Singapore Citi Presents LUXE City Guides the Cult Pocket City Guides and Mobile Apps for the Busy, Sophisticated Traveler
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Prestige SingaPore Citi presents LUXE City Guides The cult pocket city guides and mobile apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler www.luxecityguides.com 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. 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. 1 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige blah blah Singapore is fabulous for two a 10% service charge is added at main reasons – great shopping most restaurants and bars, but and fantastically eclectic cuisine it’s still nice to round up There are two types of weather not all stores do gST rebates, here: wretchedly hot and humid, but if they do, you’ll be given a or wretchedly hot, humid form to hand in at the airport and raining gST counter Changi airport to CBD by taxi: 30 Mall, mall, mall, mall, this town mins / ~Sg$20 has malls everywhere Taxis are affordable, but vanish Hawker centers might look drab in rain and peak hour, though and lack air conditioning, but you should book at all times. they can’t be beat for delicious Most taxis will take credit cards local fare, so be brave (10% surcharge) international country code for The MrT is super clean, efficient Singapore is +65 and goes most places Dial 100 for directory enquiries; english is spoken just 104 for international, and about everywhere police is 999 The currency is the Singapore dollar and there are banks and aTMs everywhere 2 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE insidEr LoH Lik Peng awarded 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. restaurantandre.com waterhouseshanghai.com www.townhallhotel.com 3 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE insidEr LoH Lik Peng 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 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 4 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE lovEs Hotel FullerToN BAy 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. 1 Fullerton Sq / 80 Collyer Quay / +65 6333 8388 www.fullertonbayhotel.com Dining restaurANT ANDrÉ 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. 41 Bukit Pasoh Road / +65 6534 8880 / lunch Tue-Fri, dinner Tue-Sun / degustation menu only www.restaurantandre.com 5 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE lovEs Bar Shopping Ku DÉ TA ANA BouTIque Don’t come for the food, but do come aussie label-haven stocking for the best vistas in Singapore – established and emerging brands from occupying 40,000 sq ft of rooftop Down Under, like flirty, feminine Fleur space, this Bali import is the spot for Wood and cult favorite Zimmermann. sky-high alfresco drinks at sunset. Catering to ‘the country that has Later on, the space becomes a club, so no seasons’, the two-level shop only dress to impress. stocks summer wear, and also carries in-house label ana Vu. North Tower / Marina Bay Sands / 1 Bay Avenue / +65 6688 7688 / from noon daily / no shorts, slippers, 86 Club Street / +65 6221 2897 / singlets or tank tops www.anaboutiques.com www.kudeta.com.sg Spa Activities reMèDe Spa NatioNAl MuSeuM Modern, airy and sumptuous pleasure Beautifully restored C.19th building for palace with heated marble wet lounge, an introduction to Singapore’s history, Zen garden for outdoor soaks and ‘living galleries’ about local food, customisable east-West menu (try the fashion, art and film, plus rotating art black olive scrub or the warm jade exhibits. Peckish? novus restaurant massage), plus hotel pool access and serves up modern european fare to champagne and chocolate too. hordes of hungry museum-goers, but book ahead. The St. Regis Shanghai / 29 Tanglin Road / +65 6506 6896 93 Stamford Road / +65 6332 3659 / www.nationalmuseum.sg 6 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE lovEs Shopping Bar Julinda CHIA MorgAN royAl rooM a local go-to for bespoke jewelry, occupying 3,000 sq ft on the ground Julinda creates bold and beautiful one- floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel, this off pieces that combine 18-carat gold, luxurious, velvety members-only platinum or silver with precious gems champagne and cocktail lounge is in every hue to extraordinary effect. where the Lion City’s ViPs and CEOs can be found after hours. Call Julinda for an appointment on +65 6344 8165 / Pan Pacific Hotel / 7 Raffles Blvd / www.julinda.com +65 6374 0205 / closed Sun / a good concierge should get you in Dining Dining STraits KitcheN East Coast lAgooN FooD VIllAge The city’s best local street food in a sleek designer setting, complete with admittedly, the lack of air con, stark marketplace buffet and fiery show strip lights and plastic plates aren’t for kitchens. inspired by Singapore’s everyone, but hawker centers really myriad culinary influences, everything are the best way to sample Singapore’s from Laksa to Beef rendang to wonderfully varied cuisine – this one Hainanese Chicken rice is cooked offers sand and sea views and is fresh to order. famed for its pepper crab, so pull up a stool and enjoy. Grand Hyatt / 10 Scotts Road / +65 6738 1234 / all day daily / 1220 East Coast Parkway www.singapore.grand. yattrestaurants. com/straitskitchen 7 LUXE SINGAPORE Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Drab vs. Fab LUXE Itineraries Prestige lUXE lovEs Activities Dining CollectorS CoNTeMPorAry HuA yu Wee a bit of a trek to get here, but this a lofty, modern space for the sale and fluorescent-lit, plastic chair-packed exhibition of global contemporary restaurant keeps Singapore families standouts both emerging and coming for stellar Sino fare and established, featuring artists like ed excellent chilli pepper crab. no air-con ruscha, roy Lichtenstein and andy outside, and the inside’s drab – but Warhol among others. you’re here for the food. #01-03 Petro Center / 5 Jalan Kilang 462 Upper East Coast Road / +65 6442 Barat / off Jl Bukit Merah / +65 6878 9313 / dinner daily 0103 / 11am-7pm Tue-Sat / www.collectors.com.sg Activities Shopping SINgAPore Tyler PrINT DeAN & Deluca InstituTe (STPI) Fab shopping and fantastic cuisine if you prefer your art in print and come together with the arrival of this paper form, STPi is the jackpot, with new York-based gourmet giant.