Traditional charm meets the modern world, at least on a culinary level. The Food Centre here has two floors, on which old-established stallholders and young foodies ply their specialties, from handmade fish balls through rice cakes with black beans to egg porridge with chicken. Three or four Singapore dollars is what you can expect to pay for a plateful – an incredibly small price even in Singapore. The market is the true heart of the quarter, and in fine weather, you can dine out on the terrace beneath a sunshade and admire the ever-growing skyline.

This small, independent bookstore was partly responsible for sparking the hype surrounding Tiong Bahru as a hipster refuge. There’s plenty of reading material to be found here, and not just English novels, but also leftist aesthetic criticism. At the same time, Books Actually acts as a showcase for the publishing company Math Paper Press, which promotes local talent. And that’s not all: In the backroom, the store also sells high-ticket vintage tableware.

This bar is the most popular speakeasy in Singapore. By day, the wait staff serve Chinese noodles in the front room, then in the evening, the back room opens for fans of Japanese whiskey and yakitori skewer specialties. A small, windowless place with metal bars on the walls, the back room is reminiscent of a streetcar with the lights dimmed. Make sure to book a table.

This concept store is ideal for fastidious interior designers. The furniture and accessories, including a bookshelf in the shape of a bear, handmade peppermint-scented soap, terracotta bowls with dragon feet, come from both Singaporean and foreign designers. At Strangelets, you are sure to find the ideal souvenir for friends and family who like to give their home a playful but elegant touch.

Chef Gontran Cherrier envisioned this airy and extremely popular corner eatery as a breakfast café with a French atmosphere. And you really do get the feeling of you are actually in Paris here – thanks to the overwhelming selection of croissants and small cakes. The most important difference: Guests sit outside in the tropical heat and can choose creations with Asian influences, such as squid baguette with smoked salmon or kimchi pancake as a burger ingredient. The coffee comes from the 40 Hands roastery just a couple of meters away.

The crackling good sound of vinyl records is back in Singapore: Vinyl has now achieved the same cult status with Southeast Asian music nerds as it has in Europe. In this tiny indie store, the owner stocks current releases alongside rare recordings from past decades. Around 2000 jazz, pop, rock and classic records in clear sleeves await new fans.

A long counter with a show kitchen and bar, upholstered benches and pewter ceiling panels – this green restaurant is the successful attempt to establish the New York bistro concept in Southeast Asia. On the menu, dishes include avocado salad with shrimp and roasted pork rack with spicy pineapple sauce, and hanging from the walls, the herb boxes in which the cooks grow the herbs they use to spice their meals.

This whitewashed temple at the entrance to the neighborhood ensures the spiritual well-being of the young and beautiful. Since 1938, the faithful have been lighting incense at this street corner to give thanks to the monkey god. He is credited with being able to bring fast financial success to a store. Judging by the success of the local café scene, the cafés’ founders were not mean with their offerings.

Open from dawn till midnight, with no entry fee, this lush garden is the lungs of Singapore. Founded in 1859, it still provides a welcome escape from the urban sprawl, with shady trails, trickling water features and abundant greenery that almost makes you forget you are in the middle of the city.

Widely regarded as Asia’s best zoo, with a vast menagerie of rainforest creatures and recommended night safaris to meet the zoo’s nocturnal inhabitants. The zoo is famous for its naturalistic enclosures.

The colours of India spill out into the Singapore streets at this rainbow-coloured temple, with a pantheon of Hindu deities atop its looming gopuram (entrance tower). The temple throngs with devotees, particularly during the Deepavali festival in October or November.

For a fascinating window onto the lives of ordinary Singaporeans in the city’s seafaring heyday, visit this restored Peranakan home.

Constructed by the family that invented Tiger Balm, this surreal sculpture garden provides a fascinating introduction to the world of Chinese mythology, complete with vivid depictions of demons, dragons and the Confucian hell.

Singapore’s most famous Chinese temple is a hub of activity during the morning and evening rush hours, when devotees flock to light incense sticks and burn spirit money to honour their ancestors and the deities of the Hokkien pantheon.

Singapore’s best loved theme park covers a whole island, with seaside resorts, thrill rides, a butterfly garden, an aquarium and even a colonial fort. Come by cable car for fine views across the Straits, or take the Sentosa express train.

This intriguing museum offers displays on Peranakan culture, a fascinating fusion of Chinese and Malay customs.

Step into the Singapore of old in this engaging cultural centre, where photographs, dioramas and mock-ups of shops and houses bring the Chinese experience in Singapore to life. Displays cover everything from religion and trade to opium dens and other vices.

Giant Ferris wheels are big news around the world, and the Singapore Flyer is no exception. Riding high on the waterfront on Raffles Avenue, this soaring big wheel offers stunning city views from glass capsules that perform a slow arc above the city skyline.

Singapore best-loved restaurant has moved around over the years, but currently weaves its magic at the Hilton on Orchard Road.

Pet project of innovative Australian chef Tetsuya Wakuda, specialising in tantalising fusions of Japanese and European ingredients.

Many restaurants have imitated the fragrant pepper crab served by Madam Ong Kim Hoi at this bustling seafood restaurant, but few have bettered it.

The Chinatown Complex hawker center boasts what is likely the world’s most affordable gourmet restaurant: a Michelin-starred food stall, where Cantonese chicken and rice costs just two Singapore dollars (that’s roughly 1.25 euros). The price may be low, but the line is usually very long, so expect to wait.

Opinions tend to differ on this spiky fruit that’s the size of a coconut: Although people all over Southeast Asia love it, many find it hard to stomach because of its foul smell (the fruit is also known as “stinky fruit”). In this famous durian café, brave souls can venture a mouthful of confectionery, ice cream, cake or pudding with or made from durian.

The original Singapore superclub, still booming through the night to guest sets by the top DJs on the island.

If you insist on a view with your Singapore Sling, ascend to this stylish three-storey bar atop the 282m (925ft) One Raffles Place building.

A former power station on the harbour, transformed into a sprawling entertainment complex, with a maze of interlinked bars and clubs, covering every musical genre.

Bringing American mixology to the streets of Singapore, this retro cocktail bar was voted one of the world’s top 50 bars.

Small clubs and bars abound in the area around Orchard Road, and this Spanish-style wine bar is one of them. It’s a great place to start the evening; ask the locals to recommend a good club nearby for later on.