Although Lunar New Year festivities are more toned down this year, February has been a super eventful month – a great start to ringing in the Year of the Ox! It’s only upwards and onwards from here, with March promising myriad new cafes and restaurants, blockbuster exhibitions on our very shores, exciting new streaming services and new hotels to book for a staycation this 2021.
And while there are a thousand things to do in Singapore this March, we’ve curated a list of the best new things to look out for. So hopefully, this takes the stress off deciding what to do! Here are 9 of the latest, hottest happenings in March.
Things To Do
Disney+
Disney fans, rejoice! Highly anticipated streaming service Disney+ has just launched in Singapore. Here’s a fun fact: The Singapore premiere marks the first market globally to launch Disney+ with all six iconic content brands: Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, as well as Star. And if you have leave days to clear, it’s time to grab some popcorn, kick back and binge watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Final Season, WandaVision and blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame.
Sign up on DisneyPlus.com or download the Disney+ app on Android and iOS devices from today to start streaming Disney+ for $11.98 a month or $119.98 a year. And if you’re an existing or new StarHub Mobile+, TV+ or Broadband customer, you can enjoy up to two years of access to Disney+ for free.
Visit disneyplus.com
Picturing The Pandemic: A Visual Record Of COVID-19
Culture vultures, there’s a new exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore – and it charts the pandemic in Singapore. Called Picturing the Pandemic: A Visual Record of COVID-19, the exhibition showcases commissioned works by five local photographers Bob Lee, Brian Teo, Edwin Koo, How Hwee Young and Zakaria Zainal − and two filmmakers – Adar Ng and Dave Lim – to visually document how the pandemic was experienced in Singapore.
Want to flex your creative muscles? The museum is also extending its public call for objects and creative responses from now till June 30 – who knows, you might just find your work exhibited in the galleries of National Museum of Singapore next.
Ongoing till June 30, free admission for citizens and permanent residents.
National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897; www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum
Travel/Staycations
The Clan Hotel
New hip staycation spot The Clan Hotel by Far East Hospitality has swung its doors open on March 1. Perfect for modern-day travellers and sophisticated staycationers, the new hotel at 10 Cross Street features 324 rooms splashed across three distinct room categories – Grand Premier, Premier and Deluxe rooms.
And what’s a staycation without some much-needed pool time? The Clan Hotel’s Sky Pool and jacuzzi, perched on level 30, comes complete with stunning views of the heritage district! If you’re hungry, head on to QIN Restaurant and Bar, which serves up some seriously delicious re-imagined classics like Siphon Mushroom Tea, Chilled Crab Salad and ‘San Mein’. After which, have a tipple at the bar located within the mezzanine floor of the restaurant.
10 Cross St, Singapore 048417; theclanhotel.com.sg
Art Comes To Life At Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Here’s something cool for all you AR geeks. Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore has become the first hotel in the world to offer an augmented reality hotel art tour experience. After all, its halls are home to one of the largest contemporary art collections in South-east Asia, including art pieces by renowned artists such as Frank Stella, Dale Chihuly and Andy Warhol. Now, you can even interact with them virtually!
In conjunction with the launch of the hotel’s new augmented reality art tour, you can also reserve a once-in-a-lifetime “Overnight in the Museum” room package experience. This includes one night’s accommodation, access to the self-guided augmented reality hotel art tour, tickets to the “Future World” exhibition at the ArtScience Museum to extend the museum-going experience, a Relaxation Bath upon return, and breakfast the next day. The package starts at $530 per night for stays until December 29.
Marina Bay 7, Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799; www.ritzcarlton.com
Shopping & Wellness
Garmin Instinct Solar
Forget about constantly worrying about the battery life of your smartwatch. Garmin has just launched its Garmin Instinct Solar smartwatch, an outdoor GPS smartwatch meant to help you tough out the elements. The watch has been constructed according to US military standards to resist heat, shock and water and is fixed with three sensors: an altimeter that monitors ascent and descent, a barometer that predicts weather, and a compass for directions. Plus point: It can also track your heart rate, stress levels and sleep.
$629 at Garmin Brand Store and all authorised retailers.
Grown Alchemist
It’s time to amp up your skincare routine with Australian cult beauty brand Grown Alchemist, which just arrived on our shores late last year. The brand has recently extended its environmentally-friendly product range from skincare to bodycare – and they’re available in Singapore too!
The brand is not only famed for its chic, minimalist packaging that looks great on Instagram, but also the clean and effective products within. It makes use of active natural ingredients to bring clean and green beauty to the masses. Star products to try include the Instant Smoothing Serum and Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser.
Available exclusively through the Takashimaya website.
R10t
After all the CNY feasting and drinking, it’s time to get back into shape. And we’ve got the perfect gym for you. R10t is the hottest new gym in the heart of the CBD – which makes it great for a quick lunch or post office hours work out. Grab a pair of spin shoes and cycle to the beat, sweat it out with a chill yoga session, or swim a few laps in the boutique gym’s lap pool (equipped with a floating sound system, at that).
As part of its opening promotion, R10t is offering $50 trial packages for three classes or $70 packages for five classes, so get booking!
140 Robinson Road, 03/01, Singapore 068907; r10t.sg
Dining
The Fabulous Baker Boy
We come bearing good news for fans of Juwanda Hashim’s mouthwatering bakes. After a short hiatus, The Fabulous Baker Boy has reopened at the Aliwal Arts Centre, a short walk from the hip Arab Street precinct. For the uninitiated, the famous chef is known to bake some of the best cakes in Singapore – layered and moist with interesting flavours.
Dig into signatures such as Valrhona Chocolate Cake ($9.50), Nutty Monkey ($9.50) and Green Tea Praline ($9.50). Want something more experimental? The Hossan Leong ($11) is a stunning 10-layered butter torte hazelnut praline cake. But that’s not all, the cafe offers hearty brunch fare, too! Order up the Good Ol’ Eggs Benny ($14 or $16), TFBB Fried Chicken And Waffles ($24) or Corn Beef Hash ($24).
28 Aliwal Street, #01-01, Singapore 199918; thefabulousbakerboy.com
Prairie by Craftsmen
Grab your cameras, because there’s a new Instagrammable cafe at Cluny Court. Located near the Botanic Gardens is Prairie by Craftsmen, a new cafe and alfresco restaurant opened by Craftsmen Specialty Coffee. If the location looks familiar, it’s because the cafe now stands where Bar Bar Black Sheep used to be. Start your day with a sumptuous Eggs and Bacon Croissant (great for fans of flaky croissants) or a classic Egg on Toast. Want something more decadent? Order up the Beef Oxtail, which will definitely leave you wanting more. And this goes without saying, but you can expect interesting coffee flavours such as the Butterscotch Latte ($7), Salted Caramel Latte ($7) and even a Baileys Latte ($11).
501 Bukit Timah Rd, Cluny Court #01-05C, Singapore 259760; www.facebook.com/prairie.sg
