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Luxury Singapore Travel Guide

The Shiva Designs Edit

Singapore is precision wrapped in palm trees.
Glass towers. Colonial facades. Kaya toast at sunrise. Cocktails behind hidden doors.

It’s also my second home.

I lived here for 13 years — long enough to understand its rhythm. Long enough to know where it softens, where it surprises, and where it truly shines.

Singapore shaped my eye for design and detail.
It’s polished — but never cold.
Efficient — yet layered with ritual and culture.

This isn’t just a travel guide.
It’s how I return to a city that shaped me.

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Where to Stay in Singapore

Capella Singapore

Rainforest calm, done properly.

On Sentosa, Capella feels like stepping away from the city without leaving it.

Restored colonial buildings meet sleek contemporary lines. Pools stretch toward the sea. The air feels softer here.

After years of living in Singapore’s energy, this is where I go when I want space.

My ritual: Early morning coffee on the terrace before the city wakes.

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The Standard, Singapore

Urban energy with edge.

Just off Orchard Road, The Standard delivers clean lines, sculptural interiors and confident design.

It’s social but curated. Modern but warm. The pool scene feels effortless.

Late afternoon drinks here always turn into dinner plans.

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Best Restaurants in Singapore

National Kitchen by Violet Oon

Heritage elevated.

Inside National Gallery Singapore, this is where I take visiting friends when I want them to understand Singapore properly.

The beef rendang is rich and layered.
The Gula Melaka dessert is non-negotiable.

Singaporean food — refined, but still soulful.

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PS.Cafe at Dempsey

Long lunches, always.

Colonial black-and-white houses. Lush greenery. Time stretches here.

The Green Goddess pesto pasta. The truffle fries.
Go for lunch — and don’t rush it.

This place has been part of my Singapore life for years.

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Ya Kun Kaya Toast

My breakfast ritual.

Kaya butter toast. Soft eggs. Kopi o.

Simple. Familiar. Perfect.

After 13 years, this still tastes like home.

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Best Bars in Singapore

28 HongKong Street

Where nights start.

Hidden behind an unmarked door, this is one of Asia’s best cocktail bars — and consistently ranked for a reason.

Dim lighting. Velvet tones. Effortless cool.

Order the espresso martini. Stay longer than planned.

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Le Bon Funk

Natural wine, no rules.

Natural wines. Beautiful small plates. A space that feels relaxed, slightly rebellious and completely unpretentious.

It’s the kind of place you pop into for one glass — and end up staying for dinner.

Singapore with its collar slightly undone.

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Beach Clubs in Singapore

Tanjong Beach Club

When the city needs softening.

There were weekends when this was my reset.

Daybeds. Sea breeze. Sunset music drifting across the sand.

Arrive late morning. Leave golden.

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Things to Do in Singapore

Gardens by the Bay

Even after living here for over a decade, this still feels cinematic.

Go before sunset. Watch the skyline shift. Stay for the light show.

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Singapore Botanic Gardens

Early mornings here were my quiet moments.

Walk slowly. Visit the National Orchid Garden.
Let the city fade for a while.

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Chinatown, Singapore

Lanterns above narrow streets. Restored shophouses. Incense drifting from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

I’ve always loved wandering through the wonderful markets here — browsing textiles, spices and little treasures you didn’t know you needed.

Go late afternoon. Stay as the lanterns begin to glow.

This is the layer beneath the skyline.

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Tiong Bahru

Art Deco lines. Independent cafés. Slower rhythm.

This is where I wandered when I wanted the city quieter.

Coffee. Browse. Repeat.

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Best Weekend Getaway from Singapore

Nikoi Private Island

When Singapore feels intense, this is the antidote.

Just a short journey away — and completely different energy.

Spotless beaches. Barefoot luxury. Beautiful food that somehow tastes even better by the sea.

And the best part? Amazing adventures with friends — long swims, paddle boarding, sunset dinners and stories that stretch late into the night.

Two nights here resets everything.

No rush. No noise. Just sea, sun and the right people.

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Final Word

Singapore isn’t just somewhere I recommend.

It’s somewhere that shaped me.

It taught me to appreciate precision and beauty in equal measure.
To value ritual.
To notice detail.

And that’s exactly how I return to it — every time.

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