The holiday hotspot with Grand Prix races, rooftop bars and £2 Michelin star meals
SINGAPORE hit the headlines last week as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz stormed to victory in the Formula 1 grand prix.
But although it may be the glamorous F1 circuit that put this Asian island city-state in the limelight of late, it is a bucket-list destination in its own right.
The place certainly has glitz — and that’s not just because I was treated to an upgrade on my Finnair flight where I took advantage of free-flowing Champagne and a proper sleep in one of the new business-class pods.
Here are five fantastic reasons to visit Singapore . . .
THE NEED FOR SPEED: While you may have missed the rush of the motor-racing, for 2023, there is another way to explore Singapore that still takes in the sights at speed.
That is a Singapore tour by Sidecar.
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It’s the first tour in the world to use vintage Vespas and I channelled my inner Mutley as I clambered into my bright-red cart, fully equipped with matching helmet and sunglasses.
My driver took off at speed, as we formed our own, excitable biker gang with the other tourists on the excursion.
There is no better feeling than the wind rushing through your hair while being driven past Singapore’s towering buildings and whizzing through the modern financial district.
Our guides were more than happy to make photostops — including at the famous graffiti artworks by Singapore’s answer to Banksy, Yip Yew Chong, who creates enormous, hand-painted murals inspired by the daily lives of Singaporeans.
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SINGAPORE SLINGS AND THINGS: I was only a few sips into my drink at the Raffles Hotel bar when a monkey-nut shell hit me on the back of the head — it turns out this place bizarrely encourages punters to lob shells of the complimentary nuts on to the floor, and this person’s over-the-shoulder throw had caught me slightly off guard.
But it’s hard to get mad when you’re guzzling one of the tastiest Singapore Slings you’ve ever had.
The famous cocktail, invented in 1915, was created to allow women to drink a more “feminine” alcoholic beverage and this hotel sells as many as 1,000 a day.
But it isn’t the only great spot you’ll find in Singapore to knock back a cocktail — it’s crawling with brilliant bars, and not least among them is Jigger and Pony, voted one of the best in Asia.
The speakeasy transports you back in time with vintage booths, chilled jazz music and a bar menu designed like a magazine — with tipples ranging from light, sweet drinks to heavy, sour ones, although attentive staff were happy to create any concoction.
And less than ten minutes up the road by car is the no-less-swanky Ce La Vie.
On the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Hotel — vertigo sufferers beware — it has one of the highest rooftop pools in the world.
The cocktails are simple but come with a stunning view of the sunset over the bay, followed by an evening light show.
TREATS FOR UNDER A TENNER: After all that boozing, you’ll need to line your stomach.
The good news is, the city centre has some of the cheapest Michelin-starred meals on the planet.
At the Chinatown Complex Market is Liao Fan Hawker Chan, the world’s first Hawker stall to win the coveted star.
For £2 (yes, really) I gorged on the tastiest soy-sauce chicken noodles, smothered in a spicy sauce — so delicious that I spent 30 minutes queueing for a second helping.
Near here is the Michelin Guide-recommended Hill Street Tai Hwa — where I paid just £5 for a huge portion of juicy noodles with tender pork liver and crispy pieces of plaice on top.
And a visit to Singapore is nothing without a stop at Kek, a family-run restaurant of more than 50 years.
Popular with the locals, it’s loved for its strangely sweet Marmite-flavoured chicken and noodles.
Make sure to book, though — owner Paul tells us he serves as many as 800 tables over the weekend — and don’t forget to ask for a plastic bib when cracking into the famous chilli crab.
GARDENS IN THE CLOUDS: While it may seem that Singapore’s beauty lies in its food-and-drink scene, there is plenty more to discover.
The centre is a great place to just amble around — dubbed the City in the Garden for its luscious environment.
The most famous display of flora and fauna is at the Gardens by the Bay.
It is home to ever-changing displays at the Flower Dome — a towering indoor waterfall at The Cloud Forest — as well as the 160ft vertical gardens at Supertree Grove.
But what really makes Singapore unique is that most of its parks are found on the top of buildings.
One day, I opted for an early-morning walk on the Henderson Waves, the highest pedestrian bridge in the country, which is often busy with runners and dog walkers and a perfect spot from which to admire the sights.
GO WILD: Mandai Wildlife Reserve is a must.
Found in Singapore’s “rainforest”, it’s home to 4,200 animals including white tigers, lions, zebras and giraffes.
It’s great for children, with interactive experiences such as animal-feeding where elephants, giraffes and tortoises eat straight from your hand.
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There’s also guided tours — and the opportunity for kids to try being a zookeeper for the day.
The gardens even extend to the huge hotel resorts of the city — including the new 326-room Pullman Singapore Orchard with its greenhouse-style restaurant — or the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay resort, home to Singapore’s first “garden-in-a hotel” design concept.
GO: Singapore
GETTING THERE: Return Finnair flights from London Heathrow to Singapore via Helsinki start from £578.
Business-class flights cost from £2,595.
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STAYING THERE: Rooms at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay start from £246 per night for two adults.
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OUT & ABOUT: Singapore sidecar tours start from £109.
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