A different kind of Singapore
Honing your sense of adventure is the whole point of summer.
Singapore Tourism Board seems to agree, so they flew Young STAR over to their country to find out where exactly to have a cool time this season. After a relaxing stay at Days Hotel in Balistier and time to think, we now hand you the results: a balanced checklist of places to explore — from offbeat stores in Sultan Gate to tried and tested tourist attractions in Marina Bay.
328 Katong Laksa (51 East Coast Road)
Laksa is a spicy coconut noodle soup, served excellently at this 328 hawker hub. Even without an appetite, the spicy laksa broth will create one for you, and you are immediately shuttled to Planet Laksa. Dreamy stuff that isn’t too far off from the Filipino palette. The chicken rice is your second go-to dish here.
Try other hawker centers in Maxwell and Newton, too, for that matter. Oyster omelet, ice-cold almond soya milk, fresh sugar cane juice, and more chicken rice will make your taste buds break into applause.
K.I.N. (51 Haji Lane)
K.I.N. is short for Know It Nothing, where button-downs are limited and interestingly designed. Other goods from this mellow, dimly lit boutique in Haji include 100-percent pima cotton basic tees from Sifr, lightweight shoes, and art magazines like Inventory and Rocket Zine.
Cloud forest (Gardens by the Bay)
Aside from the flower dome, you’ll also find an artificial cloud forest within Gardens by the Bay. These massive, damp cloud forests make up about 2.5 percent of the world’s tropical forest. They’re huge concentrations of the world’s plant and animal species, and for half an hour, you can feel as if you were warped into that role-playing videogame Jade Cocoon where jungle bugs need rescue only you can give.
Little India
Head out to Little India for something different. Temples, fresh jackfruit, garments, spices — take your pick and bring a camera. Lunch at Banana Leaf at Apollo is recommended, especially for its mutton curry and unlimited rice and side vegetables. Then finish off with a cup of masala tea (chai tea from India). Make sure to order it cold to cool off the curry heat.
Singapore Seafood Republic (Sentosa)
Even if you’re out for something uncommon, you can’t ignore the Singaporean classics and in this case the chili crab and fried mantou buns at this restaurant win. Wear a bib and get dirty with juicy Mr. Krabs.
Bien (71 Sultan Gate)
After doing your hipster audit of Haji Lane, stop by Bien, a streetwear outlet in Sultan Arts Village just a few blocks away from Haji. You’ll find goods from Supreme, Obey, Quay, and other hard-to-find products. Find more of the same owner’s goods at Sup Clothing back in Haji.
The Intan (69 Jalan Intan)
This is Alvin Yapp’s self-curated museum, where he both resides and showcases his Peranakan roots (Chinese-Malays in Malaysia and Singapore) in the form of elaborately adorned furniture, clothing, art, and delicious homemade rice deserts. His enthusiasm is infectious and you’ll soon find yourself impassioned with his culture and how he’s keeping his private museum alive and awarded after all these years.
Old Nanking Coffee (Chinatown)
Head over to Chinatown and take another break at this shop, where iced brewed coffee is cheap and of high quality. Match that drink with poached eggs on toast with kaya jam.
The beaches in Sentosa (Tanjong/Palawan/Siloso)
Play a round of volleyball with strangers then cool off with a Tiger beer before working on that backstroke. Make sure to time your trip when a music festival hits the area, too.
Other places worth visiting
Clarke Quay for Turkish ice cream by the river, P.S. Café in Ann Siang Hill for brunch, Zouk if there’s a good DJ, and St. James Power Station, an entertainment complex where bands do their thing every now and then.
Your Singapore itinerary is really for you to customize so Google wisely, follow through on your summer plans, and be your own tour guide as much as possible.
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