Singapore bits..

Still one of my favourite cities in the world. It's changed a lot since we lived here 12 years ago but it's a marvelous place to live and work. And visit for a few days or more. It's always had a proud foodie tradition. We used to say all Singaporeans have just two hobbies - shopping and eating, but in the last few years it has claimed a spot as one of the world's great gastronomic capitals.

It's best to explore neighborhood by neighborhood; some are better by day and some by night. Singapore is not an early morning place ,so unless you want to get some exercise like walking or jogging in before it gets too hot, I would stay out late and sleep in. 

We spent a week at Claire and Grahame's and tried to fit in all our favourite things. We went to the Rugby Sevens over the weekend. 

The following bullet point guide to Singapore barely covers

the basics but will help you plan your stay...all the places mentioned are our more recent tried and tested favourites...

CHINA TOWN

Temples, cheap souviners and traditional Chinese shops.

ClubSt, An Siang Hill, Duxton Hill, Keong Saik, Neil Rd

Nightlife and bars aplenty in Club St area. Packed on weekends. Fine dining all over the place.

Alba - Italian

Burnt Ends - Meat
Chicken Rice with a Michelin Star at Maxwell Rd Hawker Centre

ORCHARD ROAD : the Malls and Hotels

Window shopping in all the malls, with good restaurants, food courts and coffee shops.

High End Chinese restaurants and Takashimiya in Ngee Ann City.

Din Tai Fung in Paragon.

Salt Grill and Sky Bar in Ion. 

Check out the Japanese supermarket in the basement of Isetan in Shaw Centre.

Buffets and Sunday Brunches in the top hotels.

Basilica in the Regent.

High tea at the Shangri-la.

LITTLE INDIA

Tekka Wet Market.

Street Shopping Indian Style.

Hindu Temples.

Mustafas 24hr department store. 

Explore Serrangoon Rd and all the side streets. Head to Race Course Rd for the best Indian restaurants.

Pulled tea and Murtabak for breakfast.

Dehli Restaurant (our favourite for 15 years)

ARAB ST

By day, check out the Mosque and wander around the neighbourhood, looking for interesting shops and cafes. At night, especially on weekends the restaurants spill out onto the streets serving great Middle Eastern or Malay food.

Kampong Glam

Alaturka

THE QUAYS : Better at night.

Robertson Quay

Wine Connection

Whisky Bar

Good Japanese and Korean

Boat Quay

Party with the bankers from the financial district

Our Village for Indian with a view.

Clarke Quay

Clubs 

Live Music esp. at The Crazy Elephant

DEMPSEY ROAD

Old army barracks now a beautiful green space with restaurants galore.

Red Dot Brewery

Jim Thompson

MARINA BAY

Gardens by the Bay

Sunset drinks on the 57th floor.

Mall, Theatre, Casino

SENTOSA ISLAND

Man-made island with beach side dining and Universal Studios.

HOLLAND VILLAGE  - Expat enclave

EAST COAST

Watersports

National Stadium
Joo Chait and Geylang areas

No Sign Board for seafood

COLONIAL SINGAPORE and the Museums

Esplanade Theatres

Raffles Hotel currently undergoing renovations

Grand Prix

GREEN SPACES: parks and islands

Haw Par Villa

Botanical Gardens

Mc Ritchie Reservoir

Pulau Ubin and the other Singapore islands