The Capitol Kempinski is a hotel we’d book again, Jigger & Pony deserves a full evening, and Joo Chiat is worth exploring beyond its colourful shophouses. Those were the highlights of our Singapore stay.
Darren and I arrived at the end of a longer trip through Asia. By then, a comfortable room and somewhere good to spend an evening mattered more than fitting another attraction into the day.
Singapore delivered both. Here’s where we’d put our time and money again.
Stay at the Capitol Kempinski
The Capitol Kempinski gave us exactly what we wanted between outings: a comfortable room, somewhere to sit, and service that made the stay feel easy.
Our room had an enclosed balcony facing the street. Being able to sit away from the bed and watch what was happening outside made it a space we used. After weeks of travelling, that mattered.
The staff were attentive without hovering. Breakfast, room service, the gym, and the pool all contributed to a stay that exceeded our expectations.
We’d book it again. Check the room category if the balcony appeals to you—it was a feature of our room, not something to assume comes with every booking.
Give Joo Chiat an afternoon
Koon Seng Road’s shophouses were worth seeing, but the walk around Joo Chiat was just as rewarding. We browsed shops, followed side streets, and found some unexpectedly good dog stores.
Big Short Coffee was a highlight. Drinks were prepared carefully, one at a time, and watching the process became part of the experience. The tea options were interesting too.
Give yourself time to sit. This was a better stop for a proper break than a takeaway squeezed between appointments.
The same advice applies to the neighbourhood: take the photographs, then keep exploring.
Go to Barrel hungry
We went to Barrel, A Story of Hibiki for Japanese whisky. The food was the surprise.
Chicken rice, wagyu yaki udon, karaage, and grilled oysters kept us ordering until the portions caught up with us. It’s somewhere we’d choose for a proper dinner as well as a whisky evening.
The servers talked us through the flights with knowledge and enthusiasm, making it easy to ask questions. We added Chita separately and enjoyed taking our time over the drinks.
Afterwards, we walked and found Offtrack. The intimate room, music, cocktails, and sourdough roti persuaded us to stay longer than planned.
Our usual rule is one drink each, then decide. Offtrack earned another.
Give Jigger & Pony its own evening
Jigger & Pony would be our first choice for a full night at a bar.
We asked for drinks that felt Singaporean and let the bartenders interpret that. The cocktails were interesting, and the conversations about flavour and how the menu had developed made them more enjoyable.
The attention from the team was the difference. We felt welcome to ask questions, take our time, and enjoy the evening. Before we left, one bartender had given us a list of places to eat and neighbourhoods to explore.
That combination of drinks and hospitality is what we’d return for.
Long Bar at Raffles was another success. It’s a famous tourist stop, and we enjoyed it: a Singapore Sling, peanut shells on the floor, and warm, attentive service. It was fun, which is a perfectly good reason to go.
Atlas was more memorable for the room. The interior was spectacular, but during our visit the service was slow and the cocktails didn’t make the same impression. We’d go for the setting and a drink, then give the longer evening to Jigger & Pony.
What we’d change next time
We’d make more room for hawker food and fewer competing evening plans.
We returned to Food Republic at VivoCity partly because we’d eaten there on an earlier trip. It was a meaningful stop for us, but next time we want to spend more time exploring food places we haven’t already visited.
We’d also leave space around the bars we book. The best evenings were the ones where we could stay because we were enjoying ourselves.
Jewel at Changi was worth making time for before departure. Build it into the day properly; the Rain Vortex deserves more than a hurried look on the way to a flight.
Before you go
Practical information checked 19 September 2026.
Complete the arrival formalities. Travellers entering Singapore generally need the free SG Arrival Card within the three-day window that includes arrival day. Exemptions apply, including transit without immigration clearance. The arrival card is not a visa. Singapore ICA guidance
Check the waterfall hours. The Rain Vortex currently lists daily operation from 10am to 10pm, with separate evening show times. Official Rain Vortex information
Book the details you care about. Confirm hotel room features, bar reservations, dress requirements, and current menus directly. Leave enough time between bookings to enjoy the places you’ve chosen.