The clouds from the Ion Sky Observatory. The 55th and 56th levels of The Orchard Residences at the ION Orchard give you a 360-degree view of Singapore. It’s a great place for cloud-spotting. And if you’ve forgotten the difference between cumulus and cirrus, don’t fret. You will find guides at the Ion Sky.
The works of Dali, Van Gogh and more at the ArtScience Museum (Marina Bay Sands). The museum is home to 21 galleries. Ticket prices range from S$8 to S$28.
The sexy new Louis Vuitton Island Maison at Marina Bay Sands. This huge store is a dream come true for the brand’s fans. Check out their book store too – it’s worth a visit.
The view from 1-Altitude (1 Raffles Place). Grab a few drinks at the world’s highest al fresco bar and enjoy a fantastic view of Singapore.
HEAR
Abba’s hits. Check out Abba Mania, which is returning to Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater from November 11 to 13. Tickets (S$50 to S$125) are now available. Buy tickets through www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing or +6566888826.
The beats at St. James Power Station (Harbourfront 3 Sentosa Gateway). This one-stop nightlife destination gives you access to nine different hot spots that feature live entertainment and different kinds of music.
SMELL
ION Orchard’s signature scents. The eight-storey shopping mall wants to give its guests a holistic experience so they’ve asked ScentAir Technologies Inc. to develop scents that are used subtly throughout the retail center.
TASTE
Local favorites at Straits Kitchen (Grand Hyatt Hotel 10 Scotts Road). We like Singapore’s hawker centers too—but if you’re not fond of eating in open-air restos, Straits Kitchen is a good alternative. The buffet offers a variety of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Nonya dishes—from chicken rice and satay to curry and chili crab. The roast duck’s our top pick.
Valrhona Hot Chocolate Soup at Osia (Festive Walk Level 2 Resorts World). This sinful dessert takes lava cake to a whole new level. Molten chocolate cake is served with a sweet scoop of pepper vanilla ice cream and a sesame crisp. No rules, according to the chef, you may eat this delicious treat way you want to.
Watermelon Mojitos at Nueva Cuba (#01-03, Customs House 70 Collyer Quay), Singapore’s first Cuban-themed resto. They are crazy refreshing.
Everything at Salt Grill (2 Orchard Turn, Level 55 and 56 on ION Orchard). From the “Glass” Sydney crab omelette in miso mustard broth to Luke’s liquorice parfait—in our mind, Australian chef Luke Mangan can do no wrong.
FEEL
The rush at Universal Studios (Resorts World Sentosa). Looking for that jolt of adrenaline? Ride Battlestar Galactica, the world’s tallest dueling roller coasters. Get on Revenge of the Mummy and let this inner roller coaster plunge you into the darkness. Later this year, Transformers: The Ride will also open. If that kind of action isn’t your thing, you can cozy up to the park’s mascots instead—we saw Woody Woodpecker when we went.
The Aramsa Touch at Aramsa The Garden Spa (Bishan Park 2 1382 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1). Singapore is known for being fast-paced. If you want to take a quick break from your adventure, head over to this spa for a nice rubdown. The Aramsa Touch, which is the spa’s signature massage, uses a mix of eastern meridian and western classical massage techniques. There were two other things we loved about Aramsa The Garden Spa—one, the questionnaire they ask you to fill out so they can tweak the treatment to suit your needs and two, the heated massage bed that made the experience even more calming.