©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 48 Colonial District, Marina Bay & the Quays Neighbourhood Top Five 1 Admiring regal jewels, spectacular new botanic Museum of Singapore temple carvings and an- garden. (p55). cient pottery at the world- 3 Pondering Singaporean 5 Exploring the colour- class Asian Civilisations ambition from the top of saturated culture of the Museum (p50), home one of the world’s greatest Peranakans at the Perana- to Southeast Asia’s finest engineering feats, Marina kan Museum (p53). collection of pan-Asian Bay Sands (p54). artefacts. 4 Time travelling through 2 Leaping into a sci-fi Singapore’s history at future at Gardens by the the engrossing National Bay (p52), Singapore’s Mi Parkview O ddl Op Pena rchar e Square t hi d Rd S Rd r O ng o t Rochor R x Rd Bras o d l l S e Basah r n t y te e S R Park a e d anning Rd u ia R R i t C W r d s r Q e e o to F # c g 4# i id V r d B Fort h R t h d Canning r c y v o a w l Park N e H B B l # l c 5# i Fort o l ic b S Civil War u Canning t N am Memorial p R Reservoir f e i o Park R ve rd e r Rd R v Va a Robertson A lle ffle u y s Blvd Quay a R e d Esplanade c Hi Park n Clarke g The e h St Padang m Quay Raffles Ave le C Marina t y Promenade a S S Esplanade ll i w n Bridge k Hi g r a # a p P o 1# N t Havelock o r rth e r s Square Uppe C Rive Marina a a o U na p r P l Rd Boat Bay C pe ick t Quay s r C er # ro ing St 3# a s E s St Rd e MARINA g Cr oss St SOUTH Brid 2# th Gardens by ou ay S the Bay Qu s le f f Ra 0500 m e# 00.25miles For more detail of this area see Map p202 and p205. A 49 Lonely Planet’s Explore Colonial District, Top Tip Marina Bay & the Quays The Singapore Art Museum offers free entry from 6pm This is the heart of Singapore: grand colonial buildings, to 9pm every Friday, and modern architectural marvels, superlative museums and some museums offer com- parks, and pulsating riverside restaurants, bars and clubs. COLONIAL DISTRI bined tickets that save you The City Hall MRT station bolts the neighbourhood a few bucks. Most bars in together and is a perfect starting point. Wander north- the area have ‘happy hour’ west along Stamford Rd towards the museums. Head in specials from 5pm to 8pm the opposite direction for booming Marina Bay, home of or 9pm. During these hours, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and Esplanade – drinks are either one-for- Theatres by the Bay. Around City Hall MRT itself are the one or heavily discounted. iconic edifices of colonialism, among them Raffles Hotel Several bars and clubs run and St Andrew’s Cathedral. C weekly Ladies’ Nights – usu- MARINAT, THE& QUAYS BAY Further south are the three riverside quays, best saved ally on Wednesday – where for night time. You’ll find a few quality drinking dens women enjoy free entry among the touristy bars at Boat Quay, no shortage of and, sometimes, free booze party people at raucous Clarke Quay, and a more grown- (sorry boys). up crowd at Roberston Quay. Rising behind Clarke Quay is idyllic Fort Canning Park. 1 Best Local Life Sights ¨ Asian Civilisations ¨Foreign enclaves Eat, drink and shop Yangon-style Museum (p50) at Peninsula Plaza, Singapore’s unofficial Little Burma ¨ Gardens by the Bay and hub frequented by the city-state’s influx of migrant (p52) workers. ¨ National Museum of ¨ Artists’ Market Trawl the stalls at the bi-monthly Singapore (p55) Sunday Artists Market, a showcase for Singapore’s oft- underestimated pool of creative talent. For reviews, see p50.A ¨Marina Barrage The ‘green roof’ of Marina Barrage is a popular hangout for Singaporean families, love-struck Best Places couples and kite enthusiasts. The curvaceous strip of 5 lawn offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and to Eat the Strait of Singapore. For the full effect, head here ¨ Kilo (p60) just before sunset. ¨ Jaan (p60) ¨ Gluttons Bay (p58) ¨ Song Fa Bak Kut Teh Getting There & Away (p58) ¨MRT The efficient subway service is centred on City ¨ Jumbo Seafood (p60) Hall, an interchange station which is also connected For reviews, see p58.A via underground malls towards the Esplanade, from where you can cut across to Marina Bay. Raffles Place (East–West Line) is the next stop for the Quays. The 6 Best Places Bayfront MRT station (Downtown Line) serves Marina to Drink Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. ¨ Bitters & Love (p61) ¨Bus The area is well connected by bus to other parts ¨ of the island. Key stops are just outside the Raffles Lantern (p61) Hotel and outside St Andrew’s Cathedral along North ¨ 28 HongKong Street Bridge Rd. Bus 2 takes you down Victoria St and Hill (p61) St. Buses 51, 61, 63 and 80 go along North Bridge Rd. ¨ Kinki (p61) For Beach Rd, hop on buses 100, 107 or 961. Along Bras For reviews, see p60.A Basah Rd, get on buses 12, 14, 16, 77 or 111..