If you find yourself up on Orchard Road and thirsty at around 5pm, then make the effort to seek out Emerald Hill. This quaint little lane is lined with shophouses dating back from 1910, which have now been refurbished and turned into – you guessed it – bars. All of these bars run pretty decent happy hours. Starting at the bottom on the right you will find the Alley Bar, which serves up pints of beer for $9.90 and house pour spirits for just $5.50 from 5pm-9pm daily.

No. 5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar – photo: ChantalBoogers/Flickr

Walk a little further and on the left you will find No.5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar which also runs various happy hour deals from 12 noon-9pm and again from 1am-3am. But our favourite deal by far here is the 1-for-1 Martini happy hour that runs from 9pm until midnight, with a whole range of funky martini flavours to choose from such as lychee, Choya and passionfruit.  There’s even complimentary peanuts to nibble on while you drink (throw the shells on the floor).

Next door is Ice Cold Beer – as its name suggests this bar specialises in beer – over 50 different types in fact, all served ice cold. Their happy hour runs from 5pm-9pm and again from 1am-3am. Different drinks are on special at different times during the evening, but a common deal is two bottles of beer for $12.00.

Boat Quay - Photo: Marianne Rogerson

Across town, Boat Quay is another Happy Hour hotspot, with all the bars trying to attract the after-work office crowd. Harry’s bar is by far one of the most popular options (their outlets across the island offer the same deal), with Crazy Hour running from 5pm-7pm, when selected pints, wine and cocktails are all on offer for just $10.00. The next door Penny Black also runs a happy hour until 8pm daily, and just a short walk along the river BQ Bar offers up $9.00 martinis until 8pm, Monday to Thursday.

Molly Malone’s on Circular Road, just behind Boat Quay, was Singapore’s first ever Irish pub. Opened in 1995, the pub was designed and built in Ireland before being shipped here to be reassembled. Located right next to the Financial District, this boozer is popular with the after-work crowd with lively Irish music sessions keeping drinkers entertained from 9pm on Wednesday to Friday. The pub also fills up during rugby and football games, when you’re guaranteed a gregarious atmosphere.

Photo: paumelia/Flickr

Two other Irish pubs to be designed and built in Ireland before being shipped to Singapore for reassembly are Muddy Murphy’s and Durty Nelly’s. At Orchard Road’s Muddy Murphy’s, all the classics – from Traditional Irish Stew and Beef and Guinness Pie to Fish n Chips and Bangers n Mash are dished up, alongside more gastronomic fare such as Spatchcock Quail with Truffle-infused Spinach and Gammon Braised in Cider. Join the crowds for live music on a Friday or Saturday night or head here on a Sunday afternoon to join locals for a Sunday Roast lunch to the sounds of a rocking live band.

Another member of same pub chain, Durty Nelly’s, is located on Raffles Boulevard, catering largely to the local office crowd. It is also a short walk from hotels such as the Marina Mandarin, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton and Pan Pacific. The pub serves up plenty of hearty Irish fare, including their signature Fish n Chips with Mushy Peas, and boasts a large selection of premium international beers on tap including Heineken, Tiger, Kilkenny, Guinness, Erdinger Weissbier, Erdinger Dunkel, Old Speckled Hen, and Strongbow Cider.

Mulligan's at Clarke Quay: Photo courtesy of Mulligan's

Relative newcomers to the Irish pub scene in Singapore is Mulligan’s. Choosing the popular nightspot Clarke Quay for their establishment, Mulligan’s offers more of the same Celtic fun. You can expect live sporting action, live Irish music, traditional Irish fare, a selection of Irish whiskey and, of course, plenty of pints of Guinness, Kilkenny and Irish Cider.

As they say in the Emerald Isle – “Slainte!”

Not so in Singapore. Here the hotels are competing vigorously to attract the clientele to their in-house bars, with promises of spectacular views, trendy DJs and enticing cocktails.

New Asia Bar, Swissôtel the Stamford. Photo courtesy of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts

The New Asia Bar presides above them all, situated on the 71st floor of the Swissôtel the Stamford. Here a selection of cocktails and glasses of cold bubbly are sipped to a background of stunning city views, while revellers party to the sounds of resident DJ Chris Smith. The last Thursday of every month sees the party ramped up as visiting celebrity DJs hit the decks. A happy hour daily from 3pm-9pm makes this hotspot a good option for sunset cocktails.

Ku De Ta. Photo courtesy of Marina Bay Sands

While the New Asia Bar used to offer unparalleled vistas across the city, newcomer Ku De Ta perched atop the roof of the Marina Bay Sands hotel has trumped the Swissotel’s offering, with 360 degree views across the city and out to sea. This current see-and-be-seen hotspot boasts an illuminated bar where the resident mixologists will whisk you up an innovative cocktail such as the Lady Be Mine – a vodka-based lychee martini infused with rose water and apple juice, or a Wassup, B? – Ku De Ta’s interpretation of a Bloody Mary, served with Grey Goose vodka and a wasabi grilled prawn. The attached nightclub sees the city’s nightowls get down to the sound of world renowned DJs and live acts until the early hours.

Lantern Bar. Photo courtesy of Fullerton Bay Hotel

Lantern Bar at the uber-stylish Fullerton Bay Hotel may not boast such a vertiginous spot but it still benefits from some of the best views of Marina Bay in town. This poolside watering hole oozes style and sophistication and with its Caribbean and Latin-inspired drinks list, you can expect plenty of daiquiris, mojitos and caipirinhas to be on offer. A live Cuban band completes the picture of tropical evenings under a starlit sky.

Ying Yang. Photo courtesy of The Club Hotel

Nearby in Chinatown, rooftop Ying Yang at the boutique Club Hotel also draws in a hip crowd, who sip their drinks with a cool evening breeze in their hair as they enjoy views over the red rooftops of Chinatown’s heritage buildings. Regulars head here for the relaxed yet upbeat pre-club vibe and its lengthy cocktail menu.

But what is it that makes it so special?

Yes there’s a whole host of shopping, dining and drinking options, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from modern international airports. Even the free internet stations spaced throughout the three terminals don’t set Changi apart from most other international airports these days.

Changi Airport Terminal 2 - photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group

But how many other airports boast an Entertainment Deck with free Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 games? Or two 24-hour movie theatres (also free of charge)? Or how about the four different children’s playgrounds that are placed throughout the airport, or The Slide@T3 – the world’s tallest slide in an airport, standing at 12 meters (or four storeys) high?

Changi Airport Movie Theatre - photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group

If you need to stretch your legs between long flights, there’s a series of gardens to explore – including a tropical butterfly garden with more than 1,000 free roaming butterflies, a 6 metre waterfall and a collection of 200 carnivorous or insectivorous plants. There’s also an orchid garden, fern garden (both featuring koi ponds), a cactus garden and a sunflower garden to wander around – the latter transforms into a light garden at night with an illuminated bamboo walkway.

Changi Airport Butterfly Garden - photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group

Or for a few hours of total relaxation, there is the Balinese-themed outdoor swimming pool complete with Jacuzzi, showers and bar, or you could choose to head to the spa for a relaxing massage or a spot of foot reflexology. And if all you want to do is sleep, then you can do that too – The Rainforest Lounge offers cubicle-style beds available in three-hour blocks, while the Transit Hotels offer rooms based on three and six hour blocks. Free ‘snooze’ chairs with leg and head rests are also available.

Changi Airport Rest Area - photo courtesy of Changi Airport Group

And last, but by no means least, if you have at least five hours to kill between flights, then you can sign up for a FREE two-hour sightseeing tour of Singapore.

Now that’s what makes Changi Airport so special!

Popular evening hangout Club Street/Ann Siang Hill has long been home to funky boutique bars that pull in the hip crowd, and is a good bet for an evening of wine drinking. There’s W Wine Bar and Beaujolais, but a personal favourite is Le Carillon d’Angelus. The tiled interior, rattan furniture and French movie posters transport you to Paris – the perfect atmosphere for tucking into a glass of red and a platter of cheese. A second outlet at Robertson Quay offers great champagne deals with a breezy outdoor riverside setting.

Photo: Dave Dugdale/Flickr

Also at Robertson Quay is budget-lovers choice Wine Connection. Wine Connection import over 500 labels, all sold at wholesale prices through their five outlets across the city. When wine lists in Singapore’s restaurants often start at around $80 or more, the reasonably priced wines by the glass and bottle here make a welcome change. Their outlet at Cuppage Terrace off Orchard Road is a good choice for post-shopping refreshments.

Further afield at expat-riddled Dempsey there are several more popular wine bars to choose from, but pick of the bunch goes to the Wine Company, where your choice of 300 wines from over 50 wineries can be sipped al-fresco among the lush greenery and to the sound of the cicadas.

Photo: courtesy of Vintry

Back in the heart of the action, Clarke Quay – usually the realm of beer-swillers and late-night partygoers – is the home to one of Singapore’s best bars for wine tasting: the Vintry with its 1,000 strong wine list. Here, four state-of-the-art Enomatic wine-serving systems, facilitate the tasting of 32 wines by the glass with a tasting portion (25ml), half glass (75ml) or full glass (150ml). The wine selection is rotated on a regular basis so you can keep coming back for more!

Chocolate usually comes pretty high up on the list for dessert lovers, and the place to head for all things chocolate in Singapore is Max Brenner Chocolate Bar. Chocoholics come here for the all things chocolate-y, including Chocolate-smothered waffles, Molten Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Souffle and their famous Hug Mug of thick luxurious hot chocolate. There are two Max Brenner Chocolate Bars to sniff out – at Esplanade Mall and Vivocity shopping mall.

Photo: SweetOnVeg/Flickr

If you prefer your desserts to be more sophisticated, then Laurent Bernard’s Chocolatier at Robertson Quay is the place to head – here you can tuck into exquisite cakes and desserts created by the innovative Frenchman using French ingredients. Before you leave, be sure to order up a box of his famous chocolates to go. Just a stone’s throw away is the Robertson Quay outlet of Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie, also dedicated to dessert devotees and famous for its cakes and macaroons. Other branches can be found at Paragon Shopping Centre, Raffles City Shopping Centre and the Shaw Centre.

A bit further afield, 1-Caramel at Rochester is a patisserie, café and dessert boutique situated within the restaurant group’s One Rochester complex. Seating just 16 diners, entrance is via the pastry kitchen and all diners have a view of the chefs in action. Desserts, soufflés and mini cakes are washed down with a wide selection of specialty coffees, teas and hot chocolates. By all accounts, the 1-Caramel Assiette is the dish to order – a platter of petite-sized desserts for sharing.

1. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
There are plenty of national parks to explore in Singapore, but even they can become overrun with joggers, hikers and cyclists at weekends. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a quieter option, its boardwalks perfect for some quiet bird watching and escapism. If you’re lucky you may spot a crocodile too.

2. The Southern Ridges walk
Whilst still within the urban landscape of Singapore, the Southern Ridges Walk provides a series of short walks winding through the rainforest – perfect for escaping from the high rises and traffic for a few contemplative hours.

Photo: Southern Ridges Walk: Marianne Rogerson

3. Reflections at Bukit Chandu
This often overlooked war museum can be visited along the Southern Ridges Walk (otherwise take a taxi, it’s a steep walk up the hill!). Reflections at Bukit Chandu commemorates the bravery of the Malay Regiment – just 1,400 soldiers who tried to defend Singapore against a 13,000 strong Japanese army during the Defence of Singapore. The audio-visual and multi-media presentations are based on actual war diaries, making for a moving exhibition.

4. Memories at Old Ford Factory  
Another overlooked war museum – Memories at Old Ford Factory is located at the very site of the British surrender to the Japanese during World War II. The exhibition captures the memories of the hardships experienced by the Singaporean population while celebrating the bravery and entrepreneurship displayed by the survivors. It’s a similar exhibition to the Changi Museum, but you’ll probably be the only visitor.

5. Chek Jawa Wetlands
Pulau Ubin is just a 10 minute boat ride from Changi and gives you the opportunity to step back in time and discover what Singapore was like fifty years ago, before the construction companies moved in. Hire a bike on arrival and head to the Chek Jawa Wetlands – one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems where you can explore the mangroves and coast via boardwalks.

Photo: Chek Jawa Wetlands: Marianne Rogerson

6. Kusu Island
Even further afield is Kusu Island, where there are shrines and a temple, swimming lagoons and sandy beaches to explore. Singapore Island Cruises provide several ferries a day and if you head here during the week you will likely have the whole place to yourself.

7. Chinese Garden
Most visitors looking to enjoy a walk in the park head to the Botanic Gardens. Head further out of town however and you will be rewarded with the beautifully presented Chinese Garden. Modelled on the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping, you’ll come across rainbow bridges, arch buildings, and pagodas. Don’t miss the fabulous Bonsai garden.

Photo: Chinese Garden: Marianne Rogerson

8. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is immensely popular with visitors to Singapore, but if you prefer your temple visit to be more serene, head out to the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, a sprawling complex of temples and meditation halls.

9. Labrador Park
Labrador Nature Reserve is one of the least visited national parks of Singapore and yet hides a host of hidden treasures. In amongst the tropical rainforest you’ll find the ruins of Fort Pasir Panjang, built in 1878, and revitalised during World War II. There’s even a hidden Casemate (war bunker) and secret tunnels to explore. Take a guided tour of the tunnels or follow the History Trail – a series of storyboards that winds past the imposing 6 inch guns and offers sweeping clifftop views out to sea.

Photo: Haw Par Villa: Marianne Rogerson

10. Haw Par Villa
This strange and surreal statue garden in the West of Singapore is filled with hundreds of multi-coloured statues and tableaux depicting Chinese myths and legends. The highlight of Haw Par Villa is undoubtedly the 10 Courts of Hell, depicting scenes of bloodthirsty torture…

Photo courtesy of Marina Bay Sands

Photo courtesy of Piedra Negra

Open Door Policy
The lastest offering in the up and coming Tiong Bahru area of Singapore is Open Door Policy. This long narrow open-plan restaurant with its show kitchen is creating a buzz in the city for its rustic bistro fare and industrial-chic setting. The menu was created by the Tippling Club’s Ryan Clift, famous for his innovative molecular gastronomy cuisine. At Open Door Policy, test tubes and foam have given way to a simple menu of modern bistro fare with a rustic twist, including hearty offerings Confit Duck Leg with puy lentils, sage and smoked bacon, and Pork Belly with parsnip puree, braised quinoa and celery. The short wine list focuses on boutique wines from around the world, many exclusive to ODP, while the bar offers a list of classic cocktails and specialty coffees.

Photo courtesy of Open Door Policy

Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant
2011 was the year of the tapas bar in Singapore, and one of the best newcomers is Sabio in the newly regenerated Duxton Hill enclave. This beautiful monochrome-tiled restaurant adorned with Spanish art features a 14 metre long counter with bar stools ideal for a casual evening of red wine and tapas. The constantly changing menu features fresh seasonal ingredients flown in directly from Spain, including premium jamon iberico bellota, pimientos, olives and salted bacalao. Traditional favourites such as Tortilla Espanola con chorizo, Gambas Pil-Pil and Patatas Bravas are all featured on the menu, with a few more novel treats such as Vieras en Salsa de Cava (sea scallops in sparkling white wine sauce) thrown in.

Photo courtesy of Sabio

Wild Honey at Scotts
Finding a good quality all-day western breakfast in Singapore can be something of a challenge. Wild Honey changed all that when they opened their first restaurant in the Mandarin Gallery in 2010 and on the back of its success, they have recently opened a second outlet in the new Scotts Square off Orchard Road. Here, a bright, spacious and airy atmosphere welcomes diners, while like its sister restaurant, the menu features breakfast favourites from around the world, from Tunisia to Mexico, from New York to California.

Photo courtesy of Wild Honey

Hawker Centre: Photo Marianne Rogerson

Little India is a hotbed of cheap restaurants to suit the most budget-conscious of travellers. Komala Vilas on Buffalo Road is hugely popular with the local Indian community for their inexpensive vegetarian fare, and Jaggi’s on Race Course Road dishes up authentic Northern Indian cuisine. The hawker center within the Tekka Market is another cheap option.

A dim sum lunch can be a surprisingly affordable lunch option, even at the city’s most expensive Chinese restaurants. With dishes starting at around $3.00 and free-flow tea at around $1.00, a dim sum lunch will usually cost less than $20.00 per person.

Little India is the obvious choice if a hot curry is on your mind. Race Course Road and Serangoon Road are lined with eating options, as are all the side streets in between. If you’re feeling brave then opt for Singapore’s favourite curry dish – Fish Head Curry. Muthu’s Curry on Race Course Road is the self-proclaimed pioneer of fish head curry and is popular among locals and tourists alike, as is the nearby Banana Leaf Apolo where plates have been swapped for banana leaves onto which the curry is sploshed. Other hits include Komala Vilas, famed for its cheap vegetarian dishes and Khansama on Serangoon Road. Foodies should also be sure to check out the Tekka Market for a glimpse into how the locals shop for their fresh fruit, veg, fish, meat and spices.

Curry in Little India: Photo Marianne Rogerson

Chinatown is another food-focussed area. One of the city’s biggest hawker centres is here – the Maxwell Road Food Centre. You will find over 100 stalls dishing up all the local favourites, including the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice and Zhen Zhen Porridge. Just a short walk away, Smith Street transforms itself in the evenings into an outdoor food market. Traffic is redirected away, food stalls open up for business and the crowds gather to tuck into a selection of street food under the swaying red lanterns.

Also on Smith Street is Da Dong restaurant, something of an institution in Singapore that has been dishing up tasty Cantonese fare such as dim sum and Peking duck since 1928. Other options for dim sum include Yum Cha, Dim Joy and Red Star. It’s not even all about Chinese food – Club Street has an array of cozy restaurants and wine bars serving all manner of cuisine including Vietnamese, Spanish and Italian, as does nearby Keong Saik Road.

Smith Street, Chinatown: Photo Marianne Rogerson

If you’re willing to travel a bit further out of the city centre for the cause, then dedicated foodies should not miss Geylang and Katong. The former is the red light district area of Singapore but is paradoxically also famous for fabulous local food, with more 24 hour food places than anywhere else in Singapore. Anthony Bourdain even named the famous Sin Huat Eating House here as one of “13 places to eat before you die”. If you don’t fancy braving late night in a red light district, then head out to Sims Avenue (between Geylang Lorongs 11 and 19) during the day from around March to August to indulge in the King of Fruits – the infamously smelly Durian – a must-try for all visitors to Southeast Asia.

Durian Stall, Geylang: Photo Marianne Rogerson

Katong is a far more family-friendly area. Traditionally associated with the Peranakan community it is also home to the famous Katong Laksa.  The Laksa shops on the corner of East Coast Road and Ceylon Road are where to head to if you’re keen to tuck into a bowl of this sweet/spicy soup. Continuing along East Coast Road you will come along many shops and bakeries selling Peranakan snacks such as nonya kueh (cakes and sweets) amongst the traditional shophouses.