

forward to the upcoming Gardens

by the Bay!

3) WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND FRIENDS STAY?

Boutique hotels all the way! New

Majestic Hotel, Naumi, Wanderlust,

Scarlet Hotel – there are plenty of very

good options in Singapore nowadays.

www.newmajestichotel.com

www.naumihotel.com

www.wanderlusthotel.com

www.thescarlethotel.com

4) WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MUSEUM OR EXHIBIT IN SINGAPORE AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?

I love the Asian Civilizations Museum

and the Peranakan Museum. For art,

my favorite by far is the Tyler Print

Institute. And best for children?

Definitely the Philatelic Museum.

www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp

www.peranakanmuseum.sg

www.stpi.com.sg

www.spm.org.sg

5) WHERE DO YOU GO FOR BESPOKE OR ANTIQUE SHOPPING, AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A DAY OF RETAIL?

I deal with Mr. Keng on Craig Road or

CK from CK Collections in Little India

for really good vintage and antique

pieces, Kevin Seah to get clothes

tailored, and I think the best spot

for a day of shopping is Haji Lane in

Singapore’s Muslim quarter.

CK Collection / 586 Serangoon Rd /

+65 6293 2301

www.kevinseah.com.sg

LUXE INSIDER

Loh Lik Peng


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LUXE Loves

FULLERTON BAY HOTEL Hotel

Swap the downtown bustle for the

Fullerton Bay’s decadent, deco-inspired

suites, most with balconies overlooking

the Marina Bay waterfront and floor-

to-ceiling windows. The Andre Fu-

designed Clifford brasserie is excellent,

and Lantern bar on the roof offers

dazzling panoramas by the pool.

RESTAURANT ANDRÉ

Dining

Sitting pretty at the heart of the city’s

haute-cuisine scene, this 3-story 1920s

building houses chef’s tables, a private

atelier, wine cellar and main dining

room, where André Chiang turns out

8-course French degustation menus.

Extremely popular, so book ahead.

KU DÉ TABar

Don’t come for the food, but do come

for the best vistas in Singapore –

occupying 40,000 sq ft of rooftop

space, this Bali import is the spot for

sky-high alfresco drinks at sunset.

Later on, the space becomes a club, so

dress to impress.

1 Fullerton Sq / 80 Collyer Quay /

+65 6333 8388

www.fullertonbayhotel.com

41 Bukit Pasoh Road / +65 6534 8880

lunch Tue-Fri, dinner Tue-Sun /

degustation menu only

www.restaurantandre.com

North Tower / Marina Bay Sands /

1 Bay Avenue / +65 6688 7688 /

from noon daily / no shorts, slippers,

singlets or tank tops

www.kudeta.com.sg


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LUXE Loves

ANA BOUTIQUE Shopping

Aussie label-haven stocking

established and emerging brands from

Down Under, like flirty, feminine Fleur

Wood and cult favorite Zimmermann.

Catering to ‘the country that has

no seasons’, the two-level shop only

stocks summer wear, and also carries

in-house label Ana Vu.

JULINDA CHIA MORGAN

Shopping

A local go-to for bespoke jewelry,

Julinda creates bold and beautiful

one-off pieces that combine 18-carat

gold, platinum or silver with precious

gems in every hue to

extraordinary effect.

STRAITS KITCHEN Dining

The city’s best local street food in a

sleek designer setting, complete with

marketplace buffet and fiery show

kitchens. Inspired by Singapore’s

myriad culinary influences, everything

from Laksa to Beef Rendang to

Hainanese Chicken Rice is cooked

fresh to order.

86 Club Street / +65 6221 2897

www.anaboutiques.com

Call Julinda for an appointment on

+65 6344 8165

www.julinda.com

Grand Hyatt / 10 Scotts Road /

+65 6738 1234 / all day daily

www.singapore.grand.

hyattrestaurants.com/straitskitchen

REMÈDE SPA

Spa

Modern, airy and sumptuous pleasure

palace with heated marble wet lounge,

Zen garden for outdoor soaks and

customisable East-West menu (try the

black olive scrub or the warm jade

massage), plus hotel pool access and

champagne and chocolate too.

NATIONAL MUSEUM Activities

Beautifully restored C.19th building for

an introduction to Singapore’s history,

‘living galleries’ about local food,

fashion, art and film, plus rotating art

exhibits. Peckish? Novus restaurant

serves up modern European fare to

hordes of hungry museum-goers, but

book ahead.

ROYAL ROOM Bar

Occupying 3,000 sq ft on the ground

floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel, this

luxurious, velvety members-only

champagne and cocktail lounge is

where the Lion City’s VIPs and CEOs

can be found after hours.

Pan Pacific Hotel / 7 Raffles Blvd /

+65 6374 0205 / closed Sun / a good

concierge should get you in.93 Stamford Road /

+65 6332 3659

www.nationalmuseum.sg

The St. Regis Shanghai /

29 Tanglin Road /

+65 6506 6896


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LUXE Loves

COLLECTORS CONTEMPORARY Activities

A lofty, modern space for the sale and

exhibition of global contemporary

standouts both emerging and

established, featuring artists like Ed

Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy

Warhol among others.

SINGAPORE TYLER PRINT INSTITUTE (STPI)

Activities

If you prefer your art in print and

paper form, STPI is the jackpot, with

an art gallery of expertly curated

exhibits spanning all types of printed

media, and collaborations with

emerging and established artists.

There’s also a printmaking workshop

and paper mill, all housed inside a

restored 1920s warehouse.

DEAN & DELUCA Shoping

Fab shopping and fantastic cuisine come

together with the arrival of this New

York-based gourmet giant. Famed for

its multi-national and imported artisan

ingredients, D&D Singapore is stocked

full of cheeses, meats, produce and

more, plus an onsite café and bakery,

all conveniently located in retail hub

Orchard Road.

#01-03 Petro Center / 5 Jalan Kilang

Barat / off Jl Bukit Merah / +65 6878

0103 / 11am-7pm Tue-Sat

www.collectors.com.sg

41 Robertson Quay / +65 6336 3663

10am-6pm Tue-Sat, Mon by appt only,

closed Sun / call ahead to book a

studio tour

www.stpi.com.sg

Unit 24 / Level 4 Orchard Central

181 Orchard Rd / +65 6509 7708

www.deandeluca.sg

EAST COAST LAGOON FOOD VILLAGE

Dining

Admittedly, the lack of air con, stark

strip lights and plastic plates aren’t

for everyone, but hawker centers

really are the best way to sample

Singapore’s wonderfully varied cuisine

– this one offers sand and sea views

and is famed for its pepper crab, so

pull up a stool and enjoy.

1220 East Coast Parkway

HUA YU WEE

Dining

A bit of a trek to get here, but this

fluorescent-lit, plastic chair-packed

restaurant keeps Singapore families

coming for stellar Sino fare and

excellent chilli pepper crab. No air-con

outside, and the inside’s drab – but

you’re here for the food.

462 Upper East Coast Road / +65

6442 9313 / dinner daily


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LUXE LoathesWEATHER

This is a four shirt per day kind of city,

so come prepared.

BOAT QUAY

Overrated tourist trap of noisy bars and

alfresco dining.

LAH

On the end of everything, lah.


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Drab vs. Fab

SHOPPING

Eschew the city’s ubiquitous malls for

a visit to the lovely local, independent

shopping hubs, like the string of stores on

Purvis Street or on Club Street

in Chinatown.

GETTING AROUND

Attempting to hail a taxi in the rain or

at peak hour can be near impossible,

so download the ‘ComfortDelGro Taxi

Booking’ app to book one and it’ll track

you via GPS, or call Comfort/City Cab on

+65 6552 1111 or +65 6553 8888.

www.cdgtaxi.com.sg

CUISINE

Navigating Singapore’s famed hawker

food centers on your own can be fun, but

take a gourmand tour with K.F. Seetoh of

Makansutra, the guru of hawker food and

you’ll find all the city’s very best bites.

www.makansutra.com

PRIVATE CHARTER

Singapore has a plethora of

entertainment and interests that make

it all too easy to forget the wonderful

waters surrounding the city. Get out

on the briny by heading to top marina

One15 for a luxury boat charter, or rent

a speedboat and jet up the coast with

William Water Sports.

www.one15marina.com

www.williamwatersports.com.sg

HISTORICAL TOURS

Why learn about the city’s history with

your head down in a book when you can

simply call Geraldene Lowe and Diana

Chua for a personal tour – they are

encyclopaedias of local history, and if

you book well ahead, their tours can be

tailored to suit your interests.

Geraldene +65 6737 5250

[email protected]

Diana +65 9489 1999

[email protected]


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LUXE ITINERARY

Romance

Where the mercury’s always high and

the temperatures never fall, scorching

Singapore is a unique lover’s paradise

all year round. But take advantage of

the cooler mornings and start your day

with a long walk in the lush, beautifully

manicured Botanic Gardens, and be sure

to see the meticulously landscaped

National Orchid Gardens (open from

8.30am), with over 1,000 orchid species

and 2,000 hybrids. Later, take a seat

at charming Au Jardin, in an elegantly

restored 1920s colonial residence, to

enjoy a lunch of fine French fare while you

look out on the verdant greenery. For a

spot of post-prandial retail therapy, head

to the Raffles Arcade and make stops at

Lotus Arts de Vivre for OTT Asian bijoux,

Jim Thompson for all things silk, and

upstairs Front Row for fashion-forward

footwear. When you’ve put away your

purse, go for a giggle on the cable car

ride over to Sentosa Island (if you’re

brave, take a glass-bottomed one from Mt.

Faber), then whisk up the Sky Tower for

choice views across Singapore, Sentosa

and the Southern Islands. While you’re

here, grab a taxi over to Sentosa Resort

for a spa session at Spa Botanica, with

its terrific tropical gardens, waterfall

pool and alfresco mineral mud bath.

Refreshed, go for dinner now at Min Jiang

at One-North, an atmospheric restored

black and white bungalow serving Chinese

cuisine and well known for its mouth-

watering Peking Duck. Next, zip up the lift

to Marina Bay Sands’ rooftop bar

Ku De Ta (see LUXE Loves) for sky-high

sips against the Singapore skyline,

but escape before it turns into a full-

fledged party pad later. Finally, retreat

to your balconied waterfront suite at the

romantic Fullerton Bay Hotel (see LUXE

Loves) or take nightcaps and panoramas

by the hotel pool at Lantern.


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LUXE ITINERARY

GourmetSingaporean cuisine is a spectacular

blend of Southeast Asian influences – a

melting pot of Chinese, Indian and Malay

flavors, and certainly reason enough to

visit this spice-loving, taste bud-tingling

city. If you’re here for the food, start with

breakfast at hawker center Lau Pa Sat, or

the East Coast Lagoon Food Village (see

LUXE Loves) if you want sand and sea

views. There’s no air-conditioning and

no décor to speak of, but dig into a bowl

of curry laksa and you’ll instantly forget

the drab surrounds. After you’ve eaten

it, why not learn to cook it? At Shermay’s

Cooking School, classes are taught by

award-winning and celebrity chefs, so

you can put on an apron, pick up a tried-

and-true recipe and head home with a

stellar souvenir. Next, get a culture fix at

the Peranakan Museum, celebrating the

unique hybrid heritage of Singapore’s

ancestors, before getting a taste of the

city’s modern haute-cuisine scene at

Restaurant ANDRÉ (see LUXE Loves).

Chef André Chiang turns out 8-course

avant-garde French menus following eight

key characteristics including ‘terroir’

and ‘memory’, which have previously

translated into dishes like rabbit loin with

pancetta and mustard seeds, and chef

staple foie gras jelly with black truffle

coulis. In the afternoon, amble along

the streets of Chinatown and admire the

vestiges of old Singapore mixed with

the new and hip, before arriving at Qi

Mantra for a remedial session of Chinese

acupressure with Western finesse. At

sunset, it’s dress down, sleeves up as

you head to dinner at Hua Yu Wee (see

LUXE Loves) for an epic feast of chilli and

pepper crab, followed by digestifs at the

Tippling Club, where inspired mixology

masters deliver cocktails in a charming

greenhouse complete with tippling

terrace. Finally, check in at colonial

charmer Hotel Fort Canning, ex-military

headquarters turned swanky pied-a-terre,

and take nightcaps at the

Tissetanta Lounge.


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LUXE ITINERARY

Business

With the mix of its old ethnic quarters,

the influx of new hip shops and eateries,

and the recent development of integrated

resorts throughout the islands, the Lion

City of Singapore has risen to stand as

a major international business hub. If

you’re in town for work, kickstart your day

with an espresso at Oriole, boasting the

city’s most knowledgeable baristas and

state-of-the-art machinery. Following your

morning meetings, take lunch at Marina

Bay Sands’ db Bistro Moderne, where

business people and frequent flyers alike

gather for Daniel Boulud’s iconic Parisian

classics in a smart, sophisticated setting.

In the afternoon, grab an hour or two

between appointments to partake in the

national sport of shopping – ladies beeline

to My Mandarin Collar or We Love Yu for

bespoke qipaos, and gentlemen to Aston

Blake or Victor York for tailored shirts

and suits with English style and Italian

flair. If you can manage it, schedule a visit

to the St. Regis’ Remède Spa (see LUXE

Loves) for a relaxing black olive scrub

or warm jade massage, and be sure to

take advantage of the complimentary

hotel pool access before going back to

the grind. For dinner, impress your client

or guests with a reservation at the city’s

top table Iggy’s, which has claimed a

spot on the World’s 50 Best restaurants

list for four years running by flawlessly

combining seasonal Asian ingredients

with classical French cooking technique.

There are only set tasting menus, but

with the option to order a vegetarian

menu, this refined fusion spot is every

epicure’s favorite. After dessert, have

your concierge gain you access to

members-only Royal Room (see LUXE

Loves), a plush, hush-hush lounge where

you’ll hobnob with the city’s A-list before

retiring for nightcaps by the rooftop

infinity pool at business boutique

Naumi Hotel.


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LUXE ITINERARY

The Essentials

• Botanic Gardens

1 Cluny Rd / +65 6471 7361 / 5am-

midnight / check website or call for

open-air concert details

www.sbg.org.sg

• Au Jardin

EJH Corner House at Botanic

Garden Visitors Center / Cluny Rd /

+65 6466 8812

www.lesamis.com.sg

• Raffles Arcade

Raffles Hotel / Beach Rd /

+65 6337 1886/

www.raffles.com/Singapore

• Lotus Arts de Vivre

#01-28 Raffles Arcade

+65 6334 2086

• Jim Thompson


+65 6336 5322

www.jimthompson.com

• Front Row


+65 6224 5501

• Sky Tower

41 Imbiah Rd

+65 6276 1453

www.skytower.com.sg

• Spa Botanica

2 Bukit Manis Rd / Sentosa

+65 6371 1288

www.spabotanica.sg

• Min Jiang at One-North

5 Rochester Park

+65 6774 0122

www.goodwoodparkhotel.com

• Ku De Ta

(see LUXE Loves)

• Fullerton Bay Hotel

(see LUXE Loves)

ROMANTIC ITINERARY GOURMET ITINERARY

• Lau Pa Sat

Junction of Robinson Rd and Boon

Tat St

• East Coast Lagoon Food Village

(see LUXE Loves)

• Shermay’s Cooking School

Blk 43 / #01-76 Jl Merah Saga /

Chip Bee Gardens / +65 6479 8442

check website for schedule and

book ahead

www.shermay.com

• Peranakan Museum

39 Armenian St / +65 6332 7591

closed Mon am

www.peranakanmuseum.sg

• Restaurant ANDRÉ

(see LUXE Loves)

• Qi Mantra

83A Club St / +65 6221 5691 / noon-

10pm Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm Sat-Sun /

+branches

www.qimantra.com

• Hua Yu Wee

(see LUXE Loves)

• Tippling Club

8D Dempsey Rd

+65 6475 2217 Mon-Sat

www.tipplingclub.com

• Hotel Fort Canning

11 Canning Walk

+65 6559 6769

www.hfcsingapore.com


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• Oriole

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites / 96

Somerset Rd / +65 6238 8348

www.oriolecoffee.com

• db Bistro Moderne

Marina Bay Sands / 2 Bayfront Ave

+65 6688 8525

www.danielnyc.com/

dbbistrosingapore.html

• My Mandarin Collar

#02-04 Willyn Ville

+65 8383 5252

www.mymandarincollar.com

BUSINESS ITINERARY

• We Love Yu

#03-01 / 8 Mohammed Sultan Rd

+65 6235 7781/

www.weloveyu.com

• Aston Blake

#01-83 Millennia Walk / 9 Raffles

Blvd / +65 6337 3504 /

11am-8pm daily

www.astonblake.com

• Victor York

40b Boat Quay / +65 6220 5908 /

9.30am-7pm Mon-Fri, 1am-4pm Sat /

shirts can be ready in 3 days

• Remède Spa

(see LUXE Loves)

• Iggy’s

The Hilton Hotel / 581 Orchard Rd

+65 6732 2234 / lunch Mon-Fri,

dinner daily / set menus only.

www.iggys.com.sg

• Royal Room

(see LUXE Loves)

• Naumi Hotel

41 Seah St / +65 6403 6000 /

www.naumihotel.com

LUXE ITINERARY

The Essentials


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singapore · navigating singapore’s famed hawker food centers on your own can be fun, but take a...

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