24 Spectacular Singapore Hours

This tour is an absolute joy, as is Mike, it’s creator! Exhilarating and informative at the same time, your journey takes in all the landmarks of the city. Sitting so low down in the side car makes the surroundings even larger than life, but safety was most definitely taken care of – these are beautiful retro vehicles, lovingly restored by private owners, who are often the ones employed to drive you in them – enough said! If you don’t have the stomach for a sidecar, there are also classic VW Beetles to ride in as an alternative. Definitely go at dusk as the twinkling lights adds an element of magic.

Quite possibly the best restaurant in Singapore, this consummate Pan-Asian gem is nestled in the bustling Chijmes area of the city. The Coriander Leaf is very visibly and immaculately run by its head chef and founder Samia Ahad, and she is delightful. As is the food! Aiming to unite all of Asia on a plate with fresh, spicy, familiar, umami and sweet flavours. Samia educates her diners at the same time as nourishing them, and her passion for sharing her craft is infectious! Chijmes is worth a visit in itself – previously a Catholic convent, its beautiful grounds boast a rich history and now play host to one of Singapore’s top food and beverage, lifestyle and entertainment destinations.

Singapore’s iconic cocktail, an infinity pool, twinkling lights, superb service and a birds eye view of the world famous Marina Bay Sands. What’s not to love! Some of my party said it was better to enjoy this incredible landmark from afar than actually having a drink there(although I can’t vouch for this!) and I can’t think of a better place to do it. Six stories up at the Fullerton Bay Hotel in Collyer Quay, the Lantern is definitely the place for a nightcap.

Tucked away on the busy Killiney Road, with the service and the menu preserved 100% to uphold the kopitiam legacy, is the Killiney coffee shop. A kopitiam is a traditional café offering Malay and Chinese fare, and this one is fabulous, as it allows you to step back in time with some of the original menu items from its first opening in 1919, along with a showcase of its history along the wall. We dropped in for breakfast and one of the originals – Kaya toast. Simply good, old-fashioned white toast, sandwiched with thick, melting butter and coconut jam. This, teamed with a steaming hot coffee to set us up for the day – it was so good we had to order more to go.

Probably the least likely to appear on my to-do list (never having watched Avatar!), so unexpectedly the most surprising to make it to the top, the Avatar experience is not to be missed. Installed in the gardens by the bay, you will feel like you walked into the film, not just onto a set. Immense, and with five different zones, bioluminescent environments, mystical creatures and plant life that’s simply out of this world, this immersive walk-through is incredible. I’m almost convinced the banshee was real!

More specifically the Orchid enclosure if you’re pushed for time. This was just beautiful. A welcome escape from the city’s bustle, with a cool house to escape the heat and humidity as an added bonus, the variety of orchids grown here is stunning and the powerful aromas they emanate intoxicating.

Want to experience a Singapore stopover on your travels to South East Asia? Talk to our knowledgeable team!