When it comes to vacations, many Singaporeans would revel in a winter getaway. After all, who wouldn’t love a trip away from the island’s sweltering heat?

For those who fall into this category, we have good news to share: Club Med has opened its newest resort in Kiroro, Japan. Located on the Northern Island of Hokkaido, this all-inclusive resort is the perfect getaway for ski- and snowboard-loving families. After all, Kiroro is known for its 21-metre snowfall and 160-day winter.

The latest resort opening follows the success of its sister property, Club Med Kiroro Peak. A three-minute gondola ride away, Kiroro Peak opened earlier in 2023. Club Med East, South Asia and Pacific markets, chief executive Rachael Harding shares how the latest resort has been quickly booked up even before the official opening. 

The resort is stunning to say the least, as beautiful chandeliers and sculptures of native Hokkaido birds (shima anaga) are hung from the ceiling. These chandeliers were shaped to resemble bird cages with shima anagas flying towards them—as if they were flying home. Warm hues completed the lobby’s cosy ambience, setting the mood for the rest of the experience at the resort.

The homely atmosphere continues into the rooms. The simple yet elegantly designed rooms feature both air conditioning and heating, a study area, and more. Large windows also offer a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains surrounding the resort.

Like other Club Med resorts around the world, there is a wide range of all-inclusive activities to choose from for all ages. Of course, the main attraction here is Mount Kiroro itself. Ski and snowboarding lessons are available for all levels and all ages—even the little ones. During the hour-and-a-half-long session, helpful instructors would share useful tips and advice on how to improve on various ski techniques on the slopes.

Also available at Club Med Kiroro Grand is a special programme for children. Here, little ones have the opportunity to learn how to ski and snowboard at the Mini Club Med. Both English and Japanese speaking sessions are available each day and lessons are grouped by the ability of each child. On top of activities on the slopes, indoor activities are also available, including board games, arts and crafts and more.

After hitting the slopes, a Japanese onsen experience awaits. Both indoor and outdoor onsen are available on-site, with the latter filled with natural spring water. Soaking in the onsen is extremely rejuvenating especially after a ski session as it helps to alleviate any sore muscles and aching spots. 

Food options here are aplenty. The all-inclusive package includes access to the resort’s two buffet-style dining concepts: Yoichi and The Ogon. The former is the main restaurant offering an extensive selection of local and international dishes—think pesto gnocchi, beef wellington, Hamburg steak, kaarage and more. The latter specialises in hot pot—a perfect meal after a long day in the snow. In the evenings, sip on cocktails and unwind at Yotei, the main bar located outside Yoichi. On top of its extensive list of spirits and concoctions available, its friendly bartenders are on hand to whip up your favourite tipple upon request.

So, catch the latest ski season with the family without the stress of having to plan one at Club Med’s latest all-inclusive resort.

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At the one-Michelin-starred kitchen, Yew Eng Tong is a soft-spoken chef who lets his cooking do the talking. His illustrious resume echoes a flourish of experience, including cutting his teeth alongside legendary three-Michelin-starred chef Christian Bau and opening Ocean restaurant at the Resorts World Sentosa in 2013 with American celebrity chef Cat Cora. On the global culinary stage, he is also a title-clinching veteran, leading the Singapore National Culinary Team at the Culinary Olympics 2014 to gold in Germany.

Alma means soul in Spanish and nourishing it is no easy feat. But Yew triumphs with a presentation of aesthetically pleasing plates, each showcasing modern European techniques with Asian accents while honouring a handful of Amador’s signatures. “It has always been my desire to apply the cooking techniques I’ve learnt and perfected during my course of culinary competitions to my dishes in a restaurant. However, it has not always been possible. At Alma by Juan Amador, I now can,” shares Yew. Every bite, lit with passion, is evocative of a man on a mission: to breathe new life into a weathered restaurant.

The culinary ballad begins with moreish snacks of takoyaki exploding with creamy potato gratin; a crisp cauliflower pie-tee tart bejewelled with a medley of white shoyu marinated seafood, teasing the season’s best catch. Next, the tuna tartare arrives in quirky fashion, sandwiched between crunchy potato crisps that bear resemblance to fish-bones. Textures of smoked mayonnaise, truffle parfait and an airy squid ink brioche, served in varying temperatures, promise a pleasurable two-biter. 

When it comes to the spicy sweet yet savoury combination of Singaporean chilli crab, there are few and far between. Yew reinterprets that in his bread course, pairing a fried multiseed mantou with crab roe espuma and smoked Bordier butter, to capture the very essence of his local roots. Soon, you’re going to wish you had more bread. What follows is an ode to chef consultant Juan Amador’s signature purple curry which was a tad too toothsome, leaving much to be desired despite the faultless execution of the bincho-grilled blue lobster tail.

The meal draws to a close with creative takes on a Thai red ruby dessert and poached pear as well as traditional petit fours. For wines, the list is thorough with a clear focus on American wines and the in-house sommelier is more than capable of making stellar recommendations to pair with each course. To whisky enthusiasts, ask and you shall receive, as you might stumble on some rare drams from what may be the largest whisky collection in a local restaurant—some of which come straight from owner Pota Lee’s private cache.

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It was practically love at first sight—the Audrey sofa from Gallotti & Radice quickly caught the eye of homeowner Lynn Ng, while she was browsing the Marquis QSquare furniture store. Dressed in a classic houndstooth fabric, this stylish couch perfectly matched her aesthetic and sartorial sense, and was purchased before the design concept of her new apartment was even made concrete.

Ng was as decisive when it came to hiring Upstrs_, the Singapore-based design firm she enlisted to give her apartment the transformation she wanted. Already impressed by the studio’s portfolio, the homeowner amiably agreed to postpone the start of her renovation by four months to wait for the firm to complete its ongoing projects.
This decision turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Before renovations began, the owner’s previous property became primed for an en bloc sale, so the client quickly moved to a smaller apartment instead. Led by founder Dennis Cheok, the Upstrs_ team then refined the concept to fit the new two-bedroom apartment’s compact measurements, which measured just over 900 sq ft.

Situated in the sea-facing The Meyerise condominium, this apartment in Singapore’s East Coast represents a mother-daughter reunion. Ng’s daughter Tessa, was soon to return to living with her mother in Singapore after completing her studies abroad. The owner was open to recommendations from Upstrs_, and had only two requirements: to incorporate her beloved Gallotti & Radice sofa into the interior concept, and to have a standalone wardrobe that the well-dressed mother and daughter could share.

They came up with elegant solutions for the apartment design, which features many multifunctional spaces and elements, and a “gallery-style” walk-in wardrobe that connects the two bedrooms. “Lynn gave up the best room to her daughter, which is characteristic of her exuberant maternal predisposition,” recalls Cheok, with a smile. “To exemplify this: each time we have a design meet, Lynn never fails to bring something for my daughter, and tell me ‘this is not for you, it’s for Trevi’.”

More than just a beautiful space, the apartment is now a place for the close-knit mother and daughter to enjoy living together, and host friends and loved ones for cosy meals. “I think Lynn’s definitely very proud of her home. We follow each other on Instagram, and I often catch quiet moments from home in her posts. I also know that many special memories and occasions have been spent around the dining table. It’s an intimate space for the most loved in her circle,” shares Cheok.

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“Art does so much [for] the soul,” Linda Neo tells us as we sit back in the dim light of Exit Stage Left, a dusky speakeasy‐inspired bar concept on Desker Road that is the last stop of New World’s End, an immersive audio tour organised by Oh! Open House, where art, storytelling and bespoke cocktails converge.

As the chairperson of the independent organisation that tells alternative stories of Singapore through art, Neo proudly oversees every project, taking it under her wing. Even before joining the board, she was a supporter. “I’ve always believed in supporting [art] organisations, but I find that the small collective system of institutions really needs our help more than anything else,” says Neo.

Extending opportunities for exploration and creativity to home‐grown artists is her North Star as she pursues this work, drawn in particular to supporting unconventional creations such as conceptual work experiencing difficulty finding representation in mainstream galleries. “These are the people with a passion. Oh! Open House gives them an opportunity to [pursue] that. We open up the place for young artists to experiment,” she says.

She also points out the young mixologist working the bar at Exit Stage Left as we speak as an extension of the organisation’s predilection for experimentation. As he gets the place ready for another evening of New World’s End, he reaches for the distinct flavours of Singapore, curated for the bar’s bespoke cocktail menu. What we discover is hawthorn berries meeting nutmeg pericarp, a floral mix of jasmine gin and oolong tea, and locally distilled vodka with tamarind jam.

Hearing Neo speak of the local art scene with such fondness belies her background; neither an artist nor an art historian by trade, she has an over-30‐year career as a financial broker behind her. The passion for art was born almost accidentally.

As she dove deeper into the subject to explore a common interest with her husband Albert Lim, she found herself enamoured with the works she came across. “I got hooked, kind of like an obsession ... Once I was introduced to it, I got really excited. It started with buying a couple [of pieces] for the walls and now, we’ve been travelling together for art tours, art fairs, and events,” she muses.

The couple soon realised they were running out of room to display the artworks and do them justice, warranting a dedicated space to curate and showcase their growing collection. They invested in Primz Gallery, initially as a private refuge. “It was a sanctuary. If we wanted to chill out, we’d go there and just enjoy the artworks,” says Neo.

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