A day in Singapore for the solo traveller

Start the day with the ultimate perk-me-up – crispy kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and hot kopi. The oldschool kopitiam opened its doors in 1939 and hasn’t closed since. Order the traditional kaya toast set ($4.90) and bite into crispy, slightly charred, toasted bread covered in slabs of butter and homemade kaya. Now you’re fueled up to embark on your solo excursion around the city.

Just a walk away from the kopitiam is Chinatown. The area gets tricked out whenever Chinese New Year rolls around and the pigs are the main star in 2019. Walk down Chinatown and take in the notable architectural sites like Pearl Bank Tower. Get a culture fix at religious institutions such as Thian Hock Keng Temple, Nagore Dargah, Sri Mariamman Temple and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and seek out the street art dotted around the precinct.

Wrap up your Chinatown tour at Ann Siang Hill’s White Label Records, a hip record store by day and a bar by night. Be greeted with crates and crates of records including classic titles and brand new releases. Music enthusiasts can look forward to a carefully curated range of local and regional offerings. Pro tip: you can sample some records here if you ask the staff nicely. They’ll also hook you up with an ace recommendation if you’re looking for some fresh sounds.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with Don Don Donki’s extensive catalog of Japanese food, snacks and delicatessen at a bargain. But here’s another reason to check out the new – and bigger – Don Don Donki at City Square Mall: it’s decked out with its very own food court where you can order from Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, try highly-raved Hokkaido ice cream from Naganuma Ice and devour mouth-watering fried chicken from Mang Shukudo. Can’t stand the infectious theme song? Get your food and snacks to go.

This minimalist coffee bar and roastery has just the right laidback vibe to unwind with a book and freshly poured coffee. Treat your tastebuds to the rich flavours of roasted beans from Latin America, artisanal teas and chocolates from the likes of Fossa Chocolate. It goes without saying the coffees are made with care (from $4). A hot cuppa here will perk you up for the next stop in a jiffy.

Make your way to the nearby indie ’hood of Haji Lane for a glimpse into your future. Forget the crystal ball – tarot card reader Mamatha has 12 years of experience under her belt reading energies to help her customers make life choices that are aligned to their higher self. Come with an open mind – and $60 to $100– and Mamatha will answer all your burning questions, kinda.

With your edible loot from Don Don Donki, make yourself comfortable on the lush green of the Padang and enjoy the panoramic view of National Gallery Singapore. Thanks to the Light to Night Festival (till February 24), the facade of the iconic building turns into a vibrant piece of art after sundown, along with other notable buildings in the Civic District. Continue your art trail with more installations along the Singapore River towards the Marina Bay as part of i Light Singapore.

Even if you haven’t prepared a shopping list, chances are you won’t be walking out of Mustafa Centre empty handed. The shopping behemoth in Little India open 24 hours a day is the perfect spot for both high-spenders and budget-buyers. Here, you can find almost anything from frozen food, imported teas from India, electronics, textiles, jewellery and more at a steal. But nothing beats counting the number of weird finds like a section dedicated to all things London, a whole aisle of Pink Himalayan salt and racks of ugly ironic jumpers.

Let’s face it: Mustafa Centre is overwhelming for anyone. Rebalance and call it a day with a cold tipple at the second floor of a quaint shophouse in Kampong Glam where IB HQ (or the Indigenous Bartender Headquarters) is ready to shake and stir gorgeous cocktails concocted with locally sourced ingredients. Don’t leave this drinking den without sipping a glass of osmanthus gimlet ($24).