SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE

The city may be known for shiny shopping malls, but hidden among them are quirky homegrown finds, from bookbinders to gin distillers, that add local flair.

- Shamilee Vellu

FOODIE HAUNTS

Housed in a former colonial barracks in leafy Dempsey, Culina Market is a cool whitewashed temple to single-variety Provençale olive oils, sea-urchin caviar and Icelandic salt-fermented fish sauce. The market, owned by COMO Group, also includes an in-house butchery, a deli, bakery florist and formidable selection of fine French wine, along with kitchen accessories such as Aritsugu knives and serving-ware by Ann Demeulemeester-Serax. The bistro is a great place to sample the produce.

Food, music and art intersect at Appetite, a multi-concept dining space on Amoy Street. Founded by The Fat Duck alum Ivan Brehm (who helms Michelin-starred Nouri downstairs), it serves cross-cultural dishes in an apartment-like venue, which encourages guests to move between an intimate dining area, a listening lounge with 3,000-plus vinyls and an art gallery that recently hosted the city's first Robert Mapplethorpe solo show.

Barely a year old, Dearborn was a pandemic pivot by San Franciscoborn, Singapore-based fine-dining chef Christopher Kong. His granola store, which is located in quiet Everton Park (also home to the famous glutinous rice snack purveyor Ji Xiang Ang Ku Kueh), stocks more than 25 versions of the cereal, with bestsellers including Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut and Sea Salt and Strawberry Macadamia.culina.com.sg; appetitesg.com; dearborn.sg

DIY DRINKS