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This art-focused cocktail bar is one of the latest additions to the buzzy Keong Saik neighbourhood. Fashionably moody and furnished with repurposed Singaporean shipping pallets, the space is a hotspot for drinks inspired by global flavours, such as Seoul Searcher, which puts a Korean twist on the classic margarita withgochujang(a savoury-sweet red chilli paste popular in Korean cooking).
The food is also well-executed – the deceptively simple sourdough with black garlic and black salt is irresistible, and the grilled half-chicken with agave, papaya and peanut is a must-order.
It’s often said that theatre holds a mirror up to society, and indeed there are few better ways to get acquainted with a city than through a good local production. From decades-old establishments to the newer kids on the block, there are many wonderful companies that tell the stories of Singapore – here are some of them.
1. Wild Rice
Fun, stylish performances that pack a punch
Known for tackling pressing social issues with a sharp wit and a generous dollop of humour, Wild Rice has been building a distinctly local stage presence since artistic director Ivan Heng founded the company in 2000. Its annual season generally comprises a mix of original works and adaptations of classics with a twist.
“Our works celebrate the rich tapestry of Singaporean culture and diversity through presenting the best of local theatre, and in so doing, give audiences a sense of community, pride and belonging,” says Heng.
A scene from Wild Rice’s 2022 sold-out run of Tartuffe: The Imposter. Photo: Wild Rice
In 2024, for instance, it will be bringing back local playwright Joel Tan’s adaptation of Molière’s darkly hilarious satire, Tartuffe: The Imposter, after a sold-out run in 2022. Wild Rice also traditionally ends the year with a family-friendly pantomime, featuring a cast of adorable young actors from the company’s training arms.
Catch these shows at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre – located at the trendy Funan Mall, it’s the only thrust stage in Singapore and offers an intimate experience.
Heartwarming and heart-wrenching in equal measures, Pangdemonium’s shows tend to confront difficult topics about what it means to be human. Over the years, artistic directors Adrian and Tracy Pang have gotten local audiences talking about traditionally taboo themes such as mental health, addiction and dysfunctional families, often through globally acclaimed works.
“Theatre has to put us all under a microscope to be examined and deconstructed so that we can better understand ourselves, and also be a mirror to reflect the very best and worst of humanity and challenge ourselves to change for the better,” says Adrian.
A scene from Pangdemonium’s 2019 showing of Urinetown. Photo: Pangdemonium
The company’s 2024 productions include Falling, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Dear Evan Hansen. They will be staged at three different venues – Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Kewalram Chanrai (KC) Arts Centre and Victoria Theatre respectively.
While the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) has produced some notable original works since its inception in 1993, it is best known for bringing renowned plays like God of Carnage and ART, and high-profile global talents like Sir Ian McKellen, Ethan Hawke and Lea Salonga to Singapore’s shores.
“SRT just celebrated 30 years of bringing the magic of theatre to over 100,000 people annually,” says artistic director Gaurav Kripalani. “Theatre, in my perspective, occupies a distinctive role in Singaporean society. Beyond serving as a mirror of our lives, it uniquely provides a profound communal experience.”
A scene from SRT’s 2023 run of 2:22 A Ghost Story. Photo: Singapore Repertory Theatre
Most performances take place at KC Arts Centre, its long-time home at tranquil Robertson Quay. In 2024, the company will stage a triple-bill of one-person plays, each highlighting how humans can thrive in the face of adversity.
With a history dating back to 1965 – the year of Singapore’s independence – The Theatre Practice is the oldest bilingual theatre institution in town. Co-founded by Cultural Medallion recipients the late Kuo Pao Kun and his wife Goh Lay Kuan, it’s now helmed by their daughter Kuo Jian Hong.
“One of the key concepts that Practice champions through our works is how essential play is,” shares Kuo. “Beyond providing much-needed joy and pleasure through the magic of the arts and collective expression, theatre (and play) has the power to challenge long-held assumptions, to open up critical conversations and inspire possibilities.”
A scene from The Theatre Practice’s 2023 showing of Four Horse Road. Photo: Tan Ngiap Heng / The Pond Photography
Over the years, it has built a repertoire comprising original Chinese musicals like Lao Jiu: The Musical and immersive experiences such as the acclaimed Four Horse Road.
The company continues to push the boundaries of artistic engagement through projects like Practice Tuckshop, an arts space and cafe within The Theatre Practice’s home in the heritage Bras Basah district. There, they host lunch parties and workshops, providing different ways for audiences to participate in the arts.
What began as a division that focused on Chinese hand puppets at The Theatre Practice in 1996 blossomed into something much bolder. The Finger Players became an independent company in 1999, to create works that were initially intended for children.
A seismic shift in its artistic direction took place in 2004, when the company started staging productions for adults as well – all while melding various styles of puppetry with other artistic forms. Since then, The Finger Players has gone through several iterations under various leadership.
A scene from The Finger Players’ 2023 production of The Puppets Are Alright. Photo: Benson Lim
It’s now led by artistic director Oliver Chong, who carries on the mission “to bring puppetry to the masses, ensuring accessibility without compromising on depth, steering clear of mere cheap and bent-double entertainment.”
At the heart of Drama Box’s mission is a desire to engage in civic dialogue not just with arts lovers, but also those who might not usually set foot inside theatres. They’re thus known for bringing their performances out into the streets and suburbs, with their movable, inflatable stage.
“By shining a spotlight on marginalised narratives and making space for the communal contemplation of complex issues, we seek to tell stories that provoke a deeper understanding of Singapore’s culture, history and identity,” says artistic director Kok Heng Leun. Themes found in past shows include land planning in a small country, and how to prepare loved ones for death.
A scene from Drama Box’s 2023 production of When cloud catches colours. Photo: Drama Box
Drama Box also has a long history of practising forum theatre, where audience members have the power to stop and influence the events the actors are enacting. As you can imagine, they make for some truly engaging experiences.
Teater Ekamatra has deep roots in the Malay theatre scene. Over the last 35 years, it has presented works that centre ethnic minority voices as in their exploration of universal themes such as love, grief and identity.
“In a country where many conversations are seemingly too difficult to navigate, theatre is a powerful medium to not only have that conversation but also eke out space for imagining and futuring life differently,” says artistic director Shaza Ishak. “We do this to continue pushing for more voices to be included in the national and international narrative.”
A scene from Teater Ekamatra’s 2023 showing of Potong. Photo: A. Syadiq
As part of these efforts, Ekamatra provides a platform for aspiring playwrights to learn from industry veterans, and thus acts as an important incubator for experimental new works.
Founded in 1987, The Necessary Stage has presented over 100 plays that often spotlight marginalised, oppressed, or overlooked members of society. It’s helmed by Cultural Medallion recipients, director Alvin Tan and playwright Haresh Sharma, and the plays tend to feel intimate and deeply personal.
“Our philosophy is to create works that explore the relationships between tradition with modernity, with a degree of self-awareness that potentially inspires us to become better versions of ourselves,” says Tan.
A sneak peek of The Necessary Stage’s upcoming production, Oo-woo. Photo: The Necessary Stage
On top of its main season, The Necessary Stage is also behind the annual M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, with the next one happening from 17–28 January 2024 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio and other locations.
Audiences at Checkpoint Theatre’s shows can expect to get drawn into a series of tender relationship dramas in beautiful and poignant ways. Some of its most celebrated original works explore the love between – and challenges faced by – friends, lovers, parents and their children.
“Theatre brings people together. It reflects our human experiences – our innermost hopes, fears and dreams – and fosters a sense of empathy and understanding,” shares associate artistic director and playwright Faith Ng. “These stories become an integral part of our cultural fabric.”
A scene from Checkpoint Theatre’s 2023 production Session Zero. Photo: Checkpoint Theatre
Its 2024 season sees the launch of three new pieces, including Secondary: The Musical written and composed by local musician weish, Playing with Fire by Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips and Hard Mode by Ng.
As one of the first companies in Singapore to experiment with the theatrical dining format, Andsoforth builds fantastical worlds that invite visitors to leave reality behind – all while enjoying a specially curated menu to fit the theme.
“Andsoforth’s philosophy centres on ‘fun dining’, a unique fusion of gastronomic innovation and interactive engagement,” says co-founder Emily Png. “We are dedicated to weaving compelling narratives, ensuring each dining adventure is not just a meal, but a captivating, fun-filled journey that resonates with a wide audience.”
A scene in Andsoforth’s Adventures in Grimmsneyland also takes place in a ball pit. Photo: Andsoforth
Past productions include The Imaginarium of Disco David, where one segment took place within a ball pit, and Around the World in 80 Days, which brought guests on a whirlwind tour involving dining in a train carriage. While the next adventure has yet to be announced, its immersive dining experience featuring a six-course omakase menu, Absurdities, is ongoing at a secret location that’s revealed to participants 24 hours before its commencement.
Located along the banks of the Huangpu River, close to theNew Bund International Business District, this urban oasis offers a unique blend of traditional hospitality and contemporary elegance. Apart from its state-of-the-art business facilities, the hotel also boasts a wide range of dining establishments, including the opulent Shangri-La Jiangnan Wok, which serves up a modernspin on traditional Huiayang cuisine. Weary travellers will also benefit from the slew of wellness services available at the Spa at Shangri-La Qiantan.
Long before the packed restaurants, awards and the prestigious speaker invitations, there were two humble dinner tables. At one, located within the beating heart of São Paulo, sat Ivan Brehm, whose young mind was grappling with his multiethnic background while eating his family’s Syrian, Lebanese, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish dishes.
At another, nestled in leafy Westchester Country, New York, Selassie Atadika and her family tried to stay connected with their African roots while laying down new ones as a first-generation immigrant family.
And even though their stories unfolded a few years and almost 8,000 km apart, Brehm’s and Atadika’s formative experiences shaped similar philosophies. Both knew that food has the power to be so much more than mere sustenance. Each bite is an opportunity to inspire deeper connections.
Chef Ivan Brehm. Photo: NouriChef Selassie Atadika. Photo: Midunu
Building community through breaking bread at Nouri
“Eating is an essential act,” says Brehm. “It is also deeply intimate and expresses a fair share of trust between the parties sharing the table, growing and preparing the food. The ritualised acts of breaking bread, of toasting, of passing food around – they strengthen the community. The willingness to sit around a table and share a meal with a stranger, by proxy, brings us closer.”
His passion to create food that inspires kinship and conversations carried him to some of the most illustrious kitchens around the world. After stints in institutions such as Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York and Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in London, Brehm finally opened Nouri in Singapore in 2017. The restaurant has since received a Michelin star. The team also set up an additional creative interdisciplinary space called Appetite on the second floor in 2020.
“The willingness to sit around a table and share a meal with a stranger brings us closer”
This is where Brehm continues to experiment with what he calls his “Crossroads Cooking” style, creating flavours that are at once familiar and exciting. “We look for similar expressions in different cultures and use them as creative fodder,” he explains. “Sometimes the research points us in the direction of historical connections. Sometimes it highlights a more basic link, like a shared appreciation for sweet and sour. The point is to convey our links, to build a cuisine of similarities.”
Brehm’s belief is that over a meal, people may discover that they’re not so different after all.
A culinary journey through Africa by way of humanitarian work
Meanwhile, Atadika’s career began as a United Nations (UN) humanitarian worker. Helping African communities anticipate and respond to disasters took her across the continent. Along the way, she was sampling the continent’s diverse flavours, teaching herself how to cook using a research-oriented approach, as well as learning about food production.
“The lessons I learnt include the fact that Africa is currently the most plant-forward continent globally. Our diet still contains a lot of wild or foraged foods and ancient grains like millet and sorghum,” Atadika shares. “We have a low- to no-waste approach to cooking, and a long tradition of shared communal dining where families and communities even share food from one plate.”
One of her earliest forays into the culinary arts was Trio Toque, a now-defunct pop-up dining experience that had been the first of its kind in Dakar, Senegal. Thereafter, she leaned into her calling, left the UN and enrolled into the Culinary Institute of America. Now, she champions what she calls “New African cuisine” at Midunu, a Ghana-based food company that celebrates the continent’s cultural and culinary heritage through private dining events and artisanal chocolates.
Midunu’s artisanal chocolates pay homage to the flavours of the African continent. Photo: Midunu
“In my decade travelling around Africa, I observed many shared guiding principles in the continent’s various cuisines. At the same time, my eyes were opened to some of the challenges ahead in terms of food security and climate change. ” she says. “New African cuisine is my response to some of these problems – it’s where culture, community and cuisine intersect with environment, sustainability and economy.”
Through her work, she’s sharing the diversity of African flavours with the world. At the same time, she also hopes to uplift local communities by empowering everyone from the farmers growing indigenous crops to the women making gorgeous chocolates by hand.
An opportunity for curious palates to sample during Singapore Art Week
With both Brehm and Atadika working at the intersection of food and cultures, it was a matter of time before their paths converge. The moment arrives in the form of a collaborative dining experience titled “Crossroads of Afro-Asian Flavours”, to be held at Nouri on 18 and 19 January 2024.
This four-hands dinner coincides with “Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics”, an exhibition on African and Asian works that the restaurant will be hosting over Singapore Art Week, a major weeklong celebration of visual arts in Singapore that occurs every January.
Renowned Singaporean artist Lee Wen’s Splash #3 and Splash #4 are two of the works on view at “Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics”, from 3 Jan to 18 Feb at Nouri. Photo: Nouri
The chefs’ excitement at the opportunity to work with each other is palpable. “I deeply respect Selassie – her way of thinking about food, but also culture and people,” says Brehm. “I’ve always wanted to do something with her in Singapore and feel that her contributions are entirely relevant to the curious palates of our guests.”
“Ivan and I met several years ago and connected on our research-oriented approach to cooking. We knew we would have to find a way to explore our approaches, and this exhibition gave us a wonderful opportunity,” adds Atadika.
Good food should make you ponder, and take your mind to somewhere new
In line with their own practices, they’re focusing on common ground when conceptualising the menu.
“It is impossible to fully represent the wonderful complexity and wealth of African and Asian food traditions,” Brehm acknowledges. “So we focused more on studying our similar ways, like the identical preparations of Southeast Asian sambal chilli paste and Ghanaian meko (a type of pepper sauce); the Filipino peanut stew kare-kare and the West African maafe; and our beloved sugee cake and semolina cake from the Maghreb.”
From sitting at their family’s dinner tables to setting their own, both chefs have found their purpose through food. And now, they’re preparing dishes that inspire a new way of seeing, tasting and understanding the world.
“Good food should be more than comfort. It should make you ponder and take your mind to somewhere new,” says Brehm. Atadika agrees. “During my time travelling around Africa with the UN, I kept seeing similarities and differences in what and how we eat. I became curious and never stopped looking for connections,” she shares. “Food brings people to the table.”
Chefs Ivan Brehm and Selassie Atadika will be hosting a four-hands dinner at Nouri on 18 and 19 January. For more information, visit the Nouri website.
The hero image features chef Brehm’s Afro-Brazilian-style fritter with turmeric and coconut curry served with a salted prawn emulsion. A version of this dish will be served as a snack in the upcoming four-hands menu. Photo: Nouri
For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to Singapore, visit theofficial website.
New year, new ways of travelling. As the sun rises on 2024, it’s time to dust off that resolve to try something of a different speed and prepare for brand new adventures.
Whether it’s a heart-pumping hike in the wilderness or an idyllic island getaway, these eight escapades promise breathtaking vistas, surprise encounters and some quality, contemplative time in the great outdoors.
So what are you waiting for? Put some of these ideas on your travel bucket list and get planning for your next epic adventure.
1. Jump on the Korean-style camping trend
Book a flight to: Seoul
Camping has become something of a national sport in South Korea since the pandemic eased, when millions of travel-starved locals descended upon the hundreds of campgrounds across the country to satisfy the urge for a different experience.
Take a leaf from their book and camp with style: think tents but with creature comforts, such as fairy lights and movie screenings with compact projectors. Ortry outbulmeong, a local camping craze that involves zoning out while staring at a fire.
Camping in style. Photo: Li Yang via Unsplash
No Korean gathering is complete without a feast, so break out your cast iron pots for some campfire spicy stew with Korean beef and steaming bowls of rice.
For tips on camping near Seoul, read our full storyhere.
2. Bliss out on island getaways off the coast of Singapore
Book a flight to: Singapore
Just a pebble’s skip away from the cosmopolitan hub of Singapore – past the Indonesian border – are some world-class island getaways that boast crystal-clear waters, luxurious resorts and activities for couples and families alike.
Fulfil your island-living dreams in the gorgeous adults-only bamboo villas onCempedak Private Islandin Riau, a three-hour journey from Singapore. Its smart design offers the best of living in nature, while the exceptional hospitality and sumptuous meals ensure you won’t want to leave.
Cempedak Island's beachview villas. Photo: Cempedak Private IslandVaulted ceilings give the villas at Cempedak Island a capacious look and feel. Photo: Cempedak Private Island
Kayak around the island or explore on land by foot – either way, keep an eye out for hornbills, hawksbill turtles and other wildlife. For a family-friendly version of this eco-luxury experience, check out its sister resortNikoi Island, a short ferry ride away.
Seeking something more off the grid? Head toTelunas Resortson remoteSugi Island, also in Indonesia’s Riau archipelago, where you’ll swap Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and television for water sports and spa treatments.
For more island escapes near Singapore, read our full storyhere.
3. Walk on the wild side with the elusive leopard in Sri Lanka’s nature reserves
Book a flight to: Colombo
Spotting the majestic leopards in the wilderness of their natural habitats is no walk in the park, so it’s best to seek out these elusive creatures alongside expert wildlife guides and naturalists, who can teach you how to do so responsibly. In the cold light of dawn, you’ll train your senses to attune to the subtlest signs, such as prey alarm calls, markings in the soil and lingering notes of fresh kills.
To track the elusive leopard at Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park, a wildlife sanctuary, there’s no better guide than Hilton Yala Resort’s head ranger Sajith Withanage, the most qualified tracker in the country. His preternatural senses and deep respect for wildlife ensure that every jeep ride with him is filled with surprise sightings and thrilling stories from his 11 years of safari experience.
Head ranger Sajith Withanage (far right) leads a safari tour in the scenic Yala National Park. Photo: Hilton Yala Resort
Explore how you can go on a safari adventure responsibly and in comfort at Hilton Yala Resorthere. For a different kind of cat, read our story on tiger-spotting in Karnataka, India here.
4. Travel by train through Vietnam’s rustic east coast
Book a flight to: Da Nang
Quaint villages emerging like mirages in a sea of rice paddies, disused whistle-stop stations and straw hat-clad farmers tending to their fields – one of the best ways to soak in the tranquil sights of Vietnam’s countryside is aboard a train on Vietnam’s colonial-era railway network.
The Vietage. Photo: The Vietage
The first-class comfort onThe Vietage, a 12-guest train carriage that takes you between the cities of Da Nang and Quy Nhon in six hours, makes this journey all the sweeter. Here, you can get your shoulders massaged and sip on cocktails as you make your way across Vietnam’s eastern coast.
Find out more about The Vietage and Vietnam’s rich history of train travel in our full storyhere.
5. Cycle off the beaten track on Turkey’s idyllic Heybeliada
Book a flight to: Istanbul
Just an hour’s ferry ride from Istanbul lies a charming archipelago of islands calledPrinces’ Islands– their history dates back to the Byzantine era, when they served as refuge for exiled royalty.
Motor vehicles are not allowed on the islands, making getting around by horse-drawn carriages and bicycles the norm. Its second-largest island,Heybeliada, is ideal for exploring by bike, as it sees less traffic than its bigger sibling Burgazada. Here, you can take in cerulean waters, picturesque skyline and eclectic architecture.
Cycling is a great way to explore Princes’ Islands, if you’re seeking an idyllic escape from Istanbul. Photo: Shutterstock
Cycling around the approximate 6km route around this cosy island makes for an ideal half-day sojourn out of Istanbul. Whizz past Victorian-style homes with charming wooden details and orange-hued rooftops of Byzantine buildings that dot the island. Once you’ve taken in the sights, park yourself in a local café for somekasar peynirli tost(grilled cheese).
Find out more about what it’s like to explore Heybeliada by bike in our storyhere.
6. Help save the seas at these beach resorts across the Asia-Pacific
Book a flight to: Male or Okinawa
Contribute to the health of our oceans while getting in some tropical beach time at resorts where marine conservation meets luxury. Dive into the crystal-clear warm waters off the Okinawan coast and transplant young corals in its biodiverse reefs at Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort, or help give waste plastic a second life at the Fairmont Maldives’ Sustainability Lab.
Photo: The Ritz Carlton Maldives Fari Islands
Science geeks can join researchers at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands for drone-flying excursions to collect data on marine plastic aggregation and understand how marine trash is carried by currents.
For more ideas on planning your marine conservation-minded getaway, read our full storyhere.
7. Chase flowers and foliage through the seasons in Kanagawa’s peaceful temples
Book a flight to: Tokyo
Along the coastal expanse of Kanagawa Prefecture and just an hour away by train from bustling Tokyo, the ancient capital city of Kamakura entices visitors throughout the year with a rotating schedule of beautiful blooms and foliage.
Delicate plum blossoms grace from February to March, followed by the iconicsakuraor cherry blossoms from March to April. Elegant blue, pink and white hydrangeas burst into bloom in May and June. And don’t miss the flurry of fall foliage between October and December.
Yukata-clad visitors walk through the hydrangea walkway at Meigetsuin temple. Photo: Shutterstock
Pair your floral pursuit with a bowl of matcha in one of the city’s many temple grounds, while meditating upon the Japanese philosophy of tea:ichi go, ichi e, or “one time, one meeting”. Just like the blooming of a flower, a moment can never happen the same way twice; it is an invitation to appreciate life as it comes.
This hill-dotted tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean has much to offer in the way of hikes. If you are up for a challenge, tackle a 300km journey through the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country on thePekoe Trail, past cascading waterfalls and rolling valleys.
From adrenaline-pumping heights to leisurely trails, the hiking options are plenty in Sri Lanka. Photo: Shutterstock
Those who prefer a more leisurely hike can scalePidurangala, a soaring rock that overlooks the UNESCO World Heritage SiteSigiriya– an ancient rock fortress built in the 4th century AD by King Kasyapa. Cool off after with a glass of iced Ceylon tea and cardamom-spiced dessert.
Take your pick among seven Sri Lankan walking trails in our storyhere.
For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to the above destinations, visit theofficial website.
