> > by Christine Pfeiffer
Two new multibillion-dollar Integrated Resorts, which opened in Singapore last year, have transformed the Lion City from a shopping and eating stopover into an electrifying entertainment hub. These days, Singapore’s new attractions make it a worthy holiday destination that stands firmly on its own two feet.
The Integrated Resorts – Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands – have turned Singapore into a magnet for celebrity chefs and glamorous international brands.Resorts World Sentosa is located on Sentosa Island, a former British garrison linked by a bridge to the main island. It has six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios and the lively FestiveWalk entertainment precinct packed with restaurants and shops.
Board the Singapore Flyer for jaw-dropping views of Marina Bay Sand’s SkyPark, which is a 1.2ha tropical oasis that sits atop the three soaring Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 200m in the sky. SkyPark is the length of four and a half A380 jumbo jets and has landscaped gardens with 250 types of trees and 650 types of plants, a 150m swimming pool, restaurants and observation decks.
In April, two new nightclubs, Pangaea and Avalon opened in Marina Bay’s futuristic-looking glass crystal pavilion. Pangaea’s celebrity followers in New York, Miami and London include A-listers such as Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Moss and Will Smith. Celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck, Tetsuya Wakuda and Joel Robuchon have opened new restaurants here. Even though the party is only just beginning, the Lion City is already a roaring success.
City’s sexiest bar: 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar (www.1-altitude.com) for its sleek design and glittering 360-degree view of the city.
Best Romantic Dining: Equinox Restaurant for a top-of-the-world degustation on the 70th floor with jaw-dropping views and a fine Asian inspired menu.
Sensational Shopping: The shopping hub at the junction of Orchard Road and Scotts Road for swanky upscale department stores like ION, Tangs, Wisma Atria, Shaw Centre and Wheelock Place.
Don’t miss: A soothing Singapore Flower Ritual treatment for couples in a garden pavilion of Spa Botanica on Sentosa Island.
Couples will love: Watching the romantic sunsets from Sentosa Island and allowing themselves to be swept away by exciting events at the new casinos, restaurants, bars and clubs.