Escape the Skyscrapers and Megamalls: 7 Must-See Spots in Singapore's Wild West
Singapore isn’t just about skyscrapers. (Photo: Getty)
Worlds away from Singapore’s central skyscrapers, its mammoth Orchard Road megamalls, and the vibrant cultural enclaves of Little India and Chinatown, the city-state’s farther-flung western region remains largely undiscovered by most visitors to this compact 275-square-mile metropolis. That’s a shame: From one of Asia’s most eccentric theme parks to exceptional restaurants and a landmark for diehard Star Wars fans, here are seven things to do in Singapore’s wild west.
No trip to the Tiger Brewery is complete without sampling one of their signature beers (Photo: Pete Grubb/Flickr)
Drink up on this fun 1.5-hour tour highlighting the history, production, and packaging of Singapore’s ubiquitous Tiger beer. More than 1 million bottles and 960,000 cans of the easy-drinking lager are produced daily here at Asia Pacific Breweries, which is also the regional brewer and distributor of Heineken, Amstel, and Anchor. These and other beers, including seasonals from APB’s craft brewery Archipelago, are on tap at Tiger Tavern, an Irish-style pub where the tour concludes with 45 minutes of free-flowing brews. If you can’t wait that long, try your hand at pouring a “perfect pint” of Tiger during the tour’s stop at the Packaging Gallery — every volunteer drinks the fruits of his or her labor.
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Haw Par Villa
Head to Haw Par Villa to see some quirky sculptures like these musical monkeys. (Photo: William Cho/Flickr)
Don’t miss this peculiar eight-acre “theme park,” which features more than 1,500 dioramas and statues — some ghoulish, others just plain weird — dedicated to Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist iconography. Opened in 1937 by brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, who made their fortune selling the family’s Tiger Balm medicinal ointment, Haw Par Villa was a major Singapore attraction in its heyday. Today, however, a spooky silence often hangs over the park as visitor numbers continue to dwindle, a trend that contributes to an even eerier ambiance. It’s great fun to aimlessly wander, but don’t miss the “Ten Courts of Hell,” a rather grisly display of afterlife punishments for sins ranging from ingratitude (one’s heart is cut out) to tax fraud (a beating with a stone mallet). 262 Pasir Panjang Road, next to Haw Par Villa MRT station. Daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free.
The Great Beer Experiment at PasarBella has over 150 beers to try, so come thirsty! (Photo: PasarBella Market)
Snack on fresh oysters, crackling pork roast, and handpicked artisanal cheeses at swish PasarBella, a 30,000-square-foot indoor market with more than 30 food and home-living vendors. Part of a popular expat lifestyle complex, the Grandstand, PasarBella is most lively during weekends, when many stalls offer special menus and live bands perform in the afternoon. Standout vendors include The Cheese Ark, Le Patio (look for the massive frying pan of bubbling seafood paella), Keith Crackling Roast, and The Great Beer Experiment, the last of which stocks more than 150 bottled beers and taps three rare craft beers almost every weekend. Complimentary round-trip shuttle bus service from three different MRT stations to the Grandstand is available daily from 8:45 a.m.
Admire the shiny exterior and lush tropical gardens at The Sandcrawler. (Photo: Aedas/Flickr)
Nerd out at Lucasfilm Animation’s Asia-Pacific headquarters, an architectural marvel distinguished by its sleek metallic-glass facade and, most notably, a horseshoe-like shape inspired by the lumbering rust bucket in which Jawas rumble through Tatooine’s desert landscape in Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Officially inaugurated in January by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Star Wars creator George Lucas, the Sandcrawler is situated within the Fusionopolis business district and is only a short 10-minute walk from the Buona Vista MRT station. Though tours of the building unfortunately are not offered, an extensive outdoor garden teeming with ponds and lush tropical foliage is open to the public; here you can use the Force to find a somewhat hidden bronze statue of Jedi Master Yoda.
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Violet Oon’s Kitchen is known for tasty Singaporean fare such as the signature chili crab pizza (Photo: Violet Oon’s Kitchen).
Swoon over such signature specialties as black-pepper prawn pasta (SGD$25), beef rendang ($24), and chili crab pizza ($27) at this chic Parisian-style bistro from celebrated Singaporean food ambassador Violet Oon. Located in affluent Bukit Timah, the buzzy 50-seat restaurant has a casual vibe and chic design marked by checkerboard flooring and white-marble tables, a cozy setting perfect for slowly savoring Oon’s flavorful Peranakan cuisine (a style that draws on Malaysian, Indian, and Chinese flavors and techniques). The aforementioned dishes are all recommended, but start with the two-dip pita board ($15), and try to save room for the bread-and-butter pudding ($13), which is finished with a custard and whiskey sauce that’ll leave you licking the plate clean.
Enjoy the gorgeous views as you stroll along the Henderson Waves. (Photo: Sean Lin/Flickr)
Work up a sweat while traipsing treetop jungle walks and (perhaps) spotting monkeys on a hike along this scenic network of paved trails snaking along Singapore’s southwestern coast. A logical starting point is pretty Mount Faber Park, where you’ll enjoy splendid views of Sentosa and Singapore’s other Southern Islands before embarking on a pleasant downhill stroll to Henderson Waves, an undulating wooden structure that is the highest pedestrian bridge on the island. From there it’s just a short jaunt to the Forest Walk, a 1.3-kilometer elevated metal platform that zigzags through secondary rainforest before ending at Alexandra Arch. Continue on to sprawling gardening center HortPark, where you can amble through butterfly, Balinese, and herb gardens, then refuel with a glass of wine and gourmet French bites at Vineyard restaurant. If you’re feeling ambitious, finish by moving on to the Canopy Walk at Kent Ridge Park.
You can make an amphibious friend or two at Jurong Frog Farm. (Photo: Jurong Frog Farm/Facebook)
Experience Singaporean life on the farm at this far-western expanse of grasslands that is home to almost 40 working gardens, fisheries, farmsteads, and other agricultural ventures. From the Kranji MRT station, catch the hop-on, hop-off Kranji Countryside Express Bus for a short 30-minute journey that ends at Jurong Frog Farm, with noteworthy stops along the way at Gardenasia, serene Sungei Buloh nature reserve (from here you can look across Johor Strait into Malaysia), and Bollywood Veggies. Have lunch at Bollywood’s Poison Ivy Bistro, famed for its range of delicious farm-fresh “warrior” curries and small plates, then walk through the food museum and an extensive produce plantation where more than 20 different banana varietals are grown. If you fall in love with this laid-back country life, stay overnight at D’Kranji Farm Resort, where one- and two-bedroom villas start at $150/night.
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