Tourist in My Own City, Singapore - Vania
Hey! My name is Vania and I’ve had the joy of calling Singapore home for 5 years now. Having moved here from Jakarta, Indonesia, living in Singapore has been eye-openingly refreshing. We have one of the most convenient public transport systems, clean and green city streets, and you’d never run out of food to eat with the huge array of cuisines locally. Let me take you around some of my favourite spots on this beautiful island-city!
Best place to buy a takeaway latte:
There are plenty of great options in Singapore, but my favourite has got to be Glasshouse! They have a pretty minimalistic menu and their iced latte is incredibly well-balanced, smooth and silky. Great to cool down with, on a hot afternoon. They also regularly rotate their bean roasters, so you get to try something new every month!
My favourite cafe:
Columbus Coffee Co. is my go-to café. Not only do they have an aesthetically pleasing interior (think industrial decor, wooden furniture and greenery - perfect for your Instagram), their food is exceptional and portions are generous. My top recommendations are their Summer Chicken Stew, Mushroom Bacon Carbonara, and Butterscotch Banana Pancake. Yum!!! P.S: It can get very crowded on weekends so make a reservation, or simply come on a weekday!
A beautiful place outdoors to visit:
I’m sure you would have come across pictures of Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay. Let me promise you that it TRULY lives up to the hype. You can find refuge from the heat in two giant conservatories – Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – which have a 20-meter high canopy bridge, one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls and beautiful flowers that change with the seasons. My personal favourite is the majestic forest of Supertrees. They tower above you up to 50-meters tall and each tree is cloaked with over 200 plant species. If you stay till night-time, you also get to see the trees light up into a brilliant Garden Rhapsody light show (19:45 - 20:45 daily for FREE).
My favourite clothing store:
I love Our Second Nature - a homegrown brand that makes comfortable, everyday wear. While it stands on the slightly pricier side, you really get what you pay for. Their collections feature staple clothing that suit every occasion and they also have more sophisticated and unique pieces that inject a little more fun in your day-to-day. They also have collections for the little ones - perfect for mother-daughter twinning! I’d recommend visiting their flagship store at Holland Village which has the largest variety as well as an in-store cafe!
Best place for fine dining:
I am more of a hawker centre kind of girl. However, a nice place to celebrate special occasions is Lavo - situated on the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands. My family and I went there last year for Christmas and we had a delightful time! We got to enjoy a stunning view of Singapore and enjoy huge portions which were great for sharing.
My favourite family-friendly activity:
Museums are always good! Two of my favourites are the National Gallery and the ArtScience Museum. The National Gallery houses the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art and is great for learning more about Singapore’s rich culture and heritage.
If you’re looking for a more light-hearted, child-friendly option, the ArtScience Museum is the place to be! Built into a unique lotus-inspired structure, their exhibitions are usually very interactive, combining art and science to highlight pertinent issues.
A hidden treasure (underground spot)
Something lesser-known to tourists is Coney Island – a stark contrast to the typical city life Singapore has to offer. Everything on the island has been deliberately kept rustic, with many natural elements being preserved to stay ecologically sustainable. You can rent a bicycle at Punggol Settlement and bike in! Keep a lookout for the secret beaches, bird-watching huts, monkeys and other wildlife. To make the most of your time, I’d set aside at least half a day to explore the island.
A local organisation I want to highlight
I personally believe in the work that HealthServe does. They’re a local organisation that serves thousands of migrant workers in Singapore, supporting them in their physical, mental and even administrative struggles. They provide health services and legal support for workers, such as employment-related issues like work-based injuries, and there are also social assistance programs (free meals, emergency shelter and funding) for any who are stranded and unable to work due to injury.
As these workers are usually far from their families and carry out intense physical work with little to no rest, their time here can be a very stressful period and that’s where HealthServe comes in. They are impacting the lives of migrant workers in a great way, and I recommend joining them as a volunteer for special projects or even ad-hoc work.
Local food
A Singapore travel guide does not feel complete until the hawker centre culture we have is highlighted! You definitely have to dive into the variety of our local food - visit Newton Food Centre or Bedok 85 Market to have Sambal Stingray, Oyster Omelette, Butter Calamari, Bak Chor Mee (Minced Meat Noodle), Carrot Cake (not the dessert!), Satay and more!
Kingdomcity in Singapore
If you happen to be here over the weekend, I would love for you to join us at Kingdomcity Singapore! We are a great church that runs two services - 9AM & 11AM at the Capitol Theatre (17 Stamford Road Singapore 178884) which is also a historic landmark. I have been a part of this church family since 2015 and it is a privilege to be under the leadership of the best pastors around - Pastor Andrew and Juni Leong. They have gone to lengths to make Kingdomcity feel like home since the very first service I attended, and being a part of this community has truly propelled and empowered me in my God-journey.