Singapore Slings

Things to do in Singapore for a Birthday

By Adam Fraiel

It’s your birthday, congratulations! The fact you’re spending it in Singapore means you’re a lucky person indeed, so let’s make the most of it. We’ve put together a little guide to ensure your birthday in Singapore will be one to remember.

  • Universal Studios Singapore
  • AJ Hackett Sentosa's Giant Swing
  • Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin
  • Sentosa 4D AdventureLand
  • Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience
  • Puzzle Hunts
  • Raffles Courtyard
  • Tiger Brewery Tour
  • CÉ LA VI SkyBar

You may be a year older, but that’s not slowing you down. Get the adrenaline pumping with a trip to Universal Studios Singapore - the only Universal Studios park in Southeast Asia. Take your pick from the seven themed areas: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar.

Enjoy white-knuckle rides like Battlestar Galactica or Revenge of the Mummy, or celebrate a more leisurely, if not a little wetter, birthday party drifting along with the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure.

Plenty of dining options, selfie opportunities, and the chance to grab a cold beverage or two to cool down - a trip to Universal Studios Singapore is a fine choice for those still young at heart, no matter how many candles are on your cake.

Hungry for more action? Head over to AJ Hackett Sentosa’s Giant Swing. 40 meters above the ground, you’ll enjoy the stunning, peaceful, panoramic view of the city, before launching through the air at speeds up to 120kph!

If you want to slow things down while still keeping the level of awesome nice and high, how about a nature kayaking adventure across the open ocean? When your friends ask how you spent your birthday, tell them you kayaked around a tropical island, before navigating mangroves surrounded by otters, kingfishers, and eagles.

If that’s all a little too ‘outdoorsy’ for you, how about moving indoors and celebrating your birthday in 4D? Sentosa 4D AdventureLand combines all the thrills of a theme park without ever leaving your seat. Choose from a mysterious island, the Wild West, an old mine, or a fantasy land. All use state-of-the-art technology to provide an incredibly immersive experience - feel, touch, smell, and hear every crazy detail.

More? You want more excitement? Okay, then what are you waiting for? Go fly a fighter jet! From the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience is as close as it comes to flying a real jet plane. The pre-flight briefing ensures you’re familiar with the controls before you take to the open skies and live your Top Gun fantasy.

A birthday with friends is always more fun, and what better way to bond than putting your heads together and solving brain-twisting clues in a crazy puzzle hunt?

Puzzle Hunt in Fort Canning Park is a military-themed outdoor adventure, where you’ll take on the role of soldiers on a quest to discover the hidden secrets of Singapore’s army. Traversing Canning Park, you run around searching for clues and puzzles to solve.

Puzzle Hunt in Little India sees you assume the role of a code breaker, helping an archaeologist dig up clues to unlock a secret treasure chest. Work as a team to solve the riddles while exploring this stunning, iconic area of Singapore.

Fancy being an advisor to the King who’s lost his memory? Puzzle Hunt in Chinatown combines deciphering clues with a fun learning experience, teaching you all about the history and modern-day culture in Chinatown.

These puzzle experiences are an excellent way to get off the beaten path and gain a unique perspective of the city, all while having fun with friends.

For a little more adult fun, how about exploring the cultural beverages of Singapore?

You may have tried a Singapore Sling cocktail before, but have you ever had one in Singapore, surrounded by swaying palm trees and majestic white arches, in the very bar that invented the cocktail? No? Then your birthday party needs to swing by Raffles Courtyard and Long Bar.

If you’re a beer connoisseur, why not explore the history behind Singapore’s most famous beer, Tiger? Take a journey from milling the grain, to packaging and labeling, to the best part of all - pouring the perfect pint! Taking a tour of the Tiger Brewery will leave your head full of knowledge and your belly full of happiness.

Pouring your own perfect pint is a great experience, but it is your birthday after all. You shouldn’t have to lift a finger. If you want the drinks to come to you, treat yourself to an evening of luxury at CÉ LA VI SkyBar at Marina Bay Sands. Sat in the VIP section, 360-degree panoramic views of the city all around, and a frosty beverage in your hand... today is your day!

The only question left - how are you going to top it next year?

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Friends sharing vegetarian food across a large communal table.
Blog

Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Singapore

There’s no denying it: meat is big business in Singapore. A short stroll through any of the legendary hawker centers or wet markets confirms it, and many vegetarians will quail at the sight of ducks roasting on the spit, or stalls that advertise their wares by displaying a dangling pig carcass or two. But that’s just one side of the story. Singapore has come a long way in recent years, with vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up faster than bunnies in a cabbage patch, meaning there’s plenty of choice nowadays for the increasing number of people who favor a plant-based diet. Read on for our pick of the best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore. Whole Earth Awarded the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand for six years running (2016–2022), Whole Earth is fast becoming a Singapore institution. This cute downtown eatery styles its menu as “vegetarian cuisine for non-vegetarians” and, truly, even the most dedicated carnivore might be hard-pushed to tell the difference. Or, as one impressed punter gushed in their 5-star Tripadvisor review: “Vegetarian? Nah. Can’t be.” Thai and Peranakan cuisines are king here, with highlights that include fiery sambal chili, sweet and sticky honey lotus roots and crispy monkey head mushrooms in teriyaki sauce (NB: no monkeys were harmed in the preparation of this dish). Wash it all down with a zesty lime ice jelly and warming lemongrass tea. Yum. Find it: 76 Peck Seah St, Singapore 07933 Original Sin Can vegetarian food really be ‘sinful’? You bet it can! We’re talking sunny Mediterranean fare that includes the likes of creamy burrata, hearty lentil moussaka, crispy truffle fries and great slabs of devilishly indulgent tiramisu. Stuff yourself silly in the smart interior with its patterned banquettes, pretty glass murals, crisp white tablecloths and romantic candlelight. Or take it up a notch and dine al fresco beneath the stars at cute mosaic-tiled tables on the terrace. Easily one of Singapore’s best vegetarian dining experiences. Find it: #01-62, Blk 43 Jln Merah Saga, Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278115 Boneless Kitchen Looking for a casual Korean dining experience with stacks of delicious vegetarian sharing plates? Boneless Kitchen is the one for you. Grab a group of friends and head to this airy eatery in the Joo Seng area of Singapore, where all ingredients are sourced direct from Korea for authenticity and sauces and dishes are created from scratch on the premises. Order up the sundubu-jjigae (a smooth and spicy Korean broth), perfectly plump kimchi dumplings, gochujang-spiked bibimap and colorful kimbap (a bit like Japanese sushi rolls) and get stuck in! Find it: 1 Irving Place #01-31, The Commerze@Irving, Singapore 369546 Analogue Analogue – in its noble mission to save the planet – really doesn’t do things by halves. That eye-catching cerulean-blue bar that dips and flows like the ocean? It’s fully 3D printed from 1,600kg of recycled plastic bottles. The beer mats? Also recycled. If that’s not enough to get the conversation flowing, there’s also a long list of quite stunning planet-based cocktails. Try the Cactus with its smoky mezcal notes and refreshing hit of pink dragon fruit, prickly pear, and aloe vera. Or send yourself into orbit with a Spaceman, a delectable punch of gin, campari, peanut butter and sweet Kyoho grapes. The food menu at Analogue is equally enticing, with hearty jackfruit tacos, eggplant curry and a must-try fermented sourdough ice cream that may have you questioning whether you’ll ever feel the need to eat meat again. Find it: 30 Victoria Street, #01-31 Chijmes, Singapore 187996 The GoodBurger “Saving the world... one burger at a time” is the motto at The GoodBurger, a popular plant-based burger truck at the Coronation Shopping Plaza. Do your bit for the planet by tucking into some of the best Impossible burgers you’ll ever taste. Try the aromatic One Night in Bangkok for a spicy taste of Thailand. Or go high end with The Black Tie, with posh truffle, aioli and rocket. The Happy Days burger comes crammed with onion rings and smoky BBQ sauce, while What The Cluck – crispy Southern-fried chicken with cheese, pickles and garlic – will have you convinced you’re eating the real thing. Unmissable. Find it: Coronation Shopping Plaza, 587 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269707 Joie Vegetarian fine dining is very much the vibe at Joie (pronounced ‘joy’). Set in the tranquil surroundings of Orchard Central’s verdant rooftop garden, this sleek 11th-floor restaurant has panoramic views of Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping mecca. Inside the bright dining room, bronze lights, plush velvet armchairs and cozy banquettes set the scene for imaginative dishes such as Japanese kelp broth with tofu, truffle risotto and warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Find it: 181 Orchard Road Orchard Central #12-01 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896 Herbivore Herbivore is an unassuming Japanese joint in the Fortune Center inside which, in fact, vegan and vegetarian dining options abound. Perhaps the pick of the bunch, Herbivore’s sushi dishes do a very convincing impersonation of the real thing, with salmon pieces that both look and taste like actual fish. Grilled chicken and freshwater eel taste just like, well, chicken and eel, and there’s an extensive selection of zingy noodle and ramen dishes to pick and choose from. Colorful, flavorsome salads and moreish desserts complete the line-up at this veggie favorite. Find it: Fortune Center, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979 Hawker Centers While many vegetarians may balk at wandering through these traditional Singaporean street food emporia – due to the vast number of meat products on display – there are some fine veggie options to be found if you know where to look. And the atmosphere in these places, bustling with hungry locals, the air thick with steam and heavy with the aromatic scents of fragrant pan-Asian cooking, is something that should really be experienced by all visitors to the Garden City. Check out Victor Veggie at the Circuit Road center for his sticky satay skewers. Or hit up 33 Vegetarian in the Teck Ghee Market & Food Centre for the best poultry-free chicken and rice in town. There’s even a handful of hawker centers where vegetarian eateries can be found in abundance; try Bendemeer Market and Food Centre, Kim San Leng Food Centre or Redhill Market and Food Centre for a plant-based party in your mouth. Find them: Everywhere! There are over 100 hawker centers in the city. 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
Group of friends chatting and laughing over a meal in a restaurant.
Blog

Best Vegan Restaurants in Singapore

Plant-based meat and dairy alternatives have seen a massive surge in popularity in recent years, even among cultures where meat-eating is virtually a national sport. And no wonder: not only is a plant-based diet (obvs) a superior option for anyone opposed to breeding animals for food, veganism also has many other benefits, including reduced cholesterol and improved heart health. Now for the science bit: vegan food tastes waaaay better than all those nay-saying carnivores can possibly imagine. Trust us when we say that modern vegan foods have come a long way since their 1990s heyday of drab lettuce sandwiches, insipid vegetable broths and cardboard-flavored nut roasts. The 21st Century’s imaginative vegan dishes now really bring the party to your tastebuds leaving many diners hard-pressed to distinguish mouthwatering plant-based meat substitutes from the real thing. We took a deep dive to seek out the best vegan restaurants in Singapore Cultivate Cafe Located in the historic Tanjong Pajar district of Singapore’s CBD, Cultivate Cafe is the jewel in the crown of the Maxwell Reserve Hotel, a grand colonial-style old dame that’s been doing business here for over a century. Inside, colorful plant-based taste sensations are expertly whipped up using locally sourced organic ingredients and served in plush surroundings with wood-paneling, gorgeous 1920s-style lighting, shelves that fairly groan with antiquarian books, and stately velvet chairs with Liberty-style prints. The menu is an absolute vegan’s paradise. Think steamed white asparagus with Turkish figs and Sicilian olive dressing, zingy pad Thai and leek and pumpkin tart. Wash down with a cold-pressed juice or vegan beer and finish up with ice cream or cake. Dark chocolate and prune brownie with bitter chocolate ganache? Count us in! Find it: Maxwell Reserve Hotel, 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857 Afterglow Close to Chinatown, Afterglow offers a wide, varied and entirely plant-based menu. We defy any doubters to try the cheesy cauliflower bites (made with cashew milk), kimchi avocado rolls or marinated mushroom scallops and not become an instant convert to vegan food. This one’s child-friendly too, with kiddie faves like chicken nuggets and meatballs represented by moreish lentil flaxseed nuggets and teriyaki mushroom balls. Burgers, noodles, tacos and an impressive lasagne made with mushrooms, walnuts, pesto and zucchini sheets complete the savory line-up. Don’t miss the frankly unbelievable cheesecake, with cashew cream, medjool dates, maple syrup and coconut oil. Undoubtedly one of the very best vegan restaurants in Singapore. Find it: 24 Keong Saik Road #01-0, Singapore 089131 Genesis You’ll find Genesis just a short stroll over the Coleman Bridge from Fort Canning Park. It’s a fine option for cheap and good vegan food in Singapore, with pocket-friendly dishes including delectable steamed dumplings, aromatic nyonya laksa and claypot rice with mushrooms, vegetables, cashews and soy sauce. Desserts include the peculiar Malaysian favorite cendol, a sugary iced dessert with cashew milk, kidney beans and wormlike green jelly noodles made with rice flour. Work it all off with a hike up the hill to Fort Canning Park where there are nine historical gardens to explore, including the city’s original botanic garden and another showcasing the colorful plant species collected, studied and planted by Sir Stamford Raffles in the early 19th Century. Find it: 2 Havelock Road, Singapore 059763 Warung Ijo You can’t really go wrong at any of the eateries in the atmospheric Kampong Glam neighborhood, but this vegan Indonesian joint is in a class all of its own. Compact, and popular enough that queues often form outside, this cute café is worth the wait for its zingy meat-free sambals, rendang fried rice and fragrant nasi padang. Order at the counter, grab a table and get stuck in! Afterwards, make for the cool indie boutiques on Haji Lane or get lost in Arab Street’s cavernous antique treasure troves, crammed to the rafters with Turkish handicrafts including textiles, ceramics and intricate mosaic lamps. Find it: 337 Beach Road, Singapore 199565 Casserole Hop on the cable car for a drop-off right outside the swanky Shangri-La Rasa resort on Sentosa Island. It’s here you’ll find Casserole, its meaty-sounding moniker belying the plant-based taste sensations that await within. Gorge on Middle Eastern spiced kebab and falafel, charcoal grilled satay skewers and Thai fish cakes for the win. And don’t miss the banana leaf dry-braised beef rendang, a perennial Casserole favorite that will leave you 100% convinced that what you’re tasting is real beef. Find it: Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Level 3, 101 Siloso Road, Sentosa Island 098970 Love Handle Love Handle: presumably so-named because, once inside, you won’t stop stuffing your face until you feel that waistband begin to tighten. Seriously though, this vegan butcher-cum-restaurant is a little bit special, serving up decadent, messy plant burgers that fairly ooze with sauces, pickles and (non-dairy) cheese alongside a tempting menu of rice and noodle dishes, fried chicken and waffles. Meat eaters: take a big appetite and an open mind and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Find it: 8 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069788 nomVnom There’s a handful of these burger joints scattered around the island; you’ll find them at Clarke Quay by Fort Canning Park, at Tai Seng and way up north in the Woodlands neighborhood. Each outlet has a different menu to try but all are laser-focused on serving up the finest plant-based patties in Singapore. Pair a satay burger with truffle fries and a refreshing pink guava juice or turn up the heat with a double crispy fishy wasabi burger and spicy kimchi soup. Yum. Find it: various locations Kind Kones What kind of list would this be if it didn’t include at least one ice cream emporium? A rubbish one, that’s what. So here it is: like nonVnom, Kind Kones has three outlets in Singapore, two of them along the shopping mecca that is Orchard Road, ideal for a little mid-spree refreshment. Popular favorites in this plant-based paradise include a decadent tiramisu, creamy double chocolate brownie, and the signature Blue Planet, made with butterfly pea flower, vanilla, matcha cake, and coconut and cashew milks. Find it: various locations 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
Family feeding elephants at Singapore Zoo.
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Mandai Wildlife Parks All on One Pass Discount

This vast tract of rainforest and wetland in north Singapore contains several of the island's premier attractions, namely Bird Paradise, River Wonders, Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari. But why visit just one when you can tick off all four with a single discounted pass? Read on for our guide to the available multi-park ticket options and short summaries of what to expect from each attraction.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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