Cheryl Sekkappan

Singapore's café scene promises plenty of gems, if you just know where to look. The growing number of places to visit can seem daunting, even if you resolve to checking off one new spot every weekend. So let us do the work for you. It's about time we put together a 50 Best list of cafés in Singapore anyway — after all, we've got lists for bars and restaurants too, so why not cafés? These are places we won't hesitate to recommend if someone asks where they can grab a good cuppa, pastry, or brunch nearby. These 50 spots range from long-time favourites, new openings, and familiar names, to under-the-radar cafés deserving of a little more love. If you’re looking for something more specific, we also have separate lists for brunch spots, desserts, and lifestyle cafés. Find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews restaurants. Discover, book and save at hundreds of top restaurants in Singapore with Grab Dine Out.

Need a change of scenery from your usual work setup? Whether your home office is less than inspiring or you just can’t stand another hour in a stuffy library, we’ve got you covered. Ditch the usual crowded coffee chains and check out these alternative spots instead. These cosy cafés offer free Wi-Fi, ample power points to charge your devices, and of course, great coffee to keep you fueled while you power through your to-do list.  RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate guide to the best cafés in Singapore and the best cafés in the CBD Discover, book and save at hundreds of top restaurants in Singapore with Grab Dine Out.

Rock climbing and bouldering are excellent for building both strength and stamina – you’ll be gripping onto the smallest holds and hauling yourself upwards, one move at a time. Despite being solo on the wall, these sports are actually quite social. Fellow climbers on the ground can offer tips, cheer you on, and celebrate your sends – making it a fun and motivating way to work out with friends. We’ve rounded up the best rock climbing and bouldering gyms in Singapore, so grab your climbing shoes and chalk – or rent them from the gyms – and make your way to the walls.  RECOMMENDED: The best gyms in Singapore and the best hiking trails and spots in Singapore

Singapore may be known for its stunning skyscrapers and bustling city life, but our little island also comes with scenic shorelines that are perfect for a quick escape. Thrill-seekers can head to the livelier beaches for water sports, while families can kick back at quieter stretches of sand, letting the little ones run wild and free. Here are the best beaches in Singapore for some sun, sand and sea: RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Singapore's offshore islands and the best hidden beaches in Singapore    

What is the most beautiful place in the world? Well, beauty is subjective – it’s in the eye of the beholder, so they say – so that’s really up to your own definition. To some, there’s nowhere more beautiful than Bolivia’s otherworldly mirrored salt flats; to others, California’s rugged coast takes the crown.  Luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are. We asked our network of globetrotting travel writers to tell us the most beautiful place they’ve ever been to. The resulting list is a definitive, but by no means exhaustive, guide to the most stunning spots our planet has to offer. We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. From gigantic glaciers and shape-shifting beaches to ancient woodland and lantern-lit cities, here’s what we reckon are the most beautiful places on Earth – chosen by travel writers who’ve seen them all IRL. Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations in the world🧭 The best places to travel solo🏝 The best beaches in the world

Asia offers secluded islands, mirrored waters, and year-round sun – all the ingredients for a perfect scuba dive. It's really no wonder that this continent is home to some of the best scuba diving in the world. We're talking incredible wreck dives, vibrant and teeming coral reefs, and depending on the season, pelagics like sharks, whales, and manta rays. So, dive in with us to some of the most prestigious destinations of the underwater world.  READ MORE: The most incredible road trips in Asia and One month in Southeast Asia: The ultimate itinerary    

Time to get your gig calendar sorted. Tons of amazing group acts and solo artists are touring Asia in 2025 – we’re talking mega stars like Lady Gaga, Blackpink, and Oasis. We can hear your wallet crying already, but that’s the reality of being a music lover. All there is to do now is hunker down and strategically plan your concert schedule for the year.  RECOMMENDED: Brilliant music festivals in Asia in 2025 and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now 

There's much ado about Jurong Lake Gardens, especially after the Chinese Gardens and Japanese Gardens reopened in 2024. Aside from the two new gardens, we also have Lakeside Gardens, a landscaped, yet naturalistic, park has tons of attractive spots and nature trails that show off the natural heritage of Jurong, while showcasing ways that man and nature can coexist.  Easily accessible from Chinese Gardens MRT and Lakeside MRT, Jurong Lake Gardens is a stunning waterfront destination for nature lovers, families, fitness enthusiasts, and just about anyone who wants a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. We break down the main spots you should be checking out, as well as other things to see and do in this sanctuary of the West.  RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Fort Canning Park and The best secret and hidden gardens in Singapore  

We won’t take part in the never-ending debate of which side of Singapore is the best. But we’ll tell you this – the West is thriving with gems like Lakeside Garden, located in Jurong Lake Gardens. This waterfront place has photogenic nature trails, family-friendly activity spots, and several eateries where you can refuel after exploring. We’ve rounded up the best things to see in this ultimate guide to Lakeside Garden, so get your butt up and make your way over to the West.   RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Fort Canning Park and The best secret and hidden gardens in Singapore How to get to Lakeside Garden The journey to the West might seem far if you don’t live in the area, but Jurong Lake Gardens is accessible by train and bus. Those taking the train can alight at Lakeside MRT station and exit via Exit A. Turn left and follow the sheltered walkway, cross Yuan Ching Road, and you’ll arrive at the entrance (at Lakeside Plaza). You can also take a 20-minute walk from Jurong East MRT station to the Japanese Garden Bridge in Jurong Lake Gardens.  If taking the bus is more convenient for you, hop on bus 154 or 246 and alight at the Chinese Garden stop (stop number 21659). Alternatively, there are two carparks, North and South, if you prefer to drive to Jurong Lake Gardens. Parking is free from Monday to Sunday from 5am to 8.30am and 12pm to 2pm. Charges go at $0.60 per 30 minutes for all other timings.

Nestled in the heart of Singapore, Balestier is where you’ll find tantalising local eats, heritage-rich locations and quirky shops. Whether you’re hunting for the city’s best bak kut teh or curious about the history behind its iconic shophouses, this storied neighbourhood is a treasure trove worth exploring.  RECOMMENDED: The 50 best cafés in Singapore and The best hiking trails and spots in Singapore

Sure, 2024 was fun – we became wizards for a day at the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic and we shopped till we dropped at the hyped up lifestyle enclave along Kim Yam Road, now known as New Bahru. No time to reminisce though – 2025 is set to be nothing short of spectacular, thanks to plenty of upcoming events and new attractions. Mark your calendars for Universal Studios Singapore’s opening of Minion Land and SEA Aquarium’s revamp, then grab your hiking boots and head to Singapore’s newest rainforest wildlife park — already lauded as one of the world’s best things to do in 2025. Scroll for more. RECOMMENDED: The best music concerts and festivals in Singapore and The best art exhibitions in Singapore you shouldn't miss

Yearly, several prominent music festivals light up Asia's calendar. Don't hesitate – catch that flight, as there's nothing quite like joining a pulsating crowd of fellow revellers, dancing and shouting your heart out to the tunes you love alongside beloved international artists. RECOMMENDED: The best concerts and tours in Asia in 2025 and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now 

Bali has always had two distinct draws: the sun-drenched coasts with its buzzing beach clubs and the enchanting forests and rice paddies in its interior. If you’re a diehard beach bum, Anantara Ubud Bali Resort will convince you to spare a few days up north. This five-star resort in a quieter neighbourhood of Ubud is the definition of tranquillity, transporting guests back to “Bali as it was 40 years ago”, as a world-weary traveller might say with no little amount of nostalgia. Anantara Ubud cascades down a hillside facing the lush Payangan rainforest in a design that will remind you of the terraced rice fields that Ubud is so famous for. It all originates from the impressive main building, its massive columns holding up the lobby and four dining venues. Every feature of the place calls attention to the outdoors – slatted folding doors in the lobby frame green, waving fronds; floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the excellent signature restaurant Amerta; and alfresco bar Sulang Lounge leads out to one of the hotel’s two heated pools, which itself seems to hang suspended over the treetops. On a clear day, you can even see the conical peaks of Mount Agung and Mount Batur from the afternoon tea spot, Lobby Lounge.  The suites are carved stepwise into the hillside, accessible by an inclined elevator. Connected by an intricate network of stairs are the private villas – ours a one-bedroom abode with a private pool. The villa is spacious yet charmingly cosy: a neutral palette of bei

Feel the beat of New York at this grungy, hip-hop bar along Ann Siang Hill. An unassuming doorway on Ann Siang Road opens up into Brooklyn. Lit by low mood lighting, it has three sections: settle into plush seats for a proper sit-down meal, grab a seat by the main bar to chat with the mixologist, or head down a flight of stairs to the basement where an open-air kitchen shows all the chefs in action. Brooklyn bills itself as Singapore’s first hip-hop bar, so you can bet that hip-hop music will be playing all night long.  On the cocktail menu, 12 tipples are divided into three parts: Heart & Soul, King x Queen, and Ghetto Streets. It’s Brooklyn’s way of paying homage to all that makes up New York — its art, music, and culture. Ladies, come through with the Queen B*tch ($24), a refreshing cocktail with gin, elderflower liqueur, dry vermouth, orange marmalade and yuzu. Or try punchy signatures like The Brooklyn! ($26) and The Big Apple ($26). The former is spirit-forward with its use of barrel-aged wild turkey bourbon, while the latter blends Tiki Lover’s Pineapple, Baldoria dry vermouth, Laird’s applejack, apple maple syrup and black walnut bitters. The usual Maraschino cherry is replaced with a bright red candy apple that bleeds artistically onto a Brooklyn-stamped ice cube. In the Ghetto Streets section, the bartender’s virtuosity and skill come through in complex drinks like the Grandmaster Bear ($24), a fruity concoction with clarified cream. Cocktails aside, the food menu

No need for a scuba diving license to enjoy the treasures of the sea at Koral Restaurants. It’s Bali’s first aquarium restaurant, tucked away in the luxurious Apurve Kempinski Bali. Request for a table under the arched plexiglass of the aquarium to make the most of the unusual setting. It gives you front-row seats to the dance of colourful marine life while you tuck into artistic multi-course menus with Indonesian-inspired dishes like wagyu beef with Maranggi sauce and silken tofu with Kintamani tangerine. 

Bouldering – it's like rock climbing, but scarier since you're scaling the wall sans rope. But the sport has found quite the following in Singapore because it's a true challenge for both the mind and body. Strength, technique, and strategy are a must to excel. It's also just a great bonding activity to have with friends and other enthusiasts.  Lovers of the sport now have a playground at Project Send, a swanky facility that's housed on the second floor of Esplanade Mall. Founded by climbers Kenneth Ng and Sarah Chua, Project Send stands out for its holistic approach to the sport – combining bouldering, strength training, and a dining concept at Beta Café.  Let's talk about the space. Project Send occupies over 5,200 square feet of space at The Esplanade Mall comprising more than 70 routes covering 12 climbing grades. The 14 bouldering walls overlook cityscape and riverfront views for times you need a breather from – quite literally – staring at the wall. Bouldering nerds will also be happy to know that the walls themselves were designed by seasoned Swiss climber Patrick Andrey, who has taken into account the unique features of the space to create an enjoyable spatial flow.  Besides a world-class bouldering wall to climb, gym-goers can also look forward to a holistic set of classes. Expect strength training and mobility sessions to help you conquer that gnarly overhang while protecting your muscles and joints. It all depends on your climbing goals, which Project Send's coaches

There's a new bookstore in the heart of town, and it's a haven for lovers of Chinese culture, literature and art. Taking over the space in Wheelock Place where the Borders flagship used to be is the ZALL Bookstore. It stocks more than 30,000 Chinese literary works for adults and children across two storeys, and has a café and art gallery to boot. Enter on the first floor and be greeted by black and white calligraphic elements that immediately whisk you away to the Jiangnan Watertown. Here is where you'll find childrens' literature, as well as a spacious multi-functional reading and event space. Head to the café on this floor for some quiet reading time with a hot cuppa – they have a variety of coffee blends, Chinese Chu tea and Taiwan tea on the menu.  Adults will want to head up the spiral staircase to do some book hunting. Expect a comprehensive collection across literature, humanities, history and philosophy from China and Taiwan. If that's not enough culture for you, there's always the art gallery on the same floor. ZALL Bookstore will be featuring creative pieces from both local and international talent, as well as stationery collections you can shop from. 

Taiwan-born Draft Land Singapore turns one, and it's throwing an anniversary bash for the ages. From October 10 to 13, its inviting one and all down for a celebration featuring great food, lively music, and of course, its drafted cocktails.  You'll want to swing by on October 10 (4pm till late), when 20 cocktails-on-tap will be going for the absurdly good price of $10. Dance to a diverse selection of R&B, hip hop, top 40s, and disco tunes by DJ Chuin as you sip on cocktail favourites like oolong tea collins and yuzu whisky sour, alongside new concoctions like Red & Stormy and Pornstar bellini. Draft Land is known for its Sample Service – so do ask the friendly 'draft tenders' to recommend a few cocktails to try before you commit.  The next two nights are all about the music, with multiple DJs on rotation. DJ Val starts the party at 6pm on October 11 with house, R&B and party anthems; followed by DJ Dyna with an energetic hip hop set. DJ Zack C, a big name credited for driving Singapore's top LGBT clubs in the 2010s, takes over with DJ Chuin from 10pm to midnight. If you're in your Mandopop era, swing by on October 12 instead, where DJ Pin will be soundtracking the night with beloved Mandarin ballads and jazz-influenced tracks. Draft Land has a satisfying menu of Taiwanese delights to go with its tipples, but October 13 brings something a little different. Chooby Pizza is set to pop-up with its Naples-style pizza, characterised by naturally leavened, light and thin crust overl

If you can’t race a car, why not hop around town on a GPSS pub crawl instead? For $50, join Pints and Pitstops on a boozy trip to four top bars around Singapore. At each, you’ll get a locally-inspired cocktail: think alcohol-spiked chendol and ice milo drinks, with the night wrapping at one of Singapore’s hottest nightclubs. Come prepared with your F1 knowledge though – the pub crawl includes race-themed trivia and games, with prizes up for grabs, of course.

The Projector has long been a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community. It runs regular queer parties and events, the crown jewel of which is the annual film festival, Pink Screen. With Pride Month just around the corner, The Projector has now opened ticket sales for this year's festival. It presents a tight curation of indie flicks from Singapore and around the world, which collectively spotlight queer inclusion, transgender experiences, and diverse voices from the community.  From May 31 to June 15, catch romantic comedies, noir flicks, and touching dramas on the big screen. A hotly anticipated film is a re-run of Bugis Street (1995), which paints an evocative portrait of queer Singapore in the 1960s. It's told through the eyes of a young cleaner employed at Bugis Street's Sin Sin Hotel – also a regular haunt for transvestites and transgender sex workers. This film was banned in Singapore for a good 20 years – an important reminder of how far we've come and how much there is left to go.  On the roster are Femme (2023), a seductive erotic thriller about a drag queen on a revenge quest after a traumatic homophobic attack; Love Is Strange (2024), a Women Film Critics Circle Award favourite about a married gay couple who lose their New York City apartment after one of them is unjustly fired from their job; and Peafowl (2022), an award-winning Korean drama that follows Shin-myung, whose dreams of winning a waacking dance competition (and the prize money for gender reaffirming surge

Lazarus Island is undoubtedly one of Singapore's most beautiful islands, and is rightfully beloved for its laidback, rustic charm and idyllic shores. The island has seen some development in recent times, with the addition of Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus Island cabins, a convenience store called Sol by BDC, and the water sports centre Camelot. The latest addition? Into The Woods, a new glamping experience laying claim to Lazarus Island's most beautiful beach.  Founded in 2022 by Ray and Sam, who were inspired by camping trips they had enjoyed overseas with their young children, Into The Woods is all about "experiencing a life unhurried". The idea is to book one of three family tents (sleeps four) or six couple tents (sleeps two), where you can slow down, disconnect from the bustle of city life, and immerse in nature.  What is it like living at Into The Woods? Where the 'glam' part of the vacation comes into play is in these rooms. On a one-night stay with Into The Woods, we checked into a family tent and found a whole lot to love. It's spacious and fully air-conditioned, with a king bed and a sofa bed to accommodate a family of four. Full-length glass sliding doors offers views of the beach – the glass is tinted so you can look out at the waves from the inside while staying shielded from anyone outside who might be looking in (in any case, there are curtains that you can draw for extra privacy). The room has a snack bar stocked with cereals, biscuits, coffee, and tea, a small f

Grounded is a riveting story of an ace Air Force fighter pilot, whose career in the sky is brought to an abrupt end by an unexpected pregnancy. Recommissioned to the Nevada desert to pilot military drones, she remains physically safe away from the action during combat shifts – but struggles with the disorienting clockwork of motherly duties blended with the psychological toll of war. Based on an award-winning script by George Brant and featuring actress Oon Shu An, Singapore Theatre Company’s Grounded is an empathetic study of both the personal and geopolitical costs of modern warfare.  Oon Shu An’s stellar performance as the protagonist kept us on the edge of our seats for the full 90 minutes, commanding the stage with an unwavering intensity. The script for Grounded is a demanding one, as the pilot slowly descends into madness as the line between her work and personal life begins to blur, a challenge that Oon navigates flawlessly. Despite the character’s disturbing joy in bombing “the guilty”, we found ourselves rooting for her, glad that she found some semblance of happiness in the “chair-force” – a job that she initially despised. The themes of Grounded resonate deeply in today’s context, where one side remains shielded from the threat of death while callously imposing a relentless demise upon others. Grab some friends and book the Watch With Friends package (minimum of four tickets) to enjoy 15 percent off. Interested in a theatre marathon? Grounded is also part of The S

After more than 50 years of parades, Chingay continues to keep things interesting. This year, it's setting out to dazzle with a large-scale floor projection on the F1 track, featuring a lush Chingay garden to fit 2024's theme of 'Blossom'. Look forward to an array of floral motifs throughout six acts to tell the story of Singapore's thriving culture and community.  The whole parade promises to be a visual treat. The floor projection, a first for the parade and the longest yet seen in Singapore, will transform the track at the F1 Pit Building into a massive moving canvas. The parade will open with a majestic dragon flying throughout the F1 track, followed by anamorphic illusions of buildings, flowers, and spaceships. Listen out for the Chingay Gardener (George Chan) and the Flower Fairy (Tan Rui Shan) as they narrate the story of 'Blossom', told through vibrant performances incorporating dragon and lion dances, inline skating, cheerleading, wushu, and pieces by international groups from Uzbekistan, China, Indonesia, and more.  Of course, an indelible part of the Chingay parade is the vibrant floats. This year, five main floats will grace the parade. Presented by groups like Tote Board Group, POSB, and Harmony Circle, they pay tribute to the youth, the elderly, our four major ethnic groups, and more active communities in Singapore. There's no missing the pomp and pageantry in the heartlands either – a float caravan will be parading through residential estates at the Chingay@Hea

Talk about a stunner. The 5-star Artyzen Singapore on Cuscaden Road is Artyzen Hospitality Group's debut in Singapore, and it's a maximalist dream. In a departure from brands that seek to provide a consistent experience across global properties (not a knock, that has its own charm), Artyzen Singapore grounds itself in local history and culture – providing a vibrant stay with a wonderful sense of place.  One fascinating tidbit about Artyzen Singapore is that it's built on prime estate formerly occupied by Villa Marie. It was a 1940s era mansion built by Tan Hoon Siang, a keen horticulturalist and relation of philanthropist Tan Tock Seng. His love of plants, and particular interest in orchids, has been woven into the fabric of Artyzen Singapore. You see it in the bold floral motifs stamped throughout the hotel lobby, in the arched trellises that drip with plants and gems alike, and in the green and tranquil sky gardens across the floors.  The hotel has 142 impressive rooms spanning four categories: Deluxe, Premier, Grand Terrace Room, and Terrace Suite. It's worth noting that all have balconies and soaring ceilings (at least four metres high), which give them a sense of spaciousness and grandeur. The Straits-inspired art we get a peep of in the lift (colourful artwork by Terence Tan that depict Peranakan shophouses) finds its way into these rooms, in the scenic wallpaper and Peranakan-tile motifs.  Our room for two nights is the Terrace Suite, and it's jaw-dropping to say the

Hot on the heels of the recent Pink Moon, the night sky continues to dazzle with more celestial spectacles. The upcoming Lyrids meteor shower – one of the oldest known meteor showers – is set to light up Singapore’s skies next. Here’s everything you need to know, from its origins to the best time to catch it.   What is the Lyrids meteor shower? The Lyrids meteor shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers, with its first recorded sight dating back to 687 BC by the Chinese. Named after the constellation Lyra, the Lyrids are known for its fast and bright meteors which appear as bright flashes – called fireballs – in the sky. According to NASA, heavy showers can produce up to 100 meteors per hour. Typically though, you can expect 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the Lyrids' peak.  When will the Lyrids meteor shower be visible in Singapore? The Lyrids are set to peak between April 22 to 23, 2025. This is your best chance to catch sight of the meteors in Singapore.  Where can I watch the Lyrids meteor shower in Singapore? Find somewhere with a wide, unblocked view of the north-western sky. Earthsky advises skygazers to stay away from anywhere with bright city lights – in Singapore, your best bet would be parks, beaches, and reservoirs. We're close to the full moon on April 24, so the extra brightness of the moon will make it harder to view the meteor shower. Lay under trees or in a place with structures that block the moon for a better chance to see the Lyrids.  Can I see the

One thing that helps us power through the day to day grind? All the upcoming public holidays and long weekends spread across the year. 'Cause who doesn't love getting a break without having to take annual leave? If you haven't already heard, instead of the usual 11 gazetted public holidays, we get 12 this year all thanks to the Singapore General Election Polling Day (aka GE2025). Out of these, a total of four public holidays fall on a Friday or Monday, which essentially means we get to enjoy four long weekends in 2025. That's one long weekend less than what we got in 2024, but it turns out that three public holidays, including Polling Day, happen to fall on a Saturday – so those on a standard five-day work week have the option of claiming those as an off day on another day, or receiving salary in lieu. Our advice? Create your own long weekend by taking that off-in-lieu day on a Friday or Monday too. Now that we're officially in the second quarter of the year, these are all the eight remaining public holidays to look forward to in 2025, with long weekends marked by an asterisk: Good Friday: April 18, Friday* Labour Day: May 1, Thursday Polling Day: May 3, Saturday Vesak Day:  May 12, Monday* Hari Raya Haji: June 7, Saturday National Day: August 9, Saturday Deepavali: October 20, Monday* Christmas Day: December 25, Thursday  The first long weekend of the year has already concluded with Hari Raya Puasa, but there are still three remaining long weekends happening for the rest o

Time to slide into "Sicko Mode", because American rap god Travis Scott has just dropped two new Asia dates for his Circus Maximus 2025 world tour. According to the entertainment company Live Nation, the star is set to perform in South Korea and Japan, in addition to his confirmed shows in India and China. It's Travis Scott's first concert tour in almost five years and the first time he's toured in Asia, so you can imagine the excitement of regional fans.  Travis Scott is famed for his unique hip-hop and lo-fi sound. He has more than a hundred charting songs to his name, and all his studio albums are certified multi-platinum. The Circus Maximus tour is in support of his fourth album, Utopia (2023), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.  Travis Scott's 2025 "Circus Maximus" Asia tour dates and venues:  October 18 & 19: Delhi, India – Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium October 25: Goyang, South Korea – Goyang Stadium November 1: Sanya, China – Sanya Sports Stadium November 8: Tokorozawa, Japan – Belluna Dome  Where to get tickets Tickets to the shows in India and China sold out within minutes of release, so be prepared for an all-out war for the newly announced dates in South Korea and Japan.  The general on-sale in South Korea begins at noon on April 8 at Live Nation KR. Ticket prices and the seat map for this show have yet to be announced.  The Japan show has two presales. The Live Nation Japan Newsletter Presale runs from April 8, 12pm to April 10, 11:59pm, while

Talk about an "Earfquake" – wildly popular American rapper Tyler, the Creator just announced new dates for Chromakopia: The World Tour – and it's coming to Asia. The lucky cities? Tokyo (Sep 9), Seoul (Sep 13), Bangkok (Sep 16), and Manila (Sep 20). The bomb was dropped via live entertainment company AEG Presents Asia's Instagram page, collecting more than 2000 likes in an hour. And we get the hype – Tyler, the Creator's last two world tours, Igor Tour (2019) and Call Me If You Get Lost Tour (2022), skipped over Asia.  The new Asia dates complete Tyler, the Creator's massive world tour, which includes over 80 shows in North America, Europe, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. The tour promotes the artist's eighth studio album, Chromakopia. Kicking off on February 4 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the tour is supported by Lil Yachty and Paris Texas.  When will tickets be released? Tickets drop on March 5 (Wednesday) at 12pm local time for the Seoul, Bangkok, and Manila shows. They will be available via the official Chromakopia: The World Tour website here.  Tokyo on-sale begins March 20 (Thursday) at 6pm local time. American Express card members in Tokyo are in luck – you can purchase presale tickets before the general public. Details about the presale date and time are to be announced. Tickets here.  Tyler, the Creator 'Chromakopia: The World Tour' Asia 2025 dates and venues: Sep 9: Tokyo – Ariake ArenaSep 13: Seoul – Kintex Hall 10Sep 16: Bangkok – Impact ArenaSep 20: Manila – Ar

Hold on to your hats – the king of K-pop himself is coming to nine cities in Asia. G-Dragon, leader of BigBang and an accomplished rapper and singer-songwriter in his own right, just unveiled the dates and venues for phase one of his 2025 Übermensch World Tour. It will kick off in Korea on March 29 and 30 at Goyang Stadium. The tour resumes in Tokyo in May before travelling to Bulacan, Osaka, Macau, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Hong Kong. The world tour is named after his third studio album, Übermensch, which was released in February 2025. It's his first full-length album in 12 years, so you can imagine fans' excitement to see it performed live in arenas. More songs you can expect – "Home Sweet Home" and "Power", two singles he released in 2024. Ticket details here.  If you need an introduction, G-Dragon became famous as part of the boy group BigBang. It debuted in 2006 as a five-member group, rising to fame on the backs of hits like "Haru Haru" and "Fantastic Baby". It's still active as a three-member band consisting of G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, last releasing the single "Still Life" in 2022.  G-Dragon's 2025 "Übermensch" world tour dates and venues:  March 29 & 30: Goyang – Goyang Stadium May 10 & 11: Tokyo – Tokyo Dome May 17: Bulacan – Philippine Arena May 25 & 26: Osaka – Kyocera Dome June 7 & 8: Macau – Galaxy Arena July 12 & 13: Taipei – Taipei Arena July 19 & 20: Kuala Lumpur – Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil July 26: Jakarta – Indonesia Arena August 9 & 10: Hon

Let it be known: it's a pleasure to fly to Asia, and also a pleasure to fly through it.  SkyTrax's World Airport Awards took off at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid on April 9, where the World's Top 100 Airports for 2025 were revealed. And guess what? Asian airports absolutely dominated the top ten. Five out of the top ten airports are right here in our region, with Singapore Changi Airport sticking the landing with a No. 1 spot for the 13th time in the award's history. It's a great recovery after sliding to No. 2 in 2024; the airport also snagged the awards for World's Best Airport Dining, World's Best Airport Washrooms, and Best Airport in Asia.  It's truly a brilliant airport, one of the few in the world that locals travel to just to hang out at (or that travellers love to have a layover in). You can easily spend a day exploring its rock climbing facilities, cinemas, art exhibits, giant slides, and gardens across its four terminals. Then there's the world-famous Jewel Changi Airport, with the stunning HSBC Rain Vortex (the largest indoor forest in the world) in a lush forest setting plus tons of dining and shopping options. Here's a handy list of all the amazing things to do at Singapore Changi Airport the next time you find yourself with a couple of hours to spare while waiting for your next flight.  Tokyo Haneda Airport rose one ranking to become the third-best airport in the world and the second-best in Asia. It's also the World's Cleanest Airport and the World's B

Talk about a giant leap for womankind – Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist and astronaut, will soon be the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to travel to space.  The Vietnamese-American will launch into space on the Blue Origin New Shepard 31 flight on April 14. And yes, that's the same spaceflight that American pop star Katy Perry will be on. Needless to say, Amanda Nguyen is a badass – and not just for her upcoming spacefaring exploits. Here's all you need to know about her and how to watch the Blue Origin launch.  Who is Amanda Nguyen? Amanda Nguyen is best known for driving the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, which passed unanimously in both chambers of the US Congress. The victory secured sexual assault survivor rights on the federal level, overhauling things like how sexual assaults are reported and how long rape kits are preserved, to reduce the burden on survivors.  Amanda's activism arose from her struggles navigating the criminal justice system in Massachusets after she was raped while studying at Harvard University in 2013. For her work at her non-profit organisation Rise, which aims to protect the rights of sexual assault and rape survivors, and her instrumental role in the landmark Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and named a 2022 TIME Woman of the Year.  Activism aside, Amanda interned for NASA in 2011 and 2013 and conducted research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics. Ac

With the crash in global markets and more uncertainty ahead, we'd understand if you're not in the mood to hear about the richy-rich right now. But if you happen to be sitting on a huge pile of cash and wondering where to invest it, it pays to know where other wealthy folks are going – because it's usually to places with the infrastructure and opportunities to help them become even wealthier.  For that, there's British investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners' list of the wealthiest cities in the world. It worked with New World Wealth to track over 150,000 high-net-worth individuals, looking at where the super-rich are applying for investment migration programmes and the cities they are actually relocating to.  This year, Tokyo and Singapore emerge as the wealthiest cities in Asia, holding on to their third and fourth global placements from 2024. Tokyo has a whopping 292,300 millionaires, 262 centi-millionaires, and 18 billionaires, boosted by a strong recovery of the Nikkei 225 over the past two years. Singapore saw a 62 percent growth in its millionaire population and now has 242,400 millionaires based in the city.  Hong Kong is officially the third-wealthiest city in Asia, rising one spot on the global list. Its millionaire population grew by 3 percent, bringing the number of super-rich up to 154,900 millionaires, 346 centi-millionaires, and 40 billionaires.   The super-wealthy reading this might want to set their sights on China. It dominates the rest of Asia's t

Any cat lover will know of Japan's famous 'cat islands' like Aoshima and Tashirojima. Known for their many feline residents, these destinations are a paradise for anyone who wants to cuddle up to some adorable cats. Surprise, surprise – cat enthusiasts in Southeast Asia may soon have a new, dedicated cat island to visit. Jakarta's governor, Pramono Anung, intends to establish an island for stray cats in the Thousand Islands regency, which comprises a string of islands just off the capital's north coast. Why the plans for a cat island? For one, it's an attempt to address Jakarta's growing stray cat population. It's caused a host of issues for the city, such as public disturbances, damage to property, not to mention an increased risk of diseases like rabies and toxoplasmosis. Jakarta's getting ahead of these issues with an aggressive sterilisation programme, but there's hope that the island will serve as a safe haven for the strays too, with cat rehabilitation facilities and a cat hospital. Of course, they also hope that the island will become a tourism magnet. There are no details about the planned tourism facilities yet, but the main islands are already served by a regular ferry, and have parks, villages, camping sites, small hikes and scenic beaches to explore. We're keeping our fingers crossed that Jakarta's cat island will take after Tashirojima, which has accommodations for overnight stays. Because let's be frank, we want as much time as possible with all the charming fel

Drop by Raffles City shopping mall the next time you're in Singapore for a caffeine fix. The mall is now home to Blue Bottle Coffee, the famous third-wave coffee chain that started as a coffee cart in San Francisco. This is the brand's first-ever café in Southeast Asia, and comes seven months after it opened a gift store in Singapore last August. Photograph: Blue Bottle Coffee Singapore We had the pleasure of visiting the space in a preview on April 2. Blue Bottle Coffee Singapore takes over its old retail space adjoining the Lumine global flagship store (another Southeast Asia first). Spanning a modest 135 square metres, the 42-seater café nonetheless feels bright, spacious, and welcoming – thanks in large part to floor-to-ceiling windows and its signature minimalist design characterised by white walls, pale wood furnishings, and a chic stainless steel island bar. That's not forgetting a welcome pop of colour in the form of the blue bottle logo stamped on the wall above the cushioned seats. The brand is also teaming up with local floral studio The Florté to dress up the space with a rotating selection of blooms.  What to try here? Go for its signature Cold Brew (7.5 SGD) if you like your coffee citrus-y – it's a particularly refreshing option for Singapore's heat. Then there's the Nola (8 SGD), a New Orleans-style coffee that's earthy and sweet thanks to roasted chicory root, organic cane sugar, and milk. There are classic espresso-based options like Americanos (7.5 SGD)

There's never any shortage of things to do in Asia, but for a blast to the past (and we mean into prehistory), there's an upcoming immersive dinosaur experience roaming onto our continent this year.  Jurassic World: The Experience will open into Singapore on May 29 before moving on to Bangkok in the second half of 2025. Presented by NEON and Universal Live Entertainment will bring to life the beloved Jurassic World movie franchise via some pretty cool tech.  In Singapore, it's all about location. Jurassic World: The Experience will be shown in the city's Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest, a massive cooled dome filled lush foliage shrouded in mist and an indoor waterfall. It's a particularly fitting setting, considering that the Cloud Forest is home to more than 50 species of plants with lineages that can be traced back to Jurassic period.  Photograph: NEON That's the backdrop to the animatronics and interactive exhibits that take inspiration from the blockbuster films. Things to brace yourself for: a three-storey-high Brachiosaurus to welcome you to the experience, fearsome encounters with the Tyrannosaurus rex, adorable baby dinosaurs at the Petting Zoo, and tiny Compsognathus hidden along the garden paths. The Singapore experience will also offer an exclusive experience: Evolution Walk, which will bring you back to a time before the age of dinosaurs, where you can see reconstructions of ancient plants.  Meanwhile, the Bangkok edition will take over Asiatique The Riverfront,

As you've probably heard by now, Myanmar was hit by a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28 with seismic tremors reaching as far as Bangkok in neighbouring Thailand. This is the largest earthquake to hit Myanmar in over a century, and it's caused widespread damage and numerous casualties in a country already beset by civil war. Amidst the growing humanitarian crisis, Myanmar's military government has declared a state of emergency in six major cities and issued an unprecedented plea for international aid. While it's not realistic (or advisable) to travel to either Myanmar or Thailand to provide direct help, there are still ways you can support ongoing relief efforts. Here's a fuller picture of the current situation in both countries and what you can do to help.  What is the estimated damage caused by the earthquake? The damage in Myanmar has been characterised as "catastrophic". As of Friday (March 30), the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded the damage or destruction of more than 1,200 houses, three school buildings, one hotel, and several religious structures. Hospitals, historical and public buildings, and bridges (like the Sagaing Bridge) have also been damaged. AP News says that many areas now lack power and internet or mobile connection, making it hard to assess the full extent of the damage.  In Bangkok, an unfinished 30-storey skyscraper collapsed due to the force of the tremors, trapping scores of workers in the debris. Acro