Arseniy Cherkasenko

Traveler, insider and Swiss Private Banker in Singapore Arseniy Cherkasenko told The Vanderlust about his favorite restaurants, art galleries and bars in the city.

In Focus

Singapore was designed with the philosophy of Feng Shui in mind, making it one of the most harmonious cities I’ve ever been – and that’s why it was love at first sight. The weather is wonderful all year round – except the rainy season, when clouds gather above the city at lunchtime followed by a heavy shower.

Singapore only gained its independence in 1965, prior to that it was a British colony and part of Malaysia. For some fifty years, Singapore has made big leaps in development - from fishing village to one of the most technologically advanced financial and business centers in Southeast Asia. Since its inception, Singapore has expanded its territory by 23% to 720 square kilometers without war or conquest, but thanks to artificial mounds.

Art and Culture

My favorite art spaces are the Singapore National Museum and Singapore National Gallery, which have an excellent collection of artwork from across Asia. My other suggestion is probably the Art Science Museum – the building is shaped like a lotus flower, which people like to pose in front of – but it is impressive inside too.

Another favorite place is the Gillman Barracks, a former British military base that now hosts an impressive modern art collection. The art galleries located in the former barracks are world-class and trendy, I’m certain connoisseurs will appreciate it.

Food

For breakfast, my favorite venues are: My Awesome Café; Bread Street Kitchen; PS. Café; Wild Honey; House of AnLi; Common Man Coffee Roasters; and Artichoke – all of them are as perfect as they are different, and always offer delicious food.

For lunch we usually go to Club Street, Dempsey Hill, or Holland Village – the concentration of trendy restaurants in these areas is phenomenal. I would also recommend my favorite restaurant Artemis on 40th floor of a skyscraper with a rooftop terrace bar and amazing view on the city. If you want to taste Singapore’s famed chili crab, it is worth visiting No Signboard, Red House Seafood, or JUMBO Seafood –it is a must try while in Singapore!

After Dark

Without a doubt, Singapore has some of the best bars in the world. My first suggestion is 28 HongKong Street, a secret bar with no signs outside and an unassuming door, behind which you can find amazing cocktails! The Library bar near the Little India area is another favorite of mine - at the entrance you will be asked for a password, it changes every week, and only few people realize that the password is always published on their facebook page.

If you are near Arab Street, go to Bar Stories, where you feel like you are in an apartment with friends; there is no menu, and the bartender asks questions to produce something you might like. Next is D.Bespoke in Chinatown, a Ginza-style bar, with a pleasant interior and best cocktails in Singapore.

Atlas Bar, with its giant carved ceilings in the style of American art deco, resembles footage from the "The Great Gatsby" movie and locals call it the Gotham building. Their tables are often booked months in advance, so you’ll have to either wait or use their booking app.

If you don’t like the crowd, go to the Smoke and Mirrors bar on the Singapore National Gallery’s rooftop with incredible view of the city and try the famous Singapore Sling. For those determined to continue the evening, go to Kilo Lounge – it is the best techno and progressive club in Singapore and always has excellent DJs. For pop music, try Zouk or Bang Bang – they are always fun and crowded.

Weekend

At the weekend, go to Sentosa - it's a 15-minute drive from Singapore but with numerous hotels, restaurants, yacht clubs and beach clubs. My personal must-go place –the Tangong Beach Club where you can spend a relaxed Sunday. Or go for a round of golf on the neighboring Indonesian islands of Batam or Bintan, you can get there by ferry.

Landmark events

Don’t miss Singapore Jazz Festival, which attracts world-class performers every year and Ultra Music Festival for techno fans – it’s also held in Miami, South America, and Europe.