What’s happening in Singapore
The best things to do this week
Take the kiddos on an art adventure through National Gallery Singapore. This year’s Children’s Biennale features 11 interactive artworks by local and international artists. Let your little hitmakers create their very own tunes at Chance Operations or embark on an experiential journey across time and space at Stardust: Soaring Through the Sky’s Embrace.
Think outside the box and let your imagination run wild at Esplanade’s ten-day arts festival. The playful, family-friendly affair returns with a host of whimsical performances, unconventional programmes, larger-than-life installations, and pop-up arts and technology experiences that embrace all things eccentric.
This beachside wellness and music jamboree makes you work up a sweat from sunrise to sunset. Start your morning with a 5km run, find your flow with classes by Pure Yoga, fuel up at The Marketplace and get down with international acts like Lost Frequencies, Rudimental, Nina Nesbitt, and Singapore's own The Sam Willows.
Feast your eyes a visual extravaganza at the ArtScience Museum. This playful and poetic exhibition explores the history of inflatable objects, showing how they have been used in art, architecture and social activism over the decades. It features over 40 artworks, including eight giant inflatable sculptures, produced by more than 15 international and local artists such as Ant Farm, Eventstructure Research Group, Anna Hoetjes, and Luke Jerram. Highlights include the Castle of Vooruit (2012) by Turkish artist Ahmet Öğüt, and Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram.
K-Pop fans, go K-razy – the highly anticipated K-Pop festival returns to Singapore Indoor Stadium with headliners Super Junior, Monsta X, Nu’est and Winner. New this year is HallyuTown. Indulge in K-Food, K-Beauty and K-lifestyle, as well as stan your favourite K-pop idols at the Fan Support area.
Indonesian artist Wedhar Riyadi's first solo exhibition in five years features nine paintings from his new collection of work. They explore the psychological depths of popular cultural imagery and its implications on reality and the ideal body. His paintings also focus and expand on the influence of digital age and mass media. Be intrigued by his creations on display, which distort, rearrange and carve up the imagery of the human figure.
Jason Lim's solo exhibition is a visual presentation of his 10-day residency at Kjerringøy Land Art Biennale in northern Norway last August. The programme saw him use his body as a prop to showcase natural materials found along Kjerringøy's unique coastal-alpine landscape. Now he channels these depictions into a series of photographs and a video piece, reinterpreting and reassigning new meaning to them. Examine your own views of life, mortality and nature as you check out the thought-provoking works of this Singaporean artist.
Experience an extensive showcase of all-natural toxic-free wellness solutions for health and beauty. This event has prepared a line-up of exciting activities, educational workshops, live demos, and special giveaways for you to look forward to. It also has various zones – Essential Oil Zone, Home & Living Zone, Health & Nutritional Zone – offering you focused experiences with essential oils. Other key highlights include a series of live cooking demos by celebrity chef Angela May, yoga classes for everyone, and a make-your-own-beauty-products workshop.
Grammy award-winning DJ, Cedric Gervais, is taking Bar Rouge to new heights with his uplifting progressive and electro house anthems. Hailing from France, this hitmaker is one of the biggest and hottest in the house music scene. Dance your Saturday night away to his hype beats, including his viral single Molly and remix of Lana Del Rey's Summertime Sadness.
Having played in Singapore a couple of years ago, American DJ Borgeous is no stranger to Singapore's nightlife scene. This May, he's back in the Lion City, taking over the turntables at Marquee Singapore with his famous hits like Invincible and Tsunami. Prepare to be blown away when you let loose to his unique blend of house music – a fusion of EDM and bass-heavy remixes of party anthems.
The latest features
Melbourne is the buzzing centre of culture in Australia. The artsy, coffee-crazy and fashion-forward metropolis is always changing, and is packed to the brim with cool bars, restaurants and cultural events at every turn. The excitement extends beyond the city as well. Take a long scenic road trip, go on a museum or art trail and check out more unconventional offerings you can only do in this part of Oz. It's time to undiscover what you know about the land Down Under with Singapore Airlines.
In celebration of Chivas Masters Week, Time Out Singapore is organising an exclusive bar hop for you to be the first to try cocktails by six of the finalists. The Chivas Masters is a global cocktail competition showcasing the best of the industry from around the world. This year, the competition is open to Singapore’s top bartending talent for the first time. During Chivas Masters Week (June 3 to 9), you can try the creations of the six finalists at their respective bars. On June 4, join the hunt for the Singapore champion as we visit some of the city's top bars to try creative Chivas concoctions by the finalists. The final leg of the competition will follow the key theme, Success is a Blend. Don't miss out – book your ticket ($90 per person) for a night of whisky, cocktails, food and fun. Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect.
Suit up with the help of Perfect Attire, a bespoke apparel specialist in Tanjong Pagar. The business was started by founders Tulsi Kamath and Shriram Iyer in 2014 who wanted to bring an element of human touch and art that is missing in the modern production line. Its expertise lies in canvassed suits fully handmade with premium Italian and English fabrics from distinguished brands like Drago, Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC) and Holland & Sherry. The suits are custom made to each client’s needs and are constructed by skilled craftsmen who have dedicated years to tailoring. According to the founders, a suit should make the wearer feel confident – everything else radiates from there. To ensure the best fit, customers have to attend two fitting sessions – a muslin fitting and a basted fitting – a similar experience to what you’d get at Savile Row in London. Depending on the fabric, cut and style you select, a hand-stitched suit can cost anywhere from $1200 to $2500. Get creative and go for a bold lining that gives the professional suit an edge or pick some unique buttons to make your standard blue dress shirt stand out. Women can also pop by Perfect Attire for handmade dress shirts, cotton chinos and blouses made with fabrics from century-old Italian brand, Andreazza & Castelli. Time Out Singapore in Partnership with Perfect Attire.
Take island living up a notch and spend some lazy afternoons at an easy breezy tropical-themed cafe or restaurant in Singapore. Think lots of plants, sunlight, vibrant wallpaper and rattan chairs and fixtures. Whether it's for an acai smoothie, a spot of brunch or sharing some plates with your group of friends, kick back and take in the decor and tropical vibes at these places. RECOMMENDED: The best pink cafés and restaurants in Singapore and the most Instagrammable cafes 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, because who needs Bali anyway? These out-of-town spots are perfect for relaxing and refuelling away from the stress of Singapore city, coconut (or perhaps, a martini) in hand. It's time to hit the road. RECOMMENDED: Family-friendly activities in Johor Bahru and the ultimate guide to Bintan Island
Just when we thought film photography is a thing of the past, it makes its comeback. This fad, mainly propelled by youngsters who have recently shown interest in shooting photos on film for a different look and experience from digital, has led to a growing pool of people purchasing film cameras and more fiddling around with disposable camera apps like Huji on smartphones. To ease you into this trend, we’ve rounded a list of places you can go to get yourself a point-and-shoot and develop your films, as well as free apps you can try to get that feel before investing in one of these classics. RECOMMENDED: The best smart home gadgets in Singapore and the best retro shops in Singapore to nail the old-school look
With the fasting month around the corner, Muslims all around are readying themselves for Ramadan. While the month is all about reflection and repentance, at the end of a long day of fasting, one rewards themselves with a well-deserved meal. Head to these restaurants in town for some of the best iftar meals this Ramadan. RECOMMENDED: The best halal restaurants and cafés in Singapore and the best nasi padang restaurants and stalls in Singapore
The words 'healthy' and 'ice cream' are hardly used in the same sentence. After all, if something is delicious and satisfying, then it probably isn’t good for you. But not with these ice creams. You can have a party in the mouth while keeping the tummy tight with all the guilt-free ice cream you can find in Singapore. RECOMMENDED: The best ice cream shops in Singapore and the best soft-serve ice creams in Singapore
If your evenings consist of enjoying live sets at these music venues, you're in for a treat. This year's concert lineup is looking mega with plenty of mainstream, underground, and downright nostalgic acts to catch. Here are the hottest upcoming concerts we're booking tickets for. RECOMMENDED: Upcoming performing arts events in Singapore and best live jazz venues in Singapore
Impossible Foods landed in Singapore in March and we’re already seeing it take over menus across the island. While it’s uncanny how much the plant-based product looks and tastes like beef, it’s in fact made of heme. “What the heck is heme?” You might ask. It’s a molecule found in all living things and is what gives meat its taste. Impossible Foods uses genetically modified yeast as part of a fermenting process to generate large quantities of heme, the key ingredient responsible for the meaty flavour in Impossible, in a sustainable and efficient way. Try it for yourself by checking out these restaurants serving the new ‘meat’ in town. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants for sustainable dining in Singapore and the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Singapore
The latest news
Find me a date
These city kids ditched Tinder and let us play matchmaker. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of their blind date...
They've gone for their blind date – here's what the couples have to say about each other
These city kids ditched Tinder and let us play matchmaker. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of their blind date...
Game, set, match – we played matchmaker in a blindfolded, speed-dating event and managed to pair up some lovebirds
These city kids ditched Tinder and let us play matchmaker. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of their blind date...
Let Time Out and GaiGai play matchmaker as we bring our popular Find Me A Date series to real life – with a blinding twist
These city kids ditched Tinder and let us play matchmaker. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of their blind date
Every month, we set up two readers on a blind date at one of our favourite restaurants or bars – and it's on us!
These city kids ditched Tinder and let us play matchmaker. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of their blind date
The best of Singapore
December 2018: Up to number one on our list is Esora – a new Japanese restaurant at Mohamed Sultan Road serving Kappo-style cuisine with a twist. Other new entries include Preludio, a restaurant that turns fine dining on its head and Thevar, a contemporary Indian restaurant with delectably spicy plates. Welcome to the Time Out EAT List, our handpicked best of Singapore’s food scene. These are the tastiest places to eat in this city right now: the freshest, most inventive and most memorable, ranked by expert local editors. You don't have to look very far to stumble upon an amazing nosh in Singapore. The city is packed with boundary-pushing restaurants run by star-studded chefs as well as humble hawker finds that'll satiate your appetite for cheap. Narrowing down the best restaurants in town to a list of 50 is no easy feat – that's why we have separate lists for the best Japanese, French and Spanish restaurants among others – but these are the places we think are worth a visit for unbeatable food, electrifying ambiance and genial service to boot. Eaten somewhere on this list and loved it? Know of a restaurant that should be on here instead? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutEatList Find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews restaurants.
December 2018: Up to number one in our list is Junior – a cosy pocket bar highlighting the drinking culture of New Orleans. It's due to change its concept once again soon so head there quick before yet another refresh. New at number 15 is The Other Roof. Brought to you by the same people behind The Other Room (number 9), this rooftop establishment is fun, breezy and chock full of addictive tea-infused tipples. Welcome to the Time Out DRINK List, our handpicked ‘best of’ Singapore’s drinking scene. These are the most buzzing bars in this city right now: the most inventive and most memorable watering holes, all ranked by expert local editors. Drinking in Singapore is expensive so we did all the hard work for you – scouring the city every night in search of amazing drinks, visiting incognito and footing the bill. That’s how you know that if it’s on this list, it’s awesome. Whether you sip or quaff, these are the city's top bars for a boozy night out. We've got joints stocked with quality vino, speakeasies hidden behind unmarked doors, dens devoted to whisky, craft beer breweries and much more in our roundup. We guarantee you won't be able to stop at one drink – just make sure you have a safe ride home. Drank somewhere on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDrinkList. You can also find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews bars here.
Neighbourhood guides
Once a prominent red-light district, you’d think it would take loads to eradicate the impression of Keong Saik Road being littered with brothels in the 1960s. Well, you’re right – and it has. Now, this bustling neighborhood has somehow seamlessly fused the traditional with modern to offer some of the most unique (and delicious) places to visit whether you’re a tourist or a local lifestyle enthusiast. From gourmet restaurants to trendy bars and even bespoke tailors, you’ll be filled with an endless array of activities as you traverse along the streets of shophouses. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Singapore and the best bars to try out in Singapore
Busy, noisy, filled with people, that’s the general consensus of the Chinatowns of the world. Singapore’s is no different, but ours (perhaps we’re biased) has a charming air about it that appeals to both tourists and locals. A good mix of hawker fare and swish eateries, history and architecture, here are a few good reasons to head down to Chinatown. RECOMMENDED: 101 best things to do in Singapore and guide to getting around Singapore
Joo Chiat and Katong have gained popularity over the years for their blend of Instagram-worthy Peranakan shophouses, delectable cuisine, and indie retail stores. Named after philanthropist, Chew Joo Chiat, this charming corner in the east of Singapore was once a small village of seaside retreats for the wealthy. It's since been revamped into a residential suburb surrounded by shops and eateries. Declared as Singapore’s first Heritage Town in 2011, this East Coast enclave still holds timeless treasures and insight into the rich Peranakan cultural heritage of the 1950s. Today, most of Joo Chiat’s multi-ethnic influences are most evident in its architecture, dining options, and activities. RECOMMENDED Creative spaces in Katong and Joo Chiat and the best restaurants and cafés in Katong
Singapore's glamorous shopping belt dazzles with luxury stores, local boutiques and plenty to eat, see and do.
It’s a given that Little India is colourful, vibrant and a hive of activity – but it’s also changing and gentrifying. There’s never a dull moment on this stretch, here are some of our favourite spots. RECOMMENDED: Where to eat in Little India
What was once Singapore’s sleaze central has smartened up big time thanks to classy new developments like Andaz. While the area is evolving into a mini CBD, it hasn’t gone all business-like just yet. With its mix old-and-new, here are some of our new (and old) favourite haunts. Still can't get enough of what this colourful neighbourhood has to offer? Check out the best cafes in Bugis or go on a bar crawl guide in Bugis when it gets dark out.
Singapore's infamous redlight district is the place to go your craving for the king of fruits and good food at any hour of the night.
Take a one-way (MRT) trip to the far east – you’ll find more than chalets and droves of army boys. Hit up Pasir Ris and Changi for a walk through nature as you explore the mangroves or chug down refreshing brews by the seaside. We round up where to hang out and what to do while you're in these two quaint neighbourhoods.
More than just the neighbourhood with Singapore's first IKEA, Queenstown is also home to plenty of cheap and good eats, outlet malls for a good bargain and more.
Get acquainted: Tampines – named for the large number of ‘tampinis’, or ironwood, trees that used to be in the neighbourhood – is the largest residential area in Singapore. The colourful HDB blocks and smart design of the district earned Tampines the United Nations World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design in 1992. Make a deal: Just outside the MRT exit, bargains abound in 513 Tampines Central 1. Get cheap clothes at CK Discount, then wander around the building clockwise until you hear the carnival soundtrack and come to stall No 152 – Three Stars Buy 1 Free 1. Just like the name says, when you buy one of the household goods on sale, you get one free. Along the way, keep your eyes open for discount underwear and a jewellery pawn shop. Eat: On the third floor of the Tampines Mall (4 Tampines Central 5, and ground zero for mainstream shopping in this area), peek in the window of Din Tai Fung and watch dim sum masters rolling out dough and turning it into divine dumplings… okay, enough watching. Time to grab a seat and eat! For what could possibly be Singapore’s best dining bargain (a major claim), head to block 823A on Tampines Street 81 and find stall No 820 in the Food Park for a plate of $1.30 chicken rice. Get fit: After all that chicken rice (at those prices, you know you’ll get seconds), you’ll need a workout. The Tampines Sports Hall (495 Tampines Ave 5 S) offers 19 badminton and table tennis courts where you can play with your birdies and balls. If that doesn
