A Quick 24 Hours in Singapore

When I say we had 24 hours in Singapore, I mean we actually had 15 hours in Singapore—call us crazy, I know. We arrived in the early afternoon from Bali, Indonesia, and had an early morning flight from the notorious Singapore airport the following day, officially bringing our honeymoon to an end.

For convenience, we decided to stay at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel, an IHG property that is literally connected to Terminal 3. This property was clean, spacious, and the rooms were incredibly soundproof, allowing for a great night’s sleep. While I know airport hotels aren’t many’s first choice, I am so glad we went this route and ultimately was not disappointed.

After dropping our bags off and freshening up at the hotel, we called an Uber and made our way towards Chinatown for the afternoon. With the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Singapore airport being located on the far east side of the island, this quick commute emphasized just how compact this country is. Within our 20 minute Uber ride, we had nearly made our way to the “halfway mark” of the island, driving past many of the amazing landmarks such as the Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands.

We spent the afternoon strolling through the streets of Chinatown, perusing the stalls of local goods and snagged a few souvenirs (little fridge magnets that looked like bowls of pho, yes please). Once it was time for a bite, we walked over to the Chinatown Complex, a multi-level food court full of local cuisine. Be adventurous and try a few different local dishes, such as Hainanese chicken rice.

By this point, it was early evening and we had a little bit of time to kill before the main event of our time in Singapore—a 12-course tasting menu at Restaurant Ibid, a Michelin-referred restaurant. We soaked up the final hour of sunlight by grabbing drinks by the Singapore river before walking to dinner.

We knew we wanted to end our honeymoon with a “bang” and as self-proclaimed foodies who had never experienced a 12-course tasting menu, we knew that a dining experience this spectacular, hosted in Singapore, would be nothing short of amazing.

Restaurant Ibid was created by a lawyer-turned-chef, who was the winner of MasterChef Asia, Woo Wai Leong. The restaurant is located in the Boat Quay neighborhood, and is small and intimate on the inside. They offer limited seating at the chef’s counter, which I highly recommend requesting so that you are in on all of the action. A member of the team talks you through the entire meal, explaining the reasoning behind their culinary decision-making, which made for a really special evening. Each course was delicious and unique, making sure we were beyond full by the time the final course came.

If this dining experience interests you, note that they do not make many accommodations for food allergies. My husband has a shellfish allergy, and they were able to make the necessary adjustments for him. They note, however, that they are unable to accommodate guests who are dairy-free or gluten-free on their website.

After waddling out of the restaurant, we had energy for a nightcap. We made our way over to HighHouse, the perfect destination for 360 degree views of Singapore’s skyline. Since we didn’t have time to experience the famous Marina Bay Sands first hand, having a glass of wine and viewing the stunning architecture from the HighHouse lounge was the perfect solution.

And just like that, our one day extravaganza in Singapore came to an end. For those who plan on spending more time in Singapore, I am incredibly jealous. While my time was short and sweet, it only made me want to return for a longer stay. You will not be disappointed by the views, cleanliness, and efficiency that this country has to offer.

For more information and insider recommendations, visit our Singapore page.