WEEKENDS EXPERIENCE • TASTE • VISIT YOUR GUIDE TO EVERY WEEKEND IN SINGAPORE / 2020 TRAVELLER ESSENTIALS Planning 02 your trip 03 When you are here 04 Before you leave 05 Jewel Changi KEY EVENTS OF THE YEAR Don’t miss these 06 2020 headliners SHOP 08 Unique retail gems 10 Curated buys Places the 13 locals love CONTENTS WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, SEE & DO 14 Best of the best 16 Halal-friendly dining 18 Sustainable dining 20 Hawker delights 21 Top 10 must do’s CULTURAL LEGEND PRECINCTS Address MRT 24 Chinatown Website Halal 26 Kampong Glam 28 Little India CALENDAR 30 January COVER: HSBC Rain Vortex, Jewel Changi PHOTO: SPH 34 February PUBLISHING AGENT FOCUS PUBLISHING (A subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings) 38 March EDITORIAL & CREATIVE SENIOR EDITOR 43 April Dora Tay CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tony Law 47 May ART DIRECTOR All events and experiences featured Fish Chan in this guide are correct as of press time in Dec 2019, and may be subject 52 June GENERAL MANAGER to changes. Maureen Ho CONTENTS CLIENT MANAGEMENT 56 July SENIOR EXECUTIVE Neo Pei Shi 60 August PUBLISHING SERVICES ASSISTANT MANAGER Rahmah Aman September All information is correct at time 65 of publication (Dec 2019) and may be subject to change. STB is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of 69 October this publication and shall not be liable for any damage, loss, injury or inconvenience arising from or in connection with the content of this publication. You should verify or seek 73 November clarification from the individual third parties referred to in this publication. 78 December 2 52 WEEKENDS IN SINGAPORE TRAVELLER ESSENTIALS PLANNING YOUR TRIP Visa & passport Apps to download validity Look out for these app icons and search terms in both For most visitors, a visa Google Play & Apple App stores. is not required, but ensure your passport is valid for GETTING AROUND: E-PAYMENTS: at least 6 months from MyTransport.SG - Provides Fave/Alipay/Grab/VIA the time you leave for MRT network map, bus - Go cashless with these Singapore. For information & arrival times electronic payment apps more details, visit and mobile wallets on the www.ica.gov.sg VIA alliance. Dress GoJek & Grab - Ride hailing Dress light for tropical services weather all-year round, with high humidity levels. Bring a light sweater for our chilly air-conditioning. TICKETING & RESERVATIONS: Prayertime.sg Sistic - Book tickets for shows, - Lists mosques, prayer Drone alert performances and tournaments areas and prayer times In Singapore, any unmanned aircraft with a total weight of above 250gms must be registered before it can be Chope/Burpple/Hungrygowhere FOR TRADE PARTNERS: operated. Other permits - For dining reservations tih.stb.gov.sg and requirements may also and user reviews Access info on Singapore’s apply. Visit caas.gov.sg/ tourism offerings at the flyitsafe to find out more. Tourism Information & Services Hub 3 WHEN YOU Download the Visit Singapore ARE Travel Guide app HERE Available in both Google Play and Apple App stores. FOR EXPERIENCES Tap on the “Discover” Arriving in Singapore Getting around tab to learn about the latest events and From Air Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lifestyle offerings Airline passengers will land Trains around you, including at Singapore Changi Airport Operating from 5.30am to the best shops and Terminal 1-4. midnight, single-trip cash fares eats. Approximate travel times range from $1.50 to $2.60. to the city: Ez-link fares start at $0.83 FOR ESSENTIALS By train: 30-35 mins (for buses as well). We understand that By taxi: 20-25 mins preparation is key. By bus: 40-50 mins Buses The “Essentials” tab Cash fares start from $1.50. is where you will find From Sea You can pay by ez-link answers on free wi-fi, Cruise passengers either (a contactless payment card for currency conversion disembark at the Singapore public transport), Mastercard or and tax refunds. From Cruise Centre (Closest MRT Visa contactless bank cards. Jan 2020, the SG station: Harbourfront) or Arrival Card (SGAC) Marina Bay Cruise Centre Taxis will be made available. (Closest MRT station: Marina Fares start from $3.90 and all This is an e-service South Pier). taxis are marked and metered. where you can Approximate travel times Hail them by the road, or when electronically submit to the city: you’re in the city, at marked your arrival card up to By train: 15-30 mins taxi stands. You can also 14 days before your By taxi: 10-20 mins book them through these trip to Singapore. Say By bus: 30-40 mins operators: Comfort & Citycab goodbye to paper (+65 6552 1111); Premier Cabs forms and hello to (+65 6363 6888); SMRT Taxis a seamless travel (+65 6555 8888) experience. Back to contents 4 52 WEEKENDS IN SINGAPORE TRAVELLER ESSENTIALS BEFORE YOU LEAVE GST refunds Authority duty office at Food Street (Terminal 3). • If you spend more than Seletar Airport. For more Tuck into local delights like $100 in a single receipt, info, log onto www.go.gov. bak kut teh (peppery pork you can claim a refund on sg/gst-refund/ soup) and the local favourite the 7% GST. Hainanese chicken rice. • Participating shops will Enjoy Changi Airport display 1 or more of the at your leisure Knick-knacks & such following signs You are encouraged to Pick up an assortment of check in at least 2 hours food souvenirs from the before your departure time, many Discover Singapore to enjoy the airport’s many outlets across all terminals, attractions – such as Jewel or GIFT by Changi Airport Changi – before going (#04-233) at Jewel Changi. • Present your passport to through immigration. Leave Brands such as Fossa the retailer, who will log an your bags at the Baggage Chocolate, Song Fa Bak Electronic Tourist Refund Storage counters to browse Kut Teh, and Irvin’s Salted Scheme (eTRS) transaction stress-free, or opt for Early Egg can be found in these with your passport details. Check-In at any of the stores. For non-perishables, • Simply scan your passport terminals, including Jewel these all-in-one outlets at the eTRS self-help kiosks Changi. also offer everything from at the folloiwng locations: adorable Merlion plushies Departure Check-in Hall Taste local cuisine to Tiger Balm health or the transit area at If you didn’t get enough of products as well. Singapore Changi Airport; our hawker centres, make or Immigration Checkpoints a beeline for Singapore 5 This airport is a destination in itself JEWEL – come early to enjoy its offerings CHANGI before you fly off. EXPERIENCE Be awed by the hypnotic HSBC Rain Vortex, the world’s largest indoor waterfall at 40 metres high, or feel like a trapeze artist while walking on the Canopy Bridge. Bouncy times await the young and young-at-heart at the Manulife Sky Nets B , while the kids will go ga-ga over the first Pokemon Centre C outside Japan. B EAT & DRINK C Taste seasonal beers at Tiger Street Lab, along with beer- SHOP friendly foods fresh off the wok It’s a veritable wonderland of shops by Bib-Gourmand recipient, Keng for the most thoughtful gifts to buy Eng Kee Seafood. Then there’s home. You’ll find locally-designed Birds of Paradise Gelato A , with items from Supermama, Naiise its botanically-inspired flavours. Iconic and Risis Tresor as well as A favourite with locals, Rich and beauty brand Make Hero, used by Good Cake Shop offers Swiss rolls actresses like Gong Li and Zhang in 10 flavours including coconut Ziyi. Jewel Changi is also home to and kaya (a traditional jam made Nike’s largest store in Southeast from coconut and eggs). At L’éclair Asia and India. Get customised Patisserie, local pastry chefs sneakers at ‘Nike for you’. For duty- create artistic pastries like Ispahan free goods, there’s Shila Duty Free (a combo of rose, raspberry and with over 140 brands of perfumes PHOTO: SPH PHOTO: lychee cream). A and cosmetics. Back to contents 6 52 WEEKENDS IN SINGAPORE KEY EVENTS OF THE YEAR DON’T MISS THESE 2020 HEADLINERS Singapore Art HSBC Singapore JAN Week MAR Women’s World MAY Cocktail 11-19 Jan Championship Festival with The yearly event is back with 28 Feb-3 Mar Asia’s 50 Best Bars a host of art and lifestyle Will South Korea’s Park Sung 13-17 May events at various venues Hyun keep her crown against If you’re into creative across Singapore. Look out 63 of the world’s best female mixes, award-winning for the highlight event, the golfers? That is the US$1.5m bars and dextrous Light to Night Festival 2020. question. bartenders, you’ve come to the right place. Pongal (Harvest Festival) 10 Jan-9 Feb Skechers Sundown Little India comes to life with Festival vibrant performances and 29-31 May street decorations. The 3-day event embraces food, art, culture and Chinese New Year i Light Singapore sustainability. FEB Celebrations 6-29 Mar 25 Jan-13 Mar i Light Singapore has built Hari Raya Aidilfitri The River gets lit up with up a reputation for truly 24-25 May instagrammable lanterns, and creative and inventive light Join the festivities in Chinatown’s streets come art installations. Geylang Serai, featuring a to life with festivities and a dazzling light-up, cultural dazzling Chingay parade. Hydeout Festival programmes and bazaars. APR 10-11, 17-18 Apr ONE Championship Singapore’s own 28 Feb multi-genre experiential The much-anticipated event playground debuts with a dedicated to mixed martial line-up that includes ASAP arts is back for another Rocky, Rita Ora, Gucci Mane exciting bout.