ION Sky

Located on the 55th and 56th floors of the ION Orchard shopping mall, this observation deck offers panoramic views of the city from 218 metres up and even boasts a bar-restaurant.

Singapore Flyer

A 30 minute ride on one of the 28 capsules of this 165 meter observation wheel promises one of the best views of the city. The flyer terminal building also houses quality wining and dining outlets.

Sands Skypark

Sitting atop Marina Bay Sands, this massive observation deck stands at 200 metres above ground, offering unrivalled views of Singapore. It also features a stunning 150-metre Infinity Pool and quality dining establishments like chic rooftop bar KU DE TA.

Tiger Sky Tower

One of Sentosa’s most prominent attractions, the 130-metre tower offers panoramic views of the city and Singapore’s southern islands.

1-Altitude

Rising above all other rooftop bars, 1-Altitude’s open air Gallery & Bar is the highest rooftop bar in the world at 282 metres above street level, granting unobstructed 360-degree views of the Singapore skyline and beyond.

Mount Faber Park

Situated at one end of the Southern Ridges, Mount Faber Park features a lush 10-kilometer walking trail, as well as stunning views of the downtown skyline and Singapore Straits.

Singapore Cable Car

The Singapore Cable Car connects Sentosa Island with Mount Faber’s lifestyle hub The Jewel Box and the chic Faber Bistro. Other than wining and dining with a gorgeous view of the city, this is where you can explore the rest of the island through the newly launched Bejewelled Tours. This series of programs includes Jewel Flight, the world’s first seven-star VIP cabin studded with Swarovski crystals and outfitted with black leather seats.

Champagne Brut Tradition Yveline Prat

Tasting notes: A zesty, creamy Champagne made with roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, with ripe apples, fruit pulp and honey nougat on the palate and floral and herbal notes rounding things off.
Best deal: French bistro Ô Batignolles carries this at $55/bottle or $10/glass. On Wednesday nights, ladies in groups of four get a bottle for free.

Drappier Carte D’Or Brut

Tasting notes: Made with an unusually high three-quarters Pinot Noir with a bit of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, using only delicate first-press juice. Expect ripe stone fruits like peaches and apricots to engulf your palate.
Best deal: The wine lovers’ favorite, Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro sells this bottle at $60 a pop.

G.H. Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge

Tasting notes: 45% Pinot Noir grapes and roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Mixing in reserved wine from previous years also gives it a mellow complexity. An aroma of peaches and apricots blends in with notes of lychee and pineapple, ending with yeast and caramel.
Best deal: The Pump Room sells two bottles $150. That’s only $75 per bottle.

Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut N.V.

Tasting notes: From the makers of the world’s first (allegedly) brut, this bubbly is 40% Pinot Noir and 40% Pinot Meunier, with a scant 20% Chardonnay. Cherry plum, lemon and bergamot give way tovanilla and butter. There are even hints of honeysuckle and butter, reminiscent of French pastries.
Best deal: Although their deal isn’t by the bottle, The Black Swan has daily oyster happy hours between 5-7:30pm where two freshly-shucked oysters and a glass of this elixir go for $21. We did the math and drinking it by the glass is actually cheaper than the $150 bottle.

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label

Tasting notes: Bubbly lovers must know this name being the most famed Champagne house on this list. This brut has 50% Pinot Noir grapes that give it a vibrant and acidic taste with hints of blackberry. There are also hints of biscuit, honey, lemon  and cherry. It has unmistakable vanilla and cream notes enhanced by finely carbonated bubbles.
Best deal: PS. Cafe at Ann Siang Hill: binge on truffles every Thursday with a bottle at $88.

Manila is not for the faint of heart. It’s chaotic and disorganized, but it’s also full of hidden gems, delicious food and great live music. Over the past few years, it’s seen an explosion of hip restaurants, bars and contemporary live music venues that, against the city’s historical buildings and traditional businesses, offer a uniquely charming experience. On this trip, we focus on Pasay, which houses a large part of Manila’s tourist favorites, and Makati, a burgeoning commercial district known for its hip bars and restaurants. Here’s how to do it:

Day One

8am: When in Manila, do as everyone else does—take a photo of the Rizal Monument at Rizal Park, otherwise known as Luneta Park (Roxas Blvd.). National hero Dr. José Rizal was executed on these very grounds, and the monument actually enshrines his remains. Head there on a weekday morning if you’re looking for some peace and quiet—it’s a hotspot on weekends.   

9am Walk to Intramuros, the oldest historic district in Manila, known as the Walled City because of the imposing stone walls constructed by Spanish colonialists in the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasion (oh, the irony).  Don’t miss the San Agustin Church, a UNESCO heritage site that boasts intricate baroque architecture. Do skip the exorbitant horse-drawn carriage tours—you’ll fare better walking around on your own instead. See if you can get yourself signed up for Walk This Way, a series of walking tours by Carlos Celdran. The artist/activist is something of a cultural icon and his commentary is saturated with irreverent humor. See our interview with him here. 

1pm Now that you’ve gotten self-education out of the way, it’s time for more shallow pursuits. Wile away your afternoon at SM Mall of Asia, supposedly the tenth largest shopping mall in the world. You’ll find high-street labels like Mango, Warehouse and Zara here, as well as a host of other smaller boutiques. Grab lunch at one of the 360 F&B establishments. For dessert, try Razon’s of Guagua—the fast food chain serves up a mean halo-halo, a Filipino dessert that’s reminiscent of chendol, with shaved ice, evaporated milk, boiled sweet beans, jelly and fruit, for PHP100 ($2.86).

6:30pm Time to head to the nearby Dampa, a popular agglomeration of wet market stalls and restaurants. Here, you can select fresh seafood from the stalls before taking your purchases to the nearby restaurants to be cooked up to your liking. We liked the lobsters grilled with garlic butter and the battered calamari. Good prices, too—PHP380 or $10.88 upwards for a kilo of shrimp. The place is mobbed at night, so arrive slightly before 7pm to snag a table.

8:30pm Head to the popular Rocket Room for drinks. Order one of their fun cocktails like A Girl With Violet Eyes (PHP225; $6.45), an interesting concoction of mixed berries, honey, apple rum, lychee and mint. The place does weekly DJ parties from Thursdays to Saturdays.

Alternatively, if you're looking for something even more relaxing, you can wind down with a spa treatment—if you’re not too stuffed from dinner, that is. The upscale Le Spa is reputedly one of the best sanctuaries in the city, yet a treatment there won’t burn a hole in your pocket—a 60-minute “Filipino Pride” massage costs just PHP3,000 ($86.15). If you’re looking for something even more affordable, head to similarly named beauty chain The Spa, where a 60-minute Swedish massage costs as low as PHP820 ($23.49) upwards—an unbeatable price, considering the impeccable service you receive. 

Day Two

9am Start your day with a strong cuppa from Yardstick Coffee.This third-wave coffee house is quirky, cheery and not crazily packed. We recommend the 12-hour cold brew (PHP16; $4.58), which is served in a cute glass bottle. There are also nibbles like waffles and soft-bake red velvet cookies (PHP50; $1.43 upwards).

11am Visit Ayala Museum, a small but well-curated gallery which showcases ethnographic and archaeological exhibits—we particularly liked the intricate dioramas (there are 60 of them) that narrate the country’s history. Sign up for a guided tour (PHP100, $2.86), or amble around on your own.

1pm Adjacent to the museum is the Museum Café or M Café. This pleasant hangout serves up an array of sandwiches, pizzas and pastas, as well as Asian fare like Hainanese chicken and even dim sum (PHP195; $5.58 upwards). The liquor menu is also pretty extensive, with wines, whiskeys and beers from PHP115 ($3.29) upwards. Plus, there’s free WiFi, which is indubitably a major draw for travelers. The café really comes alive at night, though, with DJs spinning live music on Thursday evenings. Alternatively, if you're hankering for some authentic Filipino fare, head to XO 46 Heritage Bistro and order dishes like herb-roasted pork belly (PHP685; $19.63) and milkfish braised in vinegar, sea salt and pepper corns (PHP365; $10.46).

3pm Hit the shops again at Greenbelt a sprawling mall where you’ll find luxury labels that you can’t get in SM Mall of Asia, like Prada and Balenciaga. Or venture further afield to Greenhills Shopping Center, a large market where clothes, electronics and even pearls can be purchased at a steal—don’t forget to bargain.

7pm El Chupacabra reputedly has some of the best street tacos in town. This buzzing little roadside joint is always packed and the tables overflow onto the street. Book ahead. The average price of each taco is just PHP80 or $2.29—the spicy chipotle shrimp version is especially tasty. Wash it all down with beer (PHP45, $1.29 per bottle).

9pm If you’re a fan of live music, SaGuijo Café + Bar is the place to be. This intimate boho hangout is a regular performance space for musicians of diverse genres, from pop and electronica to rap.

ESSENTIALS

Where to stay 

Sofitel Philippine Plaza is one of the most established in Manila, located 7km away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and with glorious vistas of Manila Bay. Furnishings are luxe—think lots of marble and mahogany—and service is stellar. Plus, in-house restaurant Spiral serves up an international buffet spread with 21 live cooking stations. Rates are from PHP6552 or $187.87 upwards for a Superior room.

Alternatively, there’s the Fairmont Makati, located just across the road from Greenbelt and within walking distance of many cool cafes. The sophisticated furnishings are all made from locally sourced materials, and their cute Writers Bar is styled like a library. A Fairmont room costs around PHP9200 or $263.80 upwards.

Getting there 

Cebu Pacific flies 25 times a week to Manila. It’s a budget carrier, so don’t expect any meals or inflight entertainment, but the cabin crew facilitates on-board games and giveaways. Plus, flights all land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3, which is by far the most pleasant terminal. Fares start from as low as $147 upwards. 

Visas

Singapore citizens do not require a visa to enter the Philippines, but citizens of most non-ASEAN nations do.

Exchange Rate

PHP34.87 = $1

Weish
Listen to: "Not a Day"

Perfect if your hear's always in the clouds, or if you're traveling solo and doing the whole Eat, Pray, Love thing. Her dreamy tunes feature quirky mixes from her ukulele and looper.

Celina Kimble
Listen to: "Illusion"

Pop's the way to go for this up-and-coming singer. Some songs are piano-driven, while others are accompanied by heavy dance beats. 

The Voodoo Sound
Listen to: "S.O.N"

LGF does a mix of English, CHinese songs; but all are generally dance-y and heavy on the electronic beats. 

Jonathan Meur
Listen to: "Strangers in Motion"

A fusion of folk, pop, rock and classical. Loads of easy-listening tracks for that slow Sunday drive. 

Read what local musicians, record labels and promoters have to say about the city's music scene.

Love them or hate them, the busy beaches and booming beach clubs of Surin and beyond are the first thing that come to mind when thinking about Phuket. But over on the remarkably unspoiled east coast, canny developers are beginning to take advantage of the breathtaking views out over the still blue waters and craggy outcrops of Phang Nga Bay (it’s not for nothing that the island’s top marinas are all on this side of the island) with some world-class resorts and now a handful of serious dining destinations. And with the military-imposed curfew having been lifted, now’s a great time to get up there.

Among the most spectacular new spots is the development at Cape Yamu, a sliver of island halfway up the coast. Much of the property is given over to private villas, but it’s also now home to two of the best restaurants on the island.

Nahmyaa, at the still-in-soft-opening Point Yamu by COMO, focuses on spicy Southern Thai cooking and street food. It’s a casual space right by the poolside, enlivened with bright orange colors and a playful sea-inspired theme (fishscale walls, fish-shaped bowls, hanging lights like fish-eyes), though the cooking, under Executive Chef Dan Moran, previously of The Metropolitan, is seriously good and reassuringly spicy. (Moran tells us he’s inspired by the depth of flavor of southern Thai cooking, citing gkaeng dtai bplah as an example. “It’s this incendiary fish innards curry that’s freaky on your first encounter, but it grows on you!”)  Among the highlights of our visit: spiced oxtail Wagyu soup, coconut smoked duck (both THB300; $11.50), a dark southern curry with black kingfish (THB600; $23); a massaman lamb curry with sweet potato and cucumber (THB800; $31); and a humble but pretty wonderful stir-fried spinach in coconut milk (THB400; $15.40). There’s a strong signature cocktail list, too, with creations like The Fighting Duck (plum jam, ginger and hoisin, shaken with ruby port and reposado (barrel-aged) tequila, served over ice with cherry wood smoke) nicely judged to accompany the meal.

Nearby Breeze is part of the same development, though unconnected to the hotel. Launched in 2012, this open-on-all-sides spot is still a relative newcomer, though their Sunday sharing brunches by the pool (12:30-4pm, THB1,650 ($63) or THB2,800 ($108) with freeflow drinks) have built up a deserved reputation on the island. But it’s what goes on in the kitchen that’s really interesting. Alongside a number of locals, many of the kitchen staff are here, effectively on stage, from Montreal’s acclaimed Toqué! restaurant. It’s an idea dreamed up by the latter’s former sous-chef and now Exec Chef here, Cheryl Johnson. The dinner menu changes every few days, but the focus is on fine dining, using local ingredients wherever possible. Expect dishes like duck confit with kale, baby corn, leeks, shitake and a honey glaze; and scallops with endives and radicchio flambéed with brandy, snowpeas, orange and mint (both THB750, $29). The in-house pastry chef knocks out some pretty special creations, too. You’ll need to watch out for mozzies if you’re dining there after dark, but the trade-off is widescreen views out over the water.

The east coast might be under-developed, but boat owners have been wise to its charms for years, and a short drive down the coast from Yamu, tucked away on the quieter side of one of the more upmarket marinas, is Le Winch. It’s not new, but this 40-seat spot draws a loyal crowd, at least in part due to the fantastic outdoor deck right by the waterfront and facing the lighthouse; it’s perfect for daydreaming about that yacht you’ve always wanted to own. The food tends toward Gallic classics—bacon crust asparagus, frog legs “en persillade”, pork cordon bleu—and, if it’s more solid than spectacular, that’s made up for with charmingly personal service (it’s pretty much a one-man show for chef-proprietor Vincent Meuwly). The plat du jour is a great way to sample the best of what’s on offer and the daily lunch sets are deservedly popular, too. Mains go for $20 and up.

Three other places for a good meal on the quieter side of Phuket

Suay Restaurant
A popular spot in old-world Phuket Town (not to be confused with the busier, better-known and much-less-appealing Patong), this Thai eatery, helmed by an ex-Banyan Tree chef, is set back in a garden and serves up zingy dishes like samurai chicken skewers and the frankly baffling “Mrs Piggy took sun bath” (deep fried pork jerky).

Blue Elephant

It might be a worldwide brand, but it’s hard to beat the location of this outlet: a stunning, century-old Sino-Portuguese mansion in Phuket Town. Expect classic Royal Thai food—and prices to match.

Baba Soul Food

Perched at the far southeastern tip of the island, the Sri Panwa resort is a long way from the bustle of Patong. Its restaurant is focused on Southern regional food, with nearly everything sourced from the organic Royal Projects. Get the unusual red curry with pork and pineapple ($14).

ESSENTIALS

Getting There

Jetstar, Tigerair, AirAsia and SilkAir all fly direct from Singapore to Phuket. Jetstar is the best after-work option: the flight leaves at 8:30pm, arriving at 9:20pm. Prices start from as low as $92 return, including taxes. In-flight meals ($12 for a pre-ordered main) aren’t gourmet, but we enjoyed the vegetarian Thai curry in our recent in-flight taste test.

Stay

Aside from Point Yamu, another highly-regarded newcomer on the east coast is Regent Phuket Cape Panwa, where rooms start from $180. For something more affordable, the very cool Phuket 346 in Phuket Town offers a dose of Sino-Portugese charm, an on-site art gallery (the proprietor is also behind Bangkok’s beloved WTF) and rooms from just $33.

Exchange Rate

THB26 = $1

Those who love slurping down fresh, raw oysters know this too well: a dozen (or just half) of great bivalves usually comes with a hefty price tag. That's why we've set out to find places that offer oysters at a lower price than what they usually cost. Here's where to get your oyster fix: 

Greenwood Fish Market and Bistro

Book a table at Greenwood Bistro with Chope

We know it's a bit of a trek to get to this seafood establishment at Bukit Timah, but we'll gladly travel for their dirt-cheap oysters at $1.50 on Tuesdays, available from noon to 9pm. Also ongoing through July 27 is the restaurant's Oyster Festival, with over 20 varieties sourced from all over the world including Tsarskaya ($7 per piece), Coffin Bay ($4.50 per piece), Sydney Rock ($4.50 per piece), Belon "000" ($8 per piece) and Baron Points ($7 per piece). 

Allswell Marketing

There's nowhere to sit down and slurp up at this wholesale seafood market (670 Geylang Rd., 6745- 1123, www.allswell.sg)—we'll admit we're cheating here—but who can resist getting fresh, live oysters from just $2 per piece? You can have them shucked at no extra cost, too.

Tanuki Raw

Slurp on a changing roster of Australian and Canadian molluscs at only $2—but only when you order a tipple from 5pm to 8pm daily, limited to half a dozen per drink. Classic cocktails are $11 while martinis and beers go for $10 during happy hour and—the best part—the bar uses a gentleman's pour for every drink, which means you get 45ml of alcohol instead of the usual 30ml. 

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Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House

Sourced directly from New England, Australia and New Zealand, the oyster selections here change according to the season. Get them freshly shucked at half price (U.P $45 for half a dozen, $90 for a dozen) daily from 4pm to 7pm and 10:30pm to midnight—perfect timing for a pre-dinner starter or a late night indulgence.

The Black Swan

Book a table at The Black Swan with Chope

Have American and French oysters from Katama Bay, Gillardeau, Wellfleet and Black Pearl shucked on demand and served on the half shell with Champagne mignonette at 30% off from Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7:30pm. Housepours, beers and wines by the glass are also 30% off and there's an $18 deal for a glass of Champagne plus a pair of oysters.

Seafood Paradise

Oysters are 30% off its usual price at restaurant chain Paradise Group's seafood arm on the best day of the week (TGIF, people!)—a rarity for Chinese establishments. If the outlet at Singapore Flyer seems out of the way, the same deal is available at its main branch (#01-01 Swee Hin Building, 91 Defu Lane 10, 6487-2429, www.paradisegroup.com).

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10 at Claymore

Go crazy with this season's special of six oyster varieties from France, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during 10 at Claymore's daily dinner buffet, as well as Sunday brunch (this seasonal menu is available till June 30). Of course, if you prefer, other seafood choices are on offer as well, including Boston lobster and Alaskan king crab.

Oyster Bar

Not the cheapest of the lot—but this chichi spot's great for post-work schmoozing with clients or a fancy date. Get a bottle of champers ($135 upwards) on Wednesdays for complimentary oysters (half a dozen). If you need something stiffer, go for their famed oyster shooters in Bloody Mary, Pistolla, Limoncello Balsamico and more at $8.