Bad Luck Titi - Episode #1: The Damaged Passport

The day had started well, after a solid night sleep in what is meant to be my jungle bungalow for the upcoming diving season at Khao Lak, Thailand. I got picked up by taxi and transferred on time to Phuket airport, after a 90 minutes ride where I slowly woke up sipping a coffee in my beloved takeaway tumbler, listening to awesome tunes from my selection, such as this one.

At the airport, I handed my passport to a ‘Document check’ assistant of the airline. She tells me “your passport damaged, wait please”, and sends me to the farthest away counter. The lady made some embarrassed faces before telling me I cannot board the flight to Singapore. The reason is: my passport is damaged. The thing is, I came from Singapore with this passport, which is indeed slightly cut off and wrinkled on the one page that matters, but no one had ever told me anything else than “be careful Sir, your passport page is tearing off, don’t lose it”. It still read fine at automatic gates everywhere I travelled to recently. Despite me pointing this out, I get told that I will get denied entry in Singapore with this passport.
“But I came from there!!!” I complained. “Please ask again to your supervisor! This passport is functional! If you swipe it, it will find my identity!”

Now, what worried me immediately is that my 30 days tourist visa expires that same day. And the chance of getting a new French passport done in Thailand within a day probably equals the number of fucks given to Donald Trump about decency. None. I insisted but the supervisor came in person to tell me that I better redo a passport in the kingdom because being flown to Singapore and denied entry would surely mean that I would be sent back to Thailand and denied entry here as well. Result of the operation: me, stuck in the no man’s land of Phuket airport. Not an option I value highly. After a few more despaired attempts, I admitted my defeat and walked away to focus on solving the next problems to come. 

My visa expires today and if I don’t manage to extend it, tomorrow, I’m illegal in a country that isn’t exactly known for the kindness of its “justice” system. Not an option either. After a distress call to my lovely girlfriend, I get the sound advice of calling the French embassy to see if there is any way I can obtain an emergency/temporary travel document that would let me board that flight. I am being told to send an email.  I send it and thankfully, get a reply within one hour. The subject of my email, “Urgent. Help. Stuck in Phuket Airport”, might have helped to get a quick reply... Flight is already missed, but it seems little compared to the nightmare to come.

Embassy’s email lists 2 options for me. 
Option 1: gather some admin documents, pictures and shit, and make an appointment at embassy in Bangkok (usually 1 months lead time), and then wait a good 15 days after papers submission for the passport delivery.
Are you still with me? Now, here is the simple math problem of the day: provided that Thibaut renews its current tourist visa to a maximum of 30 more days before he needs to get out of the country (with a valid passport of course), and that the lead time to get a new valid passport from his national administration stands at a minimum of 45 days, when can Thibaut leave the country?

Exactly.

He fucking can’t. 

Which leaves me with option 2: ask for a “laissez passer” (right to cross a border) at Bangkok embassy, valid once and only for a return flight to France, where I will have ample time to ask for a new passport and return to Thailand if I am masochist enough.
I am indeed supposed to start my job as a scuba diving instructor in Khao Lak, Thailand, on November 1st, under the reserve of my obtention of a work permit, and a… non-immigrant Visa B from the Thai authorities...

Now, my only chance not to incur stupid flight costs to France is to score an earlier appointment for a passport renewal, for which I am on permanent standby.

nb: I voluntarily omitted the part of the story where I’m stressing over the visa renewal at Phuket immigration office, because your head might hurt if you ever read this until the end. My head hurts too. 

Hacking the expensive Singapore lifestyle: Basic Tips for Minimalists, Mustachians, Foreign Newcomers and Budget Travellers

Saving on Food

Basement food courts

One great thing with Singapore is that you can still eat for realtively cheap in the beloved local "foodcourts" and "hawker places". There you will find all sorts of local, regional and sometimes international cuisine for prices ranging from 3 S$ to 10 S$ (and more for seafood). You might here the locals complaining about the rising prices in these places, but in the 8 years I have spent in Singapore, I observed no more than a price increase roughly following inflation. Some foodcourts have also somehow gentrified and hipsterised with craft beer stall, international fares, etc... 

Still the best option to eat out deliciously, on the cheap, in a convivial, most local setting. 
Warning though, the frequent consumption of these dishes has to be integrated in a well balanced diet, otherwise of the pounds added to your waistline.

Loyalty programs

The thing with big, dense cities like Singapore is that there is a fierce competition between companies for floor space (quite abused by landlords too), manpower, and clientele which results in strong efforts to create loyalty within the customer base for certain merchants. So if the loyalty card is free, take it! Frequent purchases will reward you handsomely at certain eateries. 

"No go zones"

There are some places that are better left undiscovered in general. I'm thinking in particular about riverfront restaurants in the city centre, particularly on Boat Quay, but also on Clarke Quay. Basically tourist scams selling overpriced seafood for the most obvious kinds.

Eat later

Some apps such as Eatigo offer discounted price if you make bookings for outside peak hours. A solution that might appeal to Night Owls and other smart spenders. 
Also:
Why don't you "ta pao" the rest of this delicious and large size pizza for your next home meal? 

Saving on Rent

Share a flat

If you are not a family with kids, why not share a flat when you arrive in Singapore? It is a good way to split the bills and meet more people when arriving in a new city? 
A single room in a condo flat will cost you somewhere between 600 and 1000 S$
A double room somewhere between 800 and 1,400 
A master bedroom somewhere between 1000 and up to 2000 in more luxurious appartments
 
HDB
"When in Rome, ..." Most singaporeans live in collective housing towers known as HDB (for Housing Development Board). Whilst looking very rustic, brutalist, and overdense from the outside, many appartments can be found that are very spacious and comfortable. For french people out there, it might remember you of the "HLM" of our cities' suburbia, but forget it immediately: Singapore HDBs are operating at a much higher standard of quality and especially security. Living in a HDB will cost you probably somewhere between 20 to 50% cheaper as a condo flat of the same size. So if you are not sure you are going to use this pool and this tennis court, think twice.  


Government houses on auction

I am letting you in a special little secret. There is a website which list government property up for rent. Usually unfurnished, they have the particularity to represent some aspects of Singapore heritage, usually architecturally. Now, you have to make a bid on auction after quite a bid of red tape, and be ready to drop in a substantial deposit for the place. But, you will find some stunning, charming, unique places out there that you could score for a very good price if you are lucky. 
 

Saving on Party

Don't hit the obvious spots

Ladies, there are plenty of bars courting you for your presence on some nights of the week. Use it. 
Ladies, there are plenty of men keen to take you out for dinner & drinks after meeting a first time online or in the real world. Do not abuse it. If you are not interested, be respectful, and don't go on Tinder-sponsored dinners. Don't be that person.

Go KTV

Not necessarily the cheapest option out there, but definitely a good solution to go out and have fun and a good laugh with your friends! 

Join club guestlists on FB

Some people specialise in bringing people to clubs by having guestlists under their name. Find them on Facebook and hit up some cool events and parties for free  

Buy your alcool at the duty free

If you are lucky enough to travel for work, buy your alcool at the duty free on your return! If your own bar is full, be a good friend and ask around you!

Saving on Sport, Clothing & Gear

Government public facility

Singapore has very high quality public sport facilities. Most expats don't know it and prefer to spend fortunes in downtown gyms or yoga studios asking for fortunes. 
Check the Active.SG portal to register and find your sport facility nearby that you can use for pennies.

Sport passes 

Some companies have developped subscription models that let you access to a high number of classes and sport sessions for an affordable monthly fee

Fave (ex-Groupon) 

Sport places desperate to attract new clients will post great trial deals on these platforms to entice you to open their door. You probably will have to survive the sales pitch for you to sign in at the end of the class, but if you do, well, you could probably try 20 different sports and facilities for a full year before having to start paying the 'real' price for these activities.

Carousell

Do you absolutely need a brand new sport bag or tennis racket bought at the full price at the shop?If you know what you want, go onto the Carousell mobile app and try to find it a second hand first. Your wallet will worship you.

Saving on Travel

Bank rewards

If you are eligible for credit card with cashback rewards, go for it. As with all credit cards though, beware of hidden fees and make sure you set up an automatic repayment at the end of the months so that you don't end up which silly high fees to pay.

Bus it from Golden Mile Tower
For trips to nearby Malaysia, think that you can actually go there by land. Keep the plane for longer distance. There plenty of companies that offer comfy bus trips to the main cities in peninsular Malaysia for pretty cheap. Think about bringing:
- ear plugs as some bus drivers think it's cool to play  terrible malay series at over 100dB from the crappy TVs and stereo. Not worse than the screams of duty free and food offering of low cost plane carriers, if you have to compare.
- sleeping masks for the same TVs lights
- jackets/sweater/beanie: you'd not think that modern buses can recreate polar temperatures under tropical lattitudes, but trust me, they can, and will.  

Watch for the weekly sales : newsletter
If you are a compulsive traveler consumer, actually read the airlines newsletter as you might found great deals for traveling around the region. 

Fly from Indonesia / Malaysia

If you have time, flying from Batam or Johor Bahru will help you score great flight prices as compared to flying off from Singapore. You can reach JB airport by bus + taxi, and Batam airport by ferry + taxi. Especially valid for far away Indo destinations.

Book ahead of time / Play with departure dates / Avoid public holidays and long weekends effects...

Usual money saving rules apply in Singapore as everywhere else. Try and use different computers between first checking the prices and booking as airlines might track your cookies and jack up the prices as they already know if you are likely to book that flight. NB: this practice is now prohibited in Europe and carefully monitored but I am not sure about Asia...

Voila! Hope this list can help some of you. Do you have some more tips? If you do, please share them in the comments section below.

100 Eating Spots You Must Visit in Singapore, an Expat list.

Breakfast & Coffee

Toastbox / Ya Kun Kaya Toast / Kiliney Kopitiam (Local)


These establishments are true Singapore classics, and the upgraded version of the drink stall at any foodcourt... Go there once in a few mornings to grab your singaporean breakfast of soft boiled eggs, kaya or peanut butter toasts, and of course your favorite variation of kopi.

Good morning, Kaya set!

Old Tea Hut (Local)

This little beverage parlor on Robinson Road has managed to create an impressive following for their traditional teas and kopis at cheap fares, which is no small feat in the CBD.  

House (Local / Fusion)

A cosy spot for a no-nonsense brunch or afternoon tea with friends, surrounded by lush greenery in a one of the former reconverted army barracks of Dempsey Hill. Their homemade ginger tea rocks.

Awfully Chocolate

The Katong restaurant / pastry shop has just the right vibe for me. Relaxed and minimalistic, whilst modern and elaborate. Their dessert selection is obviously AWFUL for chocolate lovers, and their brunch food also deserves kudos. 
Quite a hipster's heaven, Maison Ikkoku is a pleasant high end coffee place in the heart of Kampong Glam, the historical malay neighborhood. I recommend you also venture to the second and third floor, where you will find a little store, and a comfortable cocktail bar serving delicious bespoke drinks. I recently heard they will open a new outlet at Fort Canning.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Do you know many coffee places that keep the previous owner's building name? Me neither. CSHH has a nice coffee bar, a selection of cakes and decent brunch options. Their building also hosts coffee roasters Papa Palheta, and a design / accessories shop on the second floor. Craft beers are served at night in the courtyard. A nice little adress in the Jalan Besar area. 

Foodcourt & Affordable dining

Lau Pa Sat

The most legendary foodcourt of Singapore, open 24/7, smack in the middle of the Central Business District (CBD). It gathers under one roof, a very large extent of what Singapore food has to open, and beyond, covering almost all South East Asian and Asian cuisines. On one side of the foodcourt is Boon Tat street, where a dozen of wooden stalls grill satay skewers for patrons in the evening.

Adam Road foodcourt (Local)


This hawker in the otherwise quiet area of Cluny / Adam road has a great selection of stalls, including an extremely popular Nasi Lemak.

no name (Chinese)

Between 2 blocs of Lorong 27 Geylang, you will find a popular eatery that seems to cater mostly to the local, chinese immigrant worker population of the neighborhood. It is always packed, so come a bit late to score a table (late to SG standards, like 8PM). Full + PRC = Good food + Super cheap. Try especially their dumplings, beancurd skin rolls, and cumin beef.

Kampong Glam Cafe (Malay)

Another institution, Kampong Glam Cafe sits at the heart of the touristic precinct of...Kampong Glam. It serves all kinds of mee & nasi goreng, and has also a ready-to-eat nasi padang selection. It has a very laid back atmosphere, and people come here to have long dinners and equally long conversations sipping teh tarik or iced tea. 

Yes! Natural (Local vegetarian)


This company looks like they are slowly going to swallow the whole street, as they now sport, side-by-side, a bakery, a restaurant, and a supermarket with vegetarian, nutritious, organic, gluten-free foods and beverages. It's not cheap, but it's quality, hey. The restaurants has a 7$ set meal, but I would recommend that your try and share their cereal prawns, vegetarian curry and dragonfruit sago.

Everyday Lunches

Relish Burger (Local / Fusion)
On the 2nd floor of the posh Cluny Court, right opposite Botanic Gardens MRT station, Relish has a good selection of (pricey) burgers, and healthy options.


Salad+ 
Salad joints are numerous in the Central Business District but to find the right balance of ingredients variety, quality and value is the hardest. This one is my favorite, with good size portion, prompt preparation and under 10$. Tick the boxes to choose your basic ingredients, , supplementary feeds and eventually prime feeds to compose your perfect light lunch.

Salad Monster
Another good spot for salad, with a different twist. Here, the salads are already mixed ("chicken pesto", low fat avocado, monster chicken,...) and you can choose from one to four servings mixing the mixed salads. Even faster than the above, and you can blend in some pasta too.

Riverside Indonesian BBQ, 313@Somerset
Before or after a shopping spree at Orchard Road, you might want to fix your cravings with some good food! Go find some at Basement 3 of the mall where you'll find the Riverside Indonesian BBQ.
Just try their Ayam Penggang Set, and you'll be back for more. A roasted chicken thigh, dipped in a sweet sticky dark sauce, with a side of thin omelette, and white rice topped with yellow curry sauce... Food deliciousness, the street-food way.

The Soup Spoon
Ahhh Soup Spoon. I always thought salad bars would be a fad and I have usually been disappointed by the quality of the soups... Soup spoon manages to get most right, especially if you go for their soup specials that rotate every month or so. Their menu with a regular soup, half a sandwich or wrap and a drink / apple / chips or friand is really excellent value. Damn, even the mini side coleslaw salad that comes with sandwich is delicious. Take their loyalty card!

The Quarters
The Quarters is a bit of an hybrid between foodcourts classics, western fast food, and a seated international restaurant. One thing is certain, every dish will feature a local twist. Value is decent and some dishes are really yummy, although not specially on the lighters side. Thinks salted egg aioli, rendang burgers, and chili crab pasta. 

Prive at Keppel Bay
Sitting right by the Marina at Keppel, chances are that Prive is not standing on your way... However, the posh yet family oriented and relaxed atmosphere makes for a nice location that will make you feel like you are on holidays if you don't mind the detour. I remember having a very good, simple plate of pasta there. Pasta is not that easy to execute properly (and I am French with a big love for Italian food, just sayin')

 Ramen Keisuke
The king of all ramen in Singapore. Or maybe I'm just brainwashed by a very hip and efficient word of mouth epidemic, but try them for yourself. Keisuke's ramen are excellent and it's no wonder that they keep opening more and more outlets across the island.

Mexout
Mexican burritos in a post-industrial hipster setting. Filling, wholesome, and an almost decent value for money. That sums it well I guess.
 
The Latin Quarter
Salads and Mexican classics are on the menu of this newly opened outlet in Church Street, very centrally located. Excellent value for money, and a lot of space to sit - but not for long, the word is out. 

Folks Collective
A very cosy decoration makes this restaurant serving contemporary thai food a good adress in the otherwise walt disneyish setting of China Square.

Dinner

A landmark in Singapore's seafood scene, I have always been pleased by the quality of the food at Long Beach Seafood at Dempsey. Must try: Chili Crab, Silver fish rice, Bamboo clams, and think about remaining hydrated with many jugs of Tiger Beer. Perfect for a convivial great dinner with friends and family, though pricey (80$/head easily with beer)
Reservation advised on weekends.

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant
A very good adress for all things vietnamese (insert joke about vietnamese girl here...), Joo Chiat also sports a few good and simple restaurants. Long Phung is my favorite, both from a food and atmosphere standpoint. There Beef Pho was simply succulent for the price.

Probably one of the best fine dining italian restaurant in Singapore. Its classy interiors put you in the perfect mood to enjoy some delicious dishes, from artistic salads to pasta to lobster and foie gras in creative compositions. 

My Little Tapas Place
In the ever more popular Club Street, it's rare to find small plates packed with flavour, with a great selection of wines. OK, maybe not, but the tapas from this joint stretch from the good to to-die-for range, and I have never been disappointed by their wines, so although it sits on the pricier side of tapas places, you have the assurance of quality in a classy but relaxed room. 

Beirut Grill
Long standing Beirut grill masters its middle east cuisine from shish taouk to mixed grills, hummus and baba ghanoush. After dinner, if you finish late enough, it's totally worth carrying on with the night at their shisha lounge / mini club on the second floor aptly named Magic carpet. It can get pretty fun and wild in this little place. Their sister outlet Cedar Grill on Boat quay is also one of the rare adresses worth eating at on this stretch full of tourist scamming seafood restaurants.

Melben Seafood at AMK
A very local seafood eating joint that has a selection of good value for money options

Cicheti
Probably the best casual italian restaurant in town. I even had my birthday there once.


Carnivore
For meat eaters, Carnivore brings the brazilian churrascaria to the island state, where huge skewers of various meats are brought to your table for you to say Yes, or No. Hint: you will say yes often and leave very full after this all-you-can eat meat buffet...

Guiga Korean BBQ restaurant
I have become a big fan of korean BBQ restaurants and this joint pleases my taste buds everytime. Melt in your mouth beef with garlic sauce? Kimchi? Done. 

Din Tai Fung
A big classic of the SG/Asian dumplings restaurants, DTF can pride itself on a very consistent  quality. Prices went up recently but it is still a safe adress for delicious dumplings.


Whole Earth
Vegetarian food in the CBD, with a good selection of local favourites, such as Cereal Prawns. Warning: this is not cheap.

Braseiro
A nice meat eating place in the east, Joo Chiat area. Good value for money.

(Fine) Dinner



Taratata
French brasserie style done right. No fuss, no excessive sophistication, great taste. Love it.   

Oso
Great ambiance at this italian restaurant. Dim lighting, comfy tables, and neat presentation. This is a great all-rounder restaurant whether you want a fine dinner with friends or a good date.

Pasta Brava
Their fresh pasta is really awesome. I like the "draw on the table cloth with chalk" concept. It has been a great ice breaker for me the first time I went to restaurant with my (now) partner.

Tamarind Hill
Hilltop colonial setting, fusion thai food and great cocktails. Their happy hour is a best kept secret, if you can make your way there...

Halia
Meaning Ginger in Malay, Halia is a classic of the Botanic Gardens, with a varied, creative menu that has several fusion options

Brasserie Gavroche
A refuge for french people missing their cheese & wine, Gavroche offers boards of the dairy crack and cold cuts that make for great "apero"

Dinner & Drinks

Super Loco
A replica of the successful Lucha Loco, Super Loco delivers great contemporary mexican. 

Piedra Negra (Mexican)
At the end of Haji Lane, you will find Piedra Negra, a lively restaurant where you can indulge in some quality mexican foods and have loud talks with friends, Al Fresco.
I love their Salmon Ceviche, super fresh and tangy.

There is something really great about Lucha Loco that even the high price practiced can't destroy: maybe it's the delicious mexican food served (their tacos are as close to the real thing as you can get in Singapore), or the pleasant setting, in & out.
Hola! Awesome tapas and plancha food awaits at this joint on Craig Road. I particularly like the fact that the bar is open through some sort of a large counter which means that smoker friends can be on the outside whilst still talking with you, standing inside, at the same table. Their house red is excellent and well priced.

Established on the hype Duxton hill among other bars, I was amazingly surprised when the tapas came to our table and my mouth! It probably does not get as close to the real spanish tapas as here, with delicious patatas aioli, classic jamon iberico cold cuts, scallops in wine sauce, spicy prawns.

Moosehead Kitchen - Bar
Delicious bites and small plates of Mediterranean foods await at this groovy kitchen at the corner of Telok Ayer St and Cross Street. We had tzatziki, crunchy feta, burrata stracciatella, and chicken bulgogi bites - all very well executed. Plus, they play some Wu-Tang Clan in the back ground. Loved it.


My Awesome Cafe
Great place for salad in the Telok Ayer area. A favourite for lunch time and afterwork too, thanks to good prices.

(just) Drinks 

A long way north will take you to Handle Bar, quite a peculiar place with impressive designs around the biking / motoring theme that is worth a visit.
You find a nice selection of beers and western snacks and the place is huge, so you should be able to find a spot anytime during the week. Weekends are populated with locals from the north who probably don't have so much of a choice in this area...

Ciderpit
Who knew there could be a cider specialised place in SG? Well, there you have it, in Joo Chiat area.


Simply the best selection of Whiskies in Singapore. You can buy a bottle and keep it there to come and savour it among connaisseurs for a year. They have a new mixologists who also crafts splendid cocktails (although clearly on the pricey side)

 Wine Connection
A very successful chain of wine shop-cum-wine bar-food place, 'WineCo' is undoubtedly where to go for wine 'On the cheap and lively' in SG. Some will not appreciate the very loud music at their biggest location.  

A japanese urban themed place to enjoy a view of Marina bay, and join CBD office workers for some alfresco drinks in a groovy and loud atmosphere.

Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill
There are not so many places where to go to have a few beers and snacks in that part of the city, but chuckwagon delivers with a roomy beer garden and chicken wings in your preferred degree of hotness...
The Spiffy Dapper
Cocktail bar that will surprise you with its ambiance

Anti:Dote
A very solid cocktail bar at the ground floor or Fairmont hotel. While it's not the most gorgeous location, Anti:Dote serves delicious concoctions in a comfortable, elegant setting. 

Blu Jazz Cafe
Some say all paths lead to Blu Jazz. At the heart of the Haji lane area, Blu Jazz has been pleasing crowds of locals and visitors alike for years, with their open air large terrasses, affordable pints, and decent food options.

Boathouse Prelude
Certainly one of the nicest views of the Marina you can get. Prelude is a great rooftop bar, if you can afford it...

 Stuttgart Blackforest S-Cafe
A bit of an oddity, the blackforest S-Cafe attempts to teleport you to Southern Germany, for beer-fueled conversatio. 

Bar Stories

A bespoke cocktail bar in Haji Lane. We like the quiet of the place, it's unpretentious, but we warn you, cocktails here are going to hurt your wallet. 


Atlas

As a gin aficionado, this is a favorite. With the largest selection of gins in Asia (the world?), Atlas would already stand out on its own if it were not situated in the hall of Parkview hotel, a flamboyant, rococo architectural feat. I also found that the music played to be awesome. Upbeat, elegant and conducive for good talks.

Drinks & Dance, Rooftop Bars

Tanjong Beach Club
The beach bar of Tanjong Beach Club does a decent job at creating that jetsetter / Miami beach atmosphere, where good-looking people sport their abs and tan while sipping expensive beers, cocktails and champagne flutes by the sea-facing swimming pool. Day beds spread on its private artificial beach. Come early in the week-end with your volley ball net to play and enjoy the bar's music as well. Sunday afternoon will see the biggest crowd. It will definitely not be for everyone but it has the merit of existing in Singapore.

The highest rooftop bar & club in Singapore. It's visually jaw-dropping and breezy. Musically sepaking?  Mehhh, it depends... Quite commercial in general. 

Loof 
One of my favorite rooftop bars in Singapore, Loof sports a pleasant view over Raffles Hotel and the city, with some creative south-east-asia-influenced cocktails, in a classy setting. Good tunes are being spun there. Happy hours there are good value.

Screening Room
One of the oldest hip rooftop bar of Singapore, Screening room is a loud and packed bar that will offer you a lively experience. As the name implies, it features a screening room below where some regular showings will introduce you to more than just mall-friendly blockbusters. 

Canvas
Canvas has probably the longest lasting, indie music & art program from all clubs in Singapore. Drinks are not always cheap, but if you find your music style, you'll have a good time there. Quite a landmark for the LGBT community as well.

Lantern
A very lavish rooftop bar on top of Fullerton hotel. 

Brunch & Tea time specialists

Riders Cafe (Local / Fusion)
A laidback place for a sunny weekend brunch. It is located a bit outside city center, in farm-like (SG-style though...). Horses lovers will just love it.
Reservation advised.

Run by local celebrity chef Bjorn Chen, this modern, hipsterish kind of place delivers delicious middle-east inspired fusion dishes and is a very popular brunch location.  

PS Cafe
Another classic brunch location, PS Cafe quality is always there, but comes at a price... 

Miscellaneous


Jones The Grocer (Western / International)
For their awesome shop and cheese selection. You can also walk around and look for antiques in the surrounding shops lodged in the revamped military barracks of Dempsey road, which makes for a pleasant afternoon stroll.

Spize Mediterranean Grill (Local, Indian, Mediterranean)
Probably the most famous joint for preventive anit-hangover food. The 2 locations (River Valley and Bedok) of Spize are open 24/7 during the week-end. The East Singapore an open-air local restaurant that has taken over many of its neighbors to cover a long stretch of street. It has a large selection of foods to cater for everyone's taste. One of the best place to eat meat at a low price and taste some good local stuff (Nasi Kampung, Roti John,...). A favouritte among malays and chinese alike, this place is far from fine-dining but pleasant and good-value for money.


The Projector


An old cinema has reborn! A team of movie fanatics crowdsourced the revamping of 2 old theater rooms at Lavender / Bugis. Showing classic movies, indie movies that will not make it to SG cinema mainstays, specific topics (bands, german cinema, etc...), this is a huge gust of fresh air that The Projector blows on Singapore cultural scene.



Not to mention that the interiors are tastefully decorated with vintage cinema tools, that the access to the toilets is like walking into a mural art exhibition, and that beers and food are available at the bar and the new available rooftop bar at the carpark...

Look out for the Tests & Tastes sponsored seat in the Red Room :)

BONUS... 4 NO GO places...

Pasta Mania: terrible pasta

MOS burger: awful burgers

Boat Quay Seafood Restaurants: total ripoff

Orchard Road on Saturday afternoon: unless you like crowdbaths


Agree or Disagree with the above list? To be fair, I started it years ago... Things change quickly at restaurants and especially in Singapore... Still, I would love to know your thoughts!





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