Singapore is an absolute delight for both foodies and lovers of the great outdoors, combining one of the world’s most colourful, varied and exciting dining scenes (a result of the city-state’s vibrant multi-ethnic culture and heritage) and masses of green space in which to get active. We’ve shared some of our favourite spots in the city for wellbeing practices and for healthy, sustainable food.
Singapore surprises many with its sheer array of gorgeous green spaces, including Gardens by the Bay, a unique nature park and greening project, its UNESCO-listed Botanic Gardens (home to the National Orchid Garden), the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (with a mangrove forest and rich biodiversity) and Jurong Lake Gardens (a 90-hectare space that is perfect for nature lovers).
Opposite the Botanic Gardens, Dempsey Hill is on the site of a former nutmeg plantation and is a great spot for outdoor fitness classes as well as for health-focused dining.
Dempsey Hill also has one of the four branches of the city’s Core Collective – ideal places to feel at one with nature during your fitness session - and one of two branches of PowerMoves Pilates, where you can stretch and tone in the serenity of nature.
Another green sanctuary in Singapore is Coney Island with its great cycling trails past some of the city’s fascinating plant and animal life, while those up for the challenge of a coast-to-coast adventure by foot should check out the Park Connector Network (PCN), 300km of green corridors linking major parks and nature areas island-wide, perfect for hiking and cycling.
The city also has its own Wellness Festival, running from 17 June to 9 July 2023, with an exciting lineup of fitness classes, meditation workshops, and arts and lifestyle experiences to boost physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
With over 50 Michelin-starred restaurants and world-renowned hawker stalls serving up some of the street food that was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020, Singapore is famous for its delicious dining.
If you’re looking for places that are specifically health-focused or sustainable, our first recommendation is COMO Cuisine on Dempsey Hill, serving up signature dishes from COMO Resorts around the world – including some of its nutritionist-developed COMO Shambhala Cuisine. All dishes are prepared from scratch, using organic produce where possible but always the freshest in-season ingredients, sourced locally in the most natural and sustainable way.
Then there’s Open Farm Community, a sustainable farm-to-table restaurant on Minden Road, curating and hosting local farmers to showcase their produce in innovative dishes paired with wines made from forgotten grapes and regions, by smaller, more authentic producers with a herbicide- and chemical-free ethos. Don’t miss the small plate of Tiberias snapper ceviche with sago crackers and ginger flower.
We also love Carrotsticks and Cravings, two Instaworthy cafés on Robertson Quay and on Stanley Street in the Central Business District. Founded by a Melbourne-born proprietress, they include plenty of gluten-free options, all-day breakfasts, salad bowls and more.
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