Best Places to get a Suit Made in Singapore

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Smartly dressed man having chest measurements taken in a tailor's shop.

You’re a fashionable guy, right? You like to make an impression when you walk into a room, dontcha? Heck, you want the place to be stunned into silence the second you step through the door, with only the odd admiring coo, sigh or (go on, admit it) phwoar to break the awed hush. In which case, you’ve come to the right place! So step inside sir, let us take that all-important inside leg measurement and get you kitted out in the very finest tailor-made togs in town. Here, then, is our expert guide to 10 of the best places to get a suit made in Singapore...

***Note: prices quoted are in Singapore Dollars (SGD)***

CYC The Custom Shop

Established in 1935, CYC The Custom Shop is a CBD stalwart and one of the oldest and best-loved tailors in town. Good enough to clothe ministers, diplomats and even Singaporean presidents over the last near-century, their bespoke suits and shirts are probably good enough for you, too. This is the place to come if you like to dress to impress or are looking to add a bit of extra pizazz to that up-and-coming wedding function or all-important job interview. Shirts start from a little over $100 for single-ply cotton and from $750 to north of $3,000 for that dream suit.

Edit Suits Co.

You’ll find getting a tailored suit made anywhere in Singapore will generally take from three weeks to 15 weeks, depending on your specifications and whether you’ve insisted it be spun from the finest unicorn silk or not. But Edit Suits Co. claim to be the fastest in town, with a lead time of just 3–4 weeks on their modern garments, perfect for that shotgun wedding or client meeting you’d completely forgotten about. They’re cost-effective, too, with prices for a two-piece suit ranging from around $750 to $1800. Complete the look with accessories including pocket squares, ties and cufflinks. Oooh, suits you sir.

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Perfect Attire

The clue’s in the name at this downtown tailor, where everything – from pattern-making to garment construction – is done in house. So you’ll know who to blame if your trousers fail to account for your one leg that’s an inch longer than the other. Seriously though, the suit you’ll get from a fitting at Perfect Attire is going to look super-stylish, whether you're a racing-green houndstooth or sober gray gingham kind of guy. We recommend combining your appointment with lunch in nearby Chinatown, though perhaps have your waist measurement taken before tucking into that vast mountain of salty, soy sauce-infused chicken rice.

Kevin Seah Bespoke

Olde-world tailoring meets contemporary chic at Kevin Seah’s boutique riverside emporium in the CBD. This bright and airy space is a joy to visit; a place where you’re as likely to have your head turned by the colorful rows of shoes, belts and other accessories as the masses of fabric choices, including some exclusive limited editions created by Seah in collaboration with traditional woollen mills in the United Kingdom. Country squire? City gent? Victorian dandy? It’s likely this smart boutique has the look you’ve been searching for. Prepare to dig deep though: prices here start somewhere in the region of $6,800 for a two-piece suit. But what price quality?

Ehkay Corner Tailors

If your budget is a little more restrictive, you’d do well to drop by Ehkay Corner Tailors on Orchard Road. Suit makers of some pedigree, these dapper chaps have been around since the 1980s and will have you suited and booted in rather more affordable tailored suits in no time. Prices here start from a more palatable $400, leaving you plenty of wonga to accessorize to your heart’s content and walk out looking snappier than an alligator.

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Q Menswear

Another tailor that’s dangerously close to Chinatown so, you know, take it easy on the dumplings if you’re heading for your fitting straight after lunch. Established in 2011, Q Menswear is a relatively young label on the Singapore suits scene, bringing contemporary style to the masses from their home inside a charming heritage shophouse on bustling Telok Ayer Street. Drop by for a fitting and to browse the hundreds of fabrics available from Europe and Asia, including well-known brands like Liberty London and Italy’s Tessitura Monti. Prices for a two-piece suit start from just under $1,000.

The Bespoke Club

Styled after a classic Savile Row boutique, the Bespoke Club is all leather sofas, elegant fireplaces and umbrella stands casually stuffed with smart gents’ brollies. Step inside to have your vital statistics taken down and to start designing your own suit from somewhere in the region of 5,000 – yes, that’s FIVE THOUSAND – imported European fabrics. Trust us when we say you’ll be grateful for those great big comfy armchairs by the time you’ve gone through the lot to find your perfect pattern. Suit prices start from around $1,350.

Raffles Tailor

Raffles Tailor promises royal blue carpets, a glittering chandelier and a name that nods to Singapore’s always smartly turned-out founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. Suffice to say then that you’re in for a fairly luxurious experience here, where the tailoring is treated like precision architecture. No wonder then that the great and good, including Singapore TV personalities galore, have visited Raffles to enhance their screen presence with a smart bespoke suit or two. And now you too can become a sartorial success story. Prices start from $1,350.

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Dylan & Son

Previously known as Oriental Tailor, a stalwart of late 20th-century tailoring in Singapore’s CBD, this family-run boutique shop on Telok Ayer Street was rebranded as Dylan & Son when Dylan took over in 2010. Who knows, perhaps the ‘Son’ of the current name will do the same in years to come. Anyhoo... expect a modern take on English elegance with a dash of Italian style when you have your suit designed here.

Joe’s Tailoring

Another old school tailor near Chinatown (anyone sensing a pattern here?), Joe’s blends four decades of experience with a verve for contemporary tailoring. Artisans produce and cut fabrics in the dedicated factory and there is no request too big or small to accommodate (well, probably). Certainly, if what your heart desires is a matching suit for you and your dog, Joe’s is the place to go. You’d be barking not to!

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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View of Singapore's downtown skyline from a rooftop pool.
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Things to do in Downtown Singapore Business District

Singapore’s Central Business District, also known as the CBD, financial district or downtown core, is a gleaming jungle of soaring skyscrapers with sensational waterfront views and more landmark attractions than you can shake a very large stick at. Add to that Michelin-starred restaurants, trendy cocktail bars and some of the best shopping in the city and you have the recipe for a fantastic break. Hera are just a few of our favorite things to do in downtown Singapore’s business district, including: Merlion Park The SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands National Gallery Singapore Singapore Flyer Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Shopping at Orchard Road and Marina Bay Bay cruises Gardens by the Bay Cocktails at Raffles Mythical Beasts and Dizzy Heights A stroll around Marina Bay is a fine way to get your bearings in the downtown area. Here, close-up views of the CBD’s sensational skyscrapers give you a sense of the scale of the place and the iconic Merlion statue, emblem of Singapore’s growth from humble fishing village to mighty all-conquering lion is a must-see. Grab a selfie by this 70-tonne fish/lion hybrid with its arc of spouting water that crashes into the Singapore River below, then head up to the SkyPark atop the Marina Bay Sands resort for a different perspective. Steady your nerves with a cocktail before taking in exception 57th-floor views of the Singapore skyline and out across the bay. National Gallery Singapore Immerse yourself in 200 years of Singaporean art and culture at the National Gallery. Appropriately, this stately collection of of more than 9,000 modern and contemporary pieces from Singapore and southeast Asia is housed within two immense national monuments in the heart of the CBD; namely Singapore’s former City Hall and Supreme Court. Step inside to goggle at works that range from 19th-century oil paintings and woodcuts to 21st-century video installations. Visiting in the middle of monsoon season? There’s plenty here to fill an entire day, with major works by Singaporean artists including Georgette Chen, Liu Kang and Cheong Soo Pieng to admire, plus art-inspired shops for unique souvenirs, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. The Singapore Flyer It should come as no surprise, in a city where the title of tallest building is highly prized, that the observation wheel is one of the biggest on the planet, soaring to a knee-trembling 541 feet at its highest point. Steel your nerves for the 30-minute flight aboard the Singapore Flyer from where you can expect views across the CBD skyline to Sentosa Island and even, on a clear day, as far as Indonesia and Malaysia. That’s assuming you haven’t closed your eyes in absolute terror by the time you reach the top. One rotation lasts 30 minutes and you can book tickets that include cocktails and champagne, should such nerve-settling measures be required. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Back on terra firma, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a stunning (and surprisingly recent) example of the Chinese Buddhist architectural style, all decorative flourishes, pagoda-style rooftops and cavernous indoor spaces. Built in 2007, the temple contains what is said to be one of the Buddha’s teeth, though skeptics may question its provenance given the proliferation of Buddha tooth temples in the region and, well, the size of the tooth itself which, at 7.5cm in length, is likely to raise a quizzical eyebrow at the very least. Visit this stunning temple and make up your own mind! Shop ‘Til You Drop There are more malls and brand-name stores along the 2.5-kilometer shopping mecca that is Orchard Road than you could hope to explore in a lifetime, never mind on your two-week vacation. Orchard Central is one of the most interesting, with its digital-art skin, huge indoor climbing wall, public art installations and roof garden. Further opportunities to max your credit card await at Marina Bay Resort’s cavernous Shoppes mall which, in spite of its ye olde name, is an ultra-modern, ultra-luxe shoppers’ paradise that’s guaranteed to give your bank manager serious palpitations. Venetian-style canals and sampan boat rides make for a fun way to get from store to store. Singapore River Cruise Hop aboard a traditional bumboat to get a new perspective on the CBD’s many highlights. Ideal for the lazy sightseer, these scenic cruises tick off a number of the city’s big ticket attractions in one short jaunt along the Singapore River. Expect to see highlights including Marina Bay Sands, with its space-age triple towers topped by what, from way down here, looks for all the world like a giant surfboard, as well as the legendary Raffles hotel, the Gardens by the Bay and the Old Parliament House. Hopeless romantics can catch the golden hour on a sunset cruise as the Singapore skies puts on their colorful daily show and lights twinkle on across the city. Gardens By The Bay With its gargantuan durian-shaped glass hothouses, tranquil East Bay Garden and iconic supertree structures complete with fun elevated walkway, Gardens By The Bay is a treat at any time of day. But it’s arguably at its most enchanting in the evenings, when the Supertree Grove puts on an epic display of colored light accompanied by a rousing symphonic soundtrack, sure to enliven your Instagram feed. Better still, this event is free! Light and music themes change with the seasons but the show generally runs twice per evening, with some variation for holidays and special events. Sip a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel What’s the first thing you think of when someone says the word ‘Singapore’? Skyscrapers? Orchids? No! The answer is of course a Singapore Sling, that delightful gin-based tropical cocktail that’s as iconic a symbol of this island nation as its Merlion mascot. And where better to sample one than in the very place they were invented? We’re talking, of course, about the legendary 19th-century Raffles Hotel, where bartender Ngiam Tong Boon first mixed gin with cherry brandy, grenadine, pineapple, bitters and lime juice back in 1915, and the Singapore Sling was born! Join such illustrious former guests as Hemingway, Kipling and Grahame Greene and try one for yourself in the hotel’s smart Long Bar. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Singapore Staycation
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Singapore Staycation - Best Ways to Stay Over

Staycations have become imminently popular in the past decade, with hotels offering up brilliant packages and ensuring you needn't leave at all. Sometimes, all you want to do is just stay in and vegetate. We've all experienced the surprising glee of a friend canceling on them last minute, leaving you free to wallow in your pajamas. Staycations are like that, just with extra steps. So, what about Singapore? What does the city's staycation scene look like? Well, let's take a look. We've trawled the web to find you the best Singapore staycation opportunities. Read on, and check out our recommendations! Including: Raffles Hotel Singapore JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach M Social Singapore Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Regis Singapore and more! Raffles Hotel Singapore Raffles is one of the most prominent hotels in Singapore. At well over one hundred years old, it's earned its place at the top. And, luckily for you, they also offer a fantastic staycation package. You'll enjoy a luxury tea for two at the Tiffin Room, a Heritage Evening at The Grand Lobby, and even a trishaw ride around the place. And, with Go City, you can enjoy a complimentary drink at The Long Bar. If you've never tried it before, order a Singapore Sling. It's considered the unofficial drink of the city for a reason. And did you know it was created by a bartender who worked at The Long Bar? Of course, you're free to camp out there and enjoy The Long Bar's alfresco stylings. And a few more drinks while you're at it. JW Marriott Hotel Singapore Rejuvenating Spa Staycation Marriott Hotels are some of the best in the business, with myriad locations worldwide, including Singapore. And lucky for you, they offer a fantastic spa staycation to help you feel pampered and proper. You'll get a one-hour massage at the hotel's spa, complimentary buffet breakfast at the Beach Road Kitchen, and access to the rest of the hotel's fantastic facilities, including swimming pools, sky gardens, bars, gyms, and restaurants. And you're only a stone's throw from the city's cultural district, if you want to feel inspired. M Social Singapore If you treat your social media like a publicity stunt, then M Social might be the perfect Singapore staycation for you! One of their packages offers participants the chance to conduct their own photoshoot. Fun! Thanks to an M Social x Dollop Automat team-up, you'll be able to create memories - and posts - to commemorate your staycation thanks to their self-photo studio. Get that photoshoot feel but without the photographer. Or, if you prefer to smell like success, their other package lets you create your very own perfume. Working closely with top dogs from Maison 12G, you'll learn what goes into a fragrance, and how to make the perfect one just for you. Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Holiday Inn might not have the best rep throughout other parts of the world, but in Singapore, you'll find a four-star hotel with swimming pools, gyms, and a fantastic staycation package! It includes free breakfast, late checkout, and plenty of discounts on the hotel's many amenities, including massive savings on meals at the hotel's restaurants and much more. So you may not want to leave! Regis Singapore Got the kids in tow? Then Regis Marriott Singapore might have the perfect staycation package for the entire family. Featuring a complimentary free breakfast for four, as well as late checkout and $100 of credit to spend on whatever you like at the hotel, it's the perfect place to hunker down, watch some movies, and order room service. Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore Ever stayed at a Thai golf resort? Probably not, right? Well, time to tick this obscure and unlikely thing off of your bucket list with a trip to Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore! Arguably one of the best staycations on this list, you'll be treated like a VIP the moment you walk through the front door. That's because you'll be served a complimentary drink on entry. Cool! But the coolness doesn't stop there. For your stay, you'll have free rein of the resort's many facilities, from the golf course to the fitness center. Want to go swimming? Go right ahead. Need a big breakfast to start the day? Why of course, on the house. Located on the outskirts of the city, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore makes a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Singaporean life. And if you're looking for a Singapore staycation, this could be the perfect one. InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay Heading back into the city, if you're looking for a little water to accompany your staycation, head riverside and stay at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay. Your room will have its own fully-kitted-out entertainment system, with a massive TV, tons of channels, streaming apps, and speakers that'll knock your socks off. Pair that with the stunning views of the river, and you've got yourself the perfect room you'll never want to leave. That is, unless you want to make the most of your stay! Your booking also includes breakfast, afternoon tea, bar drinks, and access to the hotel's stunning lounge. Want to explore the surroundings? Get a rental bike, courtesy of the hotel, and get exploring! Duxton Reserve If you're looking for old-timey glamor from your Singapore staycation, then you need to check out Duxton Reserve. Black and gold is the name of the game here, with interiors that fuse the best of East and West design. Oh, and they have a brilliant staycation too. That also helps. You'll have run of the bar, delicious Chinese food on tap courtesy of the Yellow Pot restaurant, and a room fitted to the nines with the best upholstery and entertainment. It's also the perfect place to snap some pics, ensuring your friends, family, and followers become insanely jealous of your stay. And isn't that half the battle? Those were our picks of the very best Singapore staycation venues! Of course, there's more to Singapore than staying in and snuggling up. You'll find a wealth of entertainment opportunities outside the hotel's walls. If you want to do and see all of Singapore's best bits for one low price, check out Go City. Pick from our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass and see what all the fuss is about!
Dom Bewley
Woman studying a map in front of a pagoda-style building in Seoul.
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Singapore to Seoul

For a heady mix of cultures, terrific and varied pan-Asian cuisine and a list of weird and wonderful attractions as long as your arm, Seoul and Singapore are second to none. Frequent direct flights between the two mean doing the Singapore to Seoul (or indeed Seoul to Singapore) double on your Asian vacation couldn’t be easier. Read on for our bite-size city guides and discover the best ways to get from one city to the other. Seoul: the Lowdown Split through its middle by the wide Han River, Seoul is a densely populated megalopolis of some 10 million people, its futuristic towers, bridges and skyscrapers set among ancient mountains and plains in the northwest corner of South Korea. Attractions here are many and varied with several ancient UNESCO sites, including the regal gardens and pagodas of Changdeokgung Palace and the royal tombs of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled over Korea for 500 years from the 14th to the 19th centuries. More modern pursuits include a visit to Seoul’s tallest building, the skyscraping 123-story Lotte World Tower, and its sprawling amusement park namesake on (and around) Seokchon Lake. Then there’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a space-age architectural marvel packed with shops, bars, restaurants, exhibitions and even a sensory playground for kids. And the achingly photogenic oasis that is leafy Nami Island, a mere 90 minutes from the city center. Seoul is dry and icy-cold in winter and very hot and humid in summer, with a monsoon season that runs between June and September. The relatively short spring and autumn seasons are therefore the best times to visit, when you can expect mild weather and clearer skies but also – as inevitably as night follows day – higher hotel rates. On the plus side, there’s accommodation here to fit most budgets, though visitors should remain conscious that a week in Seoul can be eye-wateringly expensive wherever you end up staying. As a general rule, downtown districts including Jongno or Euljiro are likely to be cheaper than Myeong-dong and Gangnam, while longer-term visitors might want to consider rented accommodation in student neighborhoods like Sinchon and Hongdae. Wherever you choose to lay your hat, you’ll find getting around Seoul a breeze thanks to its superb metro system, which has a whopping 300+ stops within the city’s relatively compact nine-mile radius. Just download the Seoul Subway Metro Map – an interactive route-planning app – pick up a T-money card (and add some credit) and you’re good to go. Handily, your T-money pass is valid for use on metros, buses and even taxis across South Korea. Save a bit of cash with Go City when you buy an All-Inclusive or Explorer pass to multiple major Seoul attractions. Singapore: the Lowdown There’s a whole world of fun awaiting in Singapore, from splashing around in the world’s biggest rooftop infinity pool (57 stories up atop the Marina Bay Sands Resort, fact fans) to gorging on chili crab and sticky pork satay in one of the wonderful hawker centers here. Then there’s the soaring Singapore Flyer observation wheel, authentic Singapore Slings at Raffles Hotel (where the iconic cocktail was invented), the Instagram-tastic Gardens by the Bay, and the island playground that is Sentosa, its myriad attractions – Universal Studios, the S.E.A. Aquarium and several of Singapore’s finest palm-lined beaches – easily reachable by monorail or cable car. In fact, getting around Singapore is remarkably straightforward in general, largely thanks to the super-efficient (and mercifully air-conditioned) mass transit system, or MRT. Six lines and close to 150 stations ensure good coverage of most of the island, but you’ll likely spend most of your time here in and around the downtown circle line which calls at many of the main attractions. Pick up a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) for unlimited use of the network for 24–72 hours or simply pay as you go by tapping in and out of stations using your contactless debit or credit card. There’s also a decent cycling infrastructure here, and plenty of green space to explore – they don’t call Singapore the Garden Island for nothing, you know! Rent a bike and cruise your way around the epic Park Connector Network and beyond. The climate in Singapore is hot, humid and wet, with temperatures in the high 80s year round. Monsoon seasons between December to March and June to September all but guarantee daily downpours, but also make for some of the most competitive accommodation rates at these times of year. We’re speaking relatively, of course: Singapore is notoriously expensive, but you may just about be able to afford a stay at luxury icons like Raffles and Marina Bay Sands during the monsoons without the need to mortgage a kidney. Cheaper alternatives are of course available, with plenty of good budget and mid-range options available in the likes of Chinatown and even around the high-end shopping mecca of Orchard Road. Save a bit of cash with Go City when you buy an All-Inclusive or Explorer pass to multiple major Singapore attractions. Singapore to Seoul by Air and Rail Direct flights between Singapore and Seoul depart several times daily and take a shade over six hours each way. Carriers serving the route between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Incheon Airport in Seoul include Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Asiana, with a one-way trip starting from around £300. Express trains from Incheon to downtown Seoul depart every 20–40 minutes and take 40 minutes; the slower, more regular trains make several stops along the route but still only take an hour to the center of town. At half the price and five times the frequency, these are probably the better bet, assuming you’re not in a crazy hurry. And if you’re really in no rush, you could even consider making the epic voyage from Singapore to Seoul by rail. Not for the faint of heart, this method takes you up through Malaysia, and across across Thailand and Laos (with a bit of bus travel required here), then onwards through Vietnam and China before finally catching the ferry from Qingdao in North Korea to Incheon in South Korea – because you can’t cross the North/South Korea border by land. If spending several days traveling 7,000 kilometers through unfamiliar countries on public transport sounds like an utterly absurd idea, that’s because it probably is. But adventurous souls with time on their hands could make it a reality, experiencing amazing coastal vistas, jungle trails, supercities, traditional villages and a mix of wildly different cultures along the way. Or, you know, go as far as Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok and catch your onward flight from there – both also epic adventures with plenty of fun to be had along the way! Save on attractions and activities in Singapore and Seoul Save on admission to Singapore and Seoul attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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