Covetourist is an off-the-grid travel guide, written by fashionable insiders. Consider these the best places to eat, see and shop, full of locals-only hidden gems your algorithm wouldn't show you.
Ten years ago, I moved from Singapore to New York City. As the taxi pulled up to the first apartment I’d be staying in, in the West Village, I noticed a restaurant in the building called Chomp Chomp, named after the iconic hawker centre back home. Without even glancing at the menu in the window, I knew it was a Singaporean spot. Somehow, home has a way of following and finding you wherever you go.
Singapore sits at the Southern tip of the Malay Peninsula: a city-state island of almost six million on the equator, where it’s hot all year round (which is probably why summer is my season). It’s where I grew up alongside people from the other main ethnic groups—Malay and Indian—as an ethnically Chinese person. We all speak British-influenced English and code-switch on cue to Singlish, a blend of English and local languages as a gesture of familiarity and kinship. However, sometimes it’s the only way to get a point across. Our multicultural makeup permeates every inch of the city: our palates, our habits, our way of life.
The beauty of living abroad is the chance to return home with a newfound sense of wonder and gratitude. To explore with fresh eyes and to find ways to stay connected even from afar.
Here are some of my favorite spots in Singapore. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, especially when it comes to food, but I hope that you’ll come away seeing just how rich (beyond the "Crazy Rich Asian" version) Singapore truly is.
Where To Shop In Singapore
SOJAO
Stacey Pamela Chia
The Wellness Club
Stacey Pamela Chia
The newest lifestyle destination in town, New Bahru brings together 40 local creative talents and businesses under one roof. There’s sustainable skincare and haircare from Omno; crisp, well-cut shirts from ready-to-wear brand Good Addition; multi-disciplinary design studio Beyond The Vines; art and design objects from Studio Yono; and home essentials from SOJAO. Check out the public art programming while you’re there. As you wander through the stores, you’re walking the halls of a refurbished former school building, one that gives New Bahru all its charm.
Recognizing the deep connection between beauty and wellness, and the need for both amid the hurried pace of life in Singapore, Sabrina Tan, founder of Skin Inc, Singapore’s most well-known beauty export, brought together like-minded entrepreneurs to launch The Wellness Club. Located at the JW Marriott Singapore Spa, this one-stop destination offers Skin Inc’s signature serums alongside a curated selection of wellness journals, mulberry silk accessories, and lifestyle essentials from local brands including I Am Well, Our Second Nature, SOVA, That Letter M, and more.
While the brand is better known for its ready-to-wear line with easy silhouettes in a calming, neutral palette, I’m especially fond of their Scandi-style homeware line.
Understated, functional, and effortlessly refined. The brand only does pop-ups, so you’ll have to check their Instagram account for the next one, although they offer free shipping worldwide.
Perk By Kate
For high-quality, luxurious lingerie. As a small-chested woman who’s never found pieces that truly fit, their bralettes are a dream.
A standout design store, known for its porcelain that blends local culture with Japanese design sensibilities beautifully
Where To Eat In Singapore
Maxwell Market
There are many hawker centers across the island serving classic Singaporean staples like Chicken Rice, Laksa, Bak Chor Mee, Fishball Noodles, Mee Rebus, and Roti Prata—but head to Maxwell Market, a favorite among locals and even celebrities like Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Drew Barrymore, all of whom have paid a visit. Hawker culture is also on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Enjoy a serene farm-to-table contemporary Asian dining experience, overlooking 40,000 sq ft of greenery in Dempsey Hill. Every Saturday at 5pm, AIR offers visitors a guided garden tour of its edible landscape.
A French Brasserie-style food with local flavor, where I like to spend mornings reading with views of a jungle.
The Peranakans are descendants of Chinese immigrants who intermarried with the Malays, and the cuisine is a vibrant blend of both traditions. Peranakan cuisine is not readily available outside of Southeast Asia, given the unique ingredients needed and the elaborate cooking process for most of its dishes. Bold, complex flavors, featuring all the taste profiles, are what characterize Peranakan dishes. At Violet Oon, you'll find classic Peranakan dishes dreamt up by its namesake, the leading authority on Peranakan cuisine.
Stacey Pamela Chia
Stacey Pamela Chia
Candlenut is the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant with a contemporary take on the cuisine.
For traditional British and Hainanese cuisine. I cannot think about Colbar without thinking about my childhood.
They specialize in Nasi Lemak—fragrant coconut rice served with sides like fried chicken, sunny side up eggs, fried anchovies, beef rendang, and more. Come here for an elevated take, or head to any hawker center for a pared-down version.
A creative exploration of what Singapore cuisine is and can be.
The most sophisticated hot pot dining experience in the city by Michelin-starred chef Andre Chiang.
Kaya is a sweet, pandan-flavored coconut spread that is a breakfast staple. You’ll find it at Ya Kun Kaya Toast, as well as at many other traditional coffee shops.
Fried puff pastry filled with curry chicken and potatoes is comfort food for most of us.
Artful and infused with local flavors.
What To Do In Singapore
Courtesy of Hideaway
A walk in the Botanic Gardens
Our equivalent of a beautifully preserved garden in the heart of the city, which is rich with heritage that dates back to British colonial Singapore; it's also UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also home to the National Orchid Garden with over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids.
Wet Markets
An anthropological glimpse into local culture and everyday life.
The National Gallery
It is home to the world’s most extensive public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art, housed in two national monuments.
Exploring Peranakan architecture in Joo Chiat
Joo Chiat is always buzzing with new restaurants, shops, and pop-ups but the draw of this historic neighborhood is its stunning collection of Peranakan shophouses, a unique architectural style that tells the story of the region’s rich cultural heritage. Visit the The Intan, which is in the neighborhood to learn more about Peranakan culture.
Bar hopping
On a recent trip to Milan, I had a bartender ask where I was from, and he raved about the Singapore bar scene. The bars consistently place on global rankings for their inventive cocktails and atmosphere, adding to our colorful nightlife. Some of my favorites include Atlas, Native, Sago House, 28 Hong Kong. Singapore is truly at its best after dark.
Home-based dining
Even though there are many dining options in Singapore, you can’t get that home-cooked flavor from a mass kitchen. In recent years, home-based dining experiences, serving everything from Italian to Peranakan cuisine, have sprouted up by the dozens, offering a personal blend of food, hospitality, and the chance to meet friendly Singaporeans eager to strike up a conversation and share our way of life. Some popular ones include The Drunken Chef, Ben Fatto 95, In A Pickle, and Salt Salon.
A spa retreat
What would a tropical island be without great spas? Head to the resort island of Sentosa, which should be a quick taxi or bus ride away considering how compact the island is, to experience some of the top spa offerings. There’s Capella Hotel, Raffles Sentosa, and The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, among others. On the main island, Hideaway is my go-to for its neuroaesthetic approach to design that considers how color, objects, texture, and volume influence well-being, and, of course, great treatments.
The Best Hotels In Singapore
Nothing beats the comfort of going home to my parents, but I like to mix in a few hotel stays to keep the thrill of discovering Singapore alive. Each of these recommendations comes with a pool, so you have access to a refreshing dip whenever you like. You’ll thank me later.
The Warehouse Hotel
The Edition Singapore
The Edition Singapore
Like its sister properties around the world, The Edition Singapore is both electrifying and serene. One of the city's newest and most luxurious hotels, it offers a fresh take on tropical modernism, where lush greenery is seamlessly woven throughout the design, encouraging you to whisper and slow down. The rooms are spacious, with high ceilings and calming touches like a deep bathtub, and the hotel is just a short walk from Orchard Road, the city's main shopping district. Stepping into its marble lobby, you'll immediately understand Singapore's reputation for understated elegance.
The Warehouse Hotel
For me, the most unforgettable stays are those where history and heritage are deeply embedded, and The Warehouse Hotel is a perfect example. The Chinese immigrants were part of shaping early Singapore, and in those days, this area was a hotbed for Chinese secret societies and the city's red-light district. The hotel thoughtfully weaves in Chinese cultural influences, from preserving original Chinese characters on the facade to printing them on laundry bags and creative branding elements throughout the space. The illustrated postcard is one to write home on. A retail installation at the front desk features items that reflect Singapore's rich heritage. Even if you're not staying here, the lobby bar is worth adding to your itinerary for its inventive cocktails made with local herbs, fruits, and spices. I never say no to a good pandan cocktail, and I love the White Horse.
21 Carpenter
A former remittance house for early Chinese immigrants, 21 Carpenter is another heritage gem, this one reimagined by renowned Singapore design firm WOHA, known for its sustainable design solutions. It might just be my favorite for longer stays. You won’t feel like you’re in a hotel, but rather in a space that thoughtfully reflects how people live, work, and linger. Don’t miss the rooftop infinity pool as it offers a stunning view of the city skyline. Ask the hotel staff about the design details throughout the property because there are stories in almost every corner, including love notes resurrected from the National Archives and etched into the walls.
My Perfect Day In Singapore
Stacey Pamela Chia
- An early morning walk at the Singapore Botanic Gardens where the weather is still a comfortable 80°F.
- Post walk, have Kaya Toast and local coffee in a classic Kopitiam.
- Mid-morning, explore around a historic neighborhood like Joo Chiat or Tiong Bahru.
- Have lunch at a hawker center to experience how a majority of Singaporeans eat.
- Post lunch, when the weather is the hottest, visit any of the shopping malls, museums, or go to Tanjong Beach Club on Sentosa.
- Have a classic Singapore seafood dinner and order the chili crab.
- When it’s cooler in the evening, visit Gardens by The Bay where the Supertrees light up and it’s truly spectacular.
- The city comes alive at night, so end your day at RASA, a new spot blending nightlife, music, art, and food. Parisian bánh mì and donut shop Nonette is currently in residency at RASA for that savory or sweet treat before bed.
