Entertainment Guide Singapore for Expats
Singapore’s entertainment scene is vibrant and ever changing, with fantastic restaurants, a lively night scene, and an impressive selection of performing arts opportunities for such a small nation. While professional-level sports events are fewer and far between, one can still find opportunities to watch football, polo, cricket, dragon-boating, and Singapore’s newest sporting pride, F1 auto racing.
Undoubtedly, the great Singapore pastime is dining. Singaporeans savor both their own delights and flock to new restaurants that serve cuisine from around the world. While local hawker centers (open-air food courts) dish out the best and cheapest of Singapore cuisine and serve as the social grounds for Singaporeans late into the night, one can also find a dizzying array of top-tier fine dining options in the city center.
Singapore’s nightlife is varied, offering options across the spectrum from light-and-sound show dance clubs to cozy neighborhood pubs. While nearly all of Singapore’s nightlife is above board, there are a few locations with a somewhat seedy underbelly, namely Geylang Serai and Orchard Towers on Orchard Road.
One can still find very traditional forms of entertainment like Chinese opera, mahjong, and dance performances, but Singapore is more known today for its international offerings of dance, art, theater, and music, and the government’s support of the arts only serves to richen the art scene.
Furthermore, a plethora of home entertainment and family options exist. The world-famous Singapore Zoo and Night Safari and the Jurong Bird Park are well worth repeat visits, and Sentosa, the small island to Singapore’s south, offers family-style entertainment offerings and amusements. The introduction of the Integrated Resorts in Singapore has also expected brought new entertainment possibilities to the waterfront, though casino gambling will be limited for Singaporeans and permanent residents.
