Singapore is more than sleek skylines and luxury malls – it’s a city of sensory layers, local flavour, and secret neighbourhoods.
As Lightfoot’s original launchpad back in 2009, Singapore is deeply woven into our story. For Sophie and Khairil, it’s where past and future co-exist with surprising harmony: colonial bungalows sit beside skyscrapers, rainforest boardwalks weave through the city, and humble hawker stalls sit just moments from Michelin-starred restaurants. This guide invites you to step off the polished paths and explore the city the way the locals do.
You don’t truly taste Singapore until you’ve joined the lunchtime queue at a buzzing hawker centre. Sophie’s weekday fix is the spicy dumplings at Maxwell Food Centre, also home to the iconic Ah Tai Chicken Rice – the same stall Dua Lipa visited on her trip. Khairil suggests trying both Ah Tai and neighbouring Uncle Louis to find your favourite.
For street-side theatre, they both love Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat – especially Stall 8 for its prawn skewers. For breakfast, Khairil always makes a detour to Selera Nasi Lemak at Adam Road Food Centre. “It’s worth the early start,” he insists. At the film-famous Newton Food Centre, as seen in Crazy Rich Asians, they recommend the BBQ chicken wings at Stall 76 and the crispy fried oyster omelette at Stall 28.
Favourite Hawker Stalls with Soul
Favourite Hotels: Iconic Stays we Love
If you're checking in, do it in style. Sophie and Khairil agree: two hotels capture the heart of Singapore hospitality.
Overlooking Marina Bay, Fullerton Bay Hotel offers graceful design, old-world service and unbeatable views from its Lantern rooftop bar. Arrive at dusk, order a cocktail, and watch the skyline come to life as the light show begins.
Just across the causeway, nestled in Sentosa’s tropical greenery, Capella Singapore offers a blend of colonial architecture and cutting-edge design. It’s discreet, beachfront, and deeply luxurious – and has welcomed everyone from Blackpink to Lady Gaga.
Singapore’s bar scene is anything but predictable. Sophie loves the breezy charm of the Raffles Courtyard, perfect for post-work drinks with a 3pm happy hour. For something moodier, try Employees Only on Amoy Street – a speakeasy known for its inventive cocktails and late-night buzz.
Khairil’s pick for coolest bar? Draftland on Purvis Street. With a "cocktails on tap" concept, you can taste before you commit. It’s unpretentious, playful, and the kind of place you’ll want to come back to with friends.
Favourite Bars: After-Hours Hot Spots
Coffee & Brunch Must-Tries
Weekend mornings are sacred in Singapore. Sophie’s top pick is Common Man Coffee Roasters, where expertly brewed coffee meets indulgent brunch – she swears by the umami mushroom avocado toast.
Khairil, meanwhile, prefers something classic: Ya Kun Kaya Toast or Toast Box for a nostalgic set of kaya toast with butter, half-boiled eggs, and kopi.
And for a stylish coffee stop while shopping? Head to Ralph’s Coffee, attached to the Ralph Lauren store at Marina Bay Sands – surprisingly affordable, and very chic.
Sophie’s favourites range from tucked-away gems to buzzy rooftop classics. She loves the hidden intimacy of Flying Squirrel, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Japanese spot known for its sashimi platters. Burma Social on Tras Street wins her over with pan-Asian warmth and inventive dishes. And for drama, it’s Spago Bar & Lounge atop Marina Bay Sands, where the views span the city to the sea.
She also frequently returns to Din Tai Fung for classic dumplings done right, and North Miznon for bold Middle Eastern dishes served in a vibrant, communal setting.
Khairil follows the energy to SUSHISAMBA, which blends Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisines in a lively, design-led space. For something indulgent, Nobu is his top spot for elegant Japanese-Peruvian fusion. And when cravings strike for Singapore’s most iconic dish, Jumbo Seafood delivers chilli crab perfection.
Favourite Restaurants: Tried & Tested, Again & Again
Sophie’s 24-Hour Guide
What to do in Singapore in 24 Hours? If you're here for just one day, Sophie’s perfect itinerary begins with a morning cycle: rent an Anywheel bike and cruise along East Coast Park, ending with a bowl of cacio e pepe at Fico – arguably the best Italian on the coastline.
In the afternoon, she recommends heading to MacRitchie Reservoir for the Treetop Walk – lush, peaceful, and surprisingly wild for such a central location. Later, a game of tennis at the Singapore Cricket Club offers incredible views of the National Gallery and Marina Bay Sands.
As night falls, she suggests making your way to Gardens by the Bay for the 7:45pm Supertree Grove light show – a signature Singapore moment that still gives her goosebumps.
Khairil’s Singapore is all about discovery. Start with Sentosa – not just for Universal Studios, but also the laid-back beach clubs like Tanjong Beach Club, and the Harry Potter: Visions of Magic exhibition that’s captivating locals and visitors alike.
For a nature fix, he heads to the Mandai Boardwalk – a lesser-known trail along Seletar Reservoir, alive with birdsong and the scent of jungle. His all-time favourite morning ritual? A walk through the MacRitchie Treetop Walk, spotting monkeys and soaking in the tropical greenery.
Come evening, he suggests renting a bike near the Singapore Flyer and cycling through Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and eastward to East Coast Lagoon Food Village. End the ride with seafood under the stars – it’s Singapore at its most delightful and delicious.
And for a quirky insider trick? If you’re curious about the casino at Marina Bay Sands, take the lift to Level 2 from The Shoppes and walk toward restaurants like Imperial Treasure, CUT, Maison Boulud, or Bread Street Kitchen – you’ll get an incredible bird’s-eye view of the casino floor, no gambling required.
Khairil’s Hidden Gems
Whether you're passing through for 24 hours or planning something deeper, Singapore rewards the curious. From local dumpling joints and moonlit bike trails to grand colonial hotels and jungle boardwalks, this compact city is packed with contrasts and surprises – and no one knows it better than our team on the ground.
Speak to our specialists to start planning your tailormade holiday.
Photography credits: Unsplash, Canva, @capellasingapore, @fullertonbayhotelsg, @draftlandsg, @rafflescourtyard, @employeesonlysg, @commonmancoffee, @toastboxsg, @nobu.singapore, @dintaifungsg, @jumbogroup.singapore, @sentosa_island
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