For many Dhabi dwellers, Singapore is the gateway to the Far East – a tourist-friendly blend of rich culture, luxury, and heady nightlife (there’s even Time Out Singapore to help you get the best of the city). Much like Abu Dhabi, Singapore is a fast-changing place, so every time you visit there’s always something new to do. With this in mind, team Time Out has compiled a list of the top 10 latest and greatest attractions. Be warned, however, that our list involves a great deal of eating and drinking, as well as highbrow culture and relaxation.
Enjoy a bubbly brunch
Welcome to Singapore. Why not celebrate with a buffet with table service at the Mandarin Oriental’s Dolce Vita? This high-end brunch (from Dhs960) includes free-flow Belle-Époque 2000 bubbly, 14 main courses to choose from, and three menus to sample.
(5 Raffles Boulevard, +65 6885 3551).
Alternatively, trot over to Café 2000 for a decent yet affordable bubbly brunch (from Dhs221) and feast from the six live cooking stations.
(M Hotel, 81 Anson Road, +65 6500 6112).
Try afternoon tea
Have another refreshing glass of premium bubbly, and your choice of coffee or tea, with high tea (Dhs187) at St Regis’ Brasserie Les Saveurs and kick off your heels to live piano music and dancing – instructors included (Thu-Sat only).
(29 Tanglin Road, +65 6506 6888).
You can also hang out with students on a budget enjoying the Devonshire cream tea set (Dhs30) at Fosters: An English Rose Café. Expect plenty of oven-hot scones served with butter, home-made strawberry preserve, cream, banana walnut cake and finger sandwiches.
(277 Holland Avenue, +65 6466 8939).
Eat a steak dinner
Sink your teeth into 10 at Claymore’s perfectly marbled Blackmore full-blood Wagyu beef (Dhs285). The juicy meat surpasses many of the island’s steakhouses with a top marbling score of 9+.
(Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road, +65 6831 6686).
On a smaller beef budget? What Astons Prime lacks in ambience, it more than makes up for with its affordable sirloin (Dhs54).
(03-45/46/4 CentrePoint, 176 Orchard Road, and various locations, +65 6235 0556).
Sample a tasting menu
Have a little taste of this and a little taste of that from Kunio Tokuoka’s nine-course seasonal menu (Dhs2,130). Enjoy fresh seafood flown in from Tokyo and individual pots of beef sukiyaki.
(Crockfords Tower, 10 Sentosa Gateway, +65 6686 3633).
There’s also Iggy’s for its equally impressive, Japanese-influenced eight-course tasting menu (Dhs710), which includes dishes such as a foie gras chawanmushi and fish served with uni (sea urchin), miso and guava.
(Hilton Hotel, 581 Orchard Road, +65 6732 2234).
Splurge at the cinema
Dinner and a movie come together into one luxurious date at the Screening Room’s Film & Food Nights (Dhs192 for a three-course menu and a movie ticket).
(12 Ann Siang Road , +65 6221 1694).
If you’re harbouring more modest cinematic ambitions, snuggle under a blanket on a plush red-leather recliner and pick from a list of top grapes at Golden Village’s Gold Class Cinema (Dhs80).
(VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, +65 6311 9162).
Take in a million-dollar view
A private capsule on the Singapore Flyer, reportedly the world’s tallest ferris wheel, can be yours for Dhs7,094. (01-07, 30 Raffles Avenue, +65 6333 3311). If that’s a bit rich for you, pay a mere Dhs14 to gain access to the 50th floor Skybridge of Pinnacle@Duxton for similarly breathtaking views.
(Cantonment Road, 1800 225 5432).
Those down to the felt should go to the sky garden at One George Street, where the views are limitless at the infinity pool. Caution: stay away from the edge.
(Level 5, 1 George Street, no number).
Sip posh mixed drinks
Show off your wealth by ordering Axis Bar’s caviar (Dhs5,360). This ‘mortini’ comes with 3g of premium Iranian caviar, plus condiments.
(Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Avenue, +65 6885 3098).
If you haven’t the cash to splash, you can still take the edge off with a custom-made fruit-and-herb mixed drink (Dhs45-62) at Klee.
(#01-04, 5B Portsdown Road, +65 6479 6911).
Sail the high seas
Seek out Something Special, which will organise something, well, special on its 65ft Sunseeker yacht. You can cruise around the Singapore islands, sail out as far as Thailand or swim with the dolphins: your wish is their command. It’ll cost you from Dhs21,285 for a half-day charter, including food and drink.
(+65 8318 8688).
A more humble aquatic outing can be found with Singapore River Cruises, whose half-hour journey along the Singapore River (Dhs43) should help clear your head and lungs.
(www.rivercruise.com.sg, no number).
Indulge in a spa package
Cash in your chips and make a beeline for the St Regis Remède Spa and indulge in the four-hour-long ‘Bathing Celebration’ (Dhs1,646), where you’ll be given a Moroccan-style rub-down with black soap and a traditional-style Kassa scrub. The rub-and-scrub ends off with a relaxing Vichy Shower Massage that’ll rebalance your exhausted mental, physical and emotional state.
(St Regis, 29 Tanglin Rd, +65 6506 6896).
No less indulgent is Spa Botanica’s Five Elements Cleanse and Purifying Ritual (Dhs995). The treatment has Tibetan origins and uses ginseng and lotus blossom, and the spa is in a lush tropical compound on the island of Sentosa. (2 Bukit Manis Road, +65 6371 1318). Less cashed-up customers should troop over to Java Java for a head-clearing Javanese massage from Dhs99.
(215 Upper Thomson Road, +65 6554 4800).
Need to know
Getting there
Etihad flies direct to Singapore, with return flights from Dhs2,860 per person, including taxes.
www.etihadairways.com (02 511 0000).
Where to stay
Stay in the conveniently located, rather cool and amusingly named Wangz Hotel from Dhs738 per night in a ‘Canopy Room’.
www.wangzhotel.com (+65 6595 1388).
Alternatively, head for the iconic Raffles Hotel, where rooms are currently on offer at Dhs1,959 (minimum stay two nights).
www.raffles.com (+65 6337 1886).
