Insider’s guide to Singapore: what to eat, drink and do in the cosmopolitan city-state

It’s boom time for Singapore. Once considered perhaps a little bland, the island country is not only regaining its status as a travel hub – it’s a popular transit point for tourists coming to or departing from Asia – the destination is also gaining popularity as a place to stay and vacation.

With more than five million people crammed into 729 square miles, the cosmopolitan city-state I call home celebrates both the modern and the tried-and-true. There is architecture that lives up to its past, while skyscrapers reflect its status as a modern financial center. There’s hawker fare that showcases Singapore’s multiracial and immigrant cultures, as well as western fine dining. And despite the pandemic, new attractions have sprung up in the garden city. Here are five spots I recommend for your next trip here.

For impressive bird’s-eye views: SkyHelix Sentosa (Imbiah Lookout)

As touristy as it may sound, the country’s highest scenic drive – located on Sentosa, an island just off the mainland – gives you a new perspective, akin to watching a 12-minute film about Singapore’s development. As the SkyHelix soars, you may feel like you’re coming out of a tropical rainforest. A different world opens up as you ascend further and catch a glimpse of military barracks, built on Sentosa during British colonization, which have since been turned into heritage hotels. At the highest point you can see in the distance: a prosperous Singapore, glistening with the skyscrapers on the mainland.

For a taste of heritage cuisine: rempapa (2 Paya Lebar Rd.)

The name of this restaurant is a contraction of rempah (Malay for “spice paste”) and “papa”. The latter is a reference to Chef Damian D’Silva’s reputation as the grandfather of Singaporean heritage cuisine, an elaborate amalgamation of traditional recipes from Chinese, Peranakan, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. As diverse as Singapore itself, the dishes are colorful and fragrant with spices and herbs. Try the vegetarian chickpeas, which combine Indian and Eurasian curry flavors with red peppers, fresh tomatoes, Kashmiri chili powder and turmeric powder.

For cocktails with a sustainable twist: analog (30 Victoria Street)

Singapore is home to a thriving bar scene and has six of the The 50 best bars in the world from 2021. Vijay Mudaliar, co-founder of Native, which won the sustainable bar award in 2019, opened Analogue last year. Housed in a restored chapel, with a countertop made with approximately 3,500 pounds of used plastic, Analogue takes sustainability a step further. It has a plant-based menu and aims to educate people about ingredients they can eat more of in the future. For example, cacti and succulents that thrive in high temperatures make their way to Cactus, a refreshing drink that’s also made with mescal, prickly pear, pink dragon fruit, and more.

For lessons on folklore in Singapore: Hell’s Museum (262 Pasir Panjang Road)

Opened last October and spanning 40,000 square feet, this museum explores concepts and perspectives about death and the afterlife in various civilizations, religions, and cultures. Expect to see exhibits such as a traditional Chinese graveyard on site. Macabre (but fascinating to many foreigners) are the 10 Courts of Hell, a series of dioramas based on Taoist teachings depicting the horrific punishments one receives in the afterlife for crimes committed before death.

For an immersion in nature: Gallop extension at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (Galop Gate entrance)

With a babbling brook and two stately mansions atop rolling hills, this site resembles a rural English landscape more than a tropical rainforest. But this is an accurate reflection of Singapore under British colonization. In March, the eight-acre Gallop Extension was added, opening new attractions such as the Botanical Art Gallery and the Forest Discovery Center. In the first, visitors can see a selection of the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ art collection, which includes more than 2,000 botanical paintings and hundreds of sketches and line drawings.

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