Megan Sim

Housed in Singapore’s most culturally vibrant districts, these contemporary boutique hotels are a refreshing alternative to established hotel chains we all love. These swish hotels reveal an oft-unseen facet of our modern metropolis and promise to beguile you with their distinctive charms. All are designed to offer you a slice of comforting luxury without being too far from the hustle and bustle of city life.  Whether you're choosing to isolate yourself in a peaceful setting away from home or spending quality time with your significant other, these boutique and shophouse hotels in Singapore have all it takes for the perfect staycation.  RECOMMENDED:📍Check out the best things to do in Singapore🇸🇬Stay at the best hotels in Singapore 💞Or head to the most romantic hotels in Singapore Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Often billing themselves as elite communities, these members-only clubs may as well be the modern-day equivalent of secret societies – albeit far more glamorous. Being part of the crew could set you back a few thousand but the perks make it well worth it. Pray you made the (waiting) list and you’ll be sipping bespoke cocktails with the crème de la crème soon enough. In the meantime, it won't hurt to look the part. Men, head to these cool barbershops to get groomed, look sharp in a suit at these bespoke tailors and get sipping at these cocktail bars. Ladies, get your tresses treated at these hair salons and nails polished at these salons. No time to head out? These mobile beauty services will come to pamper you in your own home before any event. 

Fact: Singapore is not boring. And we can prove it. We had a hard time narrowing down 58 reasons why we love Singapore – we had to leave so many other things out or we'd be here all day. From our vibrant arts and culture scene and obsession with food to our status as a hub for technology and innovation, Singapore truly has it all. RECOMMENDED: 8 things Singaporeans are weirdly proud about and Which Singapore landmark are you according to your horoscope?

Great restaurants, cheap eats and inspiring nature trails just when you thought that we’ve exhausted all the reasons Singapore's the best, we have a list of experiences that might just be the very definition of Uniquely Singapore.  RECOMMENDED: 10 things Singapore does better than anywhere else and 101 best things to do in Singapore

Is there any country that loves durians as much as we do? We love it so much we built a building in its image – that's hard to beat. Whether you personally love or hate the king of fruits, there's no denying that it always makes a splash when it's in season, with durian stalls popping up everywhere and aunts, uncles, neighbours and friends scrambling to get their favourite varieties at the best prices. With so many options on the market and unscrupulous sellers besides, durian season can get a bit overwhelming. Here's our guide to help you get the best of the crop on your table.  RECOMMENDED: The best food promotions and discounts for those vaccinated and The best ice cream shops in Singapore  

Put on your thinking cap at these escape rooms that are filled with puzzles and vexing scenarios to test your friendships. Without giving too much away, we clue you in on some of the best escape rooms Singapore has to offer. Be strategic about who you enter these simulations with – grab a couple of your brainier friends and work your way through our top picks. RECOMMENDED: The best hiking trails in Singapore and the top things to do this month

Beyond dialects and Singlish, there’s so much more to Singapore’s linguistic landscape than you think. Whether you’re sick of relying on subtitles or determined to spruce up your resume, head to these language centres and say goodbye to (sometimes wildly inaccurate) online translators. Did we mention the overseas immersion trips, social nights and movie screenings that you can look forward to? RECOMMENDED: The best dance studios and classes in Singapore and where to go for cooking classes in Singapore

Take a break from city life by leaving our sunny (and hectic) island for not-so-faraway ones that are far more quaint. These day trips within Singapore and beyond provide a breathtaking change of scenery sans airport queues and hours of travelling time. Cross the Causeway into Johor and other Malaysian towns or jet off to an Indonesian beach resort in Batam or Bintan. Whether you're looking for unexplored hiking spots, the best white coffee in town or authentic cuisine, we've got ya. These out-of-town spots are perfect for relaxing and refuelling away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore city, coconut (or perhaps, a martini) in hand. Now, let's hit the road.  RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Johor Bahru and the best resorts and villas in Bintan  

Tired of seeing the same few faces every day or simply lusting for a change in environment? With co-working spaces across the island amping up their amenities, it's no wonder that startups and corporate giants alike are ditching the sterility of regular offices. At these dynamic spaces, swap out your post-work spin class for an in-house yoga session or knock yourself out at the fully stocked pantries. Here's to increased productivity and not sneaking off at 6pm sharp. RECOMMENDED: The best public libraries in Singapore and the best work-friendly cafés in Singapore

These public playgrounds provide endless hours of fun and exercise. From splash buckets and natural streams to giant rope courses and eight-metre-tall climbing towers, the tykes will be occupied for an entire afternoon. Some of these play areas even encourage the adults to join in, so you can unleash your inner kid and feel like you're seven all over again.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do for kids in Singapore and the best things to do on a rainy day in Singapore

From enthralling encounters with marine life to adrenaline-raising sea sports, there are plenty of water activities in Singapore to float your boat. Even if you’re a landlubber worried about being thrown into the deep end, fret not. Most of these expeditions are complemented by an introductory course so you won’t be hung out to dry. RECOMMENDED: The best free water parks in Singapore and the best public pools in Singapore

  The date Our daters had a meal at Le Binchotan First impression Chantelle: “I was really amused because I often joke about how I’ll end up marrying a bald Indian man – he fits that description to a tee.” Jiten: “She arrived rather late which was upsetting but we hit it off pretty quickly so I’ll forgive her for that.” Chemistry Chantelle: “We definitely connected. It may be too early to tell but I’m open for more.” Jiten: “Definitely. We bonded over travel, our families and work. We found out that our offices are pretty close to each other’s so I’m looking forward to grabbing lunch with her soon.” Awkward moment Chantelle: “He’s really easy to talk to and I’m a great date so there wasn’t a single awkward moment.” Jiten: “Not at all. We talked non-stop till we parted ways.” Afterwards Chantelle: “After dinner, we went to a bar on China Street for a couple of drinks.” Jiten: “We were both stuffed from dinner so we just went for a drink at a nearby pub.” Verdict Chantelle: ♥♥♥♥♥ “He’s eloquent, intellectual and overall a really good catch. I’d love to go out with him and get to know him better.” Shawn: ♥♥♥♥ “I had a lot of fun. She’s sarcastic yet pleasant and definitely someone I’ll keep in touch with.”

Aligned with his vision to spread the joys of what he claims to be a life-defining sport, Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling has opened his own swimming school. It’s name? Swim Schooling, of course.  He hopes to continue inspiring young athletes while equipping kids with the skills necessary to be confident in the water. Lessons commence on July 2 at Our Tampines Hub and have a 6 to 1 student-instructor ratio. Classes are structured according to an eight-stage progressive programme that caters to children aged 3 to 11. Before you rush to get your kids on the advance sign-up list, you’d probably want to know that Schooling himself will (understandably) not be involved in the everyday training sessions but promises to spend as much time with future students as possible.

Mark your calendars because the longest lunar eclipse of the century is less than a month away. So in case you missed out on the eclipse took place back in January, here's your chance to get in on the fuss. Come the early morning of July 28, the moon, sun and earth will become directly aligned, with the moon passing directly into the darkest region of the Earth's shadow, giving it a reddish "blood moon" glow. The total eclipse is expected to last an hour and 43 minutes but astronomers predict that the entire duration of the lunar event will take 3 hours and 55 minutes if the partial eclipse before and after are taken into account. In Singapore, the total eclipse is expected to begin at 3.30am and end at 5.13am. What’s more, as Mars gets closer to Earth – for the first time in a long while – you may even get a glimpse of the intriguing red planet on the same night.

Having helmed the construction of prominent MRT stations like Marymount and Downtown, Taisei Corporation is slated to add the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Marina Bay station – which will serve as an interchange station connecting the TEL, North-South and Circle Lines – to its impressive body of work. In conjunction with the project, it has enlisted the help of Makato Shinkai, the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker behind Your Name – one of Japan’s biggest international box office hits – to direct an animation promoting the highly anticipated station. The 30-second clip posted on the Japanese company’s official YouTube channel on May 6 has garnered thousands of views, and it’s not hard to see why. It follows the protagonist through her profound experience of leaving her hometown in Japan, taking up an engineering job in Singapore and offers glimpses of the behind-the-scenes action of the station’s construction. As the narrative gallops on, witness Singaporean landmarks like Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum through an entirely different lens. Regardless of whether or not you're an anime otaku, get ready to be captivated by this breathtaking short film.