Travel Guide: Plan a Getaway in Singapore This Winter

The buzzing stalls of Maxwell Food Centre. / Photo courtesy David Berkowitz/Flickr

EAT

Flavors to Savor
As any local will proudly tell you, eating is a national pastime in Singapore. For a true taste of Lion City cuisine, head to the stalls of Maxwell Food Centre. Here, you can tuck into an endless supply of delectable plates, from the iconic Hainanese chicken rice from Tian Tian—once awarded the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand prize—to beloved Singaporean comfort foods such as hokkien mee (a savory noodle dish made with prawn and pork stocks). Thirsty? Try freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, coconut water from the shell, or a cup of teh tarik: a frothy drink made from black tea and condensed milk.

The “Maverick” armchair is a bestseller at Scene Shang. / Courtesy of Scene Shang

SEE

Divine Design
For those in search of local craftsmanship, a stroll in the historical precinct of Kampong Glam provides options galore. Pick up a memento at Scene Shang, a home-goods boutique that produces many of its items—including the shop’s colorful Ming Dynasty–inspired furniture line—in collaboration with Asian artisans. You’ll find an equally impressive display next door at Supermama, an intimate gallery filled with locally designed ceramics and other collectibles.

Al fresco seating at the Six Senses Duxton. / Photo by Seth Powers

STAY

Gold Standard
Built into a row of 19th-century shophouses in Singapore’s colorful and eclectic Chinatown district, the recently opened Six Senses Duxton boasts 49 plush guest rooms, each sustainably restored and individually decorated by Bond Girl turned design powerhouse Anouska Hempel. Bonus: If the Malay-timber fretwork, gold-forward palette, and bespoke furnishings haven’t won you over, perhaps the hotel’s emphasis on wellness (courtesy of the onsite herbal dispensary) will.

One of the hotel’s sleek duplex suites. / Photo by Seth Powers