CELEBRATE THE LION CITY
As Singapore marks its bicentennial, now is the perfect time to visit, writes James Litston
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Expect a celebratory air in Singapore this year as the Lion City marks its bicentennial. Although its history dates back centuries before that, it was the arrival of the British East India Company’s Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 that saw the founding of the modern city. It’s a milestone being observed with festivals, fireworks and events.
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Raffles’ legacy lives on in the grand hotel that bears his name. This Victorian masterpiece is currently undergoing refurbishment and will reopen later this year (rafflessingapore.com).
In the meantime, the exclusive Fullerton Bay Hotel (fullertonhotels.com), right by the water, offers phenomenal views and is a stone’s throw from the buzz of Marina Bay. Doubles from £390 (R7,100), with breakfast.
One of Singapore’s newest hotels, the Six Senses Maxwell (sixsenses.com) brings flamboyant style to a heritage setting in Chinatown — all hardwood floors, silk rugs and gorgeous fabrics. There’s also a rooftop pool with city views. Doubles from £190 (R3,500), excluding breakfast.
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The spot where Raffles landed on the north bank of the Singapore River is marked with a marble statue. Admire the skyline, then head inland past the National Gallery and the green space of Padang. Past St Andrew’s Cathedral and Raffles City shopping centre, gaze up at Raffles Hotel.
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Escape the city heat in the 101ha Gardens by the Bay (gardensbythebay.com.sg) on the waterfront. Admire the “Supertree” sculptures, then head into the climatecontrolled domes to be immersed in tropical plant life. There is a sound and light show at dusk (£16/R300) pp.
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Glitzy malls make Orchard Road the centre of Singapore’s shopping scene. Visit complexes such as ION Orchard and Paragon for designer brands, or try Lucky Plaza for more affordable finds. This year’s hottest new opening is Design Orchard
(designorchard.sg), which showcases fashion and home accessories from more than 60 Singaporean designers. For even more local flavour, browse Haji Lane’s boutiques or bargain-hunt in Little India.
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Singapore has the world’s first Michelinstarred street-food stalls. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle draws crowds for its signature
bak chor mee (noodles with minced pork), while Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle is famous for, you guessed it, chicken rice. With prices from around £3/R60, this is world-class cuisine at exceptional value.
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Raffles Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented, has now re-opened after renovation. Find something similar at Native (tribenative.com), whose cocktails feature regional ingredients such as mango, turmeric, jasmine blossom and cinnamon. The beverage to order is Antz, pictured left, — a blend of coconut yoghurt, rum, tapioca and edible ants, which are sprinkled on top as a creepy-crawly garnish (£13/R240).
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In a city of skyscrapers, there’s no shortage of epic viewpoints — but they don’t come more iconic than from the top of Marina Bay Sands (marinabaysands.com). The rooftop infinity pool is restricted to guests, but the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck has the same views. Admission is £13 (R240) pp. Alternatively, make a reservation for feefree access to the hotel’s SkyBar, where cocktails cost £12 and up.
OFF THE MAP
Take a beach break on Sentosa, one of Singapore’s cluster of smaller islands.
Easily accessible from Downtown by taxi, tram or cable car, it offers a laid-back alternative to the urban sizzle.With three man-made beaches, theme parks and an aquarium, there’s lots of distraction along with quiet corners. — © Telegraph Media Group Limited 2019.