Deciding on where to dine for the night in downtown Singapore could be a difficult task. In a metropolitan city with both luxurious international restaurants and authentic local flavors, you would be spoilt for choice! The good news is, expatriates living in prime districts could enjoy cuisine from local and abroad, including delights from wherever they call home.
International dining
Craving for an international dining experience? You could devour it right here in Singapore. Thanks to the multitudes of restaurants featuring cuisine from all over the world, eating is an international affair. Apart from the French, Japanese and American restaurants, we also delve into the more quaint and exotic. The next time you plan to impress your guests, bring them to Shashlik where authentic Russian borscht and escargot are served. This international dining scene further means a dose of comfort for expatriates who miss the food in their home countries. No matter which part of the globe they come from, they could always find a taste of home here.
Local flavors
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Singapore, eat like a Singaporean! Many foreign visitors sing praises of our local delights which are a unique mixture of Chinese, Indian and Malay cuisine. These tropical flavors could be rather spicy because we Singaporeans crave chilies but after a few tries, you may acquire a taste for this addictive ingredient! Our signature dishes include the yummy chili crabs at Boat Quay where you could eat with your fingers in a relaxing environment next to the soothing river. Also, do not forget to try out the fragrant Hainanese chicken rice at Meritus Mandarin Hotel, often cited as the best food in Singapore.
Fine dining
For those who like it haute, downtown Singapore offers some of the most sophisticated and decadent fine dining in Asia. Notably, the restaurant groups Les Amis and Garibaldi are the leading moguls in French and Italian fine haute cuisine respectively. Each operates several luxurious restaurants which feature carefully designed degustation menus which guarantee only the freshest ingredients and finest culinary skills. The Au Jardin under Les Amis is particularly enticing to gourmets because you could dine amidst soothing greenery in the pristine compound of the Botanic Gardens. High-end dining in Singapore has also gained an international foothold as our restaurants and chefs frequently win titles abroad.
Concept dining
In recent years, Singapore sees a rise in concept dining restaurants vowed to provide a completely different eating experience to their clientele. These restaurants usually feature a theme which resonates through their menu and décor. Aurum at Clarke Quay is perhaps the most prominent. Their self-invented concept is called molecular gastronomy where art and hi-tech meet to create concoctions like abalone with pearls and liquid food items served in a syringe. Since its launch, Aurum has attracted a large pool of fans who swear by this amazing restaurant that changes what they think about food eating.
Summary: If you are expanding into Asia but do not wish to give up the comfort of exquisite dining, come to downtown Singapore, the food haven! For more information about living and dining in prime districts of Singapore, please feel free to contact us!
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Over the years, the Indonesian Chinese community in Singapore has grown and expanded into considerable force. This group of hardworking and innovative expatriates appreciates the wonderful life on the island nation because such standard of living is something that they may not receive back in Indonesia. Singapore Prime Districts discusses the reasons that attract and retain this community. Political stance
Unlike the Indonesian government that gives priority to their fellow natives, the Singapore government is renowned for their emphasis on meritocracy. This ideology provides an equal chance to all and ensures fair competition. Meritocracy in real life application means there is no quota to university entrance or application for business licenses because everyone is judged not based on race but on talent and diligence. In school or at work, the Indonesian Chinese community could maximize their potential through opportunities that may not have been available to them in Indonesia.
Clean and corruption-free
Many South East Asian countries suffer from dire consequences of corruption in both their political and corporate arenas. The case is starkly different in Singapore where our government adopts a harsh stance against every kind of corruption. This leaves Singapore almost corruption-free as we score 5th out 163 countries in the Transparency International Perceptions Index. Clean public and private sectors enhance efficiency and productivity throughout the island nation; as such quality of life for the Indonesian Chinese community is much higher.
Economic development
Poised as one of the powerful Asian Tigers, the Singapore economy has performed surprisingly well in the past 20 years. Even after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, this determined island state picked herself up relatively faster than any other city in the region. This was due largely to the well-planned development routes by the local government that places huge importance on economic performance. As such, the Indonesian Chinese community has over the years, accumulated great faith in Singapore's investment prospects.
Value of investments
Due to the limited land size of Singapore, property is often viewed to be extremely valuable and precious. In comparison with Indonesia where land is in abundance, property investments in Singapore are more lucrative with greater returns. This is especially true for prime districts where the crème de la crop developments are located. Due to the openness of our condominium and private apartment markets, the increase in prices can occur swiftly in a few years, generating profits for investors. Recently, a surge in downtown property demand has in fact done so for the Indonesian Chinese community who prefer to live near Bukit Timah and Somerset.
Home away from home
Singapore is truly the home away from home for many Indonesian Chinese expatriates. They may start off treating this island as a place for business but most of them eventually move their entire families over. This is because Singapore has a lot to offer in terms of standard of living, security and stability. Furthermore, our metropolitan culture means that these expatriates could easily enjoy Indonesian cuisine like beef noodle soup or a relaxing Javanese message in Orchard. So really, home is not that far away.
Summary: For Indonesian Chinese looking for new investments and living prospects, Singapore is the ideal location due to its political stability, economic strengths and equal platform for competition.
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Talented executives around the world are looking for opportunities in the Asia Pacific region; most are raring to move into a new life with exciting projects and investments. However, one problem constantly bugs them and stops them from taking the step forward – their children. Downtown Singapore could be the solution. Hailed as second home to many expatriates, it is well equipped with holistic education and family oriented entertainment for your little ones. Growing up in a foreign country has never been this fun.
Quality International Pre-schools
Kindergartens in downtown Singapore are sophisticated education institutions that understand that a good and early start in learning is important. They mostly adopt an internationally recognized teaching method such as the Montessori system. Where kindergartens develop their unique teaching styles, these methods are also certified by the Ministry of Education and not to mention, avid parents. One such pre-school is the famous Eton House which promotes multiple learning goals for their students. This kindergarten has frequently ranked top among its competitors for its emphasis on learning through interaction and building confidence.
Kids-Friendly Malls and Restaurants
In a bid to cultivate a pro-family environment, various shopping centers and restaurants have transformed themselves to a haven for both the parents and their young ones. These malls feature fashion for juniors, major toy stores playgrounds and specially designed nursing rooms. Housing the largest Toys R’us store in Singapore, Forum Shopping Centre is one of the children’s favorite hangouts. Restaurants like Globetrotter at United Square swear by their slogan of where you can eat and kids can play as they serve up a conducive dining environment for families with energetic little ones.
Close to Nature
A dream-like childhood is not complete without exploring the beauty of Mother Nature. While this may be difficult in severely polluted cities like Jakarta and Beijing, Nature is just beyond the doorstep at downtown Singapore. Apart from the ubiquitous lush greenery along the streets, our National Botanic Gardens is a short drive away at Bukit Timah – the perfect picnic spot. For adventurous tots, the Sungai Buloh Conservation Area provides an adventure in a paradise of tropical flora and fauna. During specific periods of the year, your children can even go bird-watching!
Exciting Holiday Activities
School holidays for a child in Singapore are constantly exciting because there are so many fun-filled activities. You could bring them to the inspiring Science Centre or gaze at the galaxy at the Planetarium. If your children love wet rides, Downtown East has some of the wildest yet safest water slides. Furthermore, arts and music festivals throughout the year carry programs specially catered to children in order to spark off their creativity. These programs often invite children to join in the fun of producing art which can be very enriching at a tender age.
Summary: Singapore is an ideal place for young children to grow up because of its quality pre-school education and pro-family lifestyle malls. If you intend to expand into Asia, don’t hesitate in choosing this island state! Contact us for more details about children and parenting services in downtown Singapore.
Everyone wants a piece of Asia now. Make your slice Singapore. Long hailed as a luscious home away from home for many expatriates, this city state is undergoing a facelift, giving you more reasons than ever to invest in its booming property market. With ambitious plans to transform its downtown area into prime vacation spot and top class financial centre, Singapore is bound to attract much global attention in the next few years. Even as uncertainty looms over the US, Singapore Prime Districts will show you how this little red dot is still going strong.
Brand new plans
In year 2006, the Singapore government invited resort and casino moguls around the world to a massive tender. Successful bidders would gain access to Marina Bay and Sentosa to develop luxurious resorts equipped with world class casinos and high-end retail. Scheduled to be fully completed in year 2012, these developments would upgrade Singapore bays to become popular respites. More importantly, private property around the area would increase in market value as the resorts draw in a large group of professional expatriates and glitterati. Already, the buzz is felt in the market. The newly launched Marina Bay Residences situated just across the resorts in currently in great popular demand as it combines comfort, luxury and entertainment in a single development. Our agents and buyers at Singapore Prime Districts expect demand and prices to continue rising because we are confident the value will only peak when the resorts are launched. In other words, it is not too late to buy into this boom now.
Good location, modern design
Of course, good climate in the property market is insufficient to justify a purchase. The property itself has to be valuable in terms of location and design. Convenience has always been a strong advantage of downtown Singapore property due to the central location. The condominiums are normally situated near to train stations, shopping malls and international schools. What is worthy of additional notice is the design. In recent years, Singaporean developers have fused trustworthy engineering with modern architecture to build a series of eclectic living space in town. One such condominium that Singapore Prime Districts represents for is Cairnhill Residence at Cairnhill Circle. Apart from being near to the staples of premiere schools, high way access and shopping belt, the stylish condominium is designed to look futuristic and fashionable. In fact, you could easily mistake it for a designer building in the heart of Tokyo or Hong Kong. Herein lays the catch. These boutique units are gradually becoming the norms of downtown residences in Singapore and cost only half the price of those in the city’s competitors. It is no wonder more foreign talents are moving to this island nation.
Sub-prime mortgage woes
As sub-prime mortgage woes cloud over the US market, some may feel jittery in investing in property. Admittedly, the Singapore’s economic performance is closely related to that of America. However, in Singapore Prime Districts, our experience with the local economy tells us we have slowly moved away from absolute reliance on the American consumers for economic growth. More and more, other factors such as the Chinese economy and local developments are influencing Singapore’s markets. In fact, our elder statesman MM Lee said in an interview earlier this year that Singapore is going to be fine in the coming 5 to 10 years even if there was a slow down in the US and Europe. This is because the Chinese and Indian economies would still grow by 8 to 10% annually, giving Singapore an extra lift. As such, it would be quite safe to say that local property market holds promise for investors albeit a downturn in the West.
Could it be a bubble?
When year 2007 came to an end, the state newspapers Straits Times reported on the record property prices reached in the past year. With so much hype in downtown Singapore, developments were selling like hot cakes at sky-high value. Such a phenomenon may be reminiscent of the craze before Japan’s property market crash in the nineties. However, close inspection will show otherwise. While it is true that several condominiums fetched eye-popping prices, these were exceptions to the general picture. Overall, the prices of downtown property are forecasted to rise at a stable pace of 10 to 20% this year. The cost-conscious government also monitors and stabilizes the market from time to time to prevent prices from sky rocketing. In a city setting of limited land resources with rapid economic growth, what investors can expect from deals with Singapore Prime Districts is usually not a cash fall but steady returns over the long run.
Lower real interest rates
If all these cannot move your heart, the low real interest rates in Singapore will. Home loan rates in Singapore typically range from 3 to 4%. Yet due to the record-high inflation of 3.6% in October 2007, pressure will be put on our already low interest rates. Real mortgage rates at the moment are only slightly above zero, at about 0.5 to 1.0%. What this means is a positive effect on borrowers. As we in Singapore Prime Districts explain to our clients, it is now more value for money to take out a home loan because a loan of S$80,000 is worth much less in the future when the time to return has come. Instead of keeping your money in the bank and losing out from the low bank rates, investing the cash in property would give you higher profits.
There is so much talk about Asia. Yet many countries in the robust continent suffer from similar drawbacks such as pollution and corruption which cause these young and upcoming markets to be shaky and unreliable. Singapore stands out in the eyes of property investors because our market is a matured and stable one. These coming years for Singapore guarantee exciting developments tempered with careful governance. Indeed, we at Singapore Prime Districts believe there is perhaps no better time to invest in the garden city.
Deciding on where to dine for the night in downtown 
