From art galleries and museums housed in grand buildings steeped in history to hip restaurants, cafés and bars that call old missionary school campuses their home, City Hall is the is a blend of old meets new. For a taste of what Singapore's arts and culture district has to offer, head down to these five spots near the MRT station for a quick sampler of the area.
First opened in the 1930s, this recently refurbished theatre is one of Southeast Asia's largest single-screen cinemas with over 900 seats to fill the space. If you're lucky, pop in for a live performance or catch the premiere of the latest Hollywood blockbuster at this magnificent space.
Go straight down to the basement, where dozens of musical instrument stores sit. You’ve got your guitars (Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanezes – they’re all here), pedals, amplifiers, drum kits, synths, accessories and basically anything you’ll need to rock out. Davis Guitar (#B1-40/41) has been a mainstay for decades, while Sound Alchemy (#B1-19) stocks the hyped-up Fender Japan models.
Anti:dote is not your usual cocktail bar. Located on the first floor of the Fairmont Singapore, the unpretentious drinking spot places a strong emphasis on craft – offering nine solid drinks of classics reinvented such as the Su Jung Gwa, a Korean take on the sazerac.
Housing the largest visual art gallery in Singapore mostly dedicated to local and South-East Asian art from the 19th century to today, the National Gallery Singapore is not one to be missed. You could probably spend the whole day here and still not run out of things to see.
Once a convent school, CHIJMES has transformed into a hip lifestyle enclave brimming with bars, restaurants and cafés. It's home to Michelin-starred Whitegrass, casual ramen bar Ikkousha and for whisky connoisseurs, there's The Single Cask too.
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