Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews
Two days in Melbourne might seem like an awfully short time to explore a fantastic Australian city but if you are faced with limited time as I was when I visited for just over 48 hours a couple months ago, it is still possible to cover a bit of ground when it comes to the sights and eats in this world-class city Down Under.
Here is a suggested itinerary that you can do easily for two days to four days in Melbourne even without renting your own car.
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Ikkagoyo is a new Japanese kaiseki concept that opened along Amoy Street on the 21st of March 2023. Helming the relatively lean kitchen is Chef-Owner Mitsutaka Sakamoto who hails from Hyogo, Japan. The name Ikkagoyo stems from a Japanese proverb which means “one flower opening up to five petals.”
The entrance to the restaurant is relatively obscure. Despite the stated address, one comes in not from Amoy Street itself but from Gemmill Lane at the back.
In Singapore, it seems like the terms “omakase” and “kaiseki” are used interchangeably but there are actually differences between the two. Kaiseki, which Ikkagoyo adheres to, is represented by refined and predetermined set courses using seasonal ingredients. Omakase on the other hand, is also a multi-course meal but with dishes that are selected by the chef depending on diners’ reactions.
It is with this premise that I entered Ikkagoyo and found a uniquely presented printed set menu on top of my plate. Chef Sakamoto is fastidious about the producers and artisans he works with and the left side of the menu shows where he procures his ingredients. During the course of the meal, he is also proud to showcase some of the more unique cutlery and utensils that he uses.
Ikkagoyo occupies a small tube-like space with 8-pax capacity counter seating and private room that can fit another 8 persons. But while the space is small in size, there is definitely nothing miniscule about the service level or the food that they offer. Ikkagoyo’s set menu is priced at S$338++ per person and consists of 12 intricate courses. Most of the cooked dishes are prepared a la minute in front of the diner. Almost all of their dishes are imported from Japan with the exception of a select few such as truffles.
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With the almost full restoration of pre-2020 travel regimes, most travelers have likely already made their rounds to favorite destinations such as Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, Bali and Kuala Lumpur in the past 12 months. If you are looking for other ideas on where to go in 2023, check out this list for some of my recommendations on lesser known but accessible destinations to add to your bucket list. Most of these places are situated in countries and territories that are frequently visited and/or have easy flight connections from Singapore.
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Hanazen by Yukuse Takada is a new concept opened on the 12th of March 2023 in Chijmes. The restaurant was founded by Chef Yusuke Takada who is known for the 2-Michelin starred La Cime in Osaka. While La Cime is a French brasserie, Hanazen takes on a different approach. In Hanazen, the kitchen is helmed by Chef Karasawa, the head chef in Singapore.
Hanazen focuses on char-grilled items for its dinner omakase, which it offers for S$250++ for 16 items. The restaurant also has an alfresco space which is planned for serving brasserie-style lunches in the future.
The char-grilled dishes at Hanazen are prepared with French touches. This means that sauces figure heavily in each dish, and as much considered as highlights in their own right. Ingredients are air-flown from Japan multiple times each week so items in the omakase may change from time to time. The dishes mentioned here are representative of the dinner I had at the time of my visit during a preview a couple of days before the restaurant officially opened.
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Path opened to great fanfare in February 2022 in MBFC Tower 3. Back then, it was considered a rather daring move to open right at the heart of the CBD, with only offices surrounding the restaurant. Working from home was still considered commonplace in early 2022 and the Raffles Place / Downtown area was still relatively quiet even during office hours.
Fast forward to today, Path has proved itself to be a dining destination in its own right and has thrived under both the “work from home” and “back to office” regimes. With the passing of a year, the restaurant has also undergone a bit of a refresh – both in the physical and culinary context. The lighting is slightly dimmer, with a slight decrease in the number of tables as well as a new private dining space at the end.
I returned to Path for dinner almost exactly a year after I went for their inaugural menu. The evening meal at the restaurant is now a set menu affair with 2 sets to choose from. Opt for either the 6-course Voyage (S$188++) or 8-course Expedition (S$228++) menu if you wish to explore the best of Path’s offerings. During my visit, I tried the Voyage menu. Aside from the 8-courses, it also included snacks, pre-dessert as well as petit fours.
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Melaka (Malacca) is one of the most historic destinations in all of Malaysia. With an old town that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka is filled with charming Peranakan shophouses, old churches, unusual-looking mosques and one of the best restored old towns in the country. Tourist attractions aside, Melaka is also known for the food. Chendol, chicken rice balls, Peranakan food and Portuguese cuisines are just some of the things your tastebuds should try while here.
For a practical and efficient weekend trip to Melaka, this itinerary and travel guide aims to tell you how the town should be done within 2 days.
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After my trip around the Balkans, I decided to make a detour to Italy as I wanted to tick one new country off my bucket list. That country was San Marino and to get there, I had to find myself a city interesting enough to serve as my base. Given Italy’s many fast trains, it is entirely possible to base yourself anywhere in Central Italy and be able to do San Marino as a day trip. However, the most practical cities to make that trip with the least possible connections would be Rimini and Bologna. Rimini gets you there the quickest due to a direct bus, but it’s more of a resort town and I wanted a place with some history and good food. I then looked a bit farther at the map and found Bologna, which only required an additional 1 to 1.5 hours from Rimini. So Bologna it was. Bologna is one of Italy’s great cities and is perhaps most well known for its food. Tagliatelle al ragu immediately springs to mind!
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Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre located in 84 Marine Parade Central is one of the most visited hawker centers in Singapore’s east coast. The market itself dates back from the 1970s and serves the Joo Chiat / Katong area. Its proximity to Parkway Parade means that it also regularly gets diners from others parts of Singapore.
The hawker centre which is widely known for char kway teow, dimsum, curry puff and chendol had undergone a major revamp in 2019. This revamp is quite evident to visitors who will find it looking much neater than most hawker centers in the island. It’s also quite spacious so one can pretty much find a seat despite visiting on weekend peak periods.
Here, I aim to list down some of my favorite stalls at Marine Parade Central Food Centre.
Although styled as “Peranakan,” many of the dishes at Emmanuel’s are actually similar to what you’d find in other economic rice stalls. What sets them apart is the blue pea rice that they put into their nasi lemak which comes fragrant with a tinge of coconut. The lady who mans the stall used to cook at Xing Long Cooked Food – another stall at Marine Parade Central Food Centre.
Stall Number: #01-30
Opening Hours: Daily except Wednesday and Thursday, 9AM to 3PM
Four Seasons Chendol has a number of outlets scattered all over Singapore and while they don’t sell durian chendol in the Marine Parade outlet, business is still usually brisk as their chendol comes in a relatively generous portion. While each bowl does not look particularly photogenic (the ingredients are all hidden inside the ice), one can be rest assured of attap seeds, green jelly and red bean beneath. I also liked that the chendol was not too sweet, with just the right amount of gula melaka drenched on the ice.
Stall Number: #01-31
Opening Hours: Daily except Thursday, 8AM to 5PM
While there are a number of drinks stalls in Marine Parade Central Food Centre, Du Du Hao – tucked away at the end near the dry goods section of the market – is notable for its cheap but strong beverages. A coffee costs just S$1 as of this writing while their Kaya Toast Set (S$3) is of great value. The bread is sliced thinly before toasting, and possesses a highly crispy texture.
Stall Number: #01-51
Opening Hours: Daily, 5:30AM to 7:30PM
Feng Xin Dim Sum is a relatively newer stall in Marine Parade Central Food Centre. It is located in the same row and just a few stalls from Neptune Dimsum a few stalls down. The menu, consisting of about 20 items, is quite similar to Neptune’s. There’s a good mix of steamed and fried items. At the time of my visit, I tried their Crystal Dumplings, Siu Mai, Spareribs Rice and Chee Cheong Fun. The Crystal Dumplings were quite notable, and came with a hearty amount of vegetable fillings. The Spareribs Rice was good, too. I did not the relatively lean cut of ribs used as well as the tasty sauce used on the white rice. The Chee Cheong Fun skin was not as thin as I hoped but the prawn filling was decent in amount and the sauce was good too.
Stall Number: #01-32
Opening Hours: Daily except Thursday, 7AM to 7PM (until 7:30PM on Saturday)
Neptune is the older among the two dimsum stalls in Marine Parade Central Food Centre. Their dimsum menu consists of staples like Siu Mai, Xiao Long Bao, Chicken Feet and Spring Rolls. There are also a few notable items like Hakka Yong Tau Fu and Durian Spring Roll. The dishes are still served in the traditional way, inside round baskets. Other notable items include their Shanghai Fried Dumplings, Custard Bun and Beancurd Roll.
Stall Number: #01-26
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10:30AM to 9:30PM; Thursday 8:30AM to 9:30PM; Friday to Sunday 9:30AM to 9PM
D’Authentic Nasi Lemak serves customizable nasi lemak where all the toppings can be ordered ala carte. This means you can choose to have as much (or as little) as you want with toppings such as beancurd, tempeh, four different types of eggs like sambal, achar, salted or fried as well as proteins like chicken wing or chicken rendang.
Stall Number: #01-36
Opening Hours: Daily except Friday, 7AM to 2PM
Whampoa Soya Bean is known for its smooth beancurd desserts and drinks. Go for the Gingko Beancurd which is generously topped with gingko nuts for just S$2! You can also choose to have the beancurd plain or with other toppings such as grass jelly or red bean. They also sell other desserts such as Grass Jelly, Grass Jelly with Longan, Grass Jelly with Lychee or with Attap Seeds.
Stall Number: #01-19
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:30AM to 9:30PM
If you’re looking to get filled with delicious food at a low price, look no further than Ma Bo Lor Mee. Their Marine Parade stall offers bowls of the starchy noodle for as low as S$3.50 (as of this writing). You can also choose to luxe it up a bit and order the most expensive bowl at S$5 with plenty of toppings to choose from such as fish cakes, fried fish, chicken cutlet and more.
Stall Number: #01-18
Opening Hours:
Hup Lee serves up reliable plates of economic bee hoon and nasi lemak if you are looking at something heavy for your morning meal. Other items to add to your bee hoon include fried spring rolls and various types of vegetables. This stall did not have a queue despite my visit during peak timing and may be a stall to consider if you want to grab a bite somewhere without having to wait long.
Stall Number: #01-53
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:30AM to 2PM
Taste of Vegetarian is your quintessential hawker stall for all things plant-based in Marine Parade. Items are mostly served economic rice style so expect a rotating number of dishes each day. The exception would be their small number of staples such as Vegetarian Bee Hoon, Brown Rice Porridge, Vegetarian Chee Cheong Fun and Vegetarian Chwee Kueh.
Stall Number: #01-50
Opening Hours: Daily except Thursday, 6AM to 2PM
A branch of the popular stall in Tiong Bahru, Jian Bo dishes out local breakfast staples such as Chwee Kueh with delectable portions of chye poh or preserved radish. Although they’re more well known for the steamed rice cakes, Jian Bo also sells bak chang and various types of Nyonya Kueh.
Stall Number: #01-44
Opening Hours: Daily, 6AM to 4:30PM
Fukudon is the type of stall that one wouldn’t expect to find in a neighborhood hawker but I suppose its proximity to Parkway Parade attracts a more “sophisticated” crowd than other food courts. Fukudon is opened by young hawkers and they serve Japanese-style rice bowls at an affordable price. Popular items in their menu include Shoyu Glazed Salmon Don, Pork Belly Katsu Don, Spicy Garlic Pork Collar Don and for the health conscious – Chicken Breast Oyako Don. All their rice bowls are priced well below S$10.
Stall Number: #01-48
Opening Hours: Daily, 11AM to 8PM
While there is quite a wide variety of hawker cuisine in Marine Parade Central Food Centre, there seems to be a dearth of chicken rice stalls. Zengji fills that gap with its selection of Hainanese Chicken and Roast Chicken. The former is especially popular with its juicy and plump meat and fragrant rice.
Stall Number: #01-28
Opening Hours: Daily except Monday, 10AM to 6PM
There are two Tip Top stalls in Marine Parade Central Food Centre – one specializes in curry puffs while this one serves reliable Western fare. Choose among their bestsellers such as the Chicken Bolognese Spaghetti, Half Spring Chicken, Grilled Fish or Chicken Alfredo. If you are feeling fancy, try their Beef Steak which comes with coleslaw and fries.
Stall Number: #01-22
Opening Hours: Daily except Monday, 1PM to 9PM