The Beat Singapore’s Weekender Guide: Best Things to See, Do, Eat, & Drink on Nov. 4-6, 2022

Ahh, another weekend is upon us and you’re looking for cool things to get up to in the city! We’ve saved you the hassle with The Beat Singapore’s rundown of the best places to hit up and things to do this weekend—from blink-and-you'll-miss-it pop-up sights and new restaurant openings, to the hottest activities that you shouldn’t miss. To keep your finger on the pulse of the city, follow The Beat Singapore to see what’s best in store for the weekend.

1. My Dawson Heritage Tour

Conducted every first Saturday and Sunday of the month, heritage preservation group My Community’s Dawson tour lets joiners explore Queenstown, the Lion City’s first satellite town, through its iconic buildings and stories from residents who bore witness to the former port city’s development. The guided tour kicks off at former Forfar House – a 14-storey structure that used to be Singapore’s tallest public residential building – before ending it at the feet of Singapore Botanic Garden’s first rubber trees.

My Dawson Heritage Tour includes about four hours of exploration on foot, so be sure to be in comfy clothes and bring headphones. Click here to know more about the tour.

When: 8:15 AM (registration), Nov. 5 and 6

Where: Queenstown MRT Station Exit A (next to 7-11)

How much: Free

2. Doraemon Exhibit at National Museum

Wax nostalgic over afternoons spent at home after school minus the worries of a fully grown adult through one of our childhood’s favorite manga characters, Doraemon. The brainchild of artist Fujiko F. Fujio will grace the National Museum of Singapore with its first-ever exhibit outside Japan. The multi-sited showcase features a contemporary art show that spotlights the works of 30 artists and art groups, including Singaporean talents. There will also be a display of Fujiko F. Fujio’s original sketches, a Doraemon-themed café, and exciting limited-edition merchandise. For tickets and other details, go here.

When: 10 AM-7 PM, Nov. 5, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023

Where: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road

How much: S$30

3. Café Mosaic Seafood Buffet at Carlton Hotel

Tickle your taste buds with local flavours and indulge in Carlton Hotel Singapore’s seafood buffet featuring poached pawns, crab legs, and freshly sucked oysters spread on an on-ice counter. Whet your appetite with the mains, including Wok-fried Prawns with Capsicum and Leek, Fried Fish with Mala Sauce, Oatmeal Cereal Fried Fish, and Salted Egg Crayfish and Wok-fried Prawns with Capsicum and Leek, among other highlights.

To book your table, go here.

When: 6 PM-9:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays (dinner) / 12 PM-2:30 PM, Sundays (lunch)

Where: Café Mosaic, Carlton Hotel Singapore, 76 Bras Basah Road

How much: Starts at S$118 per pax (adult) and S$38 (child)

4. Singapore Writers’ Festival

Get your creative juices flowing and join this year’s Singapore Writers’ Festival through three Festival weekends of talks, storytelling, performances, spoken word, and more. This event brings together discussions on long-debated topics in the world of writing as well as technology-induced trends that are helping reshape the craft as we know it. Pioneer and up-and-coming writers from across the globe are expected to gather during this much-awaited event, which will be conducted in four languages namely, English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil.

Secure your festival pass here.

When: Nov. 4-20

Where: Festival Village (go here for directions)

How much: Starts at S$15

5. Singapore Fintech Festival

Singapore Fintech Festival is booming with a flurry of headliners that will dig deeper into timely issues that are shaping the finance and technology landscape amidst a new era following the wrath of the COVID-19 crisis. This year’s theme will tackle three pressing themes in the post-pandemic fintech industry: businesses’ viability, responsibility, and inclusivity. The speakers highlight a roster of leaders in the fintech industry including Grab co-founder Anthony Tan, Coinbase co-founder Brian Armstrong, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon, and Bill & Melinda Gates co-chair Melinda French Gates, among others.

When: Until Nov. 4

Where: Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Drive

How much: S$1,000 (normal rate), S$500 (start-up pass)

6. Trick or Thrills at USS

We know the spirit of Halloween is still lingering around the corner so what better way to cap off this year’s spooky fun than Universal Studios Singapore’s Trick-or-Thrills event? You have until Sunday to catch the Sweet and Sour Squad’s The Creator, Candy’s Secret, Lolli, and the rest of the gang as they take you on a candy-coloured parade. Visit Resort World Sentosa for ticket bookings.

When: Until Nov. 6

Where: Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa

How much: S$68 (adult), S$58 (child)

7. A Singaporean in Paris

A Singaporean artist packs his bags and flies to Paris to become a cabaret performer in a post-pandemic world in this musical directed by Hossan Leong. The show was based on interviews with Singaporeans who either lived in Paris or are living there, exploring the nuances, satisfactions, and challenges that made them leave the comfort zone and test their fate in one of the world’s most romantic places.

For tickets and other details, check out this page.

When: Until Nov. 13

Where: Drama Centre Theatre, Level 3 100 Victoria St.

How much: S$50-S$75

8. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

In partnership with Esplanade – Theatres on Bay, Intercultural Theatre Institute presents William Shakespeare’s ethereal romantic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with a twist referencing the Asian culture. Award-winning director Aarne Neeme guides 12 actor students as they take the stage as star-crossed lovers, fairies, and amateur performers in the midst of a chaotic Athens.

Visit Esplanade’s website for more details.

When: 7:30 PM, Nov. 4 / 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Nov. 5

Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive

How much: S$25 (standard), S$20 (students)

9. Chimichanga Happy Hour

Raise your glasses to the weekend and chug down a bottle or more with Mexican restaurant-bar Chimichanga’s happy hour deals. Enjoy tipples from 12 PM to 7 PM as a precursor to a Friday night filled with fun and more booze. Chimichanga also offers a bucket of five Corona every Saturday and Sunday for S$35. Bring a friend or down them all by yourself, we won’t judge.

When: 12 PM-7 PM, Mondays thru Sundays

Where: Chimichanga, 36 Dunlop Street

How much: Price varies

Article amended on Nov. 7, 2022, to clarify that the Singapore Writers' Festival will be held in three Festival weekends.