A casual Lo-Fi guide to KL and Singapore for summer

Ditch the fancy lists, sponsored place mentions, and high-resolution photos you’re used to when it comes to travel recommendations. Still, the average Joe doesn’t spend all of his time at Marina Bay Sands or the Pavillion. For the holiday season, Men’s Folio swaps out two writers from Malaysia (LingJie, Deputy Editor) and Singapore (Dhani, Contributing Writer) to provide their most authentic suggestions on where to go if you’re new to their respective cities. In this list you’ll find: low-resolution iPhone JPEGs, unflattering photos of clothing, people, and landscapes, and serious reasons why they selected what they selected.

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LINGJIE: Hello Dhani! I’m thinking of visiting SG July 25-27 for a cousin’s birthday and would actually love to get some recommendations from a local on places and experiences for this upcoming trip. Just to give you an idea, I’m already quite familiar with the central area and have enjoyed instances of venturing outside the usual hotspots of Tanjong Pagar and Clarke Quay, and have enjoyed leisurely bus rides to places like Clementi to visit friends. I have enjoyed discovering places like slow boat and Election cuts; go to the occasional Pilates class in Ally and bars like live twice and Swollen boys! Back in KL, I love spending my weekends discovering new restaurants with friends (ideally those that aren’t in a small shop) and exploring second-hand shops, both curated and not. I hope this gives you a brief idea of my preferences!

DHANÍ: Hello Ling Jie! Of course! Based on the places you mentioned, I think you’ll enjoy exploring a little further east/west this time. I’ve compiled a list of places for you below. There’s a little bit of everything here, from local parks to my favorite cafes.

Idle hands, Club Street

Idle hands It is a bar without a menu; They basically make what they have in their inventory. So imagine how that goes. Be creative! When my friends first took me there, the bar took up space no less than a master bedroom. But honestly, that’s all you need. As a complete novice, I asked the waiter for a menu and he replied curtly, “What do you really want?” There were about 30 seconds of “uhhh” and “umms” after answering “I don’t know?” before deciding on a Cosmopolitan.

Lazarus Island

To get here, you would have to take a ferry from Harbourfront Terminal! The first time I went to Lazarus Island I was quite surprised by the panoramic view of Marina Bay that it offered. My cell service provider actually thought I was in Indonesia. It is known for its turtle sanctuary, white sand beaches and calm currents. I highly recommend you visit the island. PS: bring plenty of sunscreen x

Golden Mile Tower

Infamous to many, home to few. Whatever reputation Golden Mile Tower has, I love it with all my heart. It is a strata shopping center built in the 1970s, around the same time as the Far East shopping centre. Over the years, the mall has earned a reputation as a “seedy place,” but that’s far from the truth. Among the colorful nightlife, you can find record stores, specialty cafes, izakayas, great Thai food and, of course, Filmhouse, Singapore’s most famous independent cinema. I’ve seen many movies here, the most recent being Marty Supreme.

Amoy Food Center

You will probably visit us at our office here in Tanjong Pagar. Good news: the area has many great places to eat. If you’re going for lunch (or maybe even bringing us with you~), be sure to stop by Rayyan’s Waroeng Upnormal. My favorite order is the Bami Goreng Chicken Cutlet. The chicken is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and I can guarantee it will instantly lift your mood, because it definitely does when I’m in a bad mood.

Hei Kim’s Piccolo, Far East Mall

This is one of my favorite cafes in Singapore! Their Banoffee Pie is a crowd favorite. It is located on the second floor of the Far East shopping center. I played two full rounds of Scrabble with my friend and lost both times. It’s a great cafe to relax and socialize. Try not to arrive too late, as the cafe can get quite busy in the late afternoon.

Isle Eating House, Parklane Shopping Center

I come here to eat right after a 4 hour gaming session at the internet cafe right across from the dining room. I ordered a plate of sweet and sour fish and a cup of iced Milo. I think it was too bitter though. But it was good enough. I recommend. Parklane shopping center also has a great selection of Chinese restaurants and a charming barber shop.

DHANÍ: By the way, Lingjie, I’ll also be visiting KL around the same time! The last time I was in the city, my friends took me to the bars and restaurants in Pasar Seni. There is a bar that I really love. I think her name is Shuang Xi. I loved the cocktails there and the speakeasy atmosphere. I feel like I’ve covered most of the bases in the main city, but I really want to see what’s good in PJ. Oh, I’d also like to see what the art scene is like.

LINGJIE: I understood you! I have a few picks that I think you’ll really enjoy below!

Perdana Botanical Garden

I really like how expansive it is. Perfect for mornings and early afternoons, some parts of the park feel quite quiet. Given how warm KL is, the lush greenery really helps make being outdoors much more bearable. I come here when I want to touch the grass. This park holds a special place in my heart. I once got horribly scolded at an old job and it bothered me so much that I took the next day off. This is where I spent it.

Amcorp Mall PJ

I think this mall must feel like a time capsule. It mainly has vendors and shops selling vintage knick-knacks, which I believe are frequented by creatives for their accessories and hobbies. This mall is also home to vintage watch shops, which I hope to visit again once I save up for a nifty little Cartier watch.

Ilham Gallery

It is a beautiful building that houses a selection of modern and contemporary art. Also located a stone’s throw from our office. I love the fact that the visit is free. End your visit with a trip to the gift shop for Malaysian-themed souvenirs that are less cheesy and ice cream at Softē.

Jonnie Winery

Located in JAM PJ (formerly known as Gasket Alley), it is a small but important store that sells the brand’s latest releases along with football-related paraphernalia and vintage jerseys. The brand has a cult following, loved for its playful takes on sportswear and lifestyle pieces. Neighboring stores like Futuremade Studios also make the trip to PJ worth it, giving you a taste of Malaysia’s intimate yet vibrant design scene.

Beef Noodles Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee

If you find yourself in the Central Market or Chinatown, as most tourists do when they visit the city, this little corner of a restaurant serves hot and spicy beef noodles with a clear flavor. I like dry noodles because the ground beef is very flavorful; I recommend also adding a tablespoon of tangy chili sauce. Some people might consider a hot bowl of noodles to be a devilish choice for hot weather, but not us.

JBR Package

There are some JBR packages, but I like this one because it has air conditioning. I’ve been to other establishments located in a factory-style setting during the day and almost passed out from the heat. This is a long way off for most tourists, but if you like rummaging through piles of clothing, JBR has a cacophony of options from Japan and the U.S. This is my hypothesis based on the novelty souvenir t-shirts and hyper-specific designs.