Crazy Rich Asians: Our Insider’s Travel Guide to Singapore

Based on Singaporean author Kevin Kwan’s book of the same name, the film Crazy Rich Asians features Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American economics professor who follows her boyfriend Nick Young to his homeland—a tiny island in Southeast Asia called Singapore—to attend his best friend’s wedding. While you’ll get glimpses of some of Singapore’s top tourist attractions in the movie, there’s a lot more the city has to offer. This Singapore-born, Vancouver-based writer lets you in on her favourite hangout spots, local fashion labels she loves and more (basically, this travel guide is as "insider" as it gets!). —Isabel Ong

eat. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, and the food options here reflect that fact. What’s more, eating is often referred to as a “national pastime” among locals, especially since many dining spots open till the wee hours and late-night suppers are a regular indulgence. Head to a hawker centre—an open-air food court—and try local street food like chicken rice, bak chor mee (minced meat noodles), satay (meat skewers) and rojak (a fruit and vegetable salad dish). Newton Hawker Centre is a popular tourist destination that’s also featured in the film, but if you’re keen to check out other locations favoured by locals, head to Maxwell Food Centre, East Coast Lagoon Food Village or Bedok 85 instead. Besides local fare, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the wide variety of cuisines available in Singapore. Amoy Street, Ann Siang Hill and Dempsey Hill are chock-full of hip restaurants and bars, and the city is also home to a growing number of Michelin-starred venues (the two-michelin-starred French fine-dining establishment Odette in the National Gallery Singapore is a winner in our books).

shop. For the budget-conscious, Bugis Street Market offers pocket-friendly clothing and accessories. Far East Plaza, located at the outer fringes of the Orchard Road shopping district, also has affordable buys. If budget is not a constraint, places like The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Ion Orchard are where you’ll find designer brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel. There’s also the Singapore outpost of Dover Street Market in the posh Dempsey Hill enclave, where you can score fashion-forward items from avant-garde brands like Commes des Garcons. Don’t miss checking out local fashion labels when you’re here, too. Since Singapore has a year-round tropical climate, clothing designed here is typically breathable and lightweight, so they’re perfect for summer. Make it a point to visit the brick-and-mortar shopfronts of contemporary womenswear brands like In Good Company, Beyond The Vines and Our Second Nature.

do. The Marina Bay Sands Skypark, an observation deck with breathtaking panoramic views of the city, and Gardens By The Bay, a 101-hectare nature park, are architectural marvels to behold. Besides visiting these touristy hot spots, head down to Haji Lane, a cross between Vancouver’s arty Mount Pleasant and London’s grunge-y Shoreditch, for its boutique shops and colourful murals; Tiong Bahru, a hipster hood full of cute cafés and bookstores; and the Katong and Joo Chiat districts, which have a stretch of heritage shophouses and quaint eateries. Wet markets—markets that hawk fresh meat and produce—are probably a rather unfamiliar sight for Canadians, which is why it’s worth an early morning trip down. Head to the ones at Geylang Serai or Tekka Centre for a full-on sensory experience of fresh fish being chopped and people pushing marketing trolleys and haggling over prices. Finally, nature-loving Vancouverites should go for a hike to the Treetop Walk, a suspension bridge hidden away amidst lush greenery. Just be aware that monkeys are aplenty here, and they might be aggressive when they see you holding food. Or take a leisurely stroll on a heritage trail to explore a slice of Singapore’s history, and check out a former railway station along the way (it makes for Instagram-worthy shots, too). Photo by EQRoy / Shutterstock.com.