Singapore

Gardens by the Bay

Outdoors

★★★★★

The Supertree Grove light show at 7:45pm is free and genuinely magical. The Cloud Forest dome hides a 35-meter indoor waterfall.

Merlion Park

Attractions

★★★★★

The half-lion, half-fish icon spouting into Marina Bay. Come at blue hour when the skyline lights come up.

Maxwell Food Centre

Food

★★★★★

Home of Tian Tian chicken rice and a hundred other reasons to skip restaurants entirely. Bring cash and tissue packets to chope a seat.

Nylon Coffee Roasters

Coffee

★★★★★

A tiny standing-room roastery in an Everton Park housing block. Some of the best espresso in Southeast Asia, no seats required.

Birds of Paradise

Dessert

★★★★★

Botanical gelato — white chrysanthemum, pandan, sea salt hojicha — topped with a thyme-scented cone made to order.

Atlas

Drinks

★★★★★

An art deco lobby bar with a gin tower holding over a thousand bottles. Dress up a little; the room deserves it.

Orchard Road

Shopping

★★★★★

Two miles of malls, from Design Orchard’s local labels to the ION food basement. Air-conditioned refuge at peak afternoon heat.