Discover Singapore's unique Peranakan (people of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage) culture at The Intan, a private museum in an unassuming two-storey shop house brimming with the personal collection of seventh generation Peranakan, Alvin Yapp. Plan this ahead of time; visits are strictly by appointment only.

TATLER TIP

Together with the guided tour, they offer The Intan tea tour or The Intan lunch/dinner tour—with authentic nyonya kueh or hot dishes made by the museum owner's mother.

The Intan | 69 Joo Chiat Terrace, S(427231)

(Related: Home Tour: A Peranakan-Inspired House With Art Deco Details) 

Housed in two key monuments—the former Supreme Court and City Hall—the National Gallery Singapore is a design and art lover’s dream come true. It looks after the largest public collection of modern art in Singapore and Southeast Asia, with permanent key works from local artists like Liu Kang, Cheong Soo Pieng and Georgette Chen, visiting exhibitions such as Yayoi Kusama’s Life Is The Heart Of A Rainbow. From now until September 15, a provocative exhibition Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia 1960 – 1990s features 150 works, including influential Singaporean artist Tang Da Wu's They Poach the Rhino, Chop Off His Horn and Make This Drink. 

TATLER TIP

The museum shop by Gallery & Co. is a must-visit, with modern Singaporean-inspired items that make the best tourist mementos. The museum is also home to great restaurants: our picks are Odette (it's the best restaurants in Singapore) and National Kitchen by Violet Oon (for a luxe Singaporean meal).  

National Gallery Singapore | 1 St Andrew's Rd, S(178957)

(Related: 5 Museum Exhibitions To Visit Beyond Art Basel)

Created to be a contemporary take on the beloved community centre (cultural spaces in heartland communities), the Telok Ayer Arts Club was founded by Quek Sue-Shan as a space that brings music, art and food together. Discover and enjoy multidisciplinary art curated by Anmari Van Nieuwenhove alongside French-Mediterranean dishes by chef Bertram Leong. 

TATLER TIP

There are regular performances, wine-and-draw workshops as well as themed nights – check out their calendar before heading down.

Telok Ayer Arts Club | 2 McCallum Street, S(064043)

Newly opened in April earlier this year, the luxe New York club’s first Asian outpost feels like a step into Las Vegas, in the middle of a shopping mall. The mega-club is Singapore’s largest; and features a full-sized ferris wheel with eight photo booth pods, and a pair of slides that will take you from the third storey to the first. 

TATLER TIP

Start with cocktails and old-school arcade games at Avenue (a hidden speakeasy-style bar), which has a private bowling alley, before heading to the bigger club.  

Marquee Singapore | B1-67, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, S(018972)