Category: Singapore (city) (Page 2 of 2)

Restaurant André really is a little gem. And in Singapore, which has so many excellent restaurants, that means a lot. The kitchen is mostly French, with a touch of Asian cuisine. Each course is carefully constructed and very well balanced. The food is great, no doubt about that, but what makes this restaurant really stand out is the wine selection: Restaurant André imports its own wine. The wine journal is a real book with some extra pages added. Those pages contain a lot (too much to read it all) of information for wine lovers and enthusiasts.

Since I’m from Belgium, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the sommelier of Restaurant André, Vanessa Masse, worked for years in restaurant ‘In de Wulf’, one of the best restaurants in Belgium, in my opinion. Needless to say, my expectations were very high. I was not disappointed at all. We started our meal with a lovely spumante. We were presented with a lovely appetizer to cleanse our palate. I was really impressed by this variation on a mojito, served as a little bite.

Each following course was a little work of art. So very beautiful and tasteful! My favorite courses were the Winter Root Vegetables with Cured Spanish Mackerel and Wild Herbs and the Pearl Couscous With Razor Clam, Emulsion Of Chorizo, Puree Of Clam With Basil.

Serving staff was very professional, but not to stiff (as can be the case in this sort of restaurants). The staff was really friendly and with a sense of humor. I like that!

The atmosphere in the restaurant is refined and elegant. Really loved the fake sheep which had as only purpose to serve as a handbag holder. I had some troubles opening the really heavy door of the toilet. Luckily there was always a staff member present to open the door for me.

Whith each course we got another lovely wine. It was clear (!) that Vanessa Masse had a thing for unfiltered wines. And I couldn’t be more pleased with her selection. All the wines were excellent. Really nice to taste all these different flavors.

When asked for a suggestion to end the meal in style, Vanessa proposed an umeshu (Japanese plum liquor). Without a doubt the best umeshu I have ever tasted in my life. So, we just hád to order another one.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant when visiting Singapore, but be warned, a dinner at restaurant André comes with a hefty price tag. Lunch is a more affordable option.

Restaurant Andre, 41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089855, Singapore
http://www.restaurantandre.com/
+65 6534 8880

Visited March 2015. You can find my review about Restaurant Andre also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, service 5/5, food 5/5.

Marina Bay Sands is without a doubt one of the most famous landmark buildings in Singapore. So, yes, rooms in this magnificent building are very expensive. You pay for the unique location, the beautiful views, the incredible infinity pool and the impeccable trained staff.

Often heard complaints are that the hotel is too busy. While this is certainly true (at any given moment of the day the lobby and pool are bustling with people), during my stay this really never bothered me. I always found a free spot at the pool, did not have to wait long at check-in nor at check-out and we always got seated at breakfast in less than five minutes. Marina Bay Sands is huge, so it’s quite normal that you have a lot of people everywhere. If you’re looking for a quiet place, I recommend you book another hotel.

I was lucky enough to stay in a room with a view on the city center as well as in a room with a view on the Gardens by the Bay. I must say I preferred the city view (which is also more expensive). Nothing beats the gracious Singapore Marina Bay Skyline, not even the lights of the beautiful Supertrees. The room at the city center was a lot bigger, but the garden view room had a balcony and the opportunity to step outside for a moment. Very nice, but sadly it seemed almost impossible to get the room airco temperature higher than 20 degrees.

The bathroom was very well equipped, as should be expected from a hotel with this reputation. The shower was very big, the bath tub could fit two persons and there were two sinks. I really liked the shower which was spacious and very comfortable! So nice to clean the sweat of your body after a hot day.

The Club room on the 55th floor is superb. From 17 till 19u guests can enjoy multiple treats. Quality champagne, spirits, beer, juices, beautiful canapés, great cheeses, sweets, fruit, fish and lots more. After a visit to the Club you don’t need dinner anymore. 😉

The pool is gorgeous, although the water was very chilly. It was just incredible, swimming on the 57th floor with those breathtaking views. I can honestly say: never in my life have I seen so many people take selfies of themselves in a pool. But to be fair, who can blame them?

Breakfast was also excellent. the huge buffet was very well organized in different sections (egg station, fruits, indian food, dim sum, vegetables, cheeses, fish, bread, noodle soup, English breakfast,…) so it never felt too crowded. Staff was super professional and very friendly. And the food itself was a culinary trip through Asia. Shout-out for the noodle soup and dim sum with spinach and shrimp.

This hotel has only one disadvantage: the price tag.

Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, Singapore

Stayed March 2015. You can find my review about Marina Bay Sands also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 3/5, rooms 5/5, service 5/5.

Gyu Kaku is a classic Japanese barbecue restaurant. The meat you order, is served raw on a plate and you have to bake it yourself at your table. The table contains a build-in charcoal grill with an ingenious ventilation system which makes sure the amount of smoke that escapes in the room stays minimal.

The interior is classic Japanese and the layout makes sure the disturbance by other guests is minimal.

As an appetizer we ordered some prawns and scallops. For the main course we (of course) went for the Wagyu beef. The prawns and scallops were cooked in an aluminum container on the charcoal grill and were very good. The Wagyu beef was excellent. Luckily we got some pointers from the staff how to grill the meat to perfection.

I was a little disappointed though in the side salads. Choice was limited and my wakame salad really wasn’t much to speak of. But I guess you go to this restaurant for the meat anyway.

We drank some excellent sake with our meal, recommended by the staff. Staff was very friendly and professional.

Gyu Kaku Chimjes, 30 Victoria Street Chijmes “#01-01/03 Chijmes”, Singapore 187996, Singapore
http://www.gyu-kaku.com.sg/
+65 6333 4001

Visited March 2015. You can find my review about Gyu Kaku Chimjes also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, service 5/5, food 5/5.

If your looking for a place that combines great food with stunning views, this is the place to be. The view from the open air terrace is absolutely breathtaking. At LeVel 33 you have a great overview of the Marina Bay with its most striking feature being the Marina Bay Sands hotel. We went there for drinks and dinner at 6pm so we could enjoy the dusk setting in. Seeing all the lights appearing on the sky scrapers was magnificent.

LeVel 33 brews its own beer. You can see the large stainless steel containers where the beer is brewed. Very nice touch. The interior is very welcoming with a friendly staff. If you’re a beer lover you might like the beer tasting platter, which offers you the possibility to taste all the different beers they brew.

The food on the menu is European style. We (4 persons) ordered two main courses and a lot of side dishes so we could share and taste everything. The food was delicious. Really great with some inventive combinations of ingredients. The desserts were a perfect finish for a lovely evening. Loved it!

Would definitely go back here!

LeVeL 33, 8 Marina Boulevard #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, Singapore 018981, Singapore
http://www.level33.com.sg/
+65 6834 3133

Visited March 2015. You can find my review about LeVeL 33 also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 4/5, service 5/5, food 5/5.

The Marina bay area is definitely stunning. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is especially breathtaking. The building in itself is surreal and the view from the platform is even more fantastic. At night there is a 3D water and lights show which is absolutely worthwhile.

Marina Bay, Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018980, Singapore
https://www.marina-bay.sg/
+65 6329 3535

Visited October 2013. You can find my review about Marina Bay also on TripAdvisor.

If you want to visit only one temple in Singapore, this should be it. The temple holds a very precious relic of buddha and is very beautiful. The museum gives you an apprehensive overview of the life and teachings of Buddha. The museum shows the different styles of sculptures of buddhism throughout Asia.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, 288 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840, Singapore
http://www.btrts.org.sg/
65 6220 0220

Visited October 2013. You can find my review about Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum also on TripAdvisor.

A great place to enjoy the beauty of orchids in all shapes and sizes. The Orchid Garden is situated in a beautiful park. Absolutely worth the visit.

National Orchid Garden, 1 Cluny Rd Within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569, Singapore
https://www.sbg.org.sg/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=34&Itemid=58
+65 6471 7361

Visited October 2013. You can find my review about National Orchid Garden also on TripAdvisor.

We stayed for seven days in Oasia Hotel and loved every minute of it. We chose the club formula to indulge in the extra service offerd. Our room was beautiful and modern. Situated at the 24th floor the view was absolutely breathtaking. The bathroom was very clean, the rain shower was a real treat and there was a separate bath (which we didn’t try). Absolutely loved the style of the rooms, with lots of wood, the overall feeling was of warmth and comfort. Internet connection was very good.

The impeccably dressed staff was very friendly and welcoming and did everything they could to cater to all our needs. I absolutely adored the pool at the 22th floor and took the opportunity to go for a swim every day. Towels were provided at the pool.

With the club formula we enjoyed happy hour from 6pm till 8pm. A free cocktail and some nibbles to start of your evening. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Breakfast buffet was also excellent with a choice between western style or eastern style or a combination if you preferred. At the egg station the chef prepared your eggs just the way you liked. Staff was very observant and removed your plates once you were finished eating.

A definitely plus: you can take the elevator to the basement which is connected through a hallway to the metro. There are also shops and a food court nearby. Very convenient indeed!

Oasia Hotel Novena, Singapore by Far East Hospitality, 8 Sinaran Drive, Singapore 307470, Singapore

Stayed October 2013. You can find my review about Oasia Hotel Novena, Singapore by Far East Hospitality also on TripAdvisor. My scores: value 5/5, location 5/5, sleep quality 5/5, rooms 5/5, cleanliness 5/5, service 5/5.