The baht is bulking up, but if you’re not emotionally (or financially) prepared to make an overseas trek, stay in the neighborhood and visit our cool cousins from the Merlion City: Singapore. It’s not quite the same as a trip to New York or Paris but Singapore is a still a major capital which is up on the latest trends from both East and West. So get ready to speak British English littered with Chinese slang while browsing through Kate Moss’ Top Shop collection after an authentic roti prata lunch. You get flavors and vibes from around the world all in one city and there’s no need for a visa or long haul air ticket.

Shoppers’ Paradise

Singapore has always been a regional shopping mecca—and an international one for electronics. If you’ve had it with the Central-Emporium-Paragon triangle, hit Orchard Road. With or without the Great Sale, it is still a top spot for Asian fashionistas. Of course, you could always hit the familiar Takashimaya (391 Orchard Rd., 65-6738-1111. www.takashimaya-sin.com) or Wisma (435 Orchard Rd., 65-6235-8177. www.wismaonline.com). But if you feel Orchard is too played out, you’re not alone. Instead, try Vivo City (1 Harbourfront Walk, 65-6377-6860. www.vivocity.com.sg), a newly opened megamall offering world-renowned brands that is within reach of Sentosa Island (www.sentosa.com.sg), the country’s tropical escape. We have real beaches, but Singaporeans have real beach culture. (Maybe because a tan there is actually considered cool!) If you’re not ready to go dark, stick to Vivo’s air-con atmosphere and load up on high-end brands and street fashion gems. Become a Kate Moss look-alike with British high street labels such as Top Shop (1/F, Vivo City, 65-6273-7186) and River Island (1/F, Vivo City, 65-6376-8122); go ghetto-fabulous with DIY graffiti messenger bags at Tagger (2/F, Vivo City, 65-6376-8260. www.taggerbags.com.sg); or check in to pretty local boutiques like Valerie (2/F, Vivo City, 65-6376-9938) for the familiar Siam Square dolly looks.

You’re in Singapore, so go where all the cool Singaporeans go, lah. Ditch the big-name malls and head to Far East Plaza (Scotts Rd., 65-6732 6266. www.fareast-plaza.com). This Siam Square/MBK-style shopping complex is where you can find great looking street wear at friendly prices. All the shops are scattered about, but for chic-central go down to LevelOne (1/F, Far East Plaza, Scotts Rd., www.levelone.com.sg) and stock up on hot local graffiti t-shirts, sneakers and accessories. If you want to blend in even more with the ‘hood, take the MRT to Bugis Street (New Bugis Street, 65-6338-9531. www.bugis-street.com) with its more than 600 stalls of bargain goodies. The recently increased 7% sales tax policy isn’t in effect here, so shop away tax-free.

Fulfilling Feeling

Being the melting pot that it is, Singapore is a fantastic place for foodies. You can munch on roti, scoop up some Boon Tong Kee chicken rice or slurp on laksa all you want, but your Singaporean trip won’t be complete until you get a taste of chili crab. The unofficial national dish is as widespread as som tam in Bangkok, but if you want a side of atmosphere with this tasty dish, seat yourself in the massive seafood hub, No Signboard Seafood (East Coast Parkway, 65-6448-9959. www.nosignboardseafood.com) and chow down crab while enjoying the mellow Eastside sea breeze. Or you could revel in some Singaporean culture in Chinatown at the Singapore Heritage Restaurant (Chinatown Heritage Centre, 48 Pagoda Street, 65-6225-4024) for some satay, noodles and chicken rice.

Go upscale and inter with dinner at My Secret Garden (161 Middle Rd., 65-6334-8334. www.mysg.com.sg). With grandiose-Euro dishes like oxtail stew (SG$21) and crayfish spaghetti (SG$20), this secret garden is becoming the hot spot for Singaporeans in the know. Or really splurge at the most expensive brunch on the island, at the Pan Pacific Hotel’s Global Kitchen (7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, 65-6826-8333. singapore.panpacific.com). It may mean adjusting your budget but the buffet of foie gras, oysters, sirloin steak and crayfish makes the SG$175 definitely worth it. If you’re recovering from Singapore’s nightlife, go healthy with Red White and Pure’s (2-3/F, Vivo City, Harbourfront Walk, 65-6827-0088 www.redwhitepure.com) selection of detoxifying vegetarian dishes. This restaurant is a real holistic oasis in the middle of shoppers’ paradise.

Creatively Chic

Singapore seems on its way to becoming the entertainment and art hub of Asia. With the Singapore Art School opening soon, the country is developing the creative talents of its workaholic citizens. The Esplanade (1 Esplanade Drive, 65-6828-8377. www.esplanade.com) on the Marina Bay, for example, is a mega structure purposely built to showcase world-famous performers and local art exhibitions. If your favorite band fails to hit the stage in Bangkok, Singapore’s Esplanade is where you need to be. The huge spiky-domed (hence it’s nickname, “The Durian”) theatrical facility can accommodate 1,600 concertgoers, and 2,000 theater fans.

For a more intimate artsy setting, hail a cab to the stylish Club Street (Ann Siang Rd.). Escape the touristy side of Singapore in this small winding hill crammed with private boutiques and ancient shophouses. There, you can catch indie and foreign films at the Screening Room (12 Club Street, 65-6221-1694. www.screeningroom.com.sg), get a local couture wedding gown fitted at Bridal de Couture (90 Club Street, 65-6223-0638) or a dose of Philippe Starck and Alexander McQueen at Venue (44-46 Club Street, 65-6323-0640. www.venue.com.sg).

Art and design afficionados, often pass on the strong but stale Singapore National Museum, and instead fall in love with the staggering Red Dot Design Museum (28 Maxwell Rd., 65-6327-8027. www.red-dot.sg). This internationally recognized museum and its coveted design awards give young creative designers a chance to display their work and gain recognition. The museum is also the host of the MAAD (Market of Artist and Designers, www.maad.sg) flea market where you can snatch up all the unique arts, crafts and performances from Singapore’s creative
crowd.

For cutting edge sounds, go to Harry’s Bar’s (01-05/07 Esplanade Mall, Raffles Avenue, 65-6334-0132. www.harrys.com.sg) live jazz performances. Or headbang to Holland Village’s Wala Wala (31 Lorong Mambong, 65-6733-9400) rock shows. If you’d rather do the singing, Bugis Village offers two-hour sessions on rock vocal training at its Music Garage (63B Bugis Village, 65-9856-6154. www.musicgarage. com.sg). The music school is headlined by Super Band winning group, the local rock version of American Idol, so you can go back home and tell your friends you jammed with Singapore’s top rock stars.

Nocturnal Fun

The party scene in Singapore is strong and with a 3am curfew, those two extra hours really do make a difference. Clarke Quay (3 River Valley Rd, 65-6337-3292. www.clarkequay.com.sg), famed for its stretch of nightlife along the banks of the Singapore River, is home to favorites such as Ministry of Sound (Block C, The Cannery, Clarke Quay, 65-6235-2292. www.ministryofsound.com.sg) and BarFly (Block C, The Cannery, Clarke Quay, 65- 6887-3733. www.barfly.com.sg), as well as foreign chains like T&A haven Hooters (01-03 Shophouse Row, Clarke Quay, 65-6332-1090. www.hooters.com.sg). For a hit of caffeine before you party till 3am, sip a latte at The Coffee Connoisseur (Blk 3E, Clarke Quay, 65-6336-1121. www.thecoffeeconnoisseur.com).

However, if your agenda involves bumping into hot famous and loaded Singaporean expats, pimp yourself up and go to Chijmes (30 Victoria Street, 65-6332-6277. www.chijmes.com.sg). With wine bars and pubs featuring names like Le Baroque (B1-07, Chijmes, 65-6339-6696, www.lebaroque.com.sg) and Gatsby (B1-09, Chijmes, 65-6339-9919. www.gatsby.com.sg), you can expect some well-heeled lurkers. If you normally toil away your Bangkok nights at RCA, follow the natives to St. James Power Station (3 Sentosa Gateway, 65-6270-7676. www.stjamespowerstation.com). There you can catch live Chinese bands at Dragonfly (St. James Power Station, 65-6270-7676. www.dragonfly.sg) or dance to the R&B beats of the largest venue in the area, Power House (St. James Power House, 65-6270-7676. www.powerhouse.sg).