Meet Velda - local style icon, entrepreneur and blogger, who recently added the garnish of restaurateur to her cap. She tells us the best places to eat and shop in the city
Co-founder of fashion label Love, Bonito and creative force behind hip lobster shack Pince & Pints in the trendy Duxton Hill area, Velda is a maven of shopping and dining in Singapore. A wallflower, so she says, but we know otherwise about this serene, inspiring and beloved girl about town.
Singapore’s best-kept secret is… Capella Hotel. It’s a great place to get away from the bustle of city life without having to cross borders. An even better kept secret would be Bob’s Bar – the hotel’s lounge that overlooks lush greenery and is discreetly tucked away. It’s the perfect place for catching sunset and some pre-dinner cocktails.
The dining scene here is… diverse and multicultural. We Singaporeans are spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety of cuisine offered in our city. I particularly love the idea of being able to choose between roti prata (South Indian flat bread) or Teochew porridge (porridge with small dishes) at any time in the day, even for supper at 3am! Some of my favourite supper spots include PS.Cafe on Ann Siang Hill, and Fordham & Grand bar on Craig Road, both of which open till 2am. The Black Swan in the central business district has a special supper menu, and Maxwell Food Centre does a gorgeous Cantonese porridge till 2.30am.
No-one should leave Singapore without… a meal at Makansutra Gluttons Bay or one of our hawker centres. They’re the best way to get a taste of local delights like chilli crab, satay (grilled meat skewers), char kway teow (stir- fried rice noodles), and oyster omelette. Best to order up big and share plates.
When the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) hits town, I can be seen… shopping online because it’s way too crowded to hit the streets! What’s unique about the GSS is the sales are in store, online and across everything you can imagine from clothes and shoes to airfares and technology.
Local designers are… gaining traction because our community values creativity and is becoming more supportive of local-grown brands. This is not only seen in the fashion industry, but also in the arts and dining scene.
Singapore Fashion Week… this May will be extra special since it’s the first year under the new moniker, bringing it in line with the big four fashion weeks of the world. I’m super excited that Diane von Furstenberg will open the show and participate in a series of industry talks and sessions organised in collaboration with LASALLE College of the Arts. This demonstrates deep support of local designers. I will be launching my new fashion label there as well. Squeal!
I’m excited about… the SG50 celebrations as our country commemorates its Jubilee Year! There really is no better time to visit Singapore than this year – with many great activities planned for locals and tourists to enjoy, and it’s also a time for us to just reflect on our identity as a nation.
This article was first published in Singapore Insider. Pick up a copy of the print guide at Singapore Visitor Centres island-wide, including Orchard (junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road), orchardgateway, ION Orchard (Level 1 Concierge), and Chinatown Visitor Centre (2 Banda Street), or download the latest version.
